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Trend Asia criticizes the 2024 vice-presidential candidates for offering technical 'gimmicks' rather than substantive solutions for grassroots issues. The organization argues that the candidates' visions for energy transition and sustainable development remain rooted in extractivism, ignore the legal and social vulnerabilities of local communities, and rely on 'false solutions' like CCUS and geothermal energy while failing to address the structural causes of the climate crisis and the harms of the coal industry.

Clean Creatives claims the Edelman Trust Barometer is compromised by the firm's ties to climate deniers and autocratic states, alleging that the data overstates trust in governments that are Edelman clients and contradicts the firm's public climate commitments.

The document examines two primary tracks of e-commerce governance at the WTO: the multilateral Work Program on Electronic Commerce and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI). It highlights the reinvigorated thematic discussions under the Work Program and the 'slimmed-down' nature of the JSI negotiations following the US decision to withdraw support for data flow and source code proposals. A central point of contention is the provisional moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, where developing economies argue that the loss of government revenue and restricted industrial policy space outweigh the trade cost reductions favored by developed economies.

The report finds that while Southeast Asia has increased its operating utility-scale solar and wind capacity by 20% since January 2023 to 28 GW, the transition is hindered by low construction rates for prospective projects and continued reliance on fossil fuels. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are regional leaders, but only 3% of the region's 220 GW prospective capacity is currently under construction. Despite these hurdles, the report suggests the ASEAN collective target of 35% renewable energy capacity by 2025 is attainable given existing capacity and pipelines.

The report outlines 18 recommendations from an Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) for creating a sustainable finance taxonomy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key proposals include a three-tiered governance structure, the adoption of the ANZSIC classification system, and a focus on five priority sectors: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishery, Transport, Construction & Real Estate, Energy, and Industrial Manufacturing. The framework emphasizes interoperability with international standards, particularly the Australian Taxonomy, and the integration of iwi/Māori knowledge and rights. It suggests a voluntary initial application phase and the inclusion of a 'transition' category, potentially using a traffic light system to label activities moving toward a 1.5-degree pathway.

The report analyzes the fragmented ecosystem of AI audits, distinguishing between organizational conformity assessments and academic performance evaluations. It details the roles of internal, external, and community auditors, the methodologies used—such as input variation and benchmarking—and the current state of enforceable regulations in the US, Canada, EU, UK, and China. The document argues for a more diverse, trustworthy audit ecosystem with better data access and a focus on global impacts, including environmental and labor concerns, to move beyond 'null compliance'.

The IPIE argues that AI audits are the primary mechanism to operationalize governance, moving beyond simple transparency to ensure human rights compliance and the fair distribution of AI benefits. It proposes a global audit framework based on universal parameters—including fairness, transparency, and technical robustness—and offers the IPIE's scientific expertise to help the UN develop these international standards and research functions.

The document examines how the global gaming industry's social features and design vulnerabilities are exploited by extremist and malign actors. It analyzes the applicability of major regulations like the EU's Digital Services Act and the UK's Online Safety Act to gaming companies and recommends increased data transparency, consistent policy enforcement, and 'Safety by Design' principles to mitigate harms.

The document evaluates various digital interventions to protect elections, including content moderation, algorithmic adjustments, and transparency measures. It highlights a significant gap in data access for researchers and a geographic imbalance in mitigation efforts, which primarily focus on Western contexts. The authors argue for a multi-stakeholder approach and standardized data access to improve the efficacy of electoral safeguarding.

The document examines how the technological rivalry between the United States and China impacts Indonesia's aspirations to become a regional subsea cable hub. It highlights Indonesia's current 'underdeveloped' hedging strategy, characterized by a preference for affordable Chinese hardware and U.S. software, while lacking a comprehensive national risk mitigation plan. The authors argue that Indonesia's pragmatic, agency-led procurement often overlooks foreign policy implications and risks dependency on single powers. To address this, the brief recommends mapping stakeholders, integrating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into procurement decisions, collaborating with ASEAN on governance frameworks, and establishing a formal foreign technology investment review mechanism.

The report outlines a methodology to distinguish between green, transition, and phase-down activities to mobilise private capital for Australia's net zero goals. It defines 'green' activities as consistent with Paris Agreement goals and 'transition' activities as those with a continued role in a net zero economy that lack low-carbon alternatives. The methodology recommends using internationally recognised 1.5°C aligned climate-science scenarios, specifically from the IEA and Climateworks, to objectively determine eligibility and avoid greenwashing and carbon lock-in.

