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The document advocates for 'green urban industrialisation' in Ethiopia, specifically through a corridor approach that connects urban clusters. Using the Kombolcha–Mek’ele corridor as a case study, it suggests that integrating transport, infrastructure, and resource management across administrative boundaries can prevent carbon-intensive development and maximise economic productivity. Key recommendations include identifying catalytic projects in green housing, waste, and water management, improving institutional coordination between federal and regional levels, and aligning local urban plans with national climate strategies.

The report analyzes the growth of green bond markets in emerging economies, highlighting the critical role of national guidance and alignment with international standards like the Green Bond Principles. Through case studies of countries such as China, Indonesia, and Morocco, it identifies key barriers—including lack of capacity and limited investor demand—and proposes a 'Green Bond Market Development Toolkit' featuring a self-assessment matrix and a roadmap of milestones to accelerate sustainable capital flows.

The global green bond market reached a cumulative issuance of USD 521bn by 2018, with USD 167.6bn issued in 2018 alone. The USA, China, and France emerged as the leading national markets. The report highlights a significant increase in issuance from financial institutions, particularly commercial banks, and a growing trend toward shorter-dated bonds. While Europe remains the largest overall market, the Asia-Pacific region saw the highest year-on-year growth at 35%. The market is also diversifying into other labelled instruments, including sustainability, social, and blue bonds, and expanding into emerging markets through the adoption of regional standards like the ASEAN Green Bond Standards.

Singapore established itself as a regional petroleum trading hub by combining a strategic geographical location with a 'twin-track' industrial strategy of minimal regulation and strong institutional support. Starting with oil refining in the 1960s, the government transitioned toward the petrochemicals sector in the 1980s via the 'cluster approach' at the Jurong Island Export Processing Zone. While facing challenges from regional competition, land scarcity, and environmental concerns, Singapore has maintained its edge through massive infrastructure projects, such as underground rock caverns for storage, and proactive policy adaptation.

The document argues that tax incentives in the mining sector are often ineffective at attracting investment due to the location-specific nature of mineral resources and can lead to significant revenue losses. It provides a framework for reviewing incentives, identifying high-risk behavioural responses—such as 'high-grading' during tax holidays or abusive transfer pricing in export processing zones—and offers recommendations for better design, including the use of incremental sliding-scale royalties and the avoidance of 'cliff-edge' fiscal changes.

The document argues that tax incentives in the mining sector are often inefficient and ineffective because mineral resources are immobile, making them less responsive to fiscal lures than other investments. It details how specific incentives—such as temporary tax holidays, withholding tax relief, and cost-based incentives—can trigger 'behavioral responses' like high-grading (écrémage) and abusive transfer pricing, which further erode the tax base. The guide provides a step-by-step methodology for modeling the budgetary cost of these incentives and offers specific policy recommendations to protect national revenues, including the use of accelerated depreciation over tax holidays and the implementation of 'bracket' rather than 'class' progressive royalties.

The report analyzes investment laws in ASEAN countries, noting that not all members have a dedicated investment law and that such laws are only a small part of the broader regulatory regime. It distinguishes these laws from investment treaties, highlighting that ASEAN investment laws generally lack the vague investor rights and general consent to investor-state arbitration typically found in treaties.

The report finds that there is no single 'good practice' model for investment laws in ASEAN, as their functions vary significantly by country—ranging from managing entry approvals to granting incentives. Some members, such as Singapore, have no specific investment law, relying instead on general and sector-specific legislation. A key distinction is made between national investment laws and investment treaties; the report notes that ASEAN investment laws generally lack the vague, broad investor rights (such as 'fair and equitable treatment') and the general consent to investor-state arbitration typically found in treaties. The author argues that investment laws cannot be evaluated in isolation and must be understood as part of a broader national regulatory regime.

The transportation sector accounts for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in large cities. To address this, the handbook outlines several strategic actions: electrifying municipal fleets, reducing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles through bans or restrictions, managing urban freight emissions, expanding EV charging infrastructure, creating car-free downtown zones, and enhancing public transit and mobility alternatives like bikeshare and pedestrian-friendly streets.

The document critiques the European Commission's proposal for a Multilateral Investment Court, asserting that it merely rebrands the controversial investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system without addressing its substantive flaws. It argues that ISDS allows corporations to challenge public interest laws—including those related to health, environment, and human rights—through biased tribunals, often resulting in massive taxpayer-funded payouts. The report claims the proposed court would further institutionalize this imbalance, undermine national judiciaries, and create a parallel legal system accessible only to foreign investors. It concludes by advocating for the termination of bilateral investment treaties and the adoption of a UN treaty to regulate transnational corporations.

