Lessons for Africa from the Critical Minerals Agreement between the US and Ukraine.
The critical minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine in 2025 offers lessons to Africa on sovereignty and participation in global value chains. Africa has vital minerals for the energy transition, but needs to improve structural transformation and local value addition. Ukraine’s integration into Western green value chains highlights the importance of balancing extractive relationships with local value addition.
Regional Commissions: Bringing Infrastructure to Where Its Needed Most
In January 2025, a report compared the effectiveness of ARC, DRA, and NBRC in distributing infrastructure investments in rural areas. These commissions prioritize investments in troubled rural areas, effectively allocating most of their modest funds to these zones.
Keeping Promises at 10 Years: The Balance Sheet of the Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is 10 years old, but its goals of limiting global temperature rise to less than 2°C and reaching net-zero emissions this century are at risk due to the continued increase in global emissions and insufficient commitments, both in climate action and financing to developing countries.
The Trump-Xi Summit Countdown
After months of trade war, the summit between Trump and Xi Jinping is set in stone. Both countries extend the tariff truce for 90 days. Key issues will be Chinese excess capacity, investments, and fentanyl control. It is highlighted that negotiations should not focus solely on these aspects.
Europes Green Energy Transition: Progress and Challenges
The European Clean Tech Tracker collects data on clean technologies and employment in Europe to provide comprehensive and straightforward information, despite the scattering of data and divergent opinions.