Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-RIO) analyzes deforestation within agrarian reform settlements in the Brazilian Amazon. It finds that while these settlements occupy only 8% of the biome, they accounted for 24% of forest loss in 2023. The analysis reveals a high concentration of deforestation in a small number of settlements and suggests that this loss is driven by external actors rather than the resident settler population, as evidenced by the prevalence of large-scale clearing.

This technical brief by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the potential for green job creation in Jharkhand, India, between FY 2026 and FY 2030. It focuses on three primary sectors: clean power, clean mobility, and green molecules, projecting significant employment growth under two different policy scenarios while emphasizing the need for a 'just transition' for workers currently dependent on the state's extensive fossil fuel mining industry.

The report 'Panorama de Financiamento Climático para Uso da Terra no Brasil 2021-2023' by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes financial flows directed toward agriculture and forests aligned with climate goals in Brazil. It finds a significant increase in annual climate finance for land use, reaching an average of R$ 88.1 billion between 2021 and 2023, driven largely by rural credit and domestic private sources. The document details the instruments used, the sectors benefited, and the specific climate uses (mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage), while highlighting gaps in transparency and the need for more rigorous verification of sustainable practices.

This report by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the power sector transition across the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates). It finds that while the bloc continues to build fossil-fueled capacity, non-fossil capacity additions are accelerating, with the share of power capacity fueled by coal, oil, and gas potentially falling below 50% by the end of 2024.

This briefing by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as of October 2024. It details significant planned investments in export terminals in Mexico and Argentina, and import expansions in Brazil, while warning that these projects risk becoming stranded assets in the energy transition and may conflict with global climate goals to limit warming to 1.5 °C.

This factsheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) is a necessary component of a Just Energy Transition (JET) in South Africa. It posits that while targeted support for displaced workers is essential, a UBIG provides a foundational safety net for those indirectly affected by the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, builds climate resilience against extreme weather, and facilitates the adoption of sustainable habits.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that food insecurity in South Africa is driven by income poverty, not food scarcity. It proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) to ensure all adults can afford a basic nutritional diet, noting that current targeted grants are insufficient. The document highlights the severe health and economic costs of malnutrition and argues that a UBIG, combined with a 'just food transition' and systemic food system reforms, can break intergenerational poverty cycles without causing significant inflation.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that food insecurity in South Africa is primarily a result of income poverty rather than food scarcity. It advocates for a Guaranteed Universal Basic Income (UBIG) to ensure all citizens can afford a nutritious diet, highlighting the severe health, social, and economic costs of malnutrition and the limitations of current targeted social grants.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice argues that hunger and food insecurity in South Africa are primarily driven by a lack of income rather than a lack of food production. It proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) as a key mechanism to ensure all citizens can afford nutritious food, thereby breaking cycles of poverty and malnutrition.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues against the implementation of job-seeking requirements for social grants in South Africa, specifically opposing proposals to replace the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant with a conditional grant for job seekers. The document asserts that unemployment in South Africa is structural rather than a result of a lack of effort, and that imposing conditions would be costly, unfair, and counterproductive to economic growth.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues against introducing work-seeking conditions for social grants in South Africa. It asserts that such conditions ignore the structural nature of the country's high unemployment, impose unfair financial burdens on the poor, and violate constitutional rights to social assistance.

This research paper by Rashid S. Kaukab analyzes the concerns of developing countries regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. The author argues that the moratorium disproportionately benefits developed nations due to the global digital divide and restricts the fiscal and industrial policy space of developing economies.

This research paper analyzes the potential implications of the World Trade Organization (WTO) moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, which was renewed in 2024 but is expected to expire by March 31, 2026. The authors examine the economic risks for consumers and businesses, the fragmented regulatory landscape that may emerge, and the tension between revenue generation for developing countries and the maintenance of an open global internet.

This research paper by Shamika N. Sirimanne for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the environmental impact of the rapid growth of e-commerce. It identifies key ecological pressures—including carbon emissions from logistics, packaging waste, and high product return rates—and proposes a multi-stakeholder action plan involving governments, the private sector, consumers, and international organizations to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.

This research paper by Kholofelo Kugler for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade (PCN), adopted in February 2024. The document outlines the protocol's structure, its goals for facilitating digital trade and regulatory harmonization across Africa, and the significant infrastructure and regulatory challenges that may hinder its implementation.

This research paper by Neha Mishra examines the intersection of international trade law and global data governance, arguing for a balanced approach to cross-border data flows that reconciles commercial goals with privacy, security, and equity. The author proposes a multi-layered framework to bridge the gap between trade rules and data governance, emphasizing the need for digital inclusion for developing nations and the move away from polarized narratives of 'free flow' versus 'data sovereignty'.

This research paper examines the potential economic and regulatory consequences of the expiration of the World Trade Organization (WTO) moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions. The moratorium, first adopted in 1998, has been extended until March 31, 2026, but faces increasing opposition from developing countries seeking to recover public revenues and maintain policy space for national digital industrialization. The authors argue that the end of the moratorium could lead to a fragmented global regulatory landscape, increased costs for consumers, and reduced market access for digital service providers.

This research paper by Shamika N. Sirimanne of UN Trade and Development explores the environmental footprint of the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. It analyzes how logistics, packaging, and consumer behavior contribute to carbon emissions and waste, and proposes a multi-stakeholder framework involving governments, the private sector, and international organizations to transition toward a sustainable digital economy.

This research paper by Kholofelo Kugler analyzes the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP), adopted in February 2024. The protocol aims to create a comprehensive framework for digital trade across Africa, focusing on trade facilitation, data governance, and digital inclusion. While the main text is adopted, eight key annexes remain under negotiation. The author highlights the potential for the digital economy to significantly boost Africa's GDP and employment, provided that infrastructure gaps and regulatory fragmentation are addressed.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the proposal that Canada should receive climate credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). The author argues that such credits are likely impossible to obtain and environmentally unsound, as they would struggle to meet the 'additionality' requirement—proving that LNG exports directly caused a reduction in coal use abroad. The brief concludes that the only feasible path to such credits would involve costly subsidies and technology transfers that would contradict Canada's own climate policies and lock in fossil fuel infrastructure.