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The report 'Auge y caída del carbón 2024' analyzes global coal-fired power generation trends in 2023, highlighting a contradiction where global operational capacity reached an all-time high despite a decline in new construction outside of China.

This report, published by Global Energy Monitor and a coalition of partners, tracks global coal-fired power plant capacity as of April 2024. It highlights a paradoxical trend where global coal capacity reached record highs in 2023, driven primarily by China, despite a general decline in new coal construction in the rest of the world and increasing phase-out commitments.

A briefing by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzing the potential methane emissions from 74 proposed oil and gas extraction projects scheduled to reach peak production by 2030. The report highlights a conflict between new fossil fuel expansion and global methane reduction commitments, noting significant discrepancies between company-reported emissions and GEM's estimates for projects under development.

The IAI Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is a regional initiative aimed at strengthening the science-policy interface in the Americas, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 2023 and April 2024, the SDC established three priority pillars: Capacity Building, a Knowledge Hub, and Emerging/Innovation Issues. Key achievements include the launch of a training workshop in Panama, the expansion of the STeP Fellowship program to 47 fellows from 14 countries, and the development of a specialized science diplomacy curriculum with the University of Sao Paulo. The SDC is also building a digital Knowledge Hub and forging strategic partnerships with entities such as AAAS, UNESCO, and DiploCientifica to support sustainable development and global environmental change objectives.

The Global Subnational Agricultural Production (GSAP) database, developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute, is the first standardized global database providing subnational agricultural production data for key crops. It aims to fill a critical information gap by collecting high-resolution data from national statistical offices to improve food security, climate adaptation, and agricultural research.

This policy brief by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) provides a comprehensive overview of the institutional entry points and governance processes within the World Trade Organization (WTO) where trade and environmental policies intersect. It details the roles of various WTO bodies, including the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), the dispute settlement mechanism, and the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM), while highlighting recent member-led initiatives on plastic pollution, fossil fuel subsidies, and environmental sustainability.

This report, published by Trend Asia and several international partners, analyzes global coal power trends in 2023. It highlights a contradiction where global coal capacity reached a historic high in 2023 despite a general decline in new construction outside of China. The document provides detailed analysis of China's continued expansion and Indonesia's struggle with 'captive' coal plants supporting the nickel industry, which complicates its energy transition goals.

A joint submission by the Alternative Information Development Center (AIDC) and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), supported by Tax Justice Network Africa and the #StopTheBleeding Campaign, providing comments on South Africa's Draft Global Minimum Tax Bill. While the authors ultimately oppose the implementation of the OECD's GloBE rules due to concerns over revenue potential, democratic legitimacy, and the erosion of tax sovereignty for the Global South, they offer specific proposals to maximize resource mobilization should the Bill proceed.

This guide by RMI explains the role of a new generation of satellite missions, particularly those led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in monitoring and quantifying methane emissions globally to accelerate climate action.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that transitioning to zero-carbon electricity grids powered by wind and solar is technically and economically feasible. It debunks common myths regarding the need for fossil fuel backups and grid overloading, highlighting that stability can be achieved through flexibility solutions, digitalisation, and cross-border interconnectors. The document provides real-world examples from countries like Denmark, Portugal, and Namibia, while noting that insufficient investment in grid infrastructure remains a primary obstacle to a faster global rollout.

The 'Status of the transition to green & fair economies 2024' executive summary identifies a global 'polycrisis' of conflict, economic instability, and climate change, while noting systemic shifts toward social justice and green macroeconomic governance. It highlights the rise of the clean energy economy, led by solar PV and electric vehicles, alongside significant risks such as the 'gold rush' for critical minerals, insufficient private sector investment in nature, and the use of climate policy as a political 'wedge' issue.

This executive summary outlines the findings of a survey comparing foreign policy perspectives between Germany and the IBSA countries (India, Brazil, and South Africa). It highlights divergent views on the war in Ukraine, the dominance of the US dollar, and the role of BRICS+, while identifying shared hopes for the G20 and a mutual desire for UN Security Council reform.

This research paper analyzes the tension in German foreign policy between corporate profit interests and value-based rhetoric, specifically regarding trade and investment in Africa. The author argues that Germany is shifting from a broad 'exportist' geoeconomic approach toward a more selective strategy focused on risk mitigation and the securing of critical resources, such as LNG and minerals, while urging a transition toward supporting African economic self-determination and regional industrialization.

This research paper evaluates the outcomes of the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) regarding the intersection of climate and trade policy. The authors argue that while the conference was largely disappointing due to a lack of binding multilateral agreements and opposition from key members like India, there is still value in utilizing the WTO as a diplomatic forum to coordinate non-binding instruments and revitalize deliberative functions such as the Committee on Trade and Environment.

This research paper analyzes the European Union's strategic partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to diversify critical raw material (CRM) supply chains and reduce dependence on China. It examines the geopolitical tensions between Western security agendas and the industrialization goals of the producing nations, while highlighting significant governance risks and the lack of comprehensive national CRM policies in the DRC and Zambia.

This briefing examines the current state and potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), noting that the vast majority of operational projects are linked to the oil and gas industry, specifically for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). While CCS is presented as a tool for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel, the document highlights significant challenges including high costs, inconsistent capture rates, and the risk that the technology is used to prolong fossil fuel extraction.

The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) argues that a fair green economic transition requires strong government leadership, smart policy, and significant investment, criticizing the UK Labour Party for abandoning its £28 billion green investment pledge.

The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300 km railway project in Angola designed to transport critical raw materials (CRMs) and electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain products from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the EU and US. While supported by various MoUs and a consortium including Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, the project faces significant competition from established Chinese supply chains and alternative transport routes to the Indian Ocean.

This February 2024 briefing by Global Energy Monitor examines the Russian steel industry's continued reliance on coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) technology despite international pressure to decarbonize. The report highlights the potential for a transition to hydrogen-based direct reduced iron-electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) production to meet EU carbon tariffs and corporate sustainability requirements, while noting that Russia currently prioritizes refurbishing old blast furnaces and pursuing unproven carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

This research paper by Facundo Calvo analyzes the agriculture negotiations for the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), arguing that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments. The author focuses on the potential for an exemption from export restrictions for least developed countries (LDCs) and the deep divisions among WTO members regarding domestic support and public stockholding.