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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the strategic position of African states within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that African nations must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS waiver, the stalled Doha Round, and Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on digital trade and investment.

This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu evaluates the technical and environmental feasibility of adding 1,500 MW of new coal generation as proposed in South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The author argues that 'clean coal' is a myth, asserting that any new capacity will inevitably cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) technologies employed.

A World Resources Institute briefing analyzing the outcomes of the UN Climate Change subsidiary bodies sessions held online prior to COP26. The document reports that progress on implementing the Paris Agreement was uneven and limited, hampered by both virtual logistical challenges and deep political divides between nations.

This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines strategies for governments to communicate the concept of net-zero emissions to the public to increase support for climate policies. It emphasizes moving away from technical, future-oriented descriptions toward tangible, local, and inclusive messaging supported by positive imagery.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute discusses the role of public-private partnerships and international collaboration in decarbonizing heavy industry, highlighting the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) and various policy mechanisms to address hard-to-abate sectors.

Ember's message to the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit emphasizes that achieving 100% clean power is a prerequisite for global carbon neutrality by 2050, citing the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Net Zero by 2050 report.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate presents the Core Budget and country contribution requests for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and preliminary requests for 2022-2024.

The IAI's operating budget for 2021-2022 is set at US$1.4 million, with preliminary requests increasing to US$1.6 million by 2023-2024. The organization faces financial pressure due to stagnant country contributions since 1992 and payment delays. Key administrative updates include a partnership with the Republic of Korea for research capacity and the centralization of IT services in Montevideo, Uruguay.

This May 2021 briefing from the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) analyzes the impact of recent Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) updates and net-zero pledges on global warming projections. It finds that while recent commitments have lowered the estimated end-of-century warming to 2.4°C, this remains significantly above the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, and current policies are still on track for 2.9°C of warming.

This executive summary, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in May 2021, analyzes the potential for hydrogen resource usage in Estonia between 2020 and 2050. It evaluates the hydrogen value chain—production, storage, distribution, and consumption—across the transport, industrial, building, and power sectors. The report identifies the transport and chemical industries as the primary areas for decarbonization and outlines the necessary investments, infrastructure, and policy measures required to transition to a hydrogen economy.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines four critical objectives for the Leaders Summit on Climate (April 22-23, 2021), hosted by the United States. The document argues that the summit is a vital milestone for major economies to align their 2030 emissions targets with net-zero trajectories, increase climate finance for developing nations, end public funding for coal, and ensure COVID-19 economic recovery plans prioritize green infrastructure over fossil fuels to keep the 1.5 degree Celsius warming limit within reach.

This briefing by Ember analyzes energy scenarios from the UK, EU, and US, identifying a consensus that achieving zero-carbon electricity by the 2030s is a critical milestone for meeting 2050 net-zero targets. The report details the necessary phase-out of coal and gas, the required acceleration of wind and solar deployment, and the role of system flexibility and low-carbon firm power.

The report 'Boom and Bust 2021' analyzes the global coal plant pipeline, highlighting a divergence where a surge in coal development in China offset a general global retreat. While many countries in South and Southeast Asia, the US, and the EU are retiring plants or cancelling projects, China's commissioning of new capacity led to the first increase in global coal capacity since 2015.

The April 2021 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners tracks global coal-fired power plant plans, highlighting a divergence where a construction boom in China offset significant closures in the US and EU. While South and Southeast Asian nations are increasingly cancelling projects due to funding difficulties and renewable energy competition, China's capacity continues to expand, driven by provincial economic stimulus and central government deregulation.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal power plant trends in 2020, highlighting a stark divergence between China's rapid expansion and a general global decline. While many countries in the US, EU, and Southeast Asia are decommissioning plants or canceling new projects due to financial pressures and climate goals, China's surge in new capacity offset global reductions, leading to a net increase in global coal capacity for the first time since 2015.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the United States should set a greenhouse gas emissions-reduction target of 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. The document outlines how such a target is achievable through a combination of federal and local action, would stimulate economic growth and job creation, and is necessary to maintain international leadership and meet global warming limits of 1.5 degrees C.

This report examines the acceleration of e-governance and the use of social media by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on South Africa's digital innovations and the broader challenges facing the African continent.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines South Africa's transition from a secret apartheid-era nuclear weapons programme to a state committed to nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It details the country's normative frameworks, governance structures, and the challenges facing its nuclear energy expansion plans, including the legacy of state capture during the Zuma presidency and the current cautious approach under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This policy brief analyzes the fiscal implications of the gradual phase-out of coal production in Colombia, focusing on the role of royalties and the economic vulnerability of producing regions like Cesar and La Guajira. It examines production trends, international trade dynamics, and the impact of the General Royalties System (SGR) reform, concluding that current policy measures are insufficient to offset the projected decline in coal demand and revenue.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines strategies for sustainable resource mobilisation to strengthen global healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues for a shift from disease-specific 'vertical' funding to a 'whole systems approach' that addresses the triple burden of non-communicable diseases, existing infections, and pandemic response gaps. The document emphasizes the importance of domestic resource mobilisation (DRM), the need for equitable vaccine distribution through the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX, and the potential for LMICs to leverage lessons from the AIDS epidemic to challenge intellectual property barriers via TRIPS waivers.