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The 'Sustainable Africa' scenario, which combines differentiated carbon taxes and energy efficiency policies, is projected to significantly reduce fossil fuel emissions while accelerating economic growth and reducing extreme poverty in Africa by 2050 and 2063.

The document reports that 2024 was the warmest year on record, marking the first calendar year where global surface air temperatures exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.5°C. It details a surge in weather-related disasters, with 62% of all such events since 1984 occurring after 2004, and notes that over 240 million internal displacements occurred between 2013 and 2023 due to natural disasters. The text emphasizes that atmospheric CO2 concentrations reached record highs in 2024, hitting 426.7 ppm in May, which underscores the failure of current global policies to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement targets.

The document examines the role of regional and preferential trade agreements (RTAs/PTAs) in eliminating trade barriers, specifically discussing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the world's largest free trade area by membership. It explains the economic tension between 'trade creation', which improves welfare by shifting production to efficient members, and 'trade diversion', which can cause welfare losses by shifting imports from the most efficient global suppliers to preferential partners.

The report examines the evolution of governance in the Global South, tracing the impact of colonial legacies, Cold War geopolitics, and structural adjustment programmes. It analyzes current governance performance using World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, noting a disconnect between political participation and institutional capacity in some regions, while others show improved state capacity despite limited democratic freedoms.

The document argues that Africa's health and WaSH trajectory is a global public good, where improvements could provide a demographic dividend for the global economy, while failures could amplify global pandemic risks and drive migration. It highlights the role of digital innovation, local manufacturing, and regional leadership in shaping global health intelligence and governance.

The research paper examines the role of Africa's natural carbon sinks, particularly in the Congo Basin and the Sahel, and evaluates the potential for a global carbon tax to fund the continent's energy transition and conservation efforts. It analyzes various carbon pricing scenarios, concluding that a differentiated payment model aligns best with the Paris Agreement's principles of fairness and historical responsibility.

The report finds that while the percentage of Africans living in extreme poverty has declined since the 1990s, the absolute number of poor people continues to rise due to rapid population growth. Africa is projected to miss the 2030 SDG goal of eliminating extreme poverty, with several countries likely to maintain poverty rates above 50% by that date. The document attributes these challenges to high inequality, over-reliance on natural resources, and bad governance, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa carries the largest global burden of extreme poverty.

The document analyzes the trajectory of Africa's fossil fuel emissions, noting that while the continent currently contributes less than 5% of global emissions, this share is projected to rise to 12.5% by 2063 under the Current Path and 15% under the Combined scenario. It identifies a small number of countries—most notably Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa—as the primary drivers of the continent's carbon footprint, with Nigeria projected to become the continent's largest emitter by 2050.

The document analyzes Africa's economic trajectory, noting that while the absolute size of the economy is growing, its share of global GDP remains stagnant at around 3% despite a rapidly increasing population. It highlights a widening gap in GDP per capita between Africa and the rest of the world, attributing this to a reliance on raw material exports, the 'resource curse', and a slow recovery from COVID-19. By 2043, Nigeria is projected to become the world's third-largest country by population, and the five largest African economies are expected to be Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

The report analyzes global carbon emissions, noting that 2023 saw record levels of 36.1 billion tons of CO2 equivalent from fossil fuels. It highlights the dominance of a few producers and the significant impact of coal and methane. While China and the EU are pursuing decarbonization, the US experience fluctuates with political administrations. The report forecasts a peak in emissions by 2037/8, but warns that atmospheric CO2 concentrations could reach 551 ppm by 2063, potentially leading to a 3°C temperature rise. Africa is identified as particularly vulnerable, facing increasing emissions from population growth and significant forest loss, with 100 million hectares cleared over three decades.

The Clean Air Task Force reports that New Mexico's 2026 legislative session achieved progress in clean energy and environmental protection through targeted investments and legislation, despite a short, budget-focused calendar. Key successes included updating the Advanced Energy Equipment Tax Credit (HB 154), passing C-PACE financing (HB 165) to support a $1 billion investment by Pacific Fusion, and increasing funding for the oil and gas reclamation fund (HB 80). While the Low-Carbon Construction Material Rebate Act (HB 153) was vetoed by the Governor, the General Appropriation Act of 2026 provided significant funding for geothermal projects ($10 million), grid modernization ($10 million), and low-interest loans for emissions-reducing technologies in underserved communities ($5 million).

