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This research paper by GLOBE International examines the relationship between domestic climate change legislation and a country's negotiating position within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It argues that strong national laws act as an enabler for international ambition by creating political space, increasing economic competitiveness, and building confidence among leaders and investors.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International details the impacts of palm oil plantations developed by the Malaysian company Sime Darby in Liberia. It alleges that the company's land concessions violate Liberian laws and international human rights principles, leading to land grabs, deforestation, and the loss of local livelihoods. The document also identifies European financial institutions providing funding to Sime Darby and calls for the renegotiation of contracts to ensure community consent and environmental protection.

This research paper examines why South Africa is a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) but remains absent from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The author argues that South Africa's reliance on general domestic transparency laws is insufficient for the specific needs of the extractive sector and suggests that the government's reluctance is tied to geopolitical perceptions of double standards between the global North and South.

This research paper analyzes the impact of the death of 13 South African soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR) on March 23, 2013, arguing that the incident exposed failures in democratic transparency and institutional accountability within South Africa's foreign policy. The author suggests that to preserve its 'African agenda,' South Africa must move away from Cold War-era anti-imperialist prisms, improve intelligence partnerships with traditional powers, and proactively domesticate its foreign policy through democratic scrutiny.

This research paper by RMI explores the transition of the U.S. electricity sector from a traditional value chain to a 'value constellation' at the distribution edge. It examines how the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs) challenges existing utility business models and proposes new regulatory and economic frameworks to better integrate these resources for improved system efficiency, resilience, and reliability.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate-Compatible Development (CCD). It defines CCD as a "development first" approach aimed at minimizing climate damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-carbon, resilient future. The document identifies five primary socio-political drivers—national awareness of adaptation, energy security, economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and government leadership—and seven key implementation challenges, including high costs, political opposition, and institutional limitations.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD), defined as a "development first" approach that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emissions, resilient future. Drawing on experience from over 40 countries, the paper identifies key sociopolitical drivers—such as national resilience needs, energy security, and economic opportunities—and outlines significant barriers, including high implementation costs, political resistance, and institutional capacity gaps.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the financial sustainability of public-private partnerships (PPPs) used to address infrastructure deficits. It details the mechanisms of project finance, including the use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and high gearing ratios, while cautioning that PPPs are not a substitute for government budgets as public funds eventually cover the costs. The document also explores how PPP contracts can be designed to achieve broader environmental and social sustainability goals.

This report details the third annual Climate Knowledge Brokers (CKB) workshop held in June 2013 in Bonn, Germany. The event focused on forging collaborative links between online knowledge brokers specializing in climate and development, sharing lessons on user engagement and internet marketing, and developing shared technical tools to improve information discoverability.

This report documents the 6th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held in November 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference focused on the role of staff colleges in preparing military officers to address emerging security challenges in Africa, emphasizing the need for a balance between academic education, professional military studies, and tactical training to develop flexible, intellectual leaders.

The PROVIA Guidance on Assessing Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change is an executive summary of a technical framework designed to harmonize and communicate knowledge on climate risk. It provides an iterative five-stage adaptation learning cycle—identifying needs, identifying options, appraising options, planning and implementing actions, and monitoring and evaluation—to help researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers navigate the diversity of available assessment methods and tools.

This 2012 CDKN fact sheet details technical assistance provided to Bangladesh to lead international climate negotiations on 'Loss and Damage' and the development of a participatory M&E tool for community-based adaptation that has since been replicated in Africa.

This 2012 report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines how public policies and financial injections can mitigate risks to attract private investment in green infrastructure. Through case studies in the UK, Tunisia, and Morocco, it argues that well-articulated policies and innovative risk-mitigation instruments (like first-loss protection and policy risk insurance) are essential to overcome the inertia of 'plain vanilla finance.' The report highlights the critical role of National Development Banks in emerging economies, noting that China, Brazil, and India were the largest recipients of mitigation-directed climate finance in 2011.

This executive summary by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the 'fast-start' climate finance pledges made by developed countries following the 2010 Cancun Agreements. The document evaluates whether these pledges meet international criteria regarding the balance between adaptation and mitigation, additionality, and prioritization of vulnerable nations, while highlighting significant gaps in reporting transparency and consistency.

This research paper examines Switzerland's economic diplomacy as a 'small state', detailing its strategies to influence global economic governance and protect its financial centre. It highlights Switzerland's use of inter-ministerial coordination (IDAG20), its participation in the Global Governance Group (3G), and its dual-axis strategy (proactive and preventive) to engage with the G-20 and international organisations. The paper also discusses the challenges small states face at the UN and Switzerland's specific policies on tax information exchange and financial market stability.

This report, the final part of a five-part series by WWF South Africa, SinCo, Carbon Tracker, and Trucost, synthesizes research on the financial risks and opportunities associated with carbon emissions and water scarcity for institutional investors in South Africa. It argues that many investors are 'universal owners' whose returns depend on the overall health of the economy, making them vulnerable to systemic risks from climate change and water stress. The report finds that carbon and water risks are largely mispriced in the market, with significant exposure in the energy and mining sectors, and calls for regulatory interventions and a shift toward low-carbon, water-responsible investment strategies to avoid stranded assets and ensure long-term returns.

This report documents a series of workshops organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) between 2008 and 2011. The workshops focused on the intersection of Internet policy, governance, and sustainable development, exploring how technical and policy decisions regarding the Internet impact social, economic, and environmental goals.

This case study describes the operations and challenges of Sumaria Group (T) Ltd, a family-owned conglomerate headquartered in Tanzania with diverse interests in plastics, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, and beverage bottling across Africa and Asia.

This policy brief describes the South African Renewables Initiative (SARi), a government-led effort launched in December 2011 to establish financing arrangements for scaling up renewable energy. The initiative aims to achieve a target of 19 GW of renewable electricity by 2030 while managing the incremental costs compared to coal-fired power to avoid unacceptable economic burdens on the public.

This report analyzes the state of the global securitization markets as of May 2012, examining whether recent activity in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and trade finance signals a recovery that could eventually benefit climate finance. ItS It discusses how bank recapitalization pressures have reduced renewable energy lending, which relies on banks for 95% of project finance globally, making the development of securitized clean energy assets vital for recycling capital. The report evaluates market trends in Europe and the United States, the impact of regulatory frameworks like Basel III and Solvency II, and the role of standardization initiatives like the Climate Bond Standard and the Prime Collateralised Securities Initiative (PCSI).