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This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes, and highlights how developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses. The document criticizes the Inclusive Framework for the underrepresentation of African nations and the potential for the agreement to favor wealthy nations, recommending a shift toward more inclusive, transparent, and equitable negotiations, possibly under the UN.

This briefing from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the European Union's upcoming methane regulation must encompass the petrochemical sector and the entire supply chain of fossil fuel imports. The document highlights a growing trade in natural gas liquids (NGLs), specifically ethane and propane, from the United States to Europe to fuel plastics production, which the author contends undermines EU climate goals and bypasses domestic fracking bans.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the increasing import of fracked natural gas liquids (NGLs)—specifically ethane and propane—from the United States to Europe is undermining the European Union's climate and plastics reduction goals. The document details the supply chain from US fracking basins to European petrochemical plants and contends that current EU regulations, such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), contain loopholes that allow the plastics industry to offshore emissions and avoid carbon pricing.

This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. It highlights that while the EU is rapidly reducing coal use—driven significantly by Germany's commitment to exit coal by 2030—three countries (Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria) remain heavily reliant on coal and are lagging behind the rest of the bloc.

Germany's commitment to exit coal by 2030 isolates Poland, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, who are projected to account for over 95% of the EU's coal electricity generation by 2030. While the rest of the EU-27 is on track to reduce coal generation by 99% by 2030, these three countries plan a reduction of only 42%.

This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal power by 2030. It highlights that while the EU is rapidly reducing coal electricity generation—accelerated by Germany's aim to exit coal by 2030—a small group of countries, specifically Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria, are transitioning much more slowly and will account for the vast majority of the EU's remaining coal power in 2030.

This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal-fired power generation by 2030. It highlights a significant divergence between most EU countries, which are rapidly reducing coal use, and a small group of countries—specifically Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria—that are projected to account for the vast majority of the EU's remaining coal power production by 2030.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) identifies perceived knowledge gaps and barriers hindering the adoption of 'gridless' (decentralized) water, sanitation, and energy services. Based on workshops with 48 global stakeholders, the report argues that project failures often stem from socio-technical and systemic issues—such as regulatory mismatches, lack of user-centric design, and unsustainable business models—rather than technical performance.

This research paper argues that South Africa should adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to transition toward a cashless economy, thereby reducing the risks associated with cash-in-transit (CIT) hijackings and enhancing its investment appeal despite high rates of cybercrime.

A letter from a coalition of climate, environmental, and health NGOs to the European Commission urging the alignment of the draft Climate, Energy and Environment State Aid Guidelines (CEEAG) with the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.

This October 2021 briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance argues that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement is a critical priority for global health. It calls on governments to integrate health into climate policy through transitions in energy, transport, food systems, and healthcare infrastructure to mitigate rising health threats and inequalities.

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.

This statement from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that climate change adaptation must be treated as a global, transboundary ambition rather than a local matter, while emphasizing that adaptation cannot replace the urgent need for emissions mitigation.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and E3G analyzes the significant contraction of the global coal power project pipeline between 2015 and 2021. It argues that a global commitment to 'no new coal' is feasible, as a majority of proposed projects have been cancelled due to poor economics and shifting climate policies.

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.

This research paper analyzes the first 29 long-term low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission development strategies (LTSs) submitted to the UNFCCC by June 2021. The authors identify common trends in midcentury targets, mitigation modeling, sectoral transitions, and governance frameworks, noting a significant shift toward net-zero goals and a broader focus on societal transformation beyond simple mitigation modeling.

Ember submitted comments on August 2, 2021, regarding the European Commission's draft 'Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022' (CEEAG). The document argues for a nuanced approach to state aid for coal mine methane (CMM) abatement, distinguishing between active and abandoned mines to ensure environmental benefits are achieved without extending the operational life of coal mines.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the strategic position of African states within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that African nations must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS waiver, the stalled Doha Round, and Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on digital trade and investment.

This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu evaluates the technical and environmental feasibility of adding 1,500 MW of new coal generation as proposed in South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The author argues that 'clean coal' is a myth, asserting that any new capacity will inevitably cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) technologies employed.

This technical report describes the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology and its application to various infrastructure types to calculate the costs of environmental, social, governance, and climate risks, as well as externalities. It specifically explores how SAVi can be integrated into Indonesia's Vision 2045 (IV2045) system dynamics model to better inform low-carbon development and investment strategies by bridging top-down national planning with bottom-up asset-specific analysis.