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The document serves as a handbook for Canadian municipalities to implement the 'localization' of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). It outlines a 'basic recipe' for successful VLRs, including the establishment of local priorities, partnerships, inclusive participation, and data collection. A central theme is the necessity of integrating Indigenous knowledge and leadership to ensure the process supports transformative reconciliation. The guide synthesizes global and regional resources and provides case studies from cities such as Kelowna, Winnipeg, Espoo, and Malmö to illustrate best practices in data visualization, community storytelling, and the 'Leave No One Behind' (LNOB) principle.

The report analyzes the fiscal vulnerability of the BRIICS countries to the global energy transition. Using IEA scenarios, it projects significant declines in fossil fuel revenues by 2050, particularly under 1.5°C and 2°C pathways. To mitigate these risks, the authors propose a 'GSS bond support fund' to leverage near-term windfall revenues for decarbonization and suggest a broad suite of environmental fiscal reforms, including subsidy removal and the introduction of carbon pricing and road user charges.

The report argues that greening Aid for Trade (A4T) is essential for supporting developing countries in their transition to a sustainable global economy. It identifies a gap between the reported environmental objectives of A4T and actual project implementation, noting that while many donors use Rio markers, few projects have a clear environmental purpose. The document proposes six complementary pathways to green A4T: mainstreaming environmental considerations, securing additional financing, improving monitoring systems, integrating trade into climate funding, strengthening South-South cooperation, and fostering coherence with wider financial mechanisms like debt relief and climate finance. It emphasizes that developing countries must lead the prioritization of these resources to ensure a just transition that avoids new trade barriers and addresses the 'double exposure' of economic and environmental risks.

The document serves as a guide for Canadian municipalities to localize the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the creation of Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). It outlines a 'basic recipe' for successful VLRs, including the identification of local priorities, the establishment of partnerships, participatory processes, and the use of diverse data indicators. A central theme is the necessity of integrating transformative reconciliation and Indigenous leadership into the VLR process to ensure inclusivity and respect for Indigenous data sovereignty. The handbook synthesizes global and regional resources and provides case studies from cities such as Kelowna, Winnipeg, Malmö, and Espoo to illustrate good practices in reporting and community engagement.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) developed a mapping framework and findings template to evaluate VLRs. The methodology is based on UN DESA's Global Guiding Elements and adapted to include Canadian-specific priorities, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and OCAP principles. The framework consists of 11 categories and 101 sub-components. Pilot applications to VLRs from Kelowna, Winnipeg, Espoo, and Malmö indicate that while Canadian cities are making strides in reporting on Indigenous populations, there are significant gaps in disaggregated data and the description of specific local-level efforts to 'leave no one behind'.

The 2022 Canadian Prairie Water Retention Monitoring and Modelling Workshop, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), convened experts to discuss the optimization of water retention systems. Key outcomes include an agreement on the necessity for more comprehensive monitoring in the Canadian Prairies and the identification of spectral sensors as a tool for advancing monitoring and modelling. The workshop featured nine presentations, including a valuation of ecosystem services in Manitoba's Stephenfield Reservoir and Pelly's Lake, a pilot project for adaptive monitoring on the Winnipeg River using high-frequency sensors, and a demonstration of targeting 'hotspots' for environmental benefits in Manitoba's agricultural regions.

The report analyzes the progress of 39 governments and public finance institutions that signed the Glasgow Statement to end international public finance for fossil fuels. It finds that while USD 28 billion per year could be redirected toward a clean energy transition, most signatories have not yet published aligned policies. The document highlights best practices from countries like Denmark and the UK, and examines the impact on low- and middle-income countries through case studies on Ethiopia and Sri Lanka.

IISD experts assert that the modernized Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) fails to align with climate ambitions, specifically noting that the European Union and United Kingdom have agreed to maintain investment protections for existing fossil fuel assets for at least 10 years after the treaty enters into force. This allows fossil fuel investors to continue filing investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims, potentially hindering the phase-out of oil and gas required to limit warming to 1.5°C. Consequently, several EU member states have announced plans to withdraw from the treaty, leading the European Commission to propose a coordinated EU-wide exit to avoid fragmented unilateral withdrawals.

