In recent years, Moscow has increased its use of private military companies (PMCs) to expand its influence through irregular means. In 2010, Russian PMCs operated in just two countries. Now, they operate in twenty-seven—including Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Madagascar, and Mozambique.

SOURCE: "Russia’s Corporate Soldiers: The Global Expansion of Russia’s Private Military Companies" by CSIS' Seth G. Jones and Catrina Doxsee and former CSIS fellows Brian Katz, Eric McQueen, and Joe Moye.

After a decade of planning and trials, China officially launched a national carbon trading market, called the national emissions trading scheme (ETS). While the price of carbon credits on opening day was $7.6/ton, given China’s current and forecast rates of economic growth, the International Monetary Fund estimates that the price of carbon credits will need to reach around $50/ton to effectively drive down carbon emissions.

SOURCE: "China’s New National Carbon Trading Market: Between Promise and Pessimism" by CSIS' Jane Nakano and Scott Kennedy.

Covid-19 provided an unmistakable reminder that biosecurity—protecting humans, animals, and plants from biological threats—must be embraced as an essential government mission. To expand the government’s engagement with the bioeconomy, the Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure plan contains a $50 billion technology directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF) intended to help migrate emerging technologies, including biotech, from the traditional NSF grant research stage to later stages of development.

SOURCE: "When Biosecurity Is the Mission, the Bioeconomy Must Become Government’s Strategic Partner" by CSIS' Andrew Hunter, Gregory Sanders, and Sevan Araz.

Northern Mozambique’s humanitarian crisis worsened this past year, largely due to conflict escalation between ASWJ and Mozambican security forces, resulting in more than 1.3 million people in need of assistance and a 650% increase in internal displacement in 2020. As foreign deployments commence, it is imperative that their mandates consider the fragile humanitarian situation on the ground and prioritize civilian protection.

SOURCE: "Centering Civilian Protection in Northern Mozambique" by CSIS' Emilia Columbo and Kelly Moss.