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This document provides updates as of October 29, 2021, to the 2018 'Towards Paris Alignment' report, focusing on the climate tools and policies of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). It details specific institutional approaches to carbon emissions mitigation, shadow carbon pricing, and climate finance targets, noting responses from the AfDB, WBG, IDB, and EBRD.

This research paper argues that South Africa should adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to transition toward a cashless economy, thereby reducing the risks associated with cash-in-transit (CIT) hijackings and enhancing its investment appeal despite high rates of cybercrime.

The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) has introduced the Framework for Sustainable Finance Integrity to establish universal sustainability guardrails for the global financial system. The Framework aims to address the lack of a standardized system for tracking the integrity of net-zero commitments and coordinating action between public and private financial actors to meet the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

Ember's submission to the Environmental Audit Committee expresses concern that current mainstream Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), specifically the model proposed at the Drax power station, may fail to deliver genuine negative emissions due to the carbon impact of burning wood for power.

This policy brief summarizes a March 24, 2021 webinar regarding the use of international trade policy, specifically voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and free trade agreement provisions, to reduce deforestation and preserve forest ecosystems.

The State of Climate Action 2021 report evaluates 40 indicators across key economic sectors to determine the progress toward a zero-carbon world by 2030 and 2050, finding that none of these indicators are currently on track to meet 2030 targets.

The NewClimate Institute criticizes Switzerland's bilateral agreements with Georgia, Peru, Senegal, and Ghana, arguing that by targeting 'low-hanging fruit' mitigation projects to offset its own emissions, Switzerland sets a poor precedent that undermines the ambition-raising goals of the Paris Agreement and restricts the ability of host countries to meet their own climate targets.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the barriers to and enablers of private sector climate finance in Africa. It argues that while significant investment is required to meet Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals and adaptation needs, private investment is currently limited by regulatory, project, and economic risks. The document proposes a combination of regulatory reforms, credit enhancement mechanisms, and capacity building for borrowers to create a bankable pipeline of projects to attract private and impact investors.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that scaling up adaptation finance is critical for Africa's sustainable development, as the region is highly vulnerable to climate change despite low emissions. It identifies significant funding gaps and barriers—including a lack of 'bankable' proposals and a perception that adaptation projects lack private sector viability—and proposes several innovations to attract both public and private capital.

This policy brief, based on a quantitative assessment of six key agricultural commodities, argues that transboundary climate risks to global food security are mounting and largely unrecognized, necessitating a shift from national self-interest toward cooperative multilateral adaptation strategies.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law outlining the necessary conditions for COP26 to achieve real climate ambition, arguing that success requires the phase-out of fossil fuels, equitable financial support for developing nations, and the rejection of 'false solutions' like carbon offsets and geoengineering.

This research paper argues that for Africa to achieve a 'just transition' to a lower carbon economy, it must move from being a consumer to a producer of green technologies. The author emphasizes the need for strategic industrial policy, the utilization of the AfCFTA to create regional value chains, and the preservation of policy space against premature trade liberalization and 'green-washed protectionism' from developed nations.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) outlines five key lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to guide government action on climate change and environmental health. The statement advocates for a shift from risk management to hazard prevention, the application of the precautionary principle in legislation, and an emergency-level response to the climate crisis to protect human health.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) announces that its Executive Director was elected as co-chair of the Belmont Forum on October 26, 2021, alongside Maria Uhle of the National Science Foundation.

This briefing argues that African governments should avoid a zero-sum approach to the geopolitical rivalry between the US and China, instead leveraging this competition to secure more resources and better trade agreements. The author suggests that by playing rivals against each other and implementing embedded domestic strategic plans, African nations can increase their agency and align foreign investment with national development priorities.

This research paper, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), outlines a proposed African climate finance agenda for the COP26 summit. Based on stakeholder dialogues conducted between April and October 2021, the document identifies critical gaps in the quantum and quality of climate finance reaching Africa, emphasizing the need for increased adaptation funding, streamlined access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the creation of national enabling environments to attract private investment.

Natural Justice issued a statement condemning the arrest of six staff members from its partner organization, the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), in Uganda. The organization links these arrests to AFIEGO's opposition to the East Africa Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and describes the situation as part of a broader trend of harassment against environmental and human rights defenders in the region.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) issued a statement responding to the Alberta Public Inquiry Into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and the necessity of a clean energy transition.

This briefing examines the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for African nations, identifying opportunities and risks across seven key sectors. It provides strategic recommendations for both EU and African policymakers to ensure the transition supports Africa's development priorities and moves the EU-Africa relationship toward a mutually beneficial partnership.

This report summarizes a webinar titled 'State of Africa’s Digital Agenda' held on October 20, 2021, by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and the University of Johannesburg. The event aimed to map the progress and gaps in the implementation of digital strategies across African nations and discuss a coordinated approach to the continent's digital transformation.