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The document contends that requiring social grant recipients in South Africa to prove they are actively seeking work is an ineffective policy that ignores the structural nature of the country's unemployment. It argues that such conditions would exclude millions in need, impose high administrative and compliance costs, and violate constitutional rights to social assistance. The author specifically critiques proposals from the World Bank, National Treasury, and political parties (DA and Rise Mzansi) to replace the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant with a conditional work-seekers' grant, noting that the cost of job searching (approximately R1469 for youth) far exceeds the grant value (R370).

The research paper identifies six recurring themes in due diligence regulations: risk management, transparency, traceability, legality, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the challenges faced by Global South actors and SMEs in complying with these often unilaterally developed laws. The author suggests a 'smart-mix' approach, where voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and digital tools (such as satellite imagery and traceability platforms) complement public policies to reduce the compliance burden.

The document argues that while WTO rules provide significant policy space for LDCs to invest in agriculture through the 'Green Box' and 'Development Box', the primary barrier to increasing agricultural productivity is a lack of fiscal space rather than regulatory constraints. It suggests that new WTO rules should focus on reducing trade-distorting 'Amber Box' subsidies in developed and large developing countries to make LDC agriculture more competitive and attractive to private investors. Additionally, it recommends improving LDC market access by simplifying sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) measures and expanding duty-free market access for key agricultural exports.

The document argues that while WTO rules provide significant policy space for LDCs to invest in agriculture through 'Green Box' and 'Development' categories, these countries are primarily constrained by fiscal limitations rather than trade rules. It suggests that food security in LDCs can be improved by reducing trade-distorting 'Amber Box' subsidies in developed nations for key products like cotton and rice, and by easing non-tariff barriers and import duties to stimulate LDC exports.

The report finds that the majority of Lloyd's managing agents lack formal policies to stop underwriting new fossil fuel projects, contradicting the market's net-zero goals. While some have restricted coal, very few have restricted oil and gas, and none have restricted LNG export terminals. The analysis identifies specific deals where Lloyd's syndicates provided coverage for major US coal mines, Arctic oil and gas assets, and US LNG terminals.

The report examines the gap between high-integrity net zero standards—such as those from the UN High-Level Expert Group (HLEG)—and the actual practices of corporations and financial institutions (FIs). It identifies significant shortcomings in target coverage, fossil fuel phase-out policies, and the credibility of transition plans. The authors argue that voluntary commitments are often unrealistic without government intervention and propose a 'road to regulation' consisting of an 'accountability lane' for oversight and an 'ambition lane' to translate voluntary pledges into economy-wide policy mandates.

The paper addresses the lack of a working definition for the 'active DSO' role amidst the transition to net zero. It introduces a framework to measure DSO activity across dimensions including flexibility, innovation, and the integration of distributed energy resources, specifically applying this methodology to UK electricity and natural gas DSOs.

NGOs are demanding an international investigation into reports that Mozambican security forces committed massacres, torture, and sexual violence near the Mozambique LNG project site between July and September 2021. The statement highlights TotalEnergies' controversial relationship with the Mozambican military and calls on financial institutions to cease their support for the project due to severe human rights and environmental risks.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) outlines key policy priorities for the incoming European Commission, emphasizing the need for a 'Clean Industrial Deal' that aligns competitiveness with a 90% emissions reduction target by 2040. The document advocates for 'clean firm power'—including geothermal, nuclear, and CCS—to complement renewables and ensure grid reliability. It calls for a 'reality check' on hydrogen targets, a more ambitious implementation of the Methane Regulation (including agricultural emissions), and the development of a clear strategy for carbon removals and emerging technologies like fusion and superhot rock geothermal energy.

The UK officially entered a coal-free power era on 1 October 2024 with the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant. This transition saw power sector emissions drop by 74% between 2012 and 2023, driven by a combination of carbon pricing, renewable energy growth, and grid investment. The report argues that while the coal phase-out provides a roadmap, the next goal of clean power by 2030 will require a more complex whole-systems approach to displace gas and manage grid stability.

