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This policy brief examines the governance challenges associated with the sustainable use of natural resources, highlighting the gap between the principles established in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and current global trends of over-exploitation and inequitable distribution.

This report from the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the council's activities between sessions and presents recommendations for approval by the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29) in June 2021. Key focus areas include financial approvals, the establishment of a grievance mechanism, and the adoption of a gender policy.

The Report of the IAI Executive Council, prepared for its fifty-first meeting on 22 June 2021, outlines the council's activities during the 2020-2021 intersessional period. The report focuses on the review of financial documents, the development of new institutional policies regarding whistleblowing and gender, and the performance evaluation of the Executive Director.

This briefing from the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), dated March 18, 2021, outlines the council's activities between sessions and its recommendations for the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29). The document focuses on financial approvals, the implementation of a whistleblower mechanism, the development of a gender policy, and the performance evaluation of the Executive Director.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the United States should set a greenhouse gas emissions-reduction target of 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. The document outlines how such a target is achievable through a combination of federal and local action, would stimulate economic growth and job creation, and is necessary to maintain international leadership and meet global warming limits of 1.5 degrees C.

This policy brief, prepared by the Climate Bonds Initiative in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and commissioned by the Brazilian Ministry of Economy, explores how subnational consortia in Brazil can utilize innovative financial modeling to fund sustainable municipal infrastructure. It analyzes the legal barriers facing Brazilian municipalities, proposes the adoption of pooled financing mechanisms (MFGCs), and provides international case studies to support a green economic recovery.

This policy brief, prepared by the Climate Bonds Initiative and supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, examines the potential for Brazilian subnational consortia to use Pooled Finance Mechanisms (PFMs) to fund sustainable infrastructure. It identifies significant regulatory and financial barriers facing Brazilian municipalities and proposes updates to the legal framework and the adoption of blended finance models to attract private and international capital for climate-resilient projects.

This executive summary from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the emerging threat of wildfire smoke and climate change on human health, focusing on case studies from Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

This annex to the 2021 NYDF Goal 7 Progress Report provides technical and economic mitigation potential estimates for forest-related activities, analyzes the ambition of forest targets in National Determined Contributions (NDCs), and estimates the global finance needs and public finance flows for forest mitigation.

The COP26 Resilience Hub Synthesis Report outlines key messages and future directions for climate adaptation and resilience, emphasizing the need for locally led action, diversified finance, and the integration of nature-based solutions. It synthesizes findings from the Resilience Hub's activities at COP26, focusing on three pillars (urban, coastal, and rural) and ten thematic areas to guide action toward COP27.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the intersection of circular economy solutions and international trade policies to support global decarbonization. It argues that transitioning from primary to secondary materials and extending product lifespans are essential for meeting Paris Agreement goals, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. The authors advocate for the removal of trade barriers to circular goods and services and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for low-carbon circularity.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines mine waste management frameworks in Ghana and British Columbia, Canada. It outlines international best practices, such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and compares how these two jurisdictions implement standards, corporate accountability, and financial mechanisms to mitigate the environmental and social risks of mine waste.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021 evaluates 57 of the world's highest greenhouse gas emitters, finding that no single country is currently on a path compliant with the Paris Agreement goals. While the European Union improved its ranking to 16th place, the report highlights a stark divide between leading nations and G20 members like the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, who are rated 'very low'.

This briefing by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) evaluates the impact of recent net zero pledges on global warming projections, noting that while targets have lowered end-of-century estimates, a significant gap remains between current policies and the goals required to limit warming to 1.5°C.

The 2020 report on the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health outlines the group's efforts to integrate health priorities into climate action and COVID-19 recovery. Key achievements include mobilizing health professionals for a 'healthy recovery' and coordinating with the UNFCCC Race to Zero Dialogues to prioritize health at COP26.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines three strategic steps for the Biden administration to re-establish the United States as a global leader in climate action following the 2020 presidential election. It emphasizes the need for a robust national climate commitment, increased financial support for developing nations, and the integration of climate change into core foreign policy to rebuild international trust and align with global trends toward net-zero emissions.

This report by Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y el Caribe (ATALC) analyzes the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in the accumulation of capital and their impact on human, environmental, and collective rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. It details how TNCs utilize 'corporate capture' to influence governments and legal systems, creating an 'architecture of impunity' that protects their interests over popular sovereignty. The document characterizes the impacts of TNCs across extractivist sectors—including agribusiness, forestry, mining, and energy—and services, while advocating for a legally binding UN treaty to regulate TNCs and a systemic shift toward popular sovereignty and economic justice.

The Goal 9 assessment evaluates progress toward rewarding countries and jurisdictions that reduce forest emissions through public policies, results-based finance, and private-sector sourcing. As of 2020, nearly USD 4.7 billion in results-based finance has been committed since 2010, with disbursements increasing to over USD 260 million annually in recent years. The report also highlights the role of carbon markets, which have channeled USD 2.5 billion to forest projects over 20 years, and the emergence of domestic compliance schemes that allow forest carbon credits.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the precautionary principle, a guide in international environmental law that advocates for taking protective action even in the absence of full scientific certainty to avoid serious or irreversible damage.

This briefing explores the precautionary principle as a guide for decision-makers to protect the environment, public health, and security in the face of scientific uncertainty. It traces the principle's evolution from national laws in Sweden to its integration into major international treaties and the law of the European Union, while discussing the ongoing tension between environmental safeguarding and economic development.