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The document examines the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the legal frameworks governing it, specifically criticizing the ISDS system for prioritizing investor protections over public interest and sustainable development. It details the financial and regulatory burdens placed on states by ISDS awards and advocates for a proactive, holistic reform of investment governance.

The document examines the role of legal frameworks in governing foreign direct investment (FDI) and critiques traditional investment treaties and the ISDS system. It argues that these frameworks often prioritize investor protections over public interests, creating a 'regulatory chill' and imposing high financial burdens on states, particularly in the context of the energy transition. The guide proposes a shift toward treaties focused on cooperation and sustainable development, while detailing various national, bilateral, and multilateral reform strategies.

Civil society organisations are protesting the handover of McDonald’s-branded ‘Mi Desk’ desks to Cape Town schools, facilitated by the Minister of Basic Education. The groups argue that such donations are not charity but junk food marketing targeting vulnerable children amidst a crisis of malnutrition and obesity. They contend that corporate philanthropy fills gaps created by state austerity and disinvestment, particularly in rural and working-class communities. The statement calls for the immediate recall of branded desks, the finalisation of regulations to restrict the marketing of harmful foods to children, and proper funding of education by the National Treasury to remove the need for corporate partnerships.

Reclaim Finance critiques the Dutch bank ING for implementing a 'double standard' in its climate policy. While ING is the first major international bank to announce an end to direct project financing for new LNG export terminals starting in 2026, it continues to provide corporate financial services to the companies developing these projects. Between 2021 and 2023, ING provided over $5 billion to LNG expansion, ranking it as the second-largest European financier of the sector. The document highlights that corporate financing, which remains permitted under ING's new policy, accounts for 96% of financing allocated to the fossil fuel industry. Specific examples of continued support include $3 billion provided to Venture Global and the bank's role in the company's January 2025 IPO, as well as bond issuances for Cheniere Energy in early 2024.

Reclaim Finance criticizes ING for a 'double standard' in its climate policy: while the bank is the first major international bank to announce an end to direct project financing for new LNG export terminals starting in 2026, it continues to provide corporate financing to major LNG developers. Between 2021 and 2023, ING provided over US$5 billion to LNG expansion, making it the second-largest European financier in this sector. The document highlights ING's significant financial ties to Venture Global, including US$3 billion allocated between 2021 and 2023 and participation in its January 2025 initial public offering, as well as its role in issuing bonds for Cheniere Energy in early 2024.

The research examines how green industrial policies and subsidies affect the cost of low-carbon steel production in the US and EU, concluding that subsidies have a more significant impact on cost reduction than renewable energy costs, which creates a tension between maintaining a level playing field and accelerating climate action.

The Canadian Climate Institute warns that current land-use policies could lead to over 540,000 new homes being built in flood-risk zones and 220,000 in high-wildfire-risk areas by 2030. This trajectory could increase annual flood damages by up to $2 billion and wildfire damages by $1.1 billion. The report identifies critical gaps in provincial regulations, a lack of up-to-date risk mapping, and 'moral hazard' created by disaster assistance programs that encourage risky construction. It recommends strengthening land-use regulations, integrating risk data into housing and infrastructure funding, and mandating risk disclosure during real estate transactions.

The report examines the implementation of the EU and UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) and the preliminary findings of Australia's Carbon Leakage Review. It highlights the shift from free allocation of emissions permits to border adjustments to prevent carbon leakage, where emissions reductions in one country are offset by increases elsewhere. The EU CBAM is set for full implementation by 2026, and the UK CBAM by 2027. Australia is considering a BCA as a 'robust underpinning' to its Safeguard Mechanism. The document also analyzes WTO discussions from 2020 to 2024, noting a transition from general concerns about protectionism and WTO compliance toward specific discussions on cooperation and interoperability.

Carbon Market Watch opposes efforts by politicians in countries like Poland and Czechia to reverse or delay the EU's ETS2 carbon pricing system for buildings and road transport. The organization argues that the ETS2 is critical for achieving a 42% emission reduction in these sectors by 2030 and a 55% net reduction overall by 2050. It highlights that the system includes social protections, such as the €86 billion Social Climate Fund and a €45 per tonne soft price cap, to protect vulnerable populations. The document warns that weakening the system would increase future economic costs, exacerbate the climate crisis, and undermine the EU's energy sovereignty.

A joint call from over 130 signatories requesting an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods by 2026 to improve health, environmental resilience, and strategic autonomy in protein production.

In 2024, the EU power sector saw fossil fuel generation fall to its lowest level in over forty years, reaching 793 TWh. This decline was driven primarily by record solar growth, which saw generation increase by 22% to 304 TWh, overtaking coal for the first time. Renewables accounted for 47% of EU power generation, while clean sources reached a record 71% of the mix. Despite a small 1% increase in total EU power demand and increased exports to the UK and Ukraine, coal and gas generation fell by 16% and 6% respectively, leading to a 9% drop in power sector emissions to an estimated 585 million tonnes of CO2.

