Energy shocks linked to the Iran war are pushing households across Africa and South Asia back to charcoal and firewood as cleaner cooking methods become more expensive and unreliable.

The most contentious issue up for debate is the possible trade of elephant ivory. Southern African states are pushing for the sale of the valuable ivory stockpiles they sit on. Southern African governments point to their relatively stable elephant populations and say that ivory sales will benefit the people and conservation with profits. Since that one-off ivory sale, there has been a stark increase in poaching across range state, say elephant ecologists. Both Eastern and Southern African governments are dissatisfied with that result.