The report identifies 22 systemic barriers to net zero carbon buildings, categorized as financial, investment risk/opportunity, market readiness, and regulatory. Using network analysis, it establishes that financial barriers are the most critical from a demand perspective but are often dependent on the mitigation of regulatory and market readiness barriers. The authors map 31 policy and 44 financial instruments, categorizing them into fundamental inputs (such as capacity development and fiscal instruments) and dependent inputs (such as debt instruments and asset finance models). The report highlights five high-impact pathways for cities: phasing out fossil-fuel appliances, implementing energy efficiency building codes, deploying results-based grants for cooling, using skills development for embodied carbon reduction, and publishing climate risk data for adaptation. It emphasizes that mandates are central to the transition, as they enable the development of new financial mechanisms.

The report highlights a significant gap between government rhetoric and action regarding fossil fuel subsidies, noting that world governments provided a record USD 1.3 trillion in such subsidies in 2022. It critiques current UNFCCC commitments for lacking deadlines and clear definitions of "inefficient" subsidies. The authors propose several pathways for action at COP 28 and beyond, including the adoption of a 'cover decision', integrating subsidy reform into the first global stocktake, and requiring more ambitious, time-bound commitments in updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The document also suggests leveraging climate finance discussions, such as the 'net climate finance' concept and the new collective quantified goal (NCQG), to address public financial flows to fossil fuels.

ASEAN's solar and wind generation grew by 43% annually between 2015 and 2022, largely driven by Viet Nam's Feed-in Tariff policies. However, growth slowed in 2022, and the region currently utilizes less than 1% of its theoretical solar and wind potential. To meet the IEA's 2050 net zero scenario, ASEAN must reach a 23% share of solar and wind in total electricity generation by 2030, requiring the addition of 164 GW of solar and 65 GW of wind capacity. The report argues that achieving this requires removing regulatory barriers like local content requirements, investing in grid modernization and storage, and implementing attractive pricing mechanisms.

The report argues that fugitive methane emissions significantly increase the lifecycle emissions of fossil gas, making it comparable to coal and oil in climate impact. It examines global sustainable finance taxonomies, noting that while most exclude hydrocarbons, some include fossil gas under strict conditions. Specifically, it analyzes the EU Taxonomy, concluding that its rigorous carbon intensity thresholds and lifecycle emission requirements make new gas-powered plants economically unviable compared to renewable energy alternatives.

The document highlights a critical lack of tracked financing for oil and gas methane abatement in Southeast Asia, despite the sector being the region's second-largest methane contributor. It identifies key barriers such as limited technical capacity, data gaps, and underdeveloped regulations. The brief argues that methane abatement offers a low-cost, quick-win opportunity for near-term climate mitigation and suggests that state-owned enterprises and international financial institutions play pivotal roles in scaling these efforts.

The report examines how international taxonomies and the national policies of the US, China, and Germany handle fossil fuels to inform the development of a Canadian taxonomy. It finds that while most taxonomies exclude new oil and coal capacity, fossil gas is often treated as a transitional fuel with strict emission limits and phase-out dates (typically 2030–2035). The document highlights the critical role of fugitive methane emissions in determining the actual climate impact of natural gas, arguing that lifecycle assessments are necessary to avoid 'carbon lock-in'. It concludes that Canada's main trading partners are using economic incentives and regulations to reduce hydrocarbon consumption, suggesting that a science-based taxonomy is essential for attracting private capital for decarbonization.

The document analyzes the demographic transition of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, noting that all are facing population ageing while still in a middle-income economic phase. It highlights the risks of economic stagnation, fiscal pressure on pensions and healthcare, and the political challenges of raising retirement ages. The author recommends that BRICS members leverage their collective resources to invest in human capital, assistive technologies, and age-friendly urban planning, while sharing policy lessons to create a sustainable development precedent for other Global South countries.

The report alleges that government officials pushing for the Rempang Eco City project—specifically the establishment of a Xinyi Glass solar panel factory—may have business affiliations with solar power plant (PLTS) projects in Batam. It argues that these two PSNs form a business ecosystem where officials' affiliated companies would be potential buyers of the panels produced in Rempang. Additionally, the report claims that PT MEG, a manager of Rempang Eco City, is likely a shell company linked to a tax haven in the British Virgin Islands. The document also notes human rights violations and community resistance, including the use of tear gas against children during protests on September 7, 2023.

The document argues that South Africa is not in an acute fiscal crisis, as current revenue shortfalls and expenditure overruns are within historical norms. It criticizes the National Treasury's commitment to austerity and poor planning, particularly regarding the public sector wage bill. The authors suggest that the real issue is a 'growth crisis' rather than a debt crisis, noting that the debt-to-GDP ratio is comparable to other emerging markets. To resolve budget gaps, the brief recommends utilizing the SARB's Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account, increasing borrowing, restoring the corporate income tax rate to 28%, and introducing wealth taxes, while cautioning against VAT increases.