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This report details the outcomes of the First Learning Workshop for Phase II of the CDKN-ICLEI sub-national learning programme, held in Quito, Ecuador, from 27 to 31 July 2015. The workshop aimed to transition sub-national climate compatible development (CCD) from planning to implementation by facilitating peer-to-peer exchange among 51 participants representing 16 projects across Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Key activities included regional meetings to identify enabling factors for CCD, site visits in Quito, and the identification of knowledge gaps to inform the development of project-specific 'Inside Stories'.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International announcing and celebrating the decision of the Uruguayan government to withdraw from the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations following a successful public mobilization campaign.

This report, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network and drafted by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, provides design options for the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) MSME Program. It identifies barriers preventing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries from accessing climate finance and proposes solutions across policy, knowledge, and financial product design. The report emphasizes the need for intermediaries to deliver finance efficiently and suggests a pilot phase to test these approaches before full-scale implementation.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that South Africa should expand its foreign policy by reconceiving its engagement with Latin America and Africa as a unified 'South Atlantic Zone'. The authors suggest that this framework can enhance maritime security, promote the 'blue economy' through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and increase trade and cultural ties among littoral states.

The minutes of the Twenty-third IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP), held in Lima, Peru, on June 24-25, 2015, detail the administrative, financial, and strategic decisions of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. The meeting focused on transitioning the IAI toward providing scientific information for decision-making, approving the 2015-2016 budget, and establishing frameworks for open science and science-policy diplomacy.

This research paper examines the use of amicus curiae submissions by civil society organisations (CSOs) to introduce community perspectives into investor-state arbitration, focusing on the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. The Republic of El Salvador.

This report analyzes the use of amicus curiae briefs by civil society organizations (CSOs) to introduce community perspectives into investor-state arbitration, focusing on the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC vs. the Republic of El Salvador. It details how the Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica de El Salvador (La Mesa), supported by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho (FESPAD), used legal tools to challenge the jurisdiction of the arbitration tribunal and highlight the democratic debate over metallic mining and sustainable development in El Salvador.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Quarterly Status Report, presented in June 2015, details the institute's financial health, core budget status, and administrative updates. The report highlights a critical financial environment caused by missing country contributions, particularly from Brazil and Mexico, while noting a transition of operations to Uruguay and the implementation of new management software.

This research paper examines the strategic importance of the South Atlantic Zone for South Africa's foreign policy, arguing that treating the region as a single entity can bridge the divide between African and Latin American engagements. It highlights opportunities for cooperation in maritime security, the 'blue economy' through Operation Phakisa, and South-South economic and cultural collaboration, while noting that current trade levels remain low despite significant potential.

This report documents the proceedings of a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Oxfam South Africa on March 3, 2015. The event focused on the impact, monitoring, and accountability of South–South Co-operation (SSC), specifically regarding emerging partners' engagement in Africa's development.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation outlines four primary recommendations to ensure California's emissions trajectory aligns with its 2050 carbon goals. The recommendations focus on establishing a 2030 statewide carbon cap, decarbonizing the electricity sector, expanding transportation sector policies, and setting performance standards for methane emissions.

This executive summary reviews international fuel pricing experiences to provide recommendations for Indonesia's 2015 fuel price system reforms. It analyzes how other emerging economies manage price volatility and suggests improvements in pricing formulas, regulatory functions, and non-pricing interventions to maintain fiscal savings while protecting vulnerable consumers.

The 2015 Green Bond Market Roundup by the Climate Bonds Initiative reports that $41.8 billion in labelled green bonds were issued in 2015. The document highlights growth in market supply driven by policy support, the entry of more corporate and municipal issuers, and expanding investor demand from institutional entities. It also notes an evolution in standards, such as the launch of Climate Bond Standard V2, and an increasing emphasis on reporting and third-party assurance to validate green credentials.

The 2015 Green Bond Market Update reports a diversifying market with significant growth in emerging markets like India and China. In 2015, corporate issuers grew to 36% of the market, and November 2015 marked a record $7.4 billion in issuance. The majority of funds are allocated to renewable energy (45.8%) and energy efficiency (19.6%).

The 'Handbook for the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement', published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in 2015, provides a comprehensive guide for implementing Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. It advocates for shifting the procurement mindset from the lowest purchase price to optimizing value-for-money across the entire lifecycle of an asset, integrating environmental and social criteria into every stage of the procurement cycle to drive inclusive green growth.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines performance requirements (PRs) in investment treaties, analyzing their types, their prohibition under WTO rules, and their treatment in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). It evaluates how these requirements impact the policy flexibility of developing countries and provides options for states to preserve their ability to impose PRs to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of foreign direct investment.

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.

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.