Briefs

Unfinished Business: Contract Transparency In The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

The urgency of climate action and the complexity of the energy transition mean it has never been more important to be able to understand the deals made between companies and governments for oil, gas and minerals. Thankfully, since 2021, implementing countries of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) have been required to disclose the contracts between governments and extractive companies.

This briefing surveys the contract disclosure practice of the 57 EITI-implementing countries to understand the extent of their contract disclosure practice. The briefing highlights trends, areas of insufficient disclosure and best practices.

Climate Finance Shadow Report 2023

In 2009, high-income countries committed in the Copenhagen Accords to mobilize US$100 billion a year by 2020 in climate finance for low- and middle-income countries. Oxfam reported on the progress of this commitment in 2016, 2018 and 2020. This year’s report finds that high-income countries have not only failed to deliver on their commitment, but also – as in previous years – generous accounting practices have allowed them to overstate the level of support they have actually provided. Moreover, much of the finance has been provided as loans, which means that it risks increasing the debt burden of the countries it is supposed to help.

This paper calls on high-income countries to accelerate the mobilization and provision of climate finance, and to make up the shortfall from previous years, in a way that is equitable and just. High-income countries must provide finance that is transparent, with genuine accountability mechanisms, and that allows for far more local ownership and responsiveness to the needs of communities it is intended to reach. People on the frontlines of the climate crisis must have the funding they were promised for adaptation and mitigation, and to address the loss and damage they are already experiencing as a result of climate impacts.

Priorities for the Securities and Exchange Commission

The current SEC has signaled an ambitious agenda to fulfill its mission to protect corporate investors and ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the capital markets.

Why a wealth tax makes sense to tackle inequality

Given that wealth inequality in the US is more extreme and dangerous than income inequality, it is past time for a federal wealth tax.

New York State bill can help end the global debt crisis

The New York state legislature has a unique opportunity to pass legislation that would help combat poverty in debt-burdened countries, stabilize the economy, and benefit taxpayers.

Tax wealth, tackle inequality

Wealth inequality in the US is more extreme and dangerous than income inequality; and we need to change our approach, so we effectively tax wealth as well as income. We offer five reasons why a wealth tax makes sense.