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The briefing identifies three primary shortcomings in the ICES scientific advice used by the EU and UK: a lack of focus on rebuilding stocks above sustainable levels (BMSY), insufficient precaution to prevent stocks from falling below biological limits (Blim), and a failure to integrate ecosystem health objectives such as food web integrity. It calls for a formal roadmap to address these flaws and recommends that fishery managers apply additional precaution by setting catch levels below the ICES 'headline' advice until recovery-focused and ecosystem-based advice is available.

The briefing argues that the lack of comprehensive sharing arrangements for fish stocks shared between the EU, UK, and third countries often leads to catch levels exceeding scientific advice. It calls for the adoption of ecosystem-based fisheries management, the implementation of a genuine precautionary approach, and the avoidance of unilateral quota setting. Specifically, it urges the EU and UK to ensure total fishing limits do not exceed scientifically advised levels and to prioritize resolving allocation disputes for pelagic stocks like mackerel, herring, and blue whiting. The document also emphasizes the need for transparency under the Aarhus Convention and the use of ICES scientific advice as the primary basis for management decisions.

The document advocates for a shift from single-stock fisheries management to an ecosystem-based approach in the EU and UK. It argues that current scientific advice from ICES and STECF often fails to account for the needs of predators and the impacts of climate change. The authors recommend setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) below headline scientific advice to rebuild fish populations well above sustainable levels (BMSY) and to safeguard the food web, particularly for forage fish like sandeel, sprat, and herring.

The document argues that EU and UK fisheries management has historically prioritized profitable stocks over vulnerable ones, leading to a cycle of overfishing and 'choking'—where fisheries must stop operating because they run out of quota for less abundant species despite having quota for target stocks. To break this cycle, the authors recommend that Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for abundant stocks be set below single-stock scientific advice to protect bycatch, and that decision-makers utilize mixed fishery MSY considerations from ICES geared toward rebuilding depleted populations. Additional proposed measures include implementing spatial closures, mandating Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) for full catch documentation, and requiring the use of the best available technology to improve gear selectivity.

The briefing highlights the failure of EU Member States to reach target fishing mortality by January 2025 under the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan (West Med MAP). It criticizes the lack of transparency in the 'compensation mechanism' used to reclaim fishing days and calls for robust actions, including strengthened fishing mortality reductions, safeguard measures for critically depleted stocks, and enhanced selectivity and control systems.

The document highlights widespread non-compliance with the landing obligation (LO) in the EU and UK, noting that illegal discarding remains 'prolific' and undermines stock assessments. It argues that setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) based on catch advice while illegal discarding continues allows for unsustainable fishing levels. To remedy this, the authors recommend the swift roll-out of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM), setting TACs lower than ICES maximum catch advice in the absence of robust controls, and making quota 'top-ups' conditional on demonstrated vessel compliance. The briefing also suggests using precautionary multipliers in catch accounting to incentivise selectivity and promoting quota redistribution to avoid raising overall TACs.

The document argues that EU and UK fisheries management has failed to rebuild depleted fish stocks, often exceeding scientific advice to avoid short-term economic disruptions. It highlights the risk of 'phantom recoveries' where stock assessments overestimate productivity. To break the cycle of overfishing and 'choke' risks in mixed fisheries, the authors recommend setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) strictly in line with scientific advice, implementing rigorous rebuilding plans with remote electronic monitoring, and reducing TACs for healthy stocks to protect depleted bycatch species.

As of May 2025, China's operational solar and wind capacity reached 1.4 billion kW, surpassing fossil fuel capacity for the first time in Q1 2025. The country leads globally in planned and under-construction projects, with over 1.3 billion kW in the pipeline. While offshore wind represents only 9% of total wind capacity, China accounts for 49% of global cumulative offshore installations as of March 2025. The document highlights the role of coastal provinces like Jiangsu and Guangdong in driving this growth and suggests transitioning from local to national-level policies and adopting international bidding models to ensure long-term stability and technical innovation.

China is advancing a 1.3 TW pipeline of utility-scale solar and wind projects, with operating capacity reaching 1.4 TW by 2025. While solar and onshore wind are expanding rapidly, particularly in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, offshore wind has emerged as a global powerhouse, accounting for 50% of global capacity. However, the offshore sector faces challenges from the 2021 phaseout of national subsidies and competition from planned coal and gas capacity in coastal provinces. The document argues for a transition from provincial development to a coordinated national policy framework incorporating hybrid auction mechanisms and robust spatial planning.

This report presents guidelines for designing Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) mechanisms, based on global stakeholder dialogues. It offers specific recommendations on measuring embodied GHG emissions, determining sectoral coverage, managing revenues, and crediting foreign carbon prices. The guidance emphasizes 'parallel treatment' between domestic and foreign producers and suggests mechanisms to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing countries in their low-carbon transition, while cautioning against blanket country exemptions to maintain the effectiveness of leakage prevention.

