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This SEI discussion brief examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically focusing on imports into the European Union. It argues that while current policy focuses on deforestation, overlooking water use may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions. The brief identifies critical data gaps for beef and wood products and suggests that a comprehensive definition of sustainable supply chains must integrate both land and water stewardship.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the bidirectional relationship between structural inequality and climate change, arguing that current economic systems and global environmental governance frameworks fail to address the inequitable distribution of resources and ecological space.

This SEI discussion brief argues that nature-based solutions (NbS) are often framed as apolitical, leading to the neglect of social equity and justice in their design and implementation. The document proposes five core principles to ensure NbS do not reproduce existing inequalities and provides a case study from Kaptembwa, Kenya, to illustrate the integration of these principles in an urban informal settlement.

This policy brief, based on a study of Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya, examines the alignment between Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and national development plans. It finds that DFIs generally do not use national development plans to shape investment decisions, leading to funding gaps in strategic sectors. The brief proposes a four-step framework—Identify, Compare, Engage, and Invest—to help DFIs better align their portfolios with country-level priorities to enhance development impact.

This executive summary, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in May 2022, evaluates the progress made 50 years after the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment. It argues that while knowledge and goals have increased, an 'action gap' persists, with only about one-tenth of global environmental targets achieved. The document proposes three systemic shifts—redefining the human-nature relationship, ensuring lasting prosperity for all, and investing in a sustainable future—alongside improvements in global governance to unlock transformative change.

This policy brief examines how Aid for Trade (AfT) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be leveraged to help developing and least developed countries transition to sustainable trade and circular economies to combat plastic pollution. It highlights a significant mismatch between the limited funding for plastic pollution mitigation and the massive financial flows supporting the petrochemical sector, while proposing specific short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members through the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP).

This policy brief examines the role of the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Harmonized System (HS) in tracking international trade across the life cycle of plastics. It argues that current HS classifications lack the granularity needed for evidence-based policymaking to tackle plastic pollution and proposes specific amendments for the 2022–2027 cycle to improve transparency in trade flows of feedstocks, primary plastics, manufactured products, and waste.

This fact sheet outlines the eligibility criteria for residential buildings in Colombia to be certified under the Climate Bonds Standard, specifically utilizing the CASA Colombia v2.1 rating scheme and requirements for property upgrades.

The Global Energy Monitor's Europe Gas Tracker Report 2022 details planned gas infrastructure expansions in the EU, including pipelines and LNG terminals, and notes their incompatibility with climate goals.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) presents the operating budget and country contribution requests for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, along with preliminary budget requests for 2023-2025.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the complex relationship between climate change and violent conflict in Africa. It argues that while climate change acts as a 'risk multiplier' that can exacerbate existing political, social, and economic tensions, the link to violence is indirect and highly contextual. The document emphasizes the need for conflict-sensitive climate adaptation strategies, particularly in fragile contexts, and calls for the Global North to fulfill climate finance commitments to support the Global South.

This report by Ember analyses state-wise renewable energy (RE) capacity in India as of March 2022, evaluating progress toward the national target of 175 GW by December 2022. It highlights significant regional disparities, with a small number of states driving most of the new capacity while many others fall well behind their targets.

This research paper explores the multi-dimensional challenges and pathways toward achieving sustainable urban development. It examines the historical evolution of global urban policy, the disparate needs between the Global North and Global South, the role of various governmental and non-governmental actors, and emerging trends such as nature-based solutions and inclusive planning.

A report based on a survey of 1,600 farmers in Haryana, India, analyzing the distribution of agricultural electricity subsidies and recommending the use of the PM-KUSUM solar irrigation scheme and slab-based tariffs to better target support toward marginal and low-income farmers.

This report, authored by early-career researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), presents a youth-led vision for a healthy planet by 2030. Based on a survey of 1,050 young people across 89 countries, the document advocates for systemic change, the replacement of economic growth with community-focused metrics of prosperity, and the formal integration of youth into political and economic decision-making processes.

This document is an invitation and overview for a briefing hosted by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) regarding the role of green hydrogen in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and the challenges associated with its current production costs and market share in the United States.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six strategic measures for G20 leaders to maximize the role of forests in climate mitigation, food security, and pandemic recovery. It specifically urges Indonesia, as the 2022 G20 president, to lead by example by strengthening its own forest governance and promoting high-quality nature-based carbon credits.

This case study describes the work of Nasreen Al-Amin and her non-profit organisation, Surge Africa, in implementing locally-led adaptation projects in Nigeria. It focuses on the Jeji Restoration project in Kano State, which combines landscape restoration with livelihood support for marginalised communities.

This report details a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of a tree-planting initiative in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, concluding that nature-based infrastructure (NBI) provides greater societal value and climate resilience than grey infrastructure alternatives.

This report provides a technical review of advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery technologies and the potential for domestic manufacturing in India to support electricity and transportation decarbonization.