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This policy briefing examines the economic and strategic challenges facing Australia as a middle power, highlighting the tension between its strategic alliance with the US and its economic reliance on China. It discusses the limitations of regional institutions in the Asia-Pacific and suggests that the G-20 may offer a more effective platform for Australia to exert global influence.

A fact sheet by Friends of the Earth detailing how climate change and extreme weather patterns threaten the production of common Valentine's Day gifts, including chocolate, coffee, wine, flowers, and other agricultural products.

This research paper, produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket), examines policy instruments and interventions to reduce the negative impacts of Swedish consumption on health and the environment in other countries. It focuses on the international dimension of Sweden's 'generational goal' (generationsmålet), identifying key 'hotspots' such as electronics from China and soy from Brazil, and proposing a mix of economic, administrative, informative, and collaborative measures to drive systemic change toward sustainable consumption.

This research paper argues that using land for bioenergy creates intense competition with food, feed, and carbon storage, potentially widening the global crop calorie gap. The authors contend that most bioenergy is land-inefficient compared to solar energy and that current greenhouse gas accounting often 'double counts' biomass, erroneously suggesting that bioenergy is carbon-free. The paper recommends phasing out bioenergy from dedicated land use and prioritizing biomass derived from true wastes.

This 2015 research paper argues that removing fossil-fuel subsidies could reduce global GHG emissions by 6-13% by 2050, though this potential is maximized when combined with binding emission caps and investments in low-carbon infrastructure. It provides a roadmap for countries to integrate subsidy reform into their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and other UNFCCC processes to unlock government savings and accelerate the energy transition.

This report details the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 27–29, 2015. The meeting focused on 'The Post-Mining Transition and Environmental Management,' exploring how to integrate environmental, economic, and social planning into the mine life cycle to ensure sustainable transitions and community resilience after closure.

This report details the final Governance Learning Workshop of the Climate Adaptation and Water Governance (CADWAGO) project, held from 14-16 October 2015 in Sassari, Italy. The event brought together 35 researchers and practitioners from Europe, Australasia, and North America to discuss transforming water governance in the context of climate change. The workshop featured presentations on systemic governance praxis, a field visit to the Arborea dairy district in Sardinia, and a traditional conflict resolution simulation called 'La Rasgioni'.

The SEI Initiative on Fossil Fuels and Climate Change, launched in January 2015, aims to research and influence the supply side of fossil fuel development to align with a 2°C global warming limit. The initiative focuses on the emissions implications of infrastructure, the political economy of extraction, and the role of international governance. It utilizes case studies in Colombia, South Africa, Indonesia, Norway, and the U.S. to explore the transition away from fossil fuel dependence.

This statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the lack of coherent rules and oversight regarding climate finance, specifically highlighting instances where developed nations use climate funds to finance coal-fired power plants in developing countries.

This guide, published by Friends of the Earth International in December 2014, provides communities with information and strategies to resist 'land grabbing' by governments and corporations. It explains the conflict between customary and national land laws, outlines international human rights mechanisms for protection, and critiques common promises made by companies to justify land acquisition.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how fossil-fuel subsidies act as a barrier to the deployment of renewable electricity. It argues that these subsidies impair the cost competitiveness of renewables, reinforce the dominance of incumbent fossil-fuel systems, and distort investment decisions. The document advocates for fossil-fuel subsidy reform and the pricing of environmental externalities to create a more sustainable energy system.

This consultation background paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in December 2014, outlines the context for developing a new provincial climate change and green economy plan for Manitoba. It specifically focuses on the role of peatlands in emissions reduction, climate resilience, and economic development, while reviewing Manitoba's previous emissions performance and comparing climate policies across other jurisdictions.

This research paper by Natural Justice examines the dynamics of community-company engagements in the extractive industries, focusing on the power imbalances between corporations and indigenous or local communities. It outlines various types of agreements, evaluates the effectiveness of different engagement models (government-led vs. community-led), and provides a comprehensive overview of international human rights standards and legal frameworks that govern these interactions.

The Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2014 executive summary analyzes global climate finance flows for 2013, noting a decrease in total investment and highlighting the role of falling technology costs and domestic policy frameworks in driving climate finance.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues against the 'financialization of nature,' which it defines as the process of turning biodiversity and ecosystem functions into financial assets and tradable instruments. FoEI contends that pricing nature leads to the privatization of the commons, marginalizes Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and allows corporations to continue destructive activities through offsetting mechanisms.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) argues against the 'financialization' of biodiversity, which it defines as the process of converting nature into financial assets and commodities. The document critiques market-based mechanisms such as biodiversity banking, natural capital bonds, and payment for ecosystem services, asserting that these tools facilitate corporate control over nature, marginalize Indigenous and local communities, and provide 'false solutions' that allow continued environmental destruction through offsetting.

The New York Declaration on Forests Action Agenda (2014) outlines a comprehensive framework for governments, companies, indigenous peoples, and multilateral institutions to slow, halt, and reverse global forest loss. It details a 'menu of key actions' for various stakeholders and reports a surge in zero-deforestation commitments from global commodity traders and consumer goods companies, alongside national pledges for forest restoration and the protection of indigenous lands.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the proposed New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) being negotiated by the BRICS nations as of July 2014.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) clarifies the terminology and definitions used to track climate finance. It distinguishes between project-level costs and revenues and whole-economy perspectives, explaining how public interventions can address 'viability gaps' to mobilize private investment. The document specifically outlines the definition of climate finance used in CPI's Global Landscape of Climate Finance reports to ensure consistent tracking and avoid double counting.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) documents violence and human rights violations against environmental defenders between November 2011 and October 2013. It argues that these attacks are a global trend driven by a neoliberal extractivist model and corporate dominance, which often results in the criminalization and physical persecution of activists, indigenous peoples, and local communities.