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This policy brief reviews fifty years of international efforts to regulate ocean dumping, focusing on the evolution from the 1972 London Convention to the more restrictive 1996 London Protocol. It examines the challenges of managing radioactive waste, the regulation of climate mitigation technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the role of regional treaties in protecting marine ecosystems.

An analysis by Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs regarding opportunities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address environmental crises and sustainable development during its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) must leverage the global clean energy transition to drive industrialization and address severe energy deficits. The author proposes that the region utilize a combination of green industrial policies, strategic use of natural gas for baseload power, and the leveraging of critical mineral reserves to move up the global value chain, while insisting that the transition must account for the economic differences between developed and developing nations.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate's mid-term report for the 2021-2022 intersessional period details progress in science, capacity building, and communication. Key achievements include the expansion of the Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) fellowship program, the launch of the IAI Transdisciplinary (TD) Academy, and the securing of approximately 1.3 million Euros for a drought information project in the La Plata basin. The Directorate also reports contributions to the IPCC 6th Assessment Report and the development of climate-health tools in the Caribbean.

This report by Ember, E3G, and Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the global pipeline of proposed coal power plants as of July 2021. It identifies economies that have already committed to no new coal, those that could readily do so because they have no active pipeline, and those that still have projects proposed, with a particular focus on the role of Chinese financing and the impact of the Paris Agreement.

The UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE), held on 24 September 2021, convened over 130 global leaders to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. The event resulted in the first-ever global roadmap for SDG7 and the announcement of over 160 Energy Compacts, which committed more than USD 400 billion in new finance and investment to combat energy poverty and decarbonize energy systems.

The September 2021 Global Update from Climate Action Tracker reports that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant (20-23 GtCO2e). The report introduces a new rating system where only The Gambia is rated as overall 1.5°C compatible, while most developed nations are rated as 'Insufficient' or worse due to inadequate climate finance and policy implementation. It further critiques the lack of transparency and robustness in most national net zero targets and highlights the continued reliance on coal and gas in several major economies.

The 51st meeting of the IAI Executive Council, held on June 22, 2021, resulted in the approval of a Gender Policy (to be expanded to include equity, diversity, and inclusion) and a new initiative for national climate assessment capacity building in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Council also approved the IAI's financial reports, the 2021-2022 budget, and a new Whistleblower Policy, while recommending these for final approval by the Conference of the Parties (CoP-29).

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2021, provides a framework for establishing financial assurance for mine closure in Argentina. It aims to ensure that funds are available for environmental rehabilitation and physical stability if a mining company is unable to execute its closure plan. The document details best practices for calculating closure costs, selecting financial instruments, and managing these guarantees throughout a mine's life cycle, drawing on regional examples from Chile and Peru.

This policy brief examines the opportunities and risks for developing countries resulting from the increased demand for lithium and cobalt used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, emphasizing the role of trade policy in capturing value and managing overinvestment.

This document is a Twitter toolkit produced by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) to support a social media campaign surrounding the release of the 'HealthyNDCs Scorecard' on July 8, 2021. The toolkit provides instructions and sample posts to encourage users to challenge governments to integrate health into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP 26.

The 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report provides a comprehensive estimate of global urban climate finance, identifying a significant gap between current annual investments of USD 384 billion and estimated needs of USD 4.5 to 5.4 trillion. It analyzes the enabling conditions required to mobilize finance and offers recommendations for city, national, and international officials to accelerate low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development.

A World Resources Institute briefing analyzing the outcomes of the UN Climate Change subsidiary bodies sessions held online prior to COP26. The document reports that progress on implementing the Paris Agreement was uneven and limited, hampered by both virtual logistical challenges and deep political divides between nations.

This report details the achievements of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) from 2018 to 2021, focusing on its 'knowledge-into-action' services. The program shifted leadership to an alliance of non-profit organisations based in the global South to provide tailored climate knowledge and support for policy design and implementation in developing countries.

This executive summary of the 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report, produced by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance with World Bank contributions, analyzes global urban climate investment flows and the enabling conditions required to close the investment gap. It establishes a framework for tracking urban climate finance and provides recommendations for city, national, and international officials to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed for low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development.

This executive summary of the 2021 State of Urban Climate Financing report, produced by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance with World Bank contributions, analyzes global urban climate investment flows, identifies significant funding gaps—particularly in developing nations—and proposes a framework of 'enabling conditions' to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed for low-carbon and climate-resilient urban development.

This executive summary of the 2021 report 'O Estado do Financiamento Climático das Cidades' (The State of City Climate Finance), produced by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA), analyzes current urban climate investment levels, identifies barriers to funding, and proposes frameworks to mobilize the necessary capital for low-carbon and resilient urban development.

This notification from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the nominations received for two vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the electronic voting procedure for the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29).

This document is a report from the Executive Council of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) dated May 25, 2021, which presents the independent auditors' report and financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020, and 2019.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) provides an overview of the financial status for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, detailing party contributions, budget performance, and administrative controls.