The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a global Delphi survey and scenario stress-testing, to identify 'weak signals' of change that could trigger systemic disruption. The authors argue that moving beyond linear extrapolations of mega-trends toward anticipatory governance and strategic foresight is essential for maintaining planetary health and economic resilience in an era of converging crises.

The NewClimate Institute argues that while the second draft of the SBTi Automotive Net-Zero Standard shows improvement, it requires mandatory volume targets for procured materials and mandatory zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales share targets to prevent uneven ambition. It also recommends maintaining disaggregated ZEV sales targets by geography and vehicle type to avoid masking slow progress in specific markets.

In 2025, the U.S. generated a record 853,210 GWh from solar and wind, accounting for 19% of total electricity generation. This represents a more than threefold increase since 2016, with solar generation growing more than seven-fold and wind doubling. Despite this growth, the document notes that the U.S. faces new challenges, including the repeal of clean energy tax credits via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 and the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2026. These policy shifts, combined with rising electricity demand from data centers, are projected to increase heat-trapping pollution and raise average annual household energy costs by over $280 by 2035.

The 60th meeting of the IAI Executive Council addressed the critical financial impact of the United States' withdrawal from the institute, which could lead to a two-thirds decrease in operational resources. The Council decided to form an ad hoc advisory committee to develop restructuring recommendations and scheduled an Extraordinary Conference of the Parties for March 9, 2026. Despite these challenges, the Directorate reported progress in diversifying funding through agreements with development banks like CAF and FONPLATA, and advancing research on climate-induced migration, the climate-environment-health nexus, and forest-related projects.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) testified in support of Illinois bills S.B. 3118 and H.B. 4728, arguing that private equity ownership of intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) services prioritizes short-term profits over patient care. PESP highlights risks such as 'dividend recapitalization'—where firms like Centerbridge Partners and Vistria Group extracted over $737 million from providers Sevita and Help at Home—and the case of Bain Capital's Broadstep Behavioral Health, whose license to operate group homes in Illinois was revoked in July 2024 due to repeat quality standard violations.

The document argues that expanding access to affordable, sustainable energy in low- and middle-income countries is critical for reducing disease and improving healthcare services. It identifies energy poverty—specifically reliance on biomass fuels—as a barrier that causes harmful air pollution and leaves health facilities without reliable electricity. The paper positions the clean energy transition as a historic opportunity to achieve public health benefits, health equity, and climate mitigation and adaptation.

The document explains that rising temperatures and CO2 concentrations are extending pollen production and mold growth, leading to increased health risks and economic impacts. It encourages reporters to link these seasonal changes to global carbon pollution while highlighting personal adaptation strategies and regional examples from the US, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

The briefing asserts that shrinking civic space globally threatens the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). While EITI possesses a framework of tools—including the 'Protocol: Participation of civil society' and Requirement 1.3 of the 2023 Standard—the document argues these are often underutilized due to a lack of political will or knowledge. It calls for making the monitoring of civic space mandatory for multi-stakeholder groups (MSGs) and urges the EITI International Board and Secretariat to move from general commitments to concrete, time-bound actions, specifically targeting the June 2026 Global Conference in the Philippines.

The methodology establishes a framework for the 'integrated replacement' of fossil-fuel generators (such as diesel or natural gas gensets and mini-grids) with greenfield renewable energy systems (RES), including solar PV, wind, and hydro. It mandates the permanent decommissioning of the baseline system and the implementation of a Just Transition Plan to protect affected workers and consumers. Emission reductions are calculated by comparing the RES output against a baseline of historical or default fossil fuel emissions, adjusted downward over time via a Downward Adjustment Factor (DAF) to align with national Net Zero trajectories. The framework includes detailed requirements for demonstrating additionality, accounting for embodied emissions from RES manufacturing, and managing reversal risks if the RES fails. A voluntary annex also allows for the quantification of avoided black carbon and PM2.5 emissions.