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This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) explores how citizen science—the collaboration between scientists and volunteers to answer real-world questions—can support the implementation, monitoring, and definition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It details the different types of citizen science projects, their benefits for data collection and public engagement, and strategies to overcome challenges regarding data quality and statistical validity.

This World Resources Institute working paper analyzes the alignment between the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. By mapping climate actions across 92 INDCs, the authors demonstrate that climate policies often generate mutual benefits for sustainable development, though these synergies are frequently unrecognized or uncoordinated at the national level due to institutional silos.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for G20 countries to reform fossil fuel subsidies. It advocates for the use of voluntary peer review processes to increase transparency, the establishment of an ambitious and defined timetable for phasing out inefficient subsidies, and the implementation of targeted support to protect the poorest populations during the transition.

This executive summary examines international best practices for reforming liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies to assist the Government of Indonesia in transitioning from regressive subsidies to targeted support. It analyzes various global pricing mechanisms and evaluates specific targeting strategies used in countries such as India, Peru, and El Salvador to ensure low-income households maintain access to clean cooking energy during price increases.

This executive summary examines international experiences and best practices for reforming Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) subsidies to provide policy options for Indonesia. It argues that while current LPG subsidies in Indonesia are regressive, effective targeting can transform them into a tool for promoting clean cooking for low-income households. The document outlines various global pricing mechanisms and analyzes specific targeting strategies used in several countries to mitigate the impact of price increases on vulnerable populations.

The SEI Initiative on Low Emission Development Pathways (LED-P) provides tools and research to help governments, particularly in developing countries, integrate the mitigation of greenhouse gases, air pollution, and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). Central to this is the LEAP-Integrated Benefits Calculator (LEAP-IBC), which quantifies the health, agricultural, and climate benefits of specific pollution-reduction measures. The initiative works closely with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to support national action plans in 16 countries and conducts research on the transferability of environmental impacts and the socio-economic barriers to low-emission transitions.

This policy brief, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs, provides recommendations to restore multilateral trade cooperation and the central role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) amidst a systemic crisis characterized by the failure of the Doha Round and the rise of Mega-Preferential Trade Arrangements (MPTAs).

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 2 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to eliminate deforestation from the production of agricultural commodities—specifically palm oil, soy, paper, and beef—by 2020. The report uses market share of certified commodities and the number of corporate and governmental commitments as proxy indicators for progress, noting significant data gaps and varying levels of ambition across different sectors.

This research paper analyzes the impact of currency risk on infrastructure projects in developing markets, arguing that hard currency loans from International Financing Institutions (IFIs) create dangerous asset-liability mismatches. The authors propose that IFIs shift their strategy from direct lending to developing local capital markets and providing credit guarantees. This approach aims to leverage private commercial capital and reduce the financial burden on host governments and end-users.

This report by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), evaluates the resource mobilisation strategies and sustainability of National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). It defines NCCFs as national-level entities that collect and channel climate finance to mitigation and adaptation projects. The report identifies significant funding gaps in developing countries, analyzes the performance of 13 operational NCCFs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and provides a best-practice handbook for NCCFs to define their vision, build institutional capacity, and engage investors.

This policy brief analyzes the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), arguing that while it is currently more symbolic than a substantive challenge to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it has the potential to evolve into a more independent and comprehensive financial safety net for emerging economies.

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.

This guide describes the role of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in regulating chemicals and manufactured nanomaterials, specifically detailing the activities of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) and its steering groups.

This 2015 research paper argues that removing fossil-fuel subsidies could reduce global GHG emissions by 6-13% by 2050, though this potential is maximized when combined with binding emission caps and investments in low-carbon infrastructure. It provides a roadmap for countries to integrate subsidy reform into their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and other UNFCCC processes to unlock government savings and accelerate the energy transition.

This report provides a general introduction to Hue City, Vietnam, and presents an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from tourism-related activities in 2011, based on data collected from fifty tourism-engaged entities.

This report reviews Myanmar's investment treaty landscape as of June 2014, analyzing the legal implications of its bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and agreements negotiated through ASEAN. It highlights significant variations in drafting and provisions across these treaties, which increase the complexity of government compliance and the risk of costly investor-state arbitration claims.

This case study examines the 'Sustainable Urban Tourism through Low Carbon Initiatives' project in Hue, Vietnam, which aimed to reduce the carbon footprint of the city's tourism sector while promoting local economic development. The initiative identified the promotion of traditional 'garden houses' as a primary strategy for climate mitigation and job creation, leveraging their role as carbon sinks and their ability to support non-motorised transport.

This research paper, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in April 2014, examines strategies for implementing climate compatible development at the subnational level (cities, districts, and provinces) across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It identifies specific challenges, such as scientific uncertainty and limited resources, and highlights opportunities for local innovation and the use of indigenous knowledge. The paper provides a framework of effective strategies, including the use of knowledge partnerships and participatory processes, and discusses the necessity of scaling these local successes up to national levels and out to other jurisdictions to achieve global transformational change.

This report summarizes the outcomes of the SDplanNet-Asia Pacific Regional Workshop Series held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2014. It analyzes existing governance practices for sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, identifies gaps in vertical and horizontal integration, and proposes a capacity-building agenda for 2014–2015 to help national and subnational planners implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

An open letter from a coalition of social movements, NGOs, and activists to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, urging a revision of the official definition of 'forests' to better reflect the biological diversity and the needs of forest-dependent communities.