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The Sustainable Debt Market Summary Q1 2022 reports that cumulative GSS+ labelled debt reached USD3 trillion by the end of the first quarter of 2022. Despite this milestone, the market experienced a year-on-year decline in issuance volumes of nearly 30% due to market volatility, rising interest rates, and the war in Ukraine.

This briefing, published by the Global Climate and Health Alliance in May 2022, summarises health and wellbeing findings from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Mitigation of Climate Change. It highlights the synergies between climate mitigation and public health, arguing that immediate action in sectors like energy, transport, and agriculture can deliver significant health co-benefits, such as improved air quality and reduced non-communicable diseases, while addressing systemic inequalities.

This SEI discussion brief examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically focusing on imports into the European Union. It argues that while current policy focuses on deforestation, overlooking water use may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions. The brief identifies critical data gaps for beef and wood products and suggests that a comprehensive definition of sustainable supply chains must integrate both land and water stewardship.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the bidirectional relationship between structural inequality and climate change, arguing that current economic systems and global environmental governance frameworks fail to address the inequitable distribution of resources and ecological space.

This policy brief examines how Aid for Trade (AfT) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be leveraged to help developing and least developed countries transition to sustainable trade and circular economies to combat plastic pollution. It highlights a significant mismatch between the limited funding for plastic pollution mitigation and the massive financial flows supporting the petrochemical sector, while proposing specific short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members through the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP).

This research paper explores the multi-dimensional challenges and pathways toward achieving sustainable urban development. It examines the historical evolution of global urban policy, the disparate needs between the Global North and Global South, the role of various governmental and non-governmental actors, and emerging trends such as nature-based solutions and inclusive planning.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six strategic measures for G20 leaders to maximize the role of forests in climate mitigation, food security, and pandemic recovery. It specifically urges Indonesia, as the 2022 G20 president, to lead by example by strengthening its own forest governance and promoting high-quality nature-based carbon credits.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics discusses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group III, focusing on the state of climate change mitigation since 2014. It highlights the gap between current national climate plans and Paris Agreement targets, the disproportionate emissions of the global wealthy, and the critical role of renewable energy and carbon dioxide removal in achieving net-zero goals.

This policy brief examines the challenges faced by developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) participating in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on electronic commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide in infrastructure and information, arguing that current negotiations focus too heavily on regulatory cooperation rather than the foundational capacity building and technical assistance required for these nations to implement future commitments and benefit from the digital economy.

This scoping study examines the plastic waste management and recycling value chain in Mombasa, Kenya. It identifies the stakeholders, institutional governance structures, and the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the sector. The report highlights the potential for a circular economy to create jobs and reduce environmental pollution, while detailing the significant socio-economic, financial, and regulatory barriers that currently limit the efficiency of plastic recovery and recycling in the region.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity trends in 2021, tracking progress against the IEA's Net Zero by 2050 pathway. While wind and solar reached a historic milestone of over 10% of global electricity, an unprecedented surge in electricity demand led to record-breaking coal generation and the largest absolute rise in power sector CO2 emissions ever recorded.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines five essential elements for establishing a 'gender lens' in international trade policy. It discusses the ongoing efforts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG) to integrate gender equality and women's economic empowerment into trade rules, arguing that a comprehensive framework is necessary to ensure trade policies support the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights commitments.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the evolving nature of sovereign debt in Africa, highlighting a shift from traditional multilateral creditors to private bondholders and emerging economies like China. It argues that current debt relief mechanisms are insufficient because they lack statutory, human rights-based frameworks and fail to compel the participation of private creditors, leaving African nations vulnerable to economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the differences between the European Commission's proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and the draft report released by the rapporteur of the EU Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The author, Aaron Cosbey, identifies six primary areas of divergence, noting that the rapporteur generally advocates for greater speed and ambition than the Commission.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the historical and current tensions between international trade rules and environmental protection. It highlights the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), arguing that the removal of harmful subsidies in fossil fuels, fisheries, and agriculture is essential for achieving sustainable development and meeting climate goals.

This fact sheet by RMI argues that renewable energy is a disinflationary force rather than a driver of inflation. It contrasts the experience curves of solar and wind technologies, which lead to falling costs as deployment increases, with the volatile commodity-based pricing of fossil fuels. The document asserts that accelerating the transition to renewables is the most effective way to reduce energy costs and mitigate inflation.

This report assesses progress toward Goal 5 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which aims to restore and maintain 350 million hectares of landscapes and forestlands by 2030. It highlights a significant gap between political commitments and actual implementation, noting that previous targets were not met and that monitoring remains technically challenging.

This fact sheet evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The document reports that while some legal frameworks and demand-side regulations have improved, overall progress is too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with illegal deforestation increasing from 49% to 69% over a seven-year period.

This report analyzes Investment Dispute Prevention and Management Agencies (DPMAs), which are government bodies designed to mitigate investor-state disputes. The authors critique the assumptions used by international institutions to promote DPMAs and propose a typology to categorize these agencies based on their intervention point and operational logic. Through case studies of seven countries, the report highlights the diversity in DPMA design and warns of risks such as agency capture and the prioritization of investor interests over public policy goals.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) synthesizes the activities of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the Committee's use of the State reporting procedure to address mitigation, adaptation, extractive activities, and climate finance, while also reviewing the Committee's General Comments on science and land rights.