The report finds that Indonesian government support for fossil fuels significantly outweighs support for renewable energy, with 94% of annual allocations averaging coal, oil, gas, and fossil fuel-based electricity, compared to just 1% for renewables. Between 2016 and 2020, total energy support measures rose by 38% to IDR 279 trillion, while specific support for renewable energy decreased from IDR 3 trillion to IDR 2 trillion. The analysis indicates that 77% of identified measures benefit energy producers, and that fossil fuel subsidies create a lock-in effect that hinders the competitiveness of renewable energy and drains public finances.

The report utilizes system dynamics modelling and financial analysis to evaluate restoration options for the Katingan peatlands and Belitung mangroves in Indonesia. It finds that sustainable management of these ecosystems provides high societal value across all simulated climate scenarios and offers a cost-effective method for climate change mitigation and community support. However, the report emphasizes that for land rehabilitation to be economically viable and lasting, local communities require additional income sources, such as tourism, to prevent a shift toward environmentally damaging activities like mining and plantations.

The report finds that 97% of developing countries submitting NAPs to the UNFCCC now integrate gender considerations, with 29% specifically referring to gender responsiveness—a significant increase from zero in 2018. Additionally, about 50% of NAPs recognize women as agents of change in adaptation planning.

The document examines the progress of WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies, detailing the three main pillars of the draft agreement: prohibitions on subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; subsidies for overfished stocks; and subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. It highlights the tension between imposing meaningful disciplines on the largest fishing nations and providing 'appropriate and effective special and differential treatment' for developing countries. The analysis also covers transparency requirements, notification obligations, and the potential inclusion of forced labour and non-specific fuel subsidies in the final deal.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is facing a critical need for reform across its negotiating function, dispute settlement system, committee transparency, and Secretariat role. While members generally agree on the need for change, they are divided on the approach: some advocate for 'coalitions of the willing' to modernize the agenda, while others, particularly developing countries, prioritize the Doha Development Agenda and the preservation of special and differential treatment (SDT). The dispute settlement system remains crippled by the United States' refusal to appoint new Appellate Body members since 2019. Divergent priorities exist between the EU, US, African Group, India, and LDCs, with disagreements extending to whether reform should proceed via working groups or General Council review processes.

The paper analyzes the EU's proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products and the UK's Environment Act 2021, detailing their respective scopes, due diligence processes, and enforcement mechanisms while highlighting challenges related to WTO consistency and impacts on smallholders in developing countries.

The document provides conceptual clarity on nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), emphasizing that for these solutions to be effective and legitimate, they must integrate gender responsiveness, social inclusion, and robust environmental safeguards.

The report examines the rising compensation awards in investor-state arbitral tribunals and compares these with approaches used in other international courts for private property claims. It proposes four reform options: updating treaty language regarding reparation standards, increasing engagement with domestic reparation mechanisms, promoting negotiated or mediated settlements, and increasing the use of tribunal-appointed experts to calculate compensation.

The 1972 Stockholm Conference established the foundation for modern environmental diplomacy by linking environment and development. Its legacies include the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the catalyst for numerous multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) such as the Montreal Protocol and the Rio Conventions, and the introduction of legal principles like the precautionary principle and the polluter-pays principle. While it expanded participation to include NGOs and Indigenous Peoples, the document notes that implementation of these frameworks lags behind the accelerating 'triple planetary crisis' of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

The document defines the conceptual landscape of nature-based solutions, distinguishing between general NbS, climate-specific NbCS, and adaptation-focused EbA. It argues that for these solutions to be effective and legitimate, they must be grounded in risk assessments and incorporate robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent rights violations, the commodification of nature, and ecological harm. The brief highlights the importance of three pillars—gender responsiveness, social inclusion, and biodiversity benefits—and provides global case studies demonstrating the application of EbA across various ecosystems.

The document defines the conceptual landscape of nature-based climate solutions, distinguishing between the broad umbrella of NbS and the adaptation-specific focus of EbA. It argues that for these measures to be legitimate and effective, they must be grounded in risk assessments and robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent rights violations and biodiversity loss. The text provides practical examples of EbA across various ecosystems and outlines a framework for future implementation based on gender responsiveness, social inclusion, and biodiversity benefits.

The report details the evolution of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) from its founding in 2000 to its role in the Paris Agreement. It highlights how the EIG's unique composition—including both developed and developing nations—enables it to facilitate compromises on technical and political issues such as climate finance, transparency, and carbon markets. The document also examines the individual contributions of member states like the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Monaco, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Georgia to global climate science and policy.