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The briefing identifies three specific water-quality hotspots in Manitoba based on 2016 Census of Agriculture data: the Southwest Red River Valley (high fertilizer application), Southwestern Manitoba (high conservation tillage), and the Southeast Red River Valley (high non-incorporated manure application). It argues that spatial targeting of natural infrastructure, such as engineered wetlands, and beneficial management practices can maximize the efficiency of public investments to reduce nutrient runoff into Lake Winnipeg.

The report evaluates the Dakar BRT project, finding that while it is not financially viable under traditional accounting, it generates massive net benefits when externalities like time savings and reduced transport costs are included. The project is expected to reduce GHG emissions and accidents, though it may cause net job losses in traditional transport sectors.

The SAVi evaluation of the Dakar BRT project reveals that while the project is not financially viable under conventional accounting—showing negative Net Present Value (NPV) across most scenarios—it generates substantial positive externalities. These include significant avoided transport costs, time savings, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and traffic accidents. When these externalities are integrated into the financial analysis, the project's Internal Rate of Return (IRR) increases from 2.17% to 37.69% in the default demand scenario, demonstrating strong socio-economic profitability despite operational financial losses.

The report examines the business models of commodity trading companies, specifically those dealing in non-fuel minerals, and identifies potential tax risks for host countries. It finds that while most trading is conducted at arm's length, risks emerge from profit-based fiscal instruments, opaque corporate structures, and specific financing arrangements like metal streaming. The authors recommend strengthening legal frameworks through mandatory contract registration, the use of globally recognized prices for tax calculations, and increased financial disclosure requirements for private trading firms.

The report examines the operations of mineral and metal commodity trading companies, highlighting their role as intermediaries and financiers for mining companies, particularly small-scale producers in emerging economies. It identifies that while most traders operate independently—reducing the risk of transfer pricing—their lack of transparency and use of complex corporate structures can facilitate tax evasion and corruption. The document specifically analyzes risks associated with 'metal streaming' and prepayments, which can shift wealth from host countries to investors. It recommends that host governments implement mandatory contract registration, use internationally recognized pricing for tax calculations, and strengthen financial disclosure requirements for private trading firms.

The report examines the operational and financial models of mineral and metal trading companies, highlighting their role as intermediaries and financiers for small and medium-sized mining firms. It concludes that while these companies generally operate on an arm's length basis, their inherent opacity and the use of complex financial arrangements, such as streaming agreements, create potential fiscal risks for host governments. The document recommends enhancing transparency through the EITI, implementing mandatory contract registration, and using globally recognized pricing for tax calculations.

The document argues that Indonesia's coal price cap, designed to protect the finances of the state-owned utility PLN, acts as a subsidy that locks out renewable energy. By capping coal prices at USD 70 per tonne, the government reduces operational costs for coal plants, making it difficult for renewables to compete under a pricing system based on average generation costs (BPP). The brief suggests alternative policies, such as windfall taxes on coal or 'polluter pays' principles, to support PLN without disadvantaging clean energy.

The document emphasizes the need for global actors and diplomats to anticipate and manage the trade-offs associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure a sustainable world. It specifically highlights that aligning peacebuilding and climate adaptation efforts can enhance long-term stability and resilience.

The report explores how blockchain technology and 'impact tokens' can overcome systemic barriers in impact investing to better support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It identifies five primary barriers to scaling impact investing—including lack of appropriate capital and insufficient impact measurement—and proposes that impact tokens can increase trust, promote inclusion, improve data collection, and incentivize sustainable behaviors.

The document argues that private sector engagement is essential for successful National Adaptation Planning (NAP) because businesses drive economic growth and provide the jobs, products, and financing necessary for climate resilience. It defines private sector engagement as the meaningful involvement of diverse actors in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of NAPs, while maintaining that governments remain the primary owners of the process.

The document critiques the ICSID Secretariat's draft amendments to the Arbitration Rules, stating they do not sufficiently address stakeholder concerns regarding investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). It suggests that if the Secretariat's own analysis is correct and rule amendments are insufficient for priority reforms, member states should consider amending the ICSID Convention itself.

The document highlights a gap in Indonesian public perception where coal is not recognized as a primary driver of air pollution, despite the country producing 60 per cent of its electricity from coal. It suggests that replicating awareness-raising strategies from India and China could empower Indonesian civil society to demand health-prioritizing policies and the reduction of fossil fuel combustion.

The document analyzes the causes of financial distress in India's coal power sector, noting that approximately 18 per cent of installed capacity is 'stressed'. It identifies current drivers such as coal shortages and the financial instability of energy distribution companies (DISCOMs), while predicting future pressures from water scarcity, air pollution regulations, and the increasing cost-competitiveness of renewables. The author argues that government subsidies and preferential loans artificially mask these market signals. To prevent the burden of asset stranding from falling on the workforce, the brief suggests implementing complementary policies including general employment schemes, targeted social protection, and specific financing mechanisms.

The NAP Global Network has supported gender analyses in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea-Conakry, Madagascar, and Togo since 2018 to ensure climate adaptation investments generate equitable benefits for women and men. The briefing outlines the approach taken and identifies common themes and lessons learned to inform the formulation and implementation of these national plans.

The report argues that current LCAs for building materials often lack transparency and omit critical data, particularly regarding biogenic carbon in wood and operational emissions. It concludes that for energy-efficient, long-lived buildings in Canada, the choice of structural material has a negligible impact compared to operational efficiency, and recommends prioritizing building longevity and energy efficiency over material substitution.

The report argues that shifting subsidies from kerosene to off-grid solar is economically viable and socially beneficial for India's rural poor. It details three primary subsidy pathways—targeting households, manufacturers, or financial institutions—and provides a framework for administration, funding, and beneficiary targeting to achieve '24x7 Power for All'.

The report finds that Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Canada provides significant benefits over business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios, particularly in reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. By 2035, sustainable procurement for buildings and vehicles could save nearly CAD 2 billion annually in operating costs. While a 'sustainable plus domestic' scenario for steel and cement increases production costs due to the replacement of imports, it generates higher domestic revenue and employment. The report concludes that GPP reduces total emissions and provides substantial savings when measured by the social cost of carbon.

The document analyzes how public outcry driven by health-focused communication strategies in India and China led to government action against air pollution. It highlights the role of medical professionals, data transparency, and creative arts in mobilizing civil society. The brief argues that Indonesia, which continues to expand coal power despite high rates of non-communicable diseases, can benefit from similar approaches to pressure its government to shift toward renewable energy.

The report argues that current LCAs often produce variable results due to undisclosed assumptions and omissions, particularly regarding biogenic carbon in wood products. It emphasizes that building energy efficiency and longevity are the primary drivers of decarbonization, as operational emissions typically dominate the total life-cycle impact. The authors recommend greater transparency in LCA data, the development of a regionalized national life-cycle inventory for Canada, and a balanced policy approach that incentivizes decarbonization across all material manufacturing sectors rather than favoring one material over others.

The report explores the use of impact tokens—blockchain-based digital representations of social and environmental impacts—to overcome five primary barriers in the impact investing industry: lack of appropriate capital, market segmentation, limited exit options, unsophisticated measurement practices, and a shortage of high-quality opportunities. Through ten case studies across sectors like agriculture, energy, and forestry, the document demonstrates how these tokens can increase trust, promote financial inclusion, accelerate monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) processes, and incentivize sustainable behaviors.