The document argues that increasing irrigation efficiency without restrictive policies can paradoxically increase overall resource use and aggravate water scarcity. It identifies three specific paradoxes: the efficiency paradox, where tighter water cycling increases use; the scale paradox, which manifests as scarcity and salinity in lower basin reaches; and the sectoral paradox, where declining ecological flows impact urban supply, energy generation, and ecosystems. These dynamics are examined through the lens of central Chile, the southwestern US, and south-central Spain.

The study examines administrative management levels and regulations regarding land-use planning in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, and Uruguay, noting significant diversity in instruments and legal frameworks. Spain is identified as having the most extensive experience and regulation due to its national history and membership in the European Community. In the Americas, Mexico and Brazil are noted as pioneers in creating land-use planning norms and plans, while Spain and Argentina are highlighted for their experiences in rural land-use planning.

The Europe Gas Tracker 2025 identifies a sprawling planned hydrogen network in Europe consisting of 12 import projects for hydrogen derivatives, 50,165 km of pipelines, and 44.6 GW of hydrogen-burning power capacity. The report argues this scale is unrealistic for decarbonization due to energy inefficiencies and a massive gap between projected green hydrogen production and the network's requirements. Most projects remain in early stages, with no hydrogen derivative import projects having reached final investment decisions. Meanwhile, the report notes that the rapid growth of LNG import capacity, which increased by 31% since February 2022, is slowing as structural gas demand falls and overcapacity emerges.

The report argues that the climate crisis is fundamentally linked to 'mimetic desire,' where individuals pursue luxury goods and status symbols not for their utility, but to emulate others. This cycle of conspicuous consumption fuels unsustainable economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. The author explores various philosophical and economic responses, including degrowth communism, minimalism, and the concept of 'Buen Vivir,' while concluding that neither perpetual growth nor utopian degrowth fully resolves the tension between fulfilling essential human needs and maintaining planetary boundaries. The text identifies a 'climate–development trilemma' where societal stability, basic needs, and resource efficiency are in constant conflict.

The Sevilla Commitment outlines a comprehensive global strategy to mobilize resources for the 2030 Agenda, focusing on domestic resource mobilization, private capital, international cooperation, and debt sustainability. It calls for systemic reforms to the international financial architecture to increase the representation of developing countries and lower the cost of capital. Key initiatives include the creation of a global central debt data registry, the operationalization of the Africa Credit Rating Agency, and the expansion of blended finance to catalyze sustainable investments.

The report analyzes the spread of disinformation following a major power outage on the Iberian Peninsula on 28 April 2025. It identifies a pattern where initial speculation about cyberattacks transitioned into coordinated narratives blaming renewable energy and 'net zero' policies, largely driven by English-language actors and UK press. The document also details the emergence of conspiracy theories framing the event as a 'test run' for government control or a 'climate lockdown' linked to Agenda 2030. Analysis across Spanish, Portuguese, and English languages shows that X/Twitter was the primary vector for these narratives, while YouTube and TikTok favored conspiracy content.

The report finds that global warming of 0.3°C since 2015 has already increased the annual average of hot days by 11 per country. While current emissions pledges have reduced projected warming from 4°C to 2.6°C, the latter would still result in an average of 57 additional hot days per year compared to today. Case studies of six major heat events show that some would have been nearly impossible without climate change, and all have increased in intensity and likelihood. The document argues that while heat early warning systems have expanded, adaptation finance and systemic urban and labor reforms are insufficient to meet the escalating risks.

The report outlines nine fundamental principles of resilience science designed for decision-makers. It defines resilience as the capacity to cope, adapt, and transform, emphasizing that it is an active process rather than a passive state. Key themes include the necessity of diversity, the role of social and ecological relationships, the importance of managing trade-offs through collaborative governance, and the requirement to address power imbalances to ensure equitable outcomes. The document argues that proactive investment in resilience provides a 'triple dividend' by avoiding losses, stimulating economic growth, and delivering social and environmental benefits.

The document explores the intersection of culture, politics, and ecology, highlighting how neoliberalism, far-right nationalism, and generative AI threaten artistic freedom and worker security. It advocates for 'green cultural policymaking' that prioritises accessibility, rural inclusion, and the protection of creators. Through various case studies—including Spain's Cultural Rights Plan, the impact of AI on indigenous knowledge, and the use of culture as resistance in Ukraine—it argues that arts and culture should be viewed as essential social infrastructure rather than mere drivers of GDP growth.