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The High Seas Treaty, formally the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), enters into force on January 17, 2026. The treaty establishes a legal framework to protect biodiversity and manage natural resources in the 'high seas'—ocean areas outside any single country's jurisdiction, which cover approximately half of the planet's surface.

This research paper proposes a comprehensive trade and sustainable development agenda for the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) within the multilateral trading system. It outlines a five-part plan to leverage the World Trade Organization (WTO) for green industrialization and suggests adopting partnership models, such as those used by the EU, to reduce commodity dependence and enhance renewable energy production.

This policy brief by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines options for international trade-related cooperation to address plastic pollution, specifically focusing on single-use plastics. It analyzes existing national legislative approaches, proposes criteria for identifying problematic plastics, and outlines pathways for collective action through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the development of a global plastics treaty.

This report analyzes the 2022 activities of United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding state obligations in the context of climate change. It tracks the increasing frequency of climate-related recommendations in state review processes and examines specific trends in mitigation, fossil fuel regulation, adaptation, and the protection of vulnerable groups, including Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reviews the activities of the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the Committee's increasing focus on climate-related recommendations, its inquiries into fossil fuel extraction and public participation, and the implications of specific individual communications on state obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Recover Better with Sustainable Energy Guide for South Asian Countries outlines the energy access challenges and economic risks facing South Asian nations during the pandemic, urging leaders to utilize recovery efforts to transition toward sustainable development and updated Nationally Determined Contributions.

This analysis evaluates the outcomes of the virtual Climate Ambition Summit held in December 2020, which served as a substitute for the postponed Glasgow Climate Change Conference. While the summit resulted in 45 announcements of new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the author argues that these commitments often lack the urgency required by climate science and are frequently conditional on financial support for developing nations.

The 'Innovations for Resilience Convening,' held in Munich in November 2017, brought together public and private sector partners to explore sustainable innovations that build resilience and enhance development outcomes. Co-hosted by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and One Billion Coalition for Resilience (1BC), the event focused on the role of technology in addressing the increasing frequency of disasters and shocks, while identifying barriers to scaling these solutions globally.

This report, developed by FHI 360 and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides an inventory and summary of digital technologies used to enhance resilience, primarily in Asia. It details a wide array of tools—ranging from mobile apps and IoT sensors to big data analytics and geospatial mapping—designed to support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term livelihood stability for vulnerable populations.

This report synthesizes the outcomes of the Adaptation Futures 2016: Practices and Solutions conference held in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It outlines key messages regarding the urgency of climate adaptation, the necessity of diverse partnerships, the role of the private sector, and the integration of research and practice across various sectors including urban infrastructure, food security, public health, and ecosystem management.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in September 2015, outlines a strategic resource mobilisation approach for National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). Based on a study by Dalberg Global Development Advisors involving 30 interviews and a literature review, the document identifies why NCCFs have historically struggled to attract capital and proposes a three-pillar framework—vision and strategy, institutional capacity, and systematic investor engagement—to improve their financial sustainability.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) specifically for South Asia. It outlines how climate change is already impacting the region through temperature extremes and sea-level rise, and projects future risks including food and water shortages, flood damage, and heat-related mortality. The document emphasizes the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation into long-term development planning to avoid 'maladaptation' and leverage co-benefits across sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, and urban planning.

A statement from the president of Friends of the Earth U.S. advocating for a 'Robin Hood Tax' to fund the global response to the climate crisis, arguing that current funding mechanisms are insufficient and often repurpose existing development aid.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises key findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for ecosystem management. It examines the interplay between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and ecosystem resilience, advocating for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as a cost-effective strategy to reduce disaster risk and support sustainable development.

This briefing, written by Vivid Economics and funded by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), analyzes the implications of the Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It evaluates the investment needs for adaptation and mitigation in SIDS, the potential for public and private funding sources, and the specific risks and opportunities these financial mechanisms present for island nations.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland argues that carbon trading is an ineffective and dangerous primary tool for tackling climate change. The document proposes a comprehensive package of alternative mitigation strategies across energy, agriculture, forests, and industry, alongside several specific financial mechanisms to provide at least US$420 billion per year in additional climate finance for developing countries.

This research paper analyzes the intersection of climate change and human rights, specifically focusing on the role of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). It details how global warming threatens rights to food, water, health, and housing, and examines international jurisprudence where environmental harm has been linked to human rights violations. The paper evaluates the marginal role of human rights in the 2009 Copenhagen climate talks and suggests that the CESCR can better monitor State compliance by integrating climate-specific questions into its reporting guidelines and utilizing the Optional Protocol for climate-related complaints. It concludes with eleven recommendations for the Committee to systematically anchor climate considerations in its work.

This research paper by Yolanda Kakabadse, former environment minister of Ecuador and President of WWF International, argues that traditional water infrastructure design—based on the assumption of a stationary climate—has led to the degradation of freshwater ecosystems and increased societal vulnerability. The author proposes a shift toward climate-sustainable development by integrating ecosystems into infrastructure planning, managing water at a basin scale, and moving away from sectoral silos in policymaking.

This 2006 report analyzes trade and investment barriers between South Africa, India, and Brazil. It finds that while trade is growing, particularly between South Africa and Brazil, it remains hampered by high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and a lack of awareness among the business sector regarding the IBSA initiative. The report recommends reducing customs duties, improving infrastructure, and involving the private sector in trade agreement implementation.

The report provides an overview of international intellectual property (IP) developments in the fourth quarter of 2004, focusing on the tension between IP protection and development goals. It details ongoing negotiations within the WTO Council for TRIPS, WIPO, and various bilateral and regional trade agreements, highlighting the efforts of developing countries to maintain flexibilities and prevent 'TRIPS-plus' standards.