Browse Research

Making Waves: Aligning the Financial System with Sustainable Development is the final, global report of the Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System (UN Inquiry). The report reviews the Inquiry’s core analysis, summarizes progress made in aligning the financial system with sustainable development between 2014 and 2017, reflects on the lessons that can be learned from the Inquiry’s approach, and highlights what still needs to be done and what success could look like. It finds real signs that a shift to a sustainable financial system is well under way.

This report Analysis of Risks and Opportunities of Linking Emissions Trading Systems summarises the key findings of the project ‘Analysis of Risks and Opportunities of Linking the EU-ETS with other Emissions Trading Systems – further development of criteria and methods’.

This report The Role of Business in the Circular Economy: Markets, Processes and Enabling Policies analyses the key obstacles that need to be addressed in circular economy, explores numerous policy areas at the EU and national level where support can act as a catalyst for market transformation, and puts forward actionable policy recommendations.

Forest business incubation is a support process that accelerates the successful development of sustainable businesses in forest landscapes. There is much to develop. The aggregate gross annual value from smallholder producers within forest landscapes may be as much as US$1.3 trillion.

Forest Business Incubation: Towards Sustainable Forest and Farm Producer Organisation (FFPO) Businesses that Ensure Climate Resilient Landscapes demonstrates how to overcome business incubation challenges in remote forest landscapes. These may include low densities of educated entrepreneurs, high logistical costs, scarce infrastructure to differentiate products, and few capable business mentors. The book includes an introduction to the forest business incubation service delivery model, detailed case studies are presented of attempts to deliver business incubation services in forest landscapes, an analysis of the data presented by the case studies and some observations and conclusions about how best to develop forest business incubation in the service of both forests and people.

This analysis Green Economy Industry and Trade Analysis: Assessing South Africa's Potential focuses on the development of new trade opportunities for green industries in South Africa, both for import substitution and for exports.