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The report analyzes deforestation mitigation strategies in five Global South countries, highlighting the effectiveness of combining financial incentives, land tenure reform, national certification, and landscape restoration. It emphasizes that success requires a combination of context-specific measures, targeting high-risk areas, and leveraging both digital and physical monitoring systems, often complemented by voluntary sustainability standards.

The report highlights the economic vulnerability of the 13 million people in the global tea sector, particularly smallholder farmers in developing countries who produced 60% of the world's tea in 2022. While voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) cover at least a quarter of global production, their impact on farmer incomes is limited, often because 90% of VSS-compliant tea is sold as conventional. The document calls for new approaches to reward sustainable practices and ensure fairer production.

The author argues that for MC13 to be successful, the WTO must move beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments. Key proposals include an exemption for least developed countries (LDCs) from food export restrictions to ensure food availability. However, significant disagreements persist between developing nations (such as India and China) and developed nations (including the US and EU) regarding public stockholding and the reduction of trade-distorting domestic support.

The document analyzes the primary points of contention and potential areas of progress for the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13). It highlights the critical need to restore the dispute settlement system, the tension between multilateral and plurilateral negotiating approaches—particularly regarding environmental and industrial policies—and the ongoing debate over special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing countries. It also examines efforts to improve committee transparency and notification compliance.

The Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) aims to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs) through commitments to transparency, streamlined administration, and sustainable investment. While 117 WTO members have signed on, the agreement faces a significant hurdle in its legal incorporation into the WTO system. Proponents seek to include it as a plurilateral agreement under Annex 4 of the Marrakesh Agreement, but this requires consensus from all WTO members, including non-signatories like India and South Africa who oppose plurilateral initiatives on the grounds that they undermine the WTO's consensus principle and distract from the Doha Development Agenda.

The paper examines two critical development issues facing the WTO ahead of MC13: the operationalization of special and differential treatment (SDT) provisions and the support for LDCs graduating from their category. While the G90 has narrowed its SDT proposals to 10 priority items to address developed countries' concerns about 'blanket and indefinite exemptions', consensus has remained elusive. Conversely, there is positive momentum regarding graduating LDCs following a October 2023 General Council decision encouraging smooth transitions for duty-free and quota-free preference programs.

The document examines two primary tracks of e-commerce governance at the WTO: the multilateral Work Program on Electronic Commerce and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI). It highlights the reinvigorated thematic discussions under the Work Program and the 'slimmed-down' nature of the JSI negotiations following the US decision to withdraw support for data flow and source code proposals. A central point of contention is the provisional moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, where developing economies argue that the loss of government revenue and restricted industrial policy space outweigh the trade cost reductions favored by developed economies.

The SAVi assessment of the Tirana–Durres railway in Albania reveals that while the project is not economically viable under conventional financial metrics (BCR of 0.12), it is highly profitable from a societal perspective with a Sustainable Benefit-Cost Ratio (S-BCR) of 4.79. Over a 30-year period (2023–2053), the project is projected to generate cumulative discounted net benefits of EUR 270.34 million. The most significant financial gains come from avoided vehicle operating costs (EUR 96.79 million), followed by health benefits (EUR 44.93 million), time savings (EUR 44.39 million), and avoided accident costs (EUR 41.61 million). The report argues that integrating non-tangible social and environmental externalities—such as reduced CO2 emissions and improved public health—provides a stronger business case for sustainable transport infrastructure in Albania.

The report examines the global tea market, highlighting the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to price volatility and climate change. It assesses the impact of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) like Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance, noting that while they can provide price floors and premiums, a significant amount of certified tea is still sold as conventional. The document argues for a shift toward more transparent pricing, direct trade, and sustainable land management to ensure living incomes for producers.

The report argues that climate and biodiversity crises disproportionately affect marginalized groups and that nature-based solutions (NbS) must integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) to be effective. It outlines three core components of GESI in NbS: recognizing differences in needs and capacities, facilitating equitable participation in decision-making, and promoting the fair distribution of benefits. The document provides a five-step implementation cycle—system understanding, risk assessment, option identification, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)—supported by case studies from Vietnam, Cuba, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Bolivia.

The briefing argues that conventional neoclassical financial analysis fails to account for long-term non-financial risks and externalities, often leading to underinvestment in sustainable transport. It proposes an 'integrated financial analysis' where positive externalities—such as health benefits and time savings—are monetized and converted into revenue streams. Using a case study of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Bandung, Indonesia, the paper demonstrates that while the project is financially unviable based on ticket sales alone, it becomes viable if a small fraction (12% to 19%) of its societal externalities are internalized. The author recommends lowering social discount rates to better incentivize long-term sustainable investments.

