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This document contains the remarks delivered by Manish Bapna, WRI Executive Vice President and Managing Director and co-chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee, at the OGP Global Summit in Paris on December 7, 2016. Bapna argues that while open government cannot solve all global problems alone, these problems cannot be solved without it, specifically citing the rise of populism, the refugee crisis, extreme poverty, and climate change as failures of governance.

This report provides a 2016 progress update on the first ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates global trends in natural forest loss, private sector commitments to deforestation-free supply chains, restoration pledges under the Bonn Challenge and UNFCCC, and the evolution of international climate finance and forest governance.

Lifting Europe's Dark Cloud is a report published in October 2016 by a coalition of environmental and health organizations. It analyzes the health impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Europe and evaluates the effectiveness of the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and the proposed revised Large Combustion Plants Best Available Techniques Reference Document (LCP BREF). The report argues that current pollution limits are undermined by widespread 'derogations' (exemptions) and that adopting stricter, proven Best Available Techniques (BAT) would significantly reduce premature deaths and healthcare costs across the continent.

The East Africa Crowdfunding Landscape Study, published by FSD Africa in October 2016, analyzes the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending ecosystems in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, comparing them with more mature markets in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The report finds that while the region is experiencing rapid growth, it is primarily driven by international donation and concessionary lending platforms from the global North, rather than native equity or for-profit lending models, which are hindered by regulatory uncertainty and a lack of investment-ready MSMEs.

This research paper quantifies the conditions contributing to annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at two UK EMEP 'supersites' to inform mitigation strategies for long-term human health burdens.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines a framework for collaboration between the United Kingdom and China to expand the global green bond market. It identifies the UK as a global hub for green finance and China as a leader in policy support, proposing joint actions to scale cross-border issuance, harmonise green definitions, and develop robust project pipelines to meet the massive investment needs of the low-carbon transition.

This submission by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and partners outlines recommendations for increasing the resiliency and sustainability of the Canadian health care sector in response to climate change. It emphasizes the need for infrastructure renewal, the adoption of renewable energy, and the integration of climate resiliency assessments into health care facility management to ensure continuous service delivery during extreme weather events.

This research paper by Thatshisiwe Ndlovu for the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the long-term fiscal history of Botswana, tracing its evolution from pre-colonial tribal tributes to a modern tax state. The author argues that Botswana's current fiscal capacity was shaped by a 'skeletal' colonial tax state characterized by indirect rule and negotiation with traditional leaders, which prevented the violent tax rebellions seen in other British colonies. The paper details the transition from colonial hut and poll taxes to a post-independence system heavily reliant on diamond revenues, and subsequent reforms to diversify the tax base following the 2008 global economic crisis.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) conducted a preliminary compliance assessment to determine if the European Commission followed the European Parliament's July 2015 recommendations regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), specifically concerning public health, environment, and democracy.

This research paper analyzes the potential economic and trade implications for South Africa if the United Kingdom were to exit the European Union (Brexit). It examines the current scale of bilateral trade and investment, evaluates three potential Brexit scenarios, and discusses the risks to South Africa's financial stability and trade agreements.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, arguing that these principles have failed to stop corporate impunity or provide access to justice, and advocating for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.

This research paper argues that traditional Cost of Service Regulation (COSR) incentivizes investor-owned utilities to over-invest in capital infrastructure at the expense of more efficient, non-utility-owned or non-capital alternatives. Through three case studies, the authors demonstrate that multiyear revenue caps and Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs) can better align utility shareholder profits with societal goals, such as carbon reduction and cost-effective grid modernization.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for G20 countries to reform fossil fuel subsidies. It advocates for the use of voluntary peer review processes to increase transparency, the establishment of an ambitious and defined timetable for phasing out inefficient subsidies, and the implementation of targeted support to protect the poorest populations during the transition.

This report by Ember analyzes European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) data for 2015, excluding aviation. It details a slight overall decrease in emissions, driven by trends in the power and heat sectors and specific national shifts in fuel use, while noting that 10% of emissions data—primarily from Poland—was unavailable at the time of publication.

This report by Sandbag analyzes how flaws in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) have created perverse incentives for the European cement sector, leading to over-allocation of free allowances and a failure to incentivize deep decarbonization. The authors argue that the ETS has effectively subsidized the production of high-carbon clinker, resulting in a net import of emissions into the EU.

This final report details the outcomes of the CADWAGO project (October 2012 – March 2016), an international research initiative led by the Stockholm Environment Institute. The project aimed to address global water security and climate change adaptation by promoting systemic transformations in water governance to reconcile food security, renewable energy, and ecosystem services.

This report analyzes the subsidies provided by the United Kingdom government for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. It argues that the combination of price guarantees, loan guarantees, and capped liabilities creates significant financial risk for the public, with total costs that are difficult to estimate due to long-term uncertainties in energy prices and the history of nuclear cost overruns.

The report reviews the European power sector in 2015, noting a record increase in renewables generation that was largely offset by increased electricity demand and a decline in nuclear and hydro output. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions fell by only an estimated 0.5% in 2015, following a much larger 7.5% drop in 2014. The author maintains a forecast that EU ETS emissions will fall 21% from 2014 to 2020, potentially leading to 30% economy-wide CO2 cuts by 2020.

This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of the global offshore wind energy sector as of early 2016, contrasting the established European market with the emerging industry in the United States. It details the technical advantages of offshore wind over onshore wind, current installation capacities, key market players, and the economic and environmental impacts of the transition.

As of 2016, Europe dominated the global offshore wind market, with the UK, Germany, and Denmark leading in installed capacity. The United States, while possessing vast potential (over 4,000 GW), was in the early stages of deployment with its first commercial project at Block Island. The document highlights the technical advantages of offshore wind—such as stronger winds and proximity to coastal population centers—and notes the significant job creation potential in the EU sector.