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The document examines the crisis of 'stressed' coal power assets in India, where approximately 21% of operational capacity was identified as non-performing in 2018. It identifies current drivers of stranding, such as the financial distress of distribution companies (DISCOMs) and coal shortages, alongside future risks including water scarcity, air pollution regulations, and the increasing cost-competitiveness of renewable energy. The authors argue that government subsidies and preferential financing have artificially dampened market signals, prolonging the life of unviable assets. Finally, the brief advocates for a 'just transition' framework to prevent the burden of asset stranding from falling on the millions of workers in the coal value chain, particularly in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

The U.S. EPA has proposed a change in how it calculates the benefits of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal- and oil-fired power plants. By excluding 'co-benefits'—reductions in pollutants not directly targeted by the rule, such as particulate matter (PM2.5)—the EPA argues that the regulation is no longer 'appropriate and necessary' under the Clean Air Act. While the MATS originally prevented 11,000 premature deaths and 130,000 asthma attacks annually, removing co-benefits, which account for over 90% of monetized benefits, dramatically lowers the perceived value of the regulation relative to its compliance costs. Although the MATS remain in place for now, this methodological shift opens the door for the EPA to potentially rescind the standards or delist power plants as affected sources. Electric utilities have expressed concern over this shift, noting they have already invested over USD 18 billion in pollution-control upgrades. The report also notes that increased mercury emissions in the U.S. could adversely affect Canada due to transboundary transport.

The fact sheet highlights how recycling cobalt and lithium from end-of-life products, particularly electric vehicle batteries, can mitigate supply shortages, reduce environmental degradation, and support Sustainable Development Goals by decoupling economic growth from finite resource consumption.

The paper argues that international trade agreements do not inherently impede sustainable public procurement, though they prohibit 'buying local' and discourage favoring specific social groups. It identifies the primary barriers as a lack of agency capacity, financial constraints, and political will, rather than the regulatory framework itself.

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation and the International Institute for Sustainable Development argue that phosphorus from undertreated sewage is driving toxic algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg. They identify the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) as the largest point source of phosphorus for the lake and the fourth largest phosphorus polluter among Canadian wastewater facilities. While a full plant upgrade is planned, it is estimated to cost $1.8 billion and will not begin for at least 10 years. The authors propose a $5 million interim retrofit that could be implemented quickly to reduce the plant's phosphorus contribution by 70%.

The Town of Canmore utilized the Climate Resilience Express tool to identify climate risks and prioritize adaptation actions following 2013 flooding. This process resulted in a Climate Resilience Action Plan that integrates adaptation priorities into municipal budget cycles and includes a flood risk assessment of the Bow River.

The document outlines how countries can increase coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness by aligning their national policy processes with three global agendas: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It focuses on the enabling factors for this alignment and how to define alignment objectives to support climate-resilient development.

The Town of Canmore developed a Climate Resilience Action Plan in 2016 to address vulnerabilities to extreme weather, particularly following a catastrophic flood in 2013. Using the Climate Resilience Express (CRE) tool provided by All One Sky, the town identified eight priority risks and three opportunities. The highest risks were forest fires, Bow River flooding, and mountain creek flooding. Implementation steps since 2016 include a Bow River flood risk assessment, the creation of creek mitigation plans, and the integration of adaptation actions into municipal budget planning. The document highlights the value of structured planning tools and the importance of incorporating detailed costing into adaptation strategies.

The introduction of the GST in India has created a relative bias in favor of coal-based power by increasing the cost of solar PV generation while reducing the variable costs for existing coal plants. While total tax subsidies for both sources decreased, the absolute level of support for coal remains more than double that for solar PV. The analysis indicates that the GST increased the LCOE for solar park projects by 5.84% and decreased the variable LCOE for coal plants using domestic coal by approximately 1.6%.

The report examines local content policies (LCPs) in the mining sector, specifically focusing on local procurement. It details how 'local' is defined through geography, value addition, and ownership, and outlines various demand-side and supply-side policy options. The document emphasizes that for these policies to succeed, they must be supported by pre-conditions such as capacity analysis, a conducive business climate, and strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

The document outlines a framework for integrating gender considerations into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) based on experiences in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea-Conakry, Madagascar, and Togo. It argues that generic gender integration often focuses solely on women, whereas targeted analysis reveals nuanced differences in vulnerability and capacity between men and women. The proposed approach combines policy, institutional, and technical analyses to provide specific process and technical recommendations. Key findings highlight that while legal frameworks for gender equality exist, they are rarely linked to climate policies, and women remain significantly under-represented in decision-making for climate-vulnerable sectors.

