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This briefing note, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International, Geneva, examines the challenges faced by developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide and capacity gaps that hinder these nations' ability to participate in negotiations and implement future agreements. The document proposes shifting from a narrow focus on regulatory cooperation toward a comprehensive approach that includes 'enabling issues' such as infrastructure and technical assistance, and suggests adopting a hybrid Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) model based on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to ensure capacity-building commitments are enforceable.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines four proposed regime options for a post-2012 climate change framework and their impact on the "development dividend"—defined by the quality of sustainable development, the quantity of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), and the regional distribution of investments in developing countries.

This white paper examines the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) within sustainable public procurement (SPP), arguing that current models often fail to deliver the best value for taxpayers by overemphasizing upfront purchase prices over long-term operational and environmental costs. The authors identify systemic barriers—including conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of professional expertise, and data gaps—and recommend that LCC be integrated into high-level public expenditure and resource allocation policies rather than remaining a routine procurement task.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins analyzes the role of the private sector within the REDD+ supply chain. It identifies key private sector actors—including investors, producers, brokers, advisors, auditors, and end-buyers—and examines the motivations and challenges associated with their engagement. The document argues that while private sector involvement is critical for scaling up investment, it is currently hindered by policy uncertainty and unresolved land tenure and carbon ownership issues. It proposes strategies to stimulate investment, such as leveraging compliance carbon markets and implementing nested crediting frameworks.

The report 'État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020' examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international environmental governance, the shift to virtual negotiations, and the resulting effects on climate and biodiversity goals. It highlights the challenges of maintaining political momentum and scientific output during lockdowns while noting that the pandemic underscored the interconnectedness of human health and environmental degradation.

This diagnostic report synthesises findings from five dialogues held in developing countries to explore paths for revitalising multilateral trade negotiations following the stalemate of the Doha Round. It examines the rise of mega-regional trade agreements (MPTAs) and plurilateral approaches as alternatives to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) consensus-based model, while highlighting the specific needs of developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in the context of global value chains (GVCs) and agricultural reform.

This policy brief by Andre W. Cooper examines how middle-power countries recalibrate their diplomatic strategies in a multipolar global environment. It contrasts the approaches of the MIKTA grouping, South Africa's alignment with BRICS, and Canada's shift from broad multilateralism toward a more consolidated focus on strategic Western allies.

The G20 Energy Access Action Plan is a multi-phase voluntary collaboration framework designed to strengthen G20 member cooperation on energy access. The first phase specifically targets improving electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa through six strategic pillars: policy and regulatory environments, technology deployment, investment and finance, capacity building, regional integration, and coordination. The plan emphasizes sharing knowledge and good practices while respecting the sovereign right of nations to determine their own energy mix.

The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact Guidebook outlines a global effort to decarbonize electricity systems through five key principles: hourly time-matching, local procurement, technology inclusivity, additionality of new generation, and maximizing system impact. It provides a roadmap for energy buyers, suppliers, and governments to transition from annual carbon-free claims to a more granular, hourly matching system using tools like Granular Certificates and smart metering.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a narrow policy window to steer economic recovery toward a sustainable, net-zero emissions path. It warns against 'carbon lock-in'—where recovery measures entrench fossil fuel dependency—and proposes specific policy levers, such as conditional bailouts and just transition measures, to catalyse industrial transformation.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines pathways for the global steel sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It highlights the necessity of transitioning away from conventional blast furnaces by 2025 to avoid stranded assets and catastrophic climate impacts, emphasizing a mix of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (HDRI), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and increased recycling. The document stresses the critical role of policy-makers in providing clean energy, creating lead markets, and fostering international cooperation, specifically mentioning the Glasgow Breakthrough on Steel.

This research paper evaluates the impact of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) on nitrous oxide (N2O) abatement in the adipic acid sector. While the carbon market successfully incentivized abatement levels of 98% to 100%, which exceed previous technical benchmarks, the authors find that the CDM created significant economic incentives that led to carbon leakage. Specifically, production shifted from non-CDM plants to CDM plants during the 2008-2009 economic downturn, resulting in an estimated 13.5 MtCO2e of issued credits that did not represent real emission reductions.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute discusses the concept of indirect climate change impacts—risks that originate outside a country's borders but are transmitted through biophysical, trade, finance, and human pathways. It highlights a systemic lack of attention to these international dimensions in national adaptation planning and proposes the 'Adaptation Without Borders' project to improve conceptual frameworks and evidence bases for decision-makers.

This SEI briefing summarizes a regional foresight workshop held in Bangkok in December 2023, conducted as part of a UNEP strategic foresight initiative. The workshop involved 42 academics and practitioners from 15 countries in Asia and the Pacific to analyze plausible future scenarios for the region leading up to 2050, focusing on the intersections of technology, cultural values, economic power, and environmental sustainability.

A statement from 82 Latin American and Caribbean civil society organizations providing suggestions and requests to the COP30 Presidency to ensure concrete implementation results in Belém do Pará, Brazil, focusing on climate ambition, adaptation, finance, just transition, and biodiversity synergies.

A statement from 82 civil society organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean providing strategic recommendations to the COP30 Presidency to ensure the conference delivers concrete implementation outcomes regarding climate ambition, finance, adaptation, and just transition.

This fact sheet from Transforma provides a statistical overview of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by June 2026, detailing emission reduction targets for developed countries, G20 members, and Latin American nations relative to global emissions.

This report by Trend Asia examines the implementation of biomass co-firing in East Java, focusing on Energy Plantation Forests (HTE), wood pellet exporters, and the Paiton Power Plant (PLTU Paiton). The findings suggest that the transition to biomass has caused economic losses for local farmers, ecological damage, and relies on illegal supply chains of wood sawdust, while failing to provide a viable business model for the state-owned forestry company Perhutani.

This report by Trend Asia examines the planned construction of the Jawa 9 and 10 coal-fired power plants (PLTU) in Cilegon, Banten, funded by South Korean financial institutions. The document argues that the project is economically unviable, environmentally destructive, and a threat to public health, while highlighting a contradiction between South Korea's domestic climate commitments and its overseas investments in coal.

This report by Trend Asia argues that the construction of the Java 9 and 10 Coal Power Plants (CPP) in Cilegon, Banten, is a 'forced investment' that is economically unviable, environmentally destructive, and a threat to public health. The document calls for South Korean financial institutions to withdraw funding, citing a contradiction between this project and South Korea's domestic 'Green New Deal' and climate commitments.