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The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the SUNCASA project in Johannesburg's Jukskei River catchment finds that nature-based solutions—including riparian restoration, invasive species removal, and urban tree planting—provide significant net benefits. Over 25 years, these interventions are projected to generate USD 8.6 million in net benefits, with a return of USD 3.06 for every USD 1 invested and a cost recovery period of 7 years. The most significant economic return stems from improved water quality, which is expected to save USD 3.7 million in avoided health costs over 25 years.

The CEO of Mighty Earth critiques the continued sale of internal combustion engines and the scaling back of EV investments by US automakers, contrasting this with China's aggressive expansion in EV production, supply chain decarbonization, and market share.

The EU significantly expanded its renewable energy capacity between 2022 and 2025, with solar PV reaching 406 GW and wind reaching 246 GW. This transition reduced the bloc's reliance on imported fossil fuels, saving an estimated EUR 58 billion in coal and gas import costs. While countries like Spain have successfully delinked electricity prices from gas costs, others like Italy remain highly vulnerable due to continued dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly during the 2026 Strait of Hormuz blockade.

The report examines the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China within the context of Nigeria's energy transition. It highlights a shift in Chinese engagement from 'debt-heavy, state-directed mega-projects' to 'smaller, more commercially oriented and locally embedded projects' under a 'BRI 2.0' approach. While Nigeria faces severe energy gaps—with peak generation at 5.7 GW against a 20 GW demand—it aims for universal electricity access by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060. The report details specific collaborations in solar assembly, battery manufacturing, and green hydrogen, while advising Nigeria to 'stack' diverse capital sources from China, the EU, and the US to avoid geopolitical zero-sum traps. It concludes that Nigeria must strengthen institutional coordination to address asymmetries in bargaining power and ensure technology transfer.

In 2025, Nigeria transitioned from policy ambition to implementation through the introduction of the National Integrated Electricity Policy, the launch of the Nigerian Climate Investment Platform, and the submission of its NDC 3.0. Key energy initiatives include the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative and the Nigeria Electrification Project, while the Nigerian Gas Flaring Commercialisation Programme targets emissions reductions within the hydrocarbons sector.

In 2025, Nigeria transitioned from policy ambition to concrete implementation of its climate agenda through the introduction of the National Integrated Electricity Policy, the launch of the Nigerian Climate Investment Platform, and the submission of its NDC 3.0. Key energy initiatives include the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative and the expansion of mini-grids via the Nigeria Electrification Project. The country also established a National Carbon Market Framework and advanced the Nigerian Gas Flaring Commercialisation Programme to reduce emissions while boosting power generation.

The ICJ Advisory Opinion establishes that states must implement multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in a coherent, integrated manner, meaning that climate-related duties must inform the implementation of treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Consequently, evidence of systemic and mutually reinforcing actions across different MEAs will now be used to assess a state's due diligence and compliance with international law, increasing the legal and reputational risks of poorly coordinated policy implementation.

This policy brief examines the implications of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change for multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), emphasizing that states must now implement climate provisions in an integrated and systemic manner to ensure compliance with international law.

The document argues that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has transformed the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies from a political commitment into a mandatory legal obligation. It recommends that states inventory harmful financial supports, phase them out gradually to minimize socio-economic disruption, and redirect funds toward green solutions and population support. While the ICJ explicitly mentioned fossil fuel subsidies, the briefing suggests this reasoning extends to other harmful supports, such as agricultural subsidies.

The ICJ has established that climate action is a binding legal obligation, meaning investment protections cannot override a state's climate duties. This ruling challenges the basis of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims against climate measures and suggests that investment treaties must be interpreted in light of these obligations. The document recommends that states implement climate change carveouts from ISDS, restrict forward-looking damages, and terminate outdated investment treaties to prevent the locking in of fossil fuel activities.

