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This policy brief by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) evaluates the progress made by the South African government in implementing the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (the Zondo Commission) as of July 2025. It analyzes reforms across seven key themes: the criminal justice system, public procurement, public administration, corporate accountability, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), parliamentary oversight, and whistleblowing. While noting some legislative progress, the brief highlights significant delays, incomplete reforms, and a lack of strategic focus on the broader criminal justice system.

This research paper by RMI proposes the establishment of a government-led Advance Market Commitment (AMC) to scale carbon removal technologies. It argues that current voluntary and compliance markets are insufficient to meet the gigaton-scale requirements needed by midcentury and provides a framework for governments to coordinate demand, harmonize standards, and catalyze private investment to bridge the funding and deployment gap.

This report synthesizes 30 research projects from the SUMERNET 4 All program (2018–2024) to address water insecurities in the Mekong region. It finds that water insecurity is driven by a combination of climate change, unsustainable development, and governance failures that marginalize women, ethnic minorities, and rural populations. Key interventions identified include people-centred infrastructure (e.g., rainwater harvesting, solar pumping), adaptive agricultural practices, and the co-production of knowledge through multistakeholder engagement. The report highlights critical gaps in transboundary groundwater governance and the need for more inclusive, decentralized water management models.

This report analyzes Thailand's draft revised power development plan (RPDP), which targets a 51% renewable energy share by 2037 to support economic growth in sectors like data centers and EVs. While the plan increases renewable capacity and phases out some fossil fuels, the report warns that continued reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) exposes the Thai economy to price volatility and geopolitical risks.

This report by Ember examines Thailand's need to accelerate its clean energy transition to maintain global competitiveness and support the growth of electric vehicle (EV) and data centre sectors. It highlights the tension between rising electricity demand from these sectors and the country's carbon reduction targets, suggesting that a clean power system is essential to attract foreign investment and meet the sustainability requirements of global tech companies.

This briefing by RMI explains the critical role of regional transmission in the western grid, describing it as an interconnected system where states act as both importers and exporters of electricity to maintain reliability and affordability.

A report by Trend Asia and partners detailing the financial support provided by multilateral development banks (MDBs) to the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia and the resulting environmental and social risks.

A research paper by Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA) examines the economic and health costs of red and processed meat consumption in high-income countries. The analysis finds that wealthy nations in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania face a substantial disease burden from meat consumption, with some countries spending heavily to treat preventable conditions rather than investing in primary prevention. The report argues that shifting toward dietary interventions could significantly reduce healthcare spending and improve public health outcomes.

This research paper analyzes the resurgence of 'resources-for-security' deals in Africa, driven by the global demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) for green energy and military technology. It contrasts three primary models: Russia's use of private military companies (PMCs) for mining rights, the US's transactional 'peace-brokering' approach to secure supply chains, and China's 'infrastructure-for-resources' strategy via the Belt and Road Initiative. The paper argues that while these deals offer short-term security or development gains, they often reinforce dependency and authoritarianism, mirroring colonial and Cold War extractive patterns.

A statement by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) calling for urgent federal action to address the public health crisis caused by plastic pollution, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development evaluates the progress of Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) signatories in 2024, two years after their deadline to end international public finance for fossil fuels. While fossil fuel funding has decreased significantly, the report highlights a failure to redirect those funds toward clean energy at a sufficient scale.

This research paper uses InVEST and Land Change Modeler (LCM) to analyze the relationship between land use and land cover (LULC) changes and carbon storage in the Senapati district of Manipur, India, comparing 'Business as Usual' (BAU) and 'Environmentally Sound Planning' (ESP) scenarios for 2029.

A research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines 10 common claims regarding the controlled burning and rewetting of heather on UK peatlands, concluding that most are unsubstantiated and lack robust data.

A statement issued by representatives from the Americas during the Scientific Diplomacy Forum in Panama (October 16-21, 2023), emphasizing scientific diplomacy as a tool to bridge gaps in science, technology, and innovation to address global challenges.

The Panama Declaration, issued on 21 October 2023, outlines a commitment by representatives from the Americas to utilize science diplomacy as a tool to bridge gaps in science, technology, and innovation to address global challenges and support evidence-informed public policies.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the future of state governance in the Global South over the next two decades. It examines how demographic shifts, climate change, digital revolutions, and geopolitical multipolarity redefine state legitimacy and function. The study utilizes World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and strategic foresight to propose four global scenarios—Growth, Sustainable, Divided, and War—and four state archetypes—Negotiator, System Builder, Fractured, and Collapsed—to help policymakers build institutional resilience.

A study on Sweden from 2005 to 2022 found that hydroclimatic hazards caused EUR 8.4 billion in economic losses in the agriculture, electricity, and insurance sectors, with floods causing the most damage (EUR 4.1 billion).

Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate, announced the creation of the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade during the WTO Public Forum on 17 September 2025. This flagship initiative aims to bridge the gap between climate and trade regimes by providing a non-binding, interdisciplinary space for government officials and experts to design solutions for a sustainable global economy.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) presents a financial case for climate adaptation, arguing that such investments are highly profitable and synergistic with general development goals. Based on an analysis of 320 projects, WRI finds that adaptation investments can yield significant returns through a 'triple dividend' of avoided losses, induced economic development, and additional social and environmental benefits.

This research paper analyzes Nigeria's potential to become a key supplier of critical minerals (such as lithium, cobalt, and copper) for the global energy transition. While Nigeria possesses vast reserves valued at over USD 700 billion, the sector is hindered by severe underinvestment in exploration and a lack of functional processing infrastructure. The report emphasizes a shift toward domestic value addition—rejecting raw ore exports in favor of local battery and component manufacturing—and highlights the influence of foreign investments, particularly from China. It recommends a comprehensive national strategy and massive infrastructure investment to move from raw material extraction to high-value downstream production.