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The document examines the systemic failures of public-private partnerships (PPPs), citing the collapse of Carillion in the UK and concerns over the US 'Rebuilding Infrastructure' plan. It argues that PPPs often fail when used primarily to keep debt off public balance sheets, leading to poor project preparation and skewed risk allocation. To improve outcomes, the author suggests moving toward systemic master planning, enhancing public sector negotiation skills, and adopting procurement strategies that prioritize lifecycle value over the lowest bid. The paper emphasizes that for PPPs to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, they must be designed with transparent, equitable contracts and a focus on sustainable development rather than just financial returns.

The report examines the integration of gender considerations within National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, drawing on a review of documents from NAP Central and data from country teams. It identifies common challenges and themes to support countries and development partners in implementing gender-responsive adaptation planning. As of March 2023, 98% of NAPs submitted to the UNFCCC mention gender, and about 50% identify women as agents of change in climate change adaptation.

The report examines the systemic marginalization of women in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), where they constitute 30% of the global workforce but are often relegated to low-value, non-digging roles. It identifies key bottlenecks, including lack of access to land, finance, and geological data, as well as cultural taboos and discriminatory legal frameworks. The document argues for gender-mainstreaming in formalization processes, the creation of women-specific financial products, and the strengthening of female miners' associations to improve women's economic independence and influence in the sector.

The report analyzes 42 VNRs from 2017 to establish ten key pillars for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, offering recommendations for improving SDG implementation and peer learning through the HLPF.

The report finds that despite setting ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, the government of Québec continues to incentivize hydrocarbon consumption. Between 2011-12 and 2016-17, the government provided an average of 300 million dollars annually in fuel-tax relief, alongside other budgetary transfers and direct investments that contradict its stated goals of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

The author contends that the current international refugee system is under severe strain and fails to protect those displaced by climate change because they do not meet the 1951 Convention's definition of fleeing political persecution. To address this, the document proposes five steps: reforming the UN Refugee Agency's budgeting to be more predictable and binding; drafting a new legal treaty with a modernized definition of refugees; establishing a review mechanism for country accountability based on the Montreal Protocol model; utilizing digital technologies like blockchain for identification and banking; and integrating refugees into sustainable global value chains. The author calls for leadership from Canada and Denmark to drive these reforms within the UN system.

The report examines the transition of public procurement from a back-office function to a strategic tool for delivering government services and addressing climate change. It highlights a global trend toward reforming procurement laws to ensure value for money across the lifecycle of assets and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to shift markets toward sustainable consumption and production. The document defines sustainable public procurement as a mechanism to reduce environmental impact, create positive social and economic outcomes, and foster markets for innovative, climate-friendly technologies and infrastructure.

The report estimates the annual economic value of ecological goods and services from Manitoba's community pastures at CAD 13,349,646, driven primarily by forage production and carbon sequestration. It argues that these lands provide critical benefits including habitat protection, carbon storage, and water quality improvement, while recommending enhanced monitoring systems to better quantify these public benefits for future policy decisions.

The report analyzes the financial instability of public electricity distribution companies (discoms) in Uttar Pradesh, where a revenue gap of INR 21,486 crores was recorded in FY16. It investigates two primary mechanisms for improvement: the reform of end-user tariffs and the implementation of the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme launched in 2015. The study utilizes a political economy approach, incorporating surveys from 1,917 households, 413 farmers, and 65 commercial and industrial consumers, alongside interviews with government and discom officials to assess progress against UDAY milestones and stakeholder perceptions of tariff changes.

The document outlines strategies for using public procurement to support the transition to a low-carbon economy in Europe's infrastructure and construction sectors. It identifies key stages of the procurement cycle for driving innovation and offers specific recommendations for the European Commission and EU member states to scale up the use of public funds to stimulate demand for low-carbon solutions.

The report analyzes the financial instability of electricity distribution companies (discoms) in Uttar Pradesh, where a significant revenue gap of INR 21,486 crores existed in FY16. It examines consumer attitudes toward tariff hikes, revealing that while most expect increases, there is strong opposition to them unless linked to service improvements. The report also evaluates the UDAY scheme, finding that while it has reduced interest costs through bond issuance, progress on key operational milestones like smart metering and feeder segregation has been limited. Recommendations include improving rural metering, implementing targeted compensation for vulnerable users, and enhancing communication strategies to build public support for cost-reflective tariffs.

The report examines the urgent need for innovation in mining due to declining productivity and rising costs. It details advancements in automation, electrification, and renewable energy, while highlighting the role of governments in ensuring these gains are shared with local communities. Case studies illustrate specific applications of AI, solar power, and new business models across Canada, Australia, Chile, and other regions.

The report assesses the ecological goods and services (EGS) of 19 community pastures in Manitoba, Canada. It determines that these lands provide a total economic value ranging from $10.52 million to $18.88 million per year, depending on carbon pricing scenarios. The primary drivers of this value are forage production and carbon sequestration. The study emphasizes that sustainable management practices, such as rotational grazing, are essential for maintaining these benefits, which include biodiversity support, water retention, and rural economic development.

This report investigates the barriers preventing the expansion of renewable energy in Indonesia, specifically wind and solar, despite national targets and falling global prices. Based on 26 interviews with diverse stakeholders, it examines why the country is struggling to meet its commitment to increase the renewable energy mix to 23 per cent by 2025.

The document argues that public funding is insufficient to meet the rising costs of urban stormwater management driven by urban expansion and climate variability. It advocates for a shift from centralized 'gray infrastructure' to decentralized 'green infrastructure' on private property. To overcome the lack of private investment, the paper suggests the implementation of stormwater markets using quantity-based approaches such as credit trading, mitigation banks, in-lieu fees, and offsets, noting that a customized design is necessary to align with legal frameworks and ensure actor buy-in.

The document introduces a series of sNAPshots from the NAP Global Network, focusing on the first installment which explores how developing countries approach monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for adaptation. It aims to highlight specific challenges faced during the design and implementation of these systems and identify potential solutions to address them.

The document argues that strategic communications—tailoring messages for priority audiences and using appropriate channels—are essential for government engagement with stakeholders during the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process. This approach ensures citizen views are reflected in prioritized adaptation actions and encourages stakeholder involvement in implementation and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

The report identifies a 'political equilibrium' in Indonesia where the priorities of maintaining low electricity tariffs and low government subsidies outweigh the commitment to renewable energy targets. Key roadblocks include power purchase price caps (BPP) that make projects unviable, policy instability, and the dominant influence of the state-owned utility PLN and the coal industry. Experts interviewed for the study unanimously believe the 2025 target will be missed unless significant policy shifts occur.

The document highlights the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in achieving Target 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which mandates the elimination of subsidies contributing to the overexploitation of fisheries by 2020.

The report highlights the potential for a 'triple win' through fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and increased fuel taxation, which could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by 23% and raise government revenue equivalent to 2.6% of GDP. It notes that global fossil fuel subsidies are approximately USD 425 billion annually and provides examples of India and Indonesia saving USD 15 billion each in 2015 through FFSR. The text links these fiscal instruments to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals 7, 12, and 17.