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The report examines the rise of green taxonomies as classification systems to identify sustainable economic activities and reduce greenwashing. It identifies three primary development approaches: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria (TSC) based, and principle-based. A central focus is the alignment between the EU and China taxonomies via the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF) and the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT), which aims to facilitate cross-border green capital flows. The document details how these taxonomies are implemented by regulators for mandatory disclosure and by financial intermediaries for product development and risk management.

The report analyzes the evolution of biological weapons threats from the 1940s to the 2010s, noting a shift from battlefield utility and strategic deterrence toward hybrid warfare and assassination tools. It argues that the COVID-19 pandemic acts as a 'game changer' that could either trigger a new era of proliferation or foster unprecedented international cooperation. The authors propose three future scenarios: one where bioweapons become a key component of deterrence, one where the world pivots toward collective biosecurity, and a hybrid world of ambiguous threats driven by disinformation. The report concludes that U.S. policy must rebalance its focus from bioterrorism to state-based threats and increase funding for biodefense.

Global Energy Monitor identifies 193,400 km of gas pipelines in construction or pre-construction, representing a US$485.8 billion stranded asset risk. The report highlights that China, India, Russia, Australia, the U.S., and Brazil are leading this expansion despite IEA warnings that gas usage must peak soon to align with the 1.5°C net-zero scenario. While some financial institutions and 39 countries have committed to ending public finance for fossil fuels by 2022, the gas industry continues to push for massive infrastructure growth, often justified by the potential for future hydrogen upcycling.

The document argues that EU efforts to secure peace in Libya have been undermined by competing national interests, particularly between France and Italy, and a tendency to prioritize short-term goals like migration externalization and energy resource access. While the EU has successfully used Libya to limit migrant crossings through disputed agreements like the Valletta Memorandum, these same mechanisms have not translated into political stability. The author suggests that the EU should employ multi-track diplomacy and a concerted, unified approach that incorporates Libyan interests to achieve a sustainable peace.

The document analyzes Russia's use of 'soft power' in Africa, highlighting the role of state-owned outlets like RT and Sputnik in promoting anti-Western narratives. It details the transition from traditional media to digital influence campaigns, including the use of 'troll farms' and local proxies to sow division and build pro-Russian sentiment. The report specifically examines the Central African Republic as a case study of 'hybrid warfare,' where digital campaigns are combined with on-the-ground activities such as film production and the financing of local radio. While these efforts aim to project an image of Russia as a major power, the document notes they are conducted on a limited budget and face increasing detection by tech companies.

The report details WWF's strategic efforts to reverse the decline of wild tigers through political advocacy, landscape-scale conservation, and community-centered approaches. Key achievements include the development of the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS), the implementation of the 'Safe Systems' approach to human-wildlife conflict, and the creation of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. While global tiger numbers have shown an upward trend, the report warns that gains are fragile and uneven, with severe declines continuing in Southeast Asia due to snaring. WWF highlights the co-benefits of tiger conservation, including carbon sequestration and water provisioning, and outlines future goals such as the first international tiger reintroduction in Kazakhstan by 2025.

The briefing analyzes the Biden Administration's 2021 climate security reports, identifying climate change as a 'shaping threat' that necessitates a reexamination of national security assumptions. It argues that climate risks are current and future, wide-ranging, and exacerbate other security concerns, particularly in competition with China. The authors propose five 2022 priorities: mainstreaming climate security in regional strategies, linking adaptation with conflict prevention, maximizing whole-of-government science collaboration, increasing support for allies, and utilizing strategic foresight for worst-case scenarios.

The report finds that most of the 21 analysed European power utilities are failing to align their strategies with IEA Net Zero benchmarks. Only 43% have coal phase-out plans aligned with the 2030 EU/OECD target, and 100% are expected to operate fossil gas plants in EU/OECD countries beyond 2035. While total wind and solar capacity is projected to quadruple by 2030, this falls short of the required six-fold growth, and only 10% of companies are on track to achieve that minimum. The report highlights a lack of transparency regarding fossil gas and warns against speculative 'hydrogen-ready' claims used to justify continued fossil fuel use.

The report finds that South Africa's energy fiscal policies are largely misaligned with its climate goals, with fossil fuel subsidies totaling ZAR 172 billion in FY 2020/21. These subsidies, particularly Eskom bailouts and carbon tax exemptions, outweigh the ZAR 100.5 billion in fossil fuel revenues. The social costs of fossil fuel combustion—estimated at a minimum of ZAR 550 billion annually—far exceed both revenues and subsidies. While the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has successfully lowered renewable energy costs, investment has been hindered by political opposition and Eskom's financial instability. The report recommends tying bailouts to transition reforms, phasing out carbon tax exemptions, and using fossil fuel tax revenues to support vulnerable households and a just transition.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach for Chinese financial institutions to manage environmental and social (E&S) risks in BRI projects. It emphasizes that proactive stakeholder engagement—comprising environmental information disclosure, public consultation, and the establishment of grievance mechanisms—reduces the likelihood of project delays and cancellations. The guide details the responsibilities of both financial institutions and their clients across the project lifecycle, from initiation and evaluation to construction and decommissioning. It aligns these practices with international standards such as the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards, while also mapping relevant Chinese regulatory requirements from bodies like the PBOC and CBIRC. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the operationalization of an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and provides case studies on tailoring engagement to local contexts in the DRC, Russia, and the Philippines.