The analysis of over 30,000 social media posts reveals that climate misinformation often outperforms pro-climate narratives in reach and engagement. The report identifies a tactical playbook used by accounts to game platform algorithms, including the use of the news cycle and the seeding of misinformation from outside the UK. These activities are linked to financial incentives, including funding from the fossil fuel industry and direct monetization through advertising or merchandise, which ultimately slows the implementation of climate policy in the UK.

The world is on track to install 593 GW of solar power in 2024, a 29% increase over 2023. China remains the dominant market, projected to account for 56% of global additions. Growth is widespread, with significant surges in India and the US, and emerging markets like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia showing rapid increases in solar panel imports. This trajectory puts the goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 within reach, provided grid and storage constraints are addressed.

The document examines Zimbabwe's position as Africa's largest holder of lithium reserves amidst a global surge in demand for critical raw materials for electric vehicle batteries. It argues that while lithium mining offers a path to upper-middle-income status by 2030, the country faces significant risks from corruption, resource leakage, and a lack of industrial capacity for local beneficiation. The paper highlights the dominance of Chinese investment and the challenges of artisanal mining conflicts. It recommends strengthening tax regimes, mandating technology transfer, and pursuing regional collaboration to move beyond the export of unprocessed ores.

The document argues that the EU has failed its legal deadline to end overfishing by 2020 and calls for 2025 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) to be set well below scientific advice to build ecosystem resilience against climate change. It specifically recommends stricter management for the Western Mediterranean, depleted stocks with zero-catch advice, and deep-sea species, while urging the full implementation of the Landing Obligation through remote electronic monitoring.

A group of NGOs is calling on the EU and UK to adopt precautionary, ecosystem-based fishing limits for 2025. They argue that current practices often exceed scientific advice, undermining biodiversity and climate resilience. The letter demands catch limits well below single-stock advice, full implementation of the western Mediterranean multiannual plan, and increased transparency in negotiations.

A coalition of environmental organisations calls on the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to adopt precautionary, ecosystem-based catch limits for 2025. The authors argue that current scientific advice often fails to account for ecosystem integrity and that setting limits at or above this advice undermines marine biodiversity and climate resilience. They specifically recommend setting limits below International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice for forage fish and abundant stocks in mixed fisheries, eliminating bycatch, and increasing transparency in negotiations with the EU.

The document is a letter to the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture calling for a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach to setting 2025 fishing limits. The NGOs argue that the EU has failed its legal obligation to end overfishing by 2020 and that current scientific advice does not fully account for ecosystem integrity. They demand catch limits below ICES and STECF advice, full implementation of the western Mediterranean multiannual plan, the elimination of bycatch and discards, and increased transparency in decision-making to ensure long-term ocean health and climate mitigation capacity.

The document argues that the UK has consistently set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) above scientific advice, failing to meet its own legal commitments under the Fisheries Act 2020 and international agreements. It recommends setting 2025 catch limits well below the maximum levels advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to create a 'climate buffer' and prioritize rapid stock recovery. Key proposals include implementing Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) to combat illegal discarding, adopting an ecosystem-based approach that accounts for predator needs (especially for forage fish), and reinstating TACs for stocks where they were removed. The authors emphasize the need for a precautionary approach to deep-sea species and the urgent recovery of severely depleted stocks, such as Celtic Sea and Irish Sea cod, which are currently below biomass limit reference points.

The document identifies food systems as a primary threat to biodiversity and proposes a tailored approach to transformation through the Great Food Puzzle series, which clusters countries with similar socioeconomic factors. For the United States, the author recommends redirecting agri-food subsidies via the Farm Bill, halving food loss and waste by 2030, establishing deforestation-free supply chains, and leveraging AI and machine learning for regenerative production. It highlights the Food Waste Warrior program as a successful model for reducing school food waste and empowering students to advocate for composting legislation.

The EU CRMA and UK CMS aim to reduce dependence on China and secure supplies for the green transition, but their domestic focus may hinder African industrialization. While the EU targets 10% domestic mining and 40% processing by 2030, its international partnerships are criticized as extractivist. The brief highlights a misalignment in 'criticality' definitions, where African states prioritize regional industrialization and specific minerals like gold or coal, which may conflict with Western climate goals or sanctions. It concludes that without a shift toward supporting in-country processing and reducing certification costs for local firms, these strategies will fail to create mutually beneficial partnerships.