The report argues that climate and biodiversity crises disproportionately affect marginalized populations and that NbS must be gender-responsive to be effective. It proposes a framework based on three foundational elements: recognizing differences in needs and capacities, facilitating equitable participation in decision-making, and promoting an equitable distribution of benefits. The document outlines a five-step project cycle—understanding the system, risk assessment, identifying options, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)—to mainstream GESI, supported by case studies from Vietnam, Cuba, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Bolivia.

The report evaluates the FAME II policy in India, finding that it generates significant net benefits by replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). Using the SAVi methodology, the analysis demonstrates that while the conventional benefit-cost ratio (BCR) remains constant at 1.58 across scenarios, the government's BCR increases as its subsidy contribution decreases. The highest cumulative net benefits (INR 1,606.90 billion) occur in the scenario with the lowest government contribution (25%), as this shifts more of the investment burden to consumers while still stimulating EV uptake. The primary drivers of these benefits are the avoided investment and operation costs of ICE vehicles and reduced fuel use, all of which are borne by users rather than the state.

The report evaluates three primary net-zero transport scenarios for Indonesia: investment in public transport (Scenario 1), 100% private vehicle electrification powered by renewable energy (Scenario 2), and a mixed approach (Scenario 3). Using the SAVi methodology, the analysis finds that Scenario 3 delivers the highest cumulative discounted net benefit of IDR 6,926.03 trillion (USD 450.1 billion) by 2050. While Scenario 2 offers the most attractive benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.97 due to lower infrastructure costs, Scenario 3 provides the greatest overall societal value by combining 'avoid, shift, and improve' strategies. The report emphasizes that achieving net-zero in transport is inextricably linked to the decarbonization of the electricity supply, as sensitivity analyses show that the current energy mix significantly reduces net benefits.

The report evaluates nine voluntary carbon neutrality standards and initiatives (VCNSIs) using the CARE (Coverage, Assurance, Responsiveness, and Engagement) methodology. While performing relatively well in Coverage and Assurance, the analysis reveals significant gaps in Responsiveness and Engagement. Key issues include the inconsistent inclusion of Scope 3 emissions, a lack of stringent mitigation targets aligned with 1.5°C pathways, and limited board diversity. The report recommends shifting from static 'neutrality' labels to dynamic progress-monitoring systems and suggests the creation of an oversight body to harmonize standards and prevent greenwashing.

The report analyzes the landscape of voluntary standards and initiatives for carbon management (VSICMs), categorizing them into four types: GHG inventories, carbon offsets, disclosure platforms, and carbon-neutrality certifications. It details the corporate carbon management cycle—from leadership decisions and inventorying to mitigation and offsetting—and identifies key drivers for adoption, including regulations, investment strategies, and consumer pressure. The document benchmarks 35 leading VSICMs and highlights challenges such as a lack of harmonization and the risk of greenwashing.

The document defines Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for adaptation—also known as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR)—as actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use, and manage natural ecosystems to strengthen resilience against climate change. It details a four-step implementation process starting with methodology design and ending with the identification of adaptation options, grounded in participatory climate risk assessments. The text highlights specific examples of NbS, such as coral reef restoration to buffer coastal flooding and river basin management to address drought. It emphasizes that effective NbS must be gender-responsive, inclusive, and conflict-sensitive to ensure an equitable distribution of benefits.

The document outlines a framework for pricing lithium based on OECD transfer pricing principles, detailing the physical characteristics of brine and mineral deposits, production processes, and the role of price-reporting agencies in establishing market benchmarks for battery-grade and technical-grade lithium.

The report establishes a technical framework for the pricing of lithium chemicals (carbonate and hydroxide) and concentrates (spodumene) using OECD transfer pricing principles. It details the physical characteristics of brine and hard-rock deposits, the production processes for different lithium products, and the economic drivers of demand, primarily linked to the electric vehicle battery market. The document identifies key contractual elements, such as Incoterms and pricing indices, and evaluates the role of Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs) in providing benchmarks for arm's length pricing. It concludes with guidance on comparability adjustments based on product quality, economic circumstances, and contractual terms.

The document analyzes three case studies where digital tools—ranging from free Wi-Fi hotspots and custom apps to SMS and voice technology—are used to bridge the digital divide in mining regions. It highlights that while these programs may not always be designed exclusively for women, they often result in significant female participation and empowerment by providing access to education, employment opportunities, and human rights information. The report emphasizes the importance of co-design, digital literacy training, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in ensuring the sustainability and inclusivity of these technological interventions.