• Register for our April 15 webinar on stabilization.

The latest OECD Guiding Principles on Durable Extractive Contracts, developed through years of consultations, represent the most inclusive and comprehensive consensus on stabilization clauses in a decade. These principles call for a more limited use of stabilization clauses and emphasize alternatives, particularly distinguishing between fiscal and non-fiscal issues.

This practice note explores the historical context behind stabilization clauses and the growing controversy surrounding their use. It then delves into the evolution of international standards on the subject, culminating in the 2020 OECD principles. Offering practical guidance, the note helps governments and companies navigate the complexities of stabilization clauses and align their contracts with these new standards, paving the way for a more balanced, predictable, and adaptive approach to mining agreements.

The Government of Bhutan has identified the mining sector as one of the five jewels of the economy, highlighting its potential to significantly drive the country’s economic development. As a member of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), the government requested an assessment and this resulting report to identify key gaps and recommendations to strengthen mining governance in the country.

This report presents an assessment of Bhutan’s readiness and capacity to implement the IGF's Mining Policy Framework (MPF). The IGF Secretariat, hosted by IISD, conducted the assessment which involved an extensive desk-based review of key domestic and international laws and policies and a week-long field visit to Bhutan. During this field visit, the project team met with a broad array of stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, international organizations, and the private sector to discuss Bhutan’s mining laws and policies.

In Fiji, the number of cool nights has decreased, and the number of warm days has increased since 1942. There have been some clear changes in the climate of Fiji over recent years, most notably temperature increases and an increase in the severity of storms. More severe extreme weather events have also been observed in Fiji for decades, including more severe cyclones, droughts, and periods of excessive rainfall.

This climate risk profile has been developed as part of the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas Initiative to illustrate the impacts of climate change, specifically within and around select protected areas in Fiji. The data in this report were derived from the climate risk assessments conducted in Fiji and rely on information collected from participatory engagement processes with communities, complemented by desk-based or secondary research.

This climate risk profile provides an overview of Fiji’s climate context, observed and projected climate change impacts, and a set of recommended nature-based solutions for adaptation actions and measures to promote gender-responsive and socially inclusive climate adaptation.

The current investment treaty and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system threatens climate action, social justice, and fair economic development. We need urgent reform to level the playing field between foreign investors and developing countries.

For decades, activists, civil society organizations, UN agencies, media, academics, think tanks, and governments have shed light on the need to change the world's investment governance to meet the challenges of our time.

Building on earlier work, this new Q&A unpacks how the system came about, why it is an issue, and what we can do to accelerate reform in 2025 and beyond.

While several hard fought wins emerged, the year's talks again raised the question if the Conferences of the Parties and multilateral decision-making architecture are "fit for purpose" to address linked environmental, social, and economic crises. Finance is always a key issue in negotiations, but had special milestones or setbacks acros climate, biodiversity, land, and chemicals talks. Outside of negotiating rooms, activists across the world increasingly turned to courts to make countries act on their environmental commitments.

Join the globetrotting Earth Negotiations Bulletin team as they review 2024's environment and development negotiations, considering where progress was made and lost, what lessons should be applied across the multilateral ecosystem, the evolving geopolitical context, and what to expect in 2025.

Foreword by Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Subscribe to ENB Update to receive free reports, photos, and videos from environmental negotiations around the world.

As more countries ramp up their climate policies, BCAs have emerged as a tool to prevent carbon leakage, ensuring emissions reductions are not offset by shifts in production to regions with weaker regulations. Research confirms leakage is a real issue: it is estimated that, on average, when one country mitigates 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide in one country, 13% to 25% of this effort is offset by emissions increases in other countries, through carbon leakage.

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), set for full implementation by 2026, replaces free allocation under the EU Emissions Trading System. It applies carbon costs on imports in key sectors such as steel, cement, and aluminum, aligning gradually with EU carbon pricing. The UK CBAM, launching in 2027, mirrors the European Union’s approach but with differences in emissions scope and coverage. Meanwhile, Australia's Carbon Leakage Review has recommended a BCA to complement its Safeguard Mechanism, focusing initially on cement.

Beyond these developments, Canada and the United States continue exploring BCA policies. At the World Trade Organization (WTO), discussions on BCAs have intensified, with growing concerns about trade impacts, WTO compatibility, and cooperation on climate-related trade measures.

BCAs are shaping global trade and climate policy, with ongoing debates on their design, fairness, and effectiveness in reducing emissions without harming economic competitiveness.

A flexible and nature-based approach to infrastructure funding can help Canada build resilience while making the most of every dollar invested, leading to a more sustainable and water-secure future for Canadians.

An analysis of federal programs. The report assesses six federal infrastructure programs against 14 enabling criteria for natural infrastructure. The findings? Mixed. Some programs support natural infrastructure, while others limit it due to design constraints, restricting local governments’ ability to invest in cost-effective, nature-based solutions.

Practical recommendations. We recommend 14 practical criteria to better enable natural infrastructure within major infrastructure programs, while highlighting programs that work well with nature.

Unlock the full potential of natural infrastructure. Moving forward, federal infrastructure programs must be more flexible, better funded, accessible to small and rural communities, and support a wider range of solutions that deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits.

