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This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues against the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN FCITC). It highlights the structural failures of ISDS—including high costs, inconsistent rulings, and 'regulatory chill'—and warns that adopting such a mechanism would undermine fiscal sovereignty. The brief also draws lessons from the prolonged and complex reform efforts of UNCITRAL Working Group III to caution negotiators against the institutional lock-in and resource drains associated with international arbitration.

This end-of-year commentary by Ember synthesises key findings from 2025 regarding the global energy transition, highlighting how solar and wind power have begun to outpace global electricity demand growth and reshape energy dynamics through the rise of "electrotech" and battery storage.

The report 'The EV leapfrog' by Ember analyzes global electric vehicle (EV) trends in 2025, highlighting how emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America are rapidly increasing EV adoption and overtaking advanced economies like the US and Japan in sales shares.

This research paper examines the strategic role of BRICS+ members, particularly African nations, in the global critical minerals market and their evolving relationships with the European Union. It analyzes how the expansion of BRICS+ enhances the bloc's control over essential resources for the green and digital transitions while highlighting internal geopolitical frictions that prevent a unified minerals strategy.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the current state of Nepal's textiles and clothing exports, focusing on the garment and hand-knotted woollen carpet subsectors. It examines the structural constraints hindering competitiveness, the drivers that have allowed these industries to survive, and the potential risks associated with Nepal's upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. The authors argue for a shift in industrial policy away from ad-valorem subsidies toward market intelligence, inter-agency coordination, and productivity improvements.

The steel industry, responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, faces a critical need for decarbonization as demand is projected to rise 39% by 2050. While integrated blast furnaces (BF-BOF) dominate production, the report identifies Hydrogen-DRI as the only current net-zero commercial technology, though it struggles with high costs and hydrogen availability. The authors propose a three-pronged innovation strategy: 'Make Less' (circularity and alternative materials), 'Make Better' (retrofitting and improving DRI), and 'Make New' (disruptive low-temperature and modular furnaces). To overcome capital intensity, the report suggests startups target high-margin niche products like high-purity iron and monetize industrial waste streams to gain commercial traction.

This research paper by Steven Haig of the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in Canada will increase domestic and global emissions, hinder the transition to renewable energy, and divert public funds from climate solutions.

The 'Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2025' by Sustainable Energy for All provides a comprehensive analysis of global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). The report finds that the world is off-track to achieve universal electricity access, clean cooking, and energy efficiency targets by 2030, with significant regional disparities, particularly in Africa and Asia.

This report, curated by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS), is a compilation of 34 expert views exploring how the international trading system can support the Paris Agreement and climate-resilient development. It identifies critical synergies and tensions at the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development, focusing on clean energy transitions, green industrial policies, and the specific vulnerabilities of developing nations.

This research paper examines Nigeria's natural gas sector and its potential to drive sustainable industrialization across Africa. It analyzes the 'Decade of Gas' (2021-2030) initiative, critical infrastructure projects, and the regulatory reforms needed to transition from a reliance on oil exports to a gas-powered economy that supports regional energy security and manufacturing.

This technical guide by RMI analyzes the market, quality risks, and methodological evolution of clean and improved cookstove carbon credits. It details the transition from legacy methodologies, which faced allegations of over-crediting, to newer, more rigorous standards like VM0050 and the forthcoming CLEAR methodology. The document provides a detailed risk assessment, highlighting monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) as a high-concern area due to behavioral complexities such as stove stacking and the Hawthorne effect.

This technical paper, developed for the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group, advocates for an integrated approach to climate mitigation and socioeconomic development to support inclusive low-emission pathways.

This research paper examines the intersection of international trade regulations and Africa's ambitions for green technology and industrialisation. It specifically analyzes the potential impacts of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and US tariffs, arguing that while these measures could theoretically drive demand for renewables, they are more likely to create fiscal constraints and hinder the continent's ability to invest in green R&D. The author advocates for a coordinated African response through the UNFCCC, the WTO, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to secure technology transfer and affordable finance.

This research paper analyzes clean cooking policies across G20 countries, arguing that the current reliance on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies is financially unsustainable, often fails to reach the poorest populations, and contradicts net-zero goals. The authors advocate for redirecting these subsidies toward electric cooking and renewable energy alternatives to achieve universal access by 2030.

This research paper examines the role of green technology, specifically solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind energy, in decarbonisation and industrialisation. It argues that market forces alone are insufficient for scaling renewable energy and emphasizes the necessity of targeted industrial policy and government intervention to ensure equitable transitions, particularly in developing economies like South Africa and Brazil.

This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the nature of fossil fuel subsidies, the challenges of reforming them, and the benefits of transitioning to targeted social protection and clean energy. It highlights the role of the Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies (COFFIS) in fostering international cooperation and transparency to make these reforms politically and socially viable.

This report by RMI examines the decarbonization of the cement and concrete sector, which contributes nearly 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. It outlines a strategic framework for innovation categorized as "Make Less," "Make Better," and "Make New," while highlighting the funding gap and the necessity of updating prescriptive industry standards to performance-based specifications to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon materials.

The Q3 Global Power Report by Ember analyzes global electricity generation for the first three quarters of 2025, highlighting a structural shift where clean power growth meets and exceeds electricity demand, leading to a forecast of no fossil fuel growth for the full year of 2025.

The NewClimate Institute's 2025 update evaluates the progress of 25 major emitters, representing over 80% of global emissions, toward their climate mitigation targets. The report finds that while total emissions under current policies may peak by 2026, the projected reductions are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, which requires a 43% reduction by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.

A report by Ember analyzing the current state and outlook of Indonesia's coal sector, noting a shift from record production levels toward a projected decline in 2025 driven by weakening export demand from major partners like China and India.