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This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the transition of Sweden's heating energy system toward low-carbon sources. While highlighting the success of district heating and heat pumps in reducing fossil fuel reliance, the document warns of systemic 'lock-ins' and a lack of focus on reducing energy demand, which may hinder future climate and efficiency goals.

This policy brief explores how the Planetary Boundaries framework can be used to define the 'global level of ambition' for the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It argues that by downscaling global environmental limits to national or regional levels and combining them with consumption-based accounting, countries can better implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that sustainable development and the transition to a 'green economy' cannot be achieved without explicitly addressing gender equality and social equity, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It highlights how systemic gender-based barriers—ranging from legal discrimination to unequal access to finance—limit the potential of women as workers and entrepreneurs, thereby hindering overall economic and environmental sustainability.

This synthesis brief details the Stockholm Environment Institute's (SEI) efforts to support the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Key areas of focus include the need to phase down fossil fuel production, the creation of a transparent reporting framework, and the importance of equitable mitigation shares, noting that wealthy nations like the US and EU are currently falling short. The brief highlights specific case studies in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, and introduces tools such as LEAP and the NDC Explorer to help countries plan and track their climate goals.

This research paper section provides a detailed breakdown of climate finance flows to Nauru between 2010 and 2014, detailing the amounts, sources, and policy objectives of the funding.

This research paper section provides a detailed overview of climate finance flows to Papua New Guinea, detailing grant allocations between 2010 and 2014 and multilateral fund activities from 2015 to 2016.

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.

This research paper analyzes 163 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (I)NDCs submitted by October 12, 2016, to evaluate how their diverse structures impact the robust accounting of international transfers under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The authors categorize targets by type, scope, and methodology, concluding that economy-wide absolute emission targets are the most conducive to straightforward accounting.

This research paper, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute on behalf of the German Environment Agency, provides a comparative analysis of the market mechanisms established under the Kyoto Protocol and the new provisions introduced in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It examines the differences in purpose, governance, and accounting between the two frameworks to identify lessons for the operationalization of the Paris Agreement's cooperative approaches and crediting mechanisms.

This research paper analyzes the evolving partnership between Japan and Africa, focusing on the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). It highlights Japan's shift from a primary focus on aid to a broader economic strategy involving trade and investment, while navigating geopolitical competition with China and seeking international support for UN Security Council reform.

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 fact sheet details the negative impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides on honeybees and biodiversity, highlighting significant colony losses in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. It cites scientific reviews linking these chemicals to arthropod toxicity and potential human health risks, while noting that their agricultural benefits are often negligible. The document warns that the loss of pollinators could lead to substantial decreases in global fruit and vegetable production and increased mortality from nutritional deficiencies.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation argues that avoiding catastrophic climate change requires the 20 largest carbon-emitting countries to rapidly implement a specific set of well-designed, sector-specific energy policies. The author emphasizes that the next 15 years are crucial to prevent irreversible damage and runaway feedback loops, suggesting that the use of 'Best Practice Networks' (BPNs) can provide the technical expertise necessary for countries to design and implement these policies effectively.

This research paper analyzes the outcomes of the 2015 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, arguing that the conference effectively signaled the end of the Doha Development Round. The author examines the geopolitical shifts causing this failure and proposes a transition toward plurilateral agreements and the integration of megaregional trade deals into the WTO framework to maintain the viability of the multilateral trading system.

A summary of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the San Giorgio Group (SGG), held in February 2016, which focused on transitioning from climate diplomacy to the implementation of green, low-emissions finance following the Paris Agreement.

This reference manual, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in 2016, provides a detailed framework for countries to plan the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. It is structured into five core modules: governance, mitigation, adaptation, finance, and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). The guide offers a step-by-step approach to identifying institutional gaps, designing policies, mobilizing funding, and establishing tracking systems, supplemented by international case studies to illustrate best practices in climate action planning.

This report details the results of a 2016 IISD expert meeting regarding the design of a proposed multilateral International Dispute Settlement Agency. The experts advocated for a shift from the narrow investor-state arbitration model toward an inclusive system allowing governments, investors, communities, and individuals to seek justice. The proposed framework includes a three-tiered judicial system (Judicial, Appellate, and Jurisdictional Chambers) alongside non-adversarial mechanisms like fact-finding and mediation. Key discussions centered on expanding jurisdictional scope to include human rights and environmental law, ensuring the independence and diversity of adjudicators, and establishing funding mechanisms to ensure access to justice for resource-poor stakeholders.

Friends of the Earth International evaluates the Paris Agreement as a failure in achieving climate justice, arguing that it lacks binding targets, fails to hold wealthy nations accountable for emissions and financing, and leaves the door open for 'false solutions' like geoengineering.

Friends of the Earth International evaluates the Paris Agreement as a failure for climate justice, citing a lack of binding emission targets for rich nations, insufficient and non-binding financial commitments for developing countries, and the exclusion of compensation for 'Loss and Damage'. The organization criticizes the agreement for omitting mentions of renewable energy and energy efficiency while leaving the door open for risky technological 'false solutions'.