The report argues that the climate pledges of major oil and gas companies are 'empty promises' designed to deceive the public. It finds that none of the analyzed companies' plans meet the standards required to limit warming to 1.5°C, as they often exclude Scope 3 emissions, rely on unproven carbon capture technology, and continue to invest in fossil fuel exploration and production.

The US upstream oil and gas industry is projected to earn between $37 billion and $126 billion in additional profits in 2022 due to rising oil prices. The report argues that these gains are driven by global market integration and that companies may prioritize investor returns over increasing domestic production. It advocates for a windfall profits tax to return these gains to consumers.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy technologies and a low-carbon future. It explains that 'criticality' is context-dependent, defined either by supply security (import dependence) or strategic valuation (leveraging abundance). The text highlights the specific role of rare earth elements (REEs), the massive increase in mineral demand for electric vehicles and decarbonization, and the growing importance of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) alongside emerging sources like deep-sea mining and phytomining. It concludes by weighing the economic opportunities of value chain development against risks such as production concentration, price volatility, and the 'Dutch disease'.

The report finds that while the French information ecosystem showed relative resilience during the 2022 elections, there was a significant rise in domestic anti-system narratives and far-right mobilisation. The limited impact of destabilisation efforts is attributed to the war in Ukraine diverting Russian resources, institutional pressure from the French government and EU (specifically the Digital Services Act), the regulated nature of the French electoral system, and the continued influence of traditional media. However, the authors warn of a growing trend of distrust in democratic institutions and the normalisation of polarising rhetoric by far-right actors using coordinated inauthentic behaviour and astroturfing.

The report concludes that while the French information ecosystem remained relatively resilient in 2022, there was a notable shift from foreign interference to domestic-led anti-system and far-right mobilization. The authors attribute this resilience to the war in Ukraine (which diverted Russian resources), institutional pressure (including the Digital Services Act and Viginum), the structural nature of the French electoral system, and the continued influence of traditional media. However, the report warns of a growing threat from structured anti-system communities and the normalization of polarizing rhetoric on social media.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) monitored the 2022 French elections, finding that while Russian state-backed influence was limited due to EU bans, domestic non-state actors and far-right figures effectively leveraged social media to spread anti-establishment narratives. Key tactics included coordinated inauthentic behaviour by Éric Zemmour's campaign, the cross-platform monetisation of fake vaccination passes, and the mainstreaming of the 'Great Replacement' conspiracy theory. The report highlights significant gaps in platform content moderation, particularly regarding online abuse of candidates and voter fraud narratives, and recommends stronger regulatory oversight and data transparency from social media companies.

The report analyzes the role of Telegram as a 'buttress' for far-right and conspiracy-oriented actors in Germany. Through link analysis of 238 channels, it finds that while Telegram serves as a primary hub and file-sharing tool, these actors continue to strategically use established platforms like YouTube despite regulatory efforts such as the NetzDG. The study highlights the influence of 'power users' like Attila Hildmann, who build complex networks of channels to maximize reach and circumvent platform restrictions.

The report examines how AI, as a dual-use technology, is being integrated into military capabilities and regulated through export controls in China, the US, and the EU. It highlights China's 'military-civil fusion' strategy and the US's efforts to maintain technological leadership, while the EU focuses on ethical standards and 'trustworthy AI'. The authors argue that the intangibility of software makes trade controls difficult and that the competition for AI dominance creates a 'dual-use security dilemma' that could destabilize strategic relations and nuclear deterrence.

The analysis of UN votes, regional organization statements, and public diplomatic interactions from February 20 to June 19, 2022, indicates that no global pro-Russia or pro-authoritarian bloc has emerged. Instead, most states in the Global South prefer to remain non-aligned, although there is evidence of diplomatic competition for influence between Russia and Western powers, particularly in Asia.

Reclaim Finance challenges Crédit Agricole's commitment to net-zero goals, citing the bank's role as a top financier for companies like TotalEnergies and Saudi Aramco. The document questions the bank's failure to stop financing new oil and gas expansion, its inadequate exclusion policies for non-conventional fuels and Arctic projects, and its indirect support for the EACOP project. It also addresses the bank's ties to Russian fossil fuel activities, alleged infractions in its coal policy, and the voting behavior of its asset management subsidiary, Amundi, regarding the climate plans of oil majors.