What's new in sustainable development

Santa Marta: Key issues shaping the transition away from fossil fuels

A construction platform for oil and gas production sits in open waters.

In 2 days, governments from over 50 countries will meet in Santa Marta, Colombia, to advance the transition away from fossil fuels. Taking place amid the global energy crisis, the conference brings both the urgency and complexity of transition roadmaps into the spotlight.

Policy-makers, researchers, civil society, and practitioners will focus on how to turn global pledges into credible transition plans, navigate the fiscal and debt pressures that come with shifting energy systems, and reform the rules that still lock in fossil fuel dependence.

At this key moment for coordinated international cooperation on the transition away from fossil fuels, our experts break down what you need to know about the issues shaping the transition.

Ships at active sea port with blue sea below and sky above.

Debt Sustainability Framework Under Review: Why it matters

Shrinking budgets, global economic shocks, and a surge in complex private lending are pushing debt costs to critical levels across low-income countries. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are reviewing the Low-Income Country Debt Sustainability Framework, a central tool for assessing debt risk, signalling early warning signs of distress, and helping determine the terms and concessionality of financing countries receive. Our experts unpack why this review is so important and why getting it right is critical.

View of a city landscape, with green areas and a huge building in the middle.

Ghana’s Path to Debt Sustainability After Crisis

Still rebuilding after its 2022 debt crisis, Ghana has established a new institution tasked with reviewing government budgets and long-term debt projections to ensure fiscal decisions are sustainable, transparent, and accountable—a critical step toward lasting stability. Learn how IISD and IMANI supported the council's design, helping the government build an institution that is effective, credible, and suited to Ghana's context.

Flags from all countries outside of the UN building in Manhattan.

Who Will Be the Next UN Secretary-General?

Yesterday and today, the four candidates for the UN's top job are facing questions from UN member states and presenting their visions for an organization at an inflection point in multilateralism. We share who the candidates are and what comes next.

A suspension bridge over a river. There is greenery on both sides of the river and a city in the distance.

New Russian Sanction Claims Underline Urgency of ISDS Exit

An increasing number of investor–state claims have been filed by Russian private and state actors through legacy investment treaties. These claims challenge EU sanctions adopted following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lukas Schaugg explains the mechanics of the disputes in Kyiv Independent and Sustainable Views, highlighting the urgent need to terminate these outdated treaties and move away from the investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) regime to protect public-interest policies.

How Engaging Producers Can Drive Sustainability in Value Chains

Effective engagement with small-scale producers is key to achieving fair and lasting change in value chains. Our new guide outlines how organizations that promote sustainable market-based initiatives can strengthen how they engage with producers to ground their work in the lived realities of the people they aim to help.

Earth Day: All eyes on nature-based solutions

Sargassum piles up on the shore of a tropical beach in Belize. The sky is sunny with little clouds.

What Do Nature-Based Solutions Look Like in Belize?

Belize is home to many diverse ecosystems. So what do nature-based solutions (NbS) look like in practice? This inventory highlights the variety of NbS projects (both completed and ongoing) being implemented across Belize to help governments, adaptation and conservation practitioners, and donors understand the current NbS landscape and facilitate further adoption.

An older woman wearing a bright red shirt and a baseball cap stands in a green clearing. She gestures with one hand while explaining something to people out of the frame.

Between the Tides: Climate change adaptation in Palau

Palau is a small island nation facing rising sea levels that threaten food security, infrastructure, and cultural heritage. Explore how the country is adapting to the impacts by combining national adaptation plans with community knowledge, NbS, and local leadership.

View of Teskei Ala-Too mountains in Kyrgyzstan from a lake. The sky is blue and clouds pass overhead.

Nature-Based Infrastructure Could Avoid USD 33 Million in Costs in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's Geopark Teskei faces mounting pressure from climate risks and rapid tourism growth. But shifting toward sustainable tourism and nature-based infrastructure generates nearly nine times more value per dollar invested while avoiding USD 33 million in environmental costs.

Two women stand by potted tree saplings during a tree planting event.

How Sub-Saharan African Cities Are Building Climate Resilience Through NbS

Restoring nature and strengthening community resilience to climate change are long-term efforts that often take years to produce tangible results. But in just 2 years, the SUNCASA project has outpaced our timeline, achieving 85% of its targets for planting climate-adapted trees, restoring watersheds, and restoring buffer zones along flood-prone rivers. Team members reflect as the project heads into its final year.

A small green plant grows amongst mangroves.

Putting Women at the Heart of Mangrove Restoration in Senegal

Mangrove forests are among the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems in the world, but they’re under threat from climate change, overharvesting, land-use conversion, and pollution. In Senegal, biodiversity-mindful mangrove restoration, co-designed with women at the community level, is proving a powerful tool for enhancing ecosystem and community resilience.

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