South Africa's public procurement accounts for approximately 15% of its GDP and therefore represents a key opportunity to advance environmental sustainability. While the country does not have specific national legislation for green public procurement (GPP), the existing regulations allow procurers to integrate environmental considerations into procurement procedures.

The success of local and regional initiatives demonstrates that it is feasible to implement GPP in the South African context. For instance, the Western Cape government and City of Cape Town use green procurement criteria to reap tangible environmental benefits of reduced water use, energy consumption, and waste generation.

Despite this progress, most procurements in South Africa focus on economic efficiency and social objectives. Mainstreaming GPP still faces several challenges, including gaps in the legislative framework and limited capacity and knowledge among procurement practitioners. In addition, GPP is hindered by financial constraints, inadequate monitoring systems, and market readiness issues where smaller companies struggle to meet formal environmental requirements.

To overcome these challenges and mainstream GPP, policy-makers and procurers can take action in five key areas:

• create an enabling policy environment by embedding GPP into the legislative framework and developing a national GPP action plan,
• enhance the capacity of procurers through a centralized knowledge platform and targeted training programs,
• address financial barriers by integrating GPP into budget planning tapping into international support,
• build a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to track progress and demonstrate benefits, and
• foster market readiness through transparent engagement and targeted support for small companies.

While there is an increased push for nature-based solutions (NbS) projects around the globe, a gap in evidence exists on projects that promote gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) outcomes. Designing NbS for adaptation projects to be responsive to differences in intersecting identity factors, such as gender, age, sexuality, socio-economic status, Indigeneity, and ability, is important. Considering these factors can help build the adaptive capacity of equity-deserving groups to climate change, enable these groups to participate in adaptation planning and decision making, and strengthen the resilience of their local ecosystems.

To address this gap in evidence, these two case studies have been developed as a supplement to the Nature for Climate Adaptation Initiative report, Mainstreaming Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation. They provide practical examples of integrating GESI considerations at various stages of implementing NbS for adaptation.

The first case study showcases a gender-responsive and socially inclusive approach to climate resilience planning for small-scale cooperatives in Zanzibar. The case study demonstrates how understanding the gendered context of operations and governance structures, assessing climate risks using a GESI lens, and identifying and selecting options with inclusivity in mind can enhance the efficacy and sustainability of NbS for adaptation.

The second case study provides a practical example of socially inclusive implementation and monitoring, evaluation, and learning as part of an Indigenous Guardians program that seeks to incorporate Traditional Knowledge and practices into land and wildlife management to better adapt to a changing climate in Canada.

Each case study includes an overview of the local context and climate risks, how the project considered the need for climate change adaptation and integrated gender-responsive and socially inclusive practices, and lessons learned. The case studies were developed through interviews with project implementers and by reviewing relevant reports and documents.

The report is part of a compendium of resources developed by the Nature for Climate Adaptation Initiative (NCAI), which is supported by Global Affairs Canada.

The Western Cape of South Africa faces threats from increasing flooding. In Drakenstein Municipality, flooding from the Berg River and its tributaries has caused severe damage to housing, transportation, and health infrastructure. Resulting from a combination of climate-related extreme rainfall, human encroachment on floodplains, and degraded river and wetland systems, severe flooding is threatening the health and safety of communities, the local economy, and biodiversity.

River restoration has the potential to absorb some of these impacts. Just 10% of rivers in the Western Cape are considered ecologically healthy, with the remainder classified as degraded. Well-functioning rivers provide essential ecosystem services such as flood protection and water supply for agriculture, domestic use, recreation, and industry, while also functioning as valuable assets for tourism and culture.

To address the climate risks and improve water management, Drakenstein is exploring the use of nature-based infrastructure (NBI). As part of the project Transformative Adaptation in the Berg River Catchment through Nature-Based Solutions, it aims to strengthen existing riverine management initiatives and identify pilot NBI projects based on climate change vulnerability analysis. The goal is to increase flood resilience and water retention by rehabilitating riverbanks, riparian areas, and floodplains.

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) report analyzes the outcomes of investing in NBI in river sub-catchments by the city of Paarl. We assessed two infrastructure scenarios:

1. No-Action/Business-As-Usual scenario, consisting of a combination of more frequent and intense extreme flood events, leading to increased socio-economic impacts and ecosystem deterioration.
2. NBI scenario spanning 214 hectares, including floodplain and riverbank restoration, constructed wetlands, and urban green spaces.

We find that in the NBI scenario, for every ZAR 1 invested, between ZAR 1 and 5 could be returned over a 25-year period, amounting to net benefits of up to ZAR 600 million (USD 34.2 million). The environmental, social, and economic benefits of NBI in Drakenstein include avoided flood damages, the value of recreational areas, job creation, and reduced mental health impacts. These benefits and avoided costs differ considerably depending on the four climate scenarios we modelled.

The study demonstrates that implementing NBI is a key strategy for restoring ecological integrity and protecting communities from floods, while also offering a wide array of socio-economic benefits for Drakenstein. NBI is particularly valuable in scenarios with frequent and intense floods, highlighting the benefits of proactively investing in NBI for climate resilience.