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This report by RMI argues that the United States is well-positioned to lead the next-generation geothermal supply chain by leveraging existing oil and gas expertise, but warns that targeted policy and research are required to avoid bottlenecks and capture economic benefits.

A report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzing the internal complexities and competing interests of the expanded 10-member BRICS bloc regarding global energy governance and the energy transition.

This briefing argues that 'imperfect agreements'—instruments that are incomplete, transitional, or not fully formal—can be effective tools for promoting trade and sustainable development when multilateral consensus at the WTO is stalled. The author suggests that flexible, member-driven arrangements, such as targeted trade deals and soft law commitments, can generate state practice and serve as stepping stones toward formal legal codification and WTO reform.

This research paper analyzes the rapid growth and tactical evolution of the Islamic State–Sahel Province (IS-SP) between 2019 and 2026. It details how IS-SP has transitioned from a small affiliate to a deadly regional force through structural governance, tactical innovations—including the first use of drones in Niger—and increased strategic guidance from IS Core. The document highlights the collapse of regional security architectures and the escalating rivalry between IS-SP and the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM as primary drivers of instability in the Sahel.

A research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute finds that conservation policies in the Brazilian Amazon that successfully reduced deforestation have generally failed to reduce anthropogenic forest degradation, leaving carbon stocks, biodiversity, and ecosystem services at risk.

A research paper by OCP and IISD examines the ability of the European Union's Public Procurement Data Space (PPDS) to track the actual environmental impact of green public procurement (GPP). The authors argue that while current monitoring focuses on intent (whether environmental objectives were declared), it is possible to estimate real-world carbon savings using existing data and spend-based estimation. A pilot study using German data in the construction and vehicle sectors suggests that the potential for emissions reductions is significantly higher than what is currently being achieved through green-tagged contracts.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the socioenvironmental governance of nickel mining in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the impacts of laterite ore processing via high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) and the associated policy measures.

This briefing analyzes the PJM Board's January 2026 decision regarding the Critical Issue Fast Path for Large Load Additions (CIFP-LLA). It outlines how states within the PJM region can implement retail-level policies—such as specialized tariffs and improved forecasting—to manage the surge in data center electricity demand without increasing costs for residential ratepayers or compromising grid reliability.

This research paper provides a forecast of Africa's employment landscape through 2043, highlighting a critical gap between the rapid growth of the working-age population and the economy's capacity to create formal jobs. It compares a 'Current Path' scenario with a 'Combined' scenario involving pro-growth policies, noting that while the services sector dominates GDP, the continent faces significant youth unemployment and a reliance on the informal sector.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies compares the size, quality, and productivity of the labour force in Africa against those of China and India, utilizing forecasts through 2043. While Africa possesses a rapidly growing and youthful workforce that may attract labour-intensive industries, it lags significantly behind China and India in education, health, and overall labour productivity.

This research paper concludes that Africa's labour force growth is projected to outpace job creation, potentially leading to increased dependence on the informal sector, social instability, and irregular migration. It emphasizes the need for digitisation, investment in infrastructure, and a shift toward entrepreneurship and vocational training to harness the potential of the continent's youth and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The document defines employment according to ILO standards and examines the 'working poor'—employed individuals living in extreme poverty. It highlights that in 2024, 6.9% of the global employed population lived on less than US$2.15 per day, with Africa experiencing higher rates. Specifically, 29.3% of Africa's employed population were working poor, with rates exceeding 70% in Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of social grants and large-scale employment schemes in Africa as tools to mitigate poverty and inequality in the face of limited economic absorption of the working-age population.

The Massachusetts Carbon Dioxide Removal Study, conducted by RMI for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), evaluates 23 carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage pathways to determine their feasibility and scalability within the state's policy and economic context to support its Net Zero 2050 mandate.

The authors propose a WTO-compatible 'climate club' designed to overcome the free-rider problem of the Paris Climate Agreement by using reciprocal commitments, substantial penalties, and financial incentives to drive global net-zero emissions by 2050.

The report analyzes five alternative project finance models—leasing, joint ventures, PPPs, InvITs, and CIS-DINFRA—to help Indonesia's state-owned utility PLN fund a USD 24 billion transmission expansion target for 2025–2034. It argues that shifting from corporate to project finance can reduce balance sheet pressure and attract private capital, provided that key policy enablers are implemented, including dedicated transmission fees, off-balance sheet accounting treatment, and government fiscal support.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) provides 33 recommendations to reorient the Brazilian Harvest Plan (Plano Safra) 2026/2027 toward higher social, environmental, and productive returns. The authors argue that public resources should be prioritized for sustainable, low-carbon agriculture and the most vulnerable producers, while strengthening socio-environmental safeguards to prevent the financing of illegal deforestation and land grabbing.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the financing of sustainable agriculture in the Brazilian Cerrado, with a specific focus on the Matopiba region. It evaluates the effectiveness of subsidized rural credit and innovative blended finance mechanisms in aligning agricultural production with zero-deforestation and sustainability goals.

This report analyzes how public development banks (PDBs)—including national, regional, and multilateral institutions—can overcome structural and market barriers to expand climate risk insurance in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). It emphasizes the role of PDBs as intermediaries that can co-develop insurance products, bundle coverage with loans, and provide technical assistance to strengthen local insurance markets and enhance economic resilience against physical climate hazards.

This report by FSD Africa argues that domestic capital market development is essential for African economies to mobilize long-term finance for climate adaptation, infrastructure, and demographic shifts, especially as bilateral aid and foreign direct investment decline. It suggests that while public equity markets are often prioritized, they are frequently impractical for smaller or frontier markets due to high costs and information asymmetries. Instead, the report advocates for a focus on strengthening the savings base through pension reforms and macro-financial stability, developing corporate bond markets, and utilizing hybrid public-private structures, guarantees, and pooled investment vehicles to channel institutional capital into infrastructure, housing, and MSMEs.