The report analyzes the critical role of sediment in the Mekong River Basin and the threats posed by human activity and climate change. It finds that hydropower dams and riverbed mining are drastically reducing sediment loads, which threatens the productivity of the Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap, impacts fisheries and agriculture, and increases coastal erosion. The authors recommend enhanced regional monitoring, better data sharing between China and Lower Mekong countries, and the integration of sediment management into the entire hydropower lifecycle.

ClientEarth proposes a formal complaint procedure for EU trade agreements, modeled after the Trade Barriers Regulation, to allow NGOs, trade unions, and the public to report breaches of sustainable development commitments. The proposal argues that current informal processes are ineffective, citing examples in Korea, Peru, and Cambodia. The recommended mechanism would include a 'substantiated' complaint phase, a formal examination period of 5-7 months, and a final Commission decision subject to judicial review by EU courts. ClientEarth emphasizes that while this tool increases accountability and transparency, it must be accompanied by stronger substantive obligations in future trade deals to be truly effective.

The report examines the practices of Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott, concluding that the proliferation of 'premium' and 'specialised' infant formulas is a strategy to increase market share and profit margins, particularly in Asia, often at the expense of breastfeeding promotion and consumer affordability.

The document examines the role of collaborative RD&D in accelerating the deployment of climate technologies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It analyzes various public and private financing instruments, identifies trends such as the decline of venture capital in hardware-based cleantech, and proposes two modalities for GCF support: strengthening innovation systems and providing targeted RD&D support for specific technologies.

The report identifies that institutional investment in renewable energy is constrained by illiquidity, fund size, and a lack of internal expertise, limiting potential direct investment to less than 1% of total assets under management. To address this, the authors propose the Clean Energy Investment Trust (CEIT), a pooled, listed, and low-fee vehicle designed for liability-hedging. The report argues that a CEIT could increase potential institutional investment from $305 billion to nearly $4 trillion, significantly lowering the cost of capital for renewables. Initial core investors are expected to be large public-sector pension funds, with smaller institutions joining as the market matures.

The CFI Indonesia Child Project aims to institutionalize EAFM in eastern Indonesia's most biodiverse waters. It focuses on four components: establishing enabling policy and legal frameworks, deploying tools like Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs), creating sustainable financing via the Blue Abadi Trust Fund, and implementing a robust monitoring and knowledge-sharing system. The project targets the recovery of small pelagic fish, reef fish, mud crabs, and endangered species like leatherback turtles and whale sharks, while integrating gender mainstreaming and indigenous rights.

The document evaluates Indonesia's transition from fixed fuel subsidies to market-aligned pricing, specifically for gasoline, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It argues that while the 2015 reforms for gasoline and diesel saved approximately USD 15.6 billion, the system remains vulnerable to international price volatility. The brief proposes several price adjustment models—including smoothing, ratcheting, and cap-and-floor systems—to balance the government's need for fiscal sustainability with the necessity of protecting low-income consumers from sudden price spikes. It concludes with recommendations for a transparent, frequently updated pricing formula managed by an independent agency.

The report analyzes the climate pledges of 18 Asian countries, finding that while energy and transport are primary mitigation focuses, there are significant gaps in quantified climate finance requirements and the integration of gender and social inclusion. It highlights a regional disparity in disaster risk reduction planning, with South Asian countries generally showing higher levels of integration than their South-East Asian counterparts.

The report analyzes the implementation of congestion charging and low emission zones in London, Singapore, and Stockholm. It highlights the importance of national legal safeguards, strong local political will, transparent revenue allocation, and effective public communication. Key findings include significant reductions in traffic volume and pollutants in all three cities, though the specific technologies used—such as London's ANPR and Singapore's DSRC—varied based on local needs and urban landscapes.

The 5th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO5) analyzes energy trajectories for 10 ASEAN Member States through 2040. It compares a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario with two target-based scenarios: the AMS Targets Scenario (ATS) and the ASEAN Progressive Scenario (APS). The report finds that while the region is on track to meet energy intensity targets, achieving the 23% renewable energy share by 2025 requires significantly more ambition than current national targets provide. It highlights a continuing heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal in the power sector, and projects increasing import dependency for natural gas and crude oil. The report recommends strengthening energy efficiency and renewable energy policies, including the use of auctions and expanding renewables beyond the power sector, to improve energy security and reduce CO2 emissions.