The document argues that the ICJ Advisory Opinion transforms the removal of fossil fuel and other climate-harmful subsidies from a political commitment into a legal imperative. It recommends that states track financial support, phase out subsidies gradually, reallocate funds to green solutions, and coordinate internationally to reduce legal and political risks.

The document argues that climate adaptation is a binding legal obligation under international law and treaties, rather than a discretionary domestic policy choice. It outlines how states must demonstrate due diligence by using the best available scientific data, prioritizing vulnerable populations, and implementing national adaptation plans by 2030. Additionally, it recommends that developed nations provide financing, technology transfers, and capacity building to developing countries to meet these obligations.

The document argues that states must update their laws and regulations to ensure that environmental impact assessments (EIAs) include downstream and Scope 3 emissions from fossil fuel projects. It provides specific recommendations to prevent industry loopholes, such as presuming all produced fuels will be burned and ignoring arguments that production would simply shift to other projects. This guidance follows an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion and aligns with rulings from the UK Supreme Court and the EFTA Court.

The ICJ has ruled that end-use emissions from burning extracted fossil fuels must be factored into environmental impact assessments (EIAs). To mitigate legal risks, states are advised to update regulations to account for all downstream and Scope 3 emissions, regardless of whether production would have occurred elsewhere. The brief recommends that these emissions be assessed cumulatively and in alignment with global climate objectives.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the implications of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, specifically regarding climate adaptation. It argues that adaptation is a binding legal obligation under customary international law and climate treaties, rather than a voluntary domestic policy choice, requiring states to exercise due diligence to prevent foreseeable climate harm.

The document argues that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has established climate action as a binding legal obligation, meaning investment protections cannot override a state's climate duties. It suggests that this ruling challenges the legal basis of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims against climate regulations, such as coal phase-outs or drilling bans. The brief recommends that states implement specific climate exclusion clauses in treaties, restrict prospective damages based on speculative future revenues, terminate obsolete investment treaties, and pursue a fundamental reform of the international investment regime.

Natural Justice, The Green Connection, and the Aukotowa Primary Fishing Cooperative are challenging an Environmental Authorisation granted in 2023 to TotalEnergies EP South Africa S.A.S for ultra deep water exploration drilling in the Deep Water Orange Basin, approximately 200 km off South Africa's west coast. The organisations are asking the Western Cape High Court to set aside the authorisation and the dismissal of internal appeals, with hearings scheduled for 23 and 24 March 2026 in Cape Town.

The US faces a critical bottleneck in connecting new electricity generation and storage to the grid, with over 2.2 terawatts of projects currently in queues. While the US Department of Energy has pushed for streamlined load interconnection for data centers, the author argues that this is insufficient without parallel reforms to generator interconnection. Current processes are characterized by long delays—averaging nearly five years from request to operation in 2024—and high network upgrade costs that often exceed 10% of project capex, leading to high attrition rates. The brief proposes several solutions: adopting advanced AI and automation software for studies, integrating Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) to reduce costs, improving transparency in network upgrade construction, and implementing 'fast track' pathways such as energy-only interconnection, surplus interconnection service, and generator replacement.

The study finds that while Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa generally maintain cautious, non-aligned international postures, their regional approaches vary significantly. Ethiopia has adopted a highly assertive posture regarding sea access and geostrategic relevance; Senegal demonstrated assertive interventionism during the 2017 Gambian crisis to protect internal security; and South Africa maintains a 'reluctant hegemon' image, experiencing setbacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to military and agency constraints.

Conflict in the Middle East is disrupting critical energy imports to Bangladesh, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to fuel rationing, power cuts, and industrial shutdowns. ZCA analysis indicates that sustained high prices for oil, gas, and coal could increase Bangladesh's annual fossil fuel import bill by USD 4.8 billion (a 40% increase from 2025 levels), further straining foreign exchange reserves. The document argues that this recurring volatility, echoing the shocks from the Russia-Ukraine war, underscores the urgent need for Bangladesh to pivot toward renewable energy to avoid long-term fiscal distress and energy insecurity.