The report evaluates the 41.1 km Rabat bypass road project using the SAVi tool, simulating six risk scenarios and four externalities. It finds that the project is not financially viable based on its own revenues across all scenarios, with negative net present value and insufficient internal rate of return. However, the inclusion of externalities—specifically the value of time saved and the cost of accidents—significantly improves key financial indicators, demonstrating that traditional financial analyses underestimate the project's broader socio-economic value and the risks associated with reduced maintenance or climate change.

The report evaluates the 4.1 km Rabat bypass road, including the Mohammed VI bridge, using the SAVi tool to simulate six risk scenarios and four external factors. The analysis finds that the project is not financially viable based on its own revenues across all scenarios, as evidenced by negative Net Present Values (NPV) and insufficient Internal Rates of Return (IRR). However, integrating external factors—specifically the value of time saved and accident costs—significantly alters the cost-benefit analysis, demonstrating that conventional financial assessments underestimate the true risks and benefits of the infrastructure.

The report evaluates Ecuador's mining policy framework, identifying a strong constitutional and legal basis for environmental protection and social participation. While the government has successfully attracted large-scale investment and implemented an innovative advance royalty system for community benefit, significant gaps remain in technical regulation for mine closure, environmental monitoring of large-scale waste, and the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The assessment emphasizes the need for more robust community consultation processes and increased technical capacity within state regulatory agencies to ensure sustainable mining development.

The report argues that while cobalt and lithium are critical for the low-carbon transition, their current recycling rates are low—specifically less than 5% for lithium-ion batteries. It identifies barriers across the primary supply chain (such as conflict and child labour in the DRC), the recycling chain (inefficient collection and technical challenges), and regulatory environments (inapt definitions and ambiguous liability). The authors recommend enhancing eco-design, raising consumer awareness to reduce 'hibernation' of electronics, and updating regulatory frameworks to include clear definitions and meaningful recycling targets to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the circular economy.

The document defines natural infrastructure (NI) as ecosystems providing infrastructure services and distinguishes between 'natural' (e.g., wetlands) and 'green-grey' (e.g., permeable pavements) types. It argues that NI is generally more cost-effective than grey infrastructure, offering co-benefits in land security, climate regulation, and water security. However, adoption is hindered by high transaction costs, long time horizons for full capacity, and a lack of standardized quantitative evaluation tools. The report provides specific cost data for artificial wetlands and restoration projects, while identifying policy interventions—such as rating systems and market instruments—to incentivize investment.

The document examines the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and gender equality in agriculture. It analyzes five major standards—Fairtrade International, IFOAM Organic, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified, and the 4Cs—across six thematic areas: household food security, rights to productive resources, education, unpaid domestic labour, decision-making/empowerment, and decent work. The guide finds that while VSSs can improve wages and working conditions, they risk exacerbating inequalities if they prioritize cash crops over women's subsistence farming or increase women's unpaid labour burdens without providing childcare or gender-transformative training.

The document analyzes the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and gender equality in agriculture. It evaluates five major standards—Fairtrade International, IFOAM (Organic), Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified, and 4Cs—across six key themes: household food security, access to productive resources, education, unpaid domestic work, decision-making/empowerment, and decent work. The guide finds that while VSS can indirectly improve women's status through increased income and sustainable practices, they can also inadvertently exacerbate inequalities if local gender dynamics are ignored, such as by prioritizing commercial crops over women's subsistence farming or increasing women's unpaid labor to meet certification quality requirements. It provides specific recommendations for development organizations to implement 'gender-transformative' approaches, including providing childcare during training and supporting women's land rights.

The document evaluates the 2018 Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted to the UN's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. It finds that while countries are better adhering to reporting guidelines and focusing more on the principle of 'leaving no one behind,' they still largely ignore other transformative principles of the 2030 Agenda. Additionally, the report notes a concerning lack of transparency regarding the closing of civic space and attacks on human rights and environmental defenders despite some increased engagement with civil society.

The document outlines a climate risk assessment of water resources in Uganda's Ruhezamyenda catchment, emphasizing the need to address risks from changing temperatures, rainfall patterns, and extreme weather. It aims to integrate these findings into local planning and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), while noting the use of Nature-Based Solutions since 2015 to reduce climate vulnerability through ecosystem restoration and management.