The document outlines a strategic framework for negotiating protocols under the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN FCITC). It identifies two 'early protocols'—cross-border services and tax dispute resolution—and several 'possible protocols' including the digital economy, illicit financial flows, high-net-worth individuals, and environmental challenges. The report argues that the UN FCITC can provide a more inclusive and effective alternative to OECD-led frameworks, particularly for developing countries, by establishing global standards for taxing the digital economy, combating tax evasion, and coordinating climate-related fiscal policies.

The report outlines a strategic framework for negotiating protocols under the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN FCITC). It identifies two 'early protocols'—taxation of cross-border services and the resolution of tax disputes—and several 'potential protocols' covering the digital economy, illicit financial flows, high-net-worth individuals, environmental taxation, information exchange, mutual assistance, and harmful tax practices. The document argues that the UN FCITC can provide a more inclusive and effective alternative to OECD-led initiatives, which often disadvantage developing nations. Key recommendations include establishing a global digital services tax, creating a global asset register for beneficial ownership, implementing a global minimum tax on the super-rich, and developing a coordinated multilateral environmental tax architecture to support net-zero goals.

The report outlines a strategic framework for negotiating protocols under the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, focusing on enhancing tax revenue and fairness for developing countries. It details two preliminary protocols—cross-border services and tax dispute resolution—and several potential protocols covering the digital economy, illicit financial flows, high-net-worth individuals, environmental taxation, information exchange, mutual administrative assistance, and harmful tax practices. The document argues for a shift away from OECD-led standards, which it claims often disadvantage developing nations, toward a more inclusive UN-led multilateral architecture.

The report finds that Agirc-Arrco, ERAFP, and the FRR continue to invest hundreds of millions of euros in fossil fuels and lack robust commitments to stop funding new oil and gas projects. In contrast, Ircantec is highlighted as a positive example for its strict fossil fuel exclusion policy. The report also criticizes these institutions for delegating the majority of their assets to external managers, such as BlackRock and JP Morgan, who often oppose climate goals or have retreated from ESG commitments. Furthermore, the report notes significant gaps in transparency, particularly regarding the publication of portfolio compositions and voting records at general meetings.

The report finds that the European car leasing sector is largely unaccountable for its climate impact, with widespread opacity in reporting and weak, short-term climate commitments. Despite leasing accounting for over half of new car registrations in the EU, most companies lack science-based targets or a commitment to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. The authors argue that voluntary action is insufficient and call for binding CO2 emissions reduction targets and harmonized reporting through the forthcoming EU Fleets Regulation.

The document examines the intersection of trade and the bioeconomy, arguing that while international trade can exacerbate biodiversity loss, it can also be leveraged through price-based, support, and regulatory measures to promote sustainability. It highlights the economic significance of biodiversity-based trade and calls for enhanced international cooperation, particularly through the G20, to align policies, remove harmful subsidies, and support low- and middle-income countries in their transition.

The document proposes a 'deterrence by denial' framework to dissuade the use of biological weapons by reducing the likelihood that such attacks would achieve their intended goals. This strategy is built upon four pillars: detection (early warning systems), response (preparedness and rapid action), mitigation (long-term resilience and medical countermeasures), and attribution (identifying the source of an attack). The authors assert that the necessary tools—including metagenomic sequencing, AI-driven surveillance, and advanced biomanufacturing—already exist and can be implemented through a whole-of-government approach. The paper also addresses challenges such as the 'dual-use dilemma,' where defensive biosecurity efforts may be misinterpreted as offensive programs, and the impact of disinformation on public health responses.

The Petrogandaprisen 2025 identifies numerous instances of the oil industry's influence in Norway, categorizing nominees into eight areas: education for children and youth, sports, public festivals, campaigns, media and public debate, research, art and culture, and health and humanitarian work. The document argues that companies like Equinor, Vår Energi, and Aker BP use sponsorships and partnerships to create a positive image, target young audiences, and obstruct climate action. Specific examples include Equinor's sponsorship of the First Lego League and the Festspillene i Bergen, Vår Energi's funding of regional sports halls, and Aker BP's 'Rebels' marketing campaigns. The report also criticizes the role of media outlets like NRK and Dagens Næringsliv, as well as research institutions and humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross, for facilitating or ignoring the industry's impact on the climate crisis.

This report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the potential for repurposing abandoned and soon-to-be-closed surface coal mines into solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. It argues that these sites are ideal for solar development due to their existing proximity to grid infrastructure and the need for land reclamation, offering a pathway to align clean energy goals with local job creation and environmental restoration.

The UK is the second largest oil and gas producer and third largest methane emitter from such operations in Europe. While upstream emissions fell by 29 percent between 2020 and 2022, venting and flaring still accounted for 71 percent of sectoral emissions in 2022. The document highlights that official reporting may underestimate offshore emissions by up to five times. To maintain international leadership and comply with EU regulations—which will require importers to report on methane control this year and meet intensity thresholds by 2030—the UK should adopt a regulation based on prescriptive rules (such as quarterly leak detection and repair), performance standards for emissions intensity, economic incentives, and robust monitoring and verification systems.