Search Climate Insights Directory

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) explains the nature, benefits, and regulatory support for mass timber—engineered wood materials used for large-scale construction. It highlights mass timber's potential to reduce building emissions, store carbon, and support sustainable forest management, while addressing concerns regarding fire safety and moisture.

The Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2023 report by Ember analyses global electricity generation from January to June 2023. It finds that global power sector emissions plateaued, increasing by only 0.2%, as significant growth in wind and solar was offset by a historic decline in hydropower generation caused by droughts.

This report by Energy Innovation argues that while the economics of clean energy are now competitive with fossil fuels, non-financial risks—specifically project development and market uncertainty—are hindering deployment in the United States. The authors propose 'investment-grade policies' to reduce these risks, focusing on transmission access, streamlined siting and permitting, and long-term cost-recovery schedules to lower the cost of capital for developers.

The Gender Action Plan (GAP) for the Accelerating Solar Action Programme (ASAP) in Ghana, published in September 2023 by the Green Climate Fund, outlines a strategic framework to ensure gender equality and social inclusion in the deployment of solar PV loans and institutional capacity building. The plan focuses on increasing financial accessibility for women-led households and MSMEs, training stakeholders on gender mainstreaming, and establishing gender-responsive grievance mechanisms.

A September 2023 briefing by Global Energy Monitor analyzing the renewable energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It highlights a significant increase in operational and prospective solar and wind capacity, while noting a heavy reliance on fossil fuels for electricity and a strategic pivot toward high-risk green hydrogen exports over domestic decarbonization.

This policy brief explores how monitoring and evaluation (M&E) can be used to build transformative equity and resilience in South Africa. Based on six case studies, it identifies four key enablers: contextualized learning, inclusive processes, increased agency for Global South actors in M&E design, and institutional arrangements that ensure long-term data ownership. The brief argues that M&E is a tool of power and advocates for a shift from funder-driven compliance to locally-