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This report assesses the cost competitiveness and economic impact of firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE)—combining solar, wind, and storage—as an alternative to coal-based power in India through 2050.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the current state of Nepal's textiles and clothing exports, focusing on the garment and hand-knotted woollen carpet subsectors. It examines the structural constraints hindering competitiveness, the drivers that have allowed these industries to survive, and the potential risks associated with Nepal's upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. The authors argue for a shift in industrial policy away from ad-valorem subsidies toward market intelligence, inter-agency coordination, and productivity improvements.

The steel industry, responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, faces a critical need for decarbonization as demand is projected to rise 39% by 2050. While integrated blast furnaces (BF-BOF) dominate production, the report identifies Hydrogen-DRI as the only current net-zero commercial technology, though it struggles with high costs and hydrogen availability. The authors propose a three-pronged innovation strategy: 'Make Less' (circularity and alternative materials), 'Make Better' (retrofitting and improving DRI), and 'Make New' (disruptive low-temperature and modular furnaces). To overcome capital intensity, the report suggests startups target high-margin niche products like high-purity iron and monetize industrial waste streams to gain commercial traction.

RMI piloted three methodologies for accounting for aviation contrails in corporate travel, finding that a 'bottom-up' flight-specific approach is significantly more accurate than standard static multipliers. The pilots revealed that roughly 2% of flights cause 80% of contrail impacts, with higher risks during winter and nighttime. The report advocates for data-driven travel policies and alignment with emerging regulations, such as the EU's MRV framework, to reduce the total climate impact of aviation.

This statement by Daudi Sumba of WWF International argues that international trade policy and cooperation are critical levers for addressing the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. It calls for a strategic rethink of the international trading system to prioritize nature and sustainable development, specifically highlighting the need to eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies and align trade strategies with net-zero and nature-positive goals.

This policy brief analyzes how African nations can leverage China's dominance in green energy technology and shifting financing models to accelerate electrification. It highlights a 'window of opportunity' created by US-China geopolitical tensions and China's internal focus on national security and environmental sustainability. The author recommends that African governments professionalize project pipelines, adopt innovative financing to reduce sovereign debt, and pursue regional integration—citing examples like the Southern African Power Pool and Kenya's renewables sector—to ensure long-term developmental gains.

This policy brief from the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) examines the challenges and opportunities for Africa to move from a raw mineral export model to green industrialization through regional collaboration on critical resource minerals (CRMs).

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of youth emigration from West Africa, focusing on the 'japa' phenomenon in Nigeria. It identifies high unemployment, political exclusion, and insecurity as primary drivers of the exodus of people aged 15 to 35, which results in a significant brain drain in healthcare, technology, and education sectors.

This research paper by Kitrhona Cerri and Maria Mexi examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study. The authors argue that while digitalization offers growth opportunities, it risks creating a new form of structural dependency for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) if they provide the 'informational raw materials'—data and labour—without controlling the underlying digital infrastructure and governance.

This working paper examines the tension between quantitative 'precisionism' and qualitative 'groundtruthing' in climate-risk mapping within the global South, proposing a framework called 'epistemic diplomacy' to integrate both evidence types for more equitable and effective policy interventions.

This report by RMI examines the environmental impact of synthetic fertilizers and analyzes China's integrated governance framework for reducing fertilizer use and improving efficiency over the last ten years as part of a broader low-carbon transition.

This research paper examines the increasing flow of foreign direct investment from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—specifically the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—into Africa. It details how these states are leveraging Africa's renewable energy potential and mineral resources to diversify their own hydrocarbon-dependent economies and secure food supply chains, while providing Africa with an alternative to Western and Chinese financing to address its infrastructure gap.

This research paper evaluates a two-year knowledge co-production process focused on urban heat vulnerability in Malmö, Sweden. It argues that collaborative adaptation processes can inadvertently reinforce vulnerability and reproduce power imbalances through epistemic injustice, identifying seven specific unintended consequences and providing four recommendations for future practice.

The report examines the role of the bioeconomy and biobased technologies in climate mitigation and adaptation, highlighting their potential for growth and their ability to operate locally using regional resources.

This research paper examines the economic activities and value-addition potential of the Lobito Corridor, a strategic transport route linking the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to the Copperbelt mining regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia via the Benguela Railway. The author argues that while the corridor is designed to catalyze economic development beyond mineral exports, there is a significant disconnect between the high-efficiency logistics used for raw material exports and the inadequate infrastructure available to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

This guide from the Climate Policy Initiative outlines the use of hedging instruments—such as forwards, swaps, and options—to mitigate foreign exchange (FX) risk for projects with hard-currency debt, particularly in clean energy, transport, resilient infrastructure, and agriculture.

This report by Ember and Transforma analyses Colombia's declining domestic gas production and the resulting supply deficit projected to begin in 2030. It proposes a strategy to reduce gas dependency through energy efficiency in the industrial sector and the electrification of cooking and water heating in the residential sector, arguing that these measures can mitigate the projected deficit and avoid significant import costs.

This research paper by Steven Haig of the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in Canada will increase domestic and global emissions, hinder the transition to renewable energy, and divert public funds from climate solutions.

Colombia faces a projected gas supply deficit starting in 2030, with a potential gap of 1.2 million GBtu by 2038. The report argues that this can be mitigated by reducing demand through a 14% increase in industrial energy efficiency and the electrification of residential cooking and water heating. Specifically, replacing 10% of gas stoves and 30% of water heaters could reduce 2030 demand by 21,545 GBtu, which is 1.5 times the projected deficit for that year. The authors recommend a planned exit from gas, including a national appliance replacement programme and the limitation of new fossil fuel infrastructure, to ensure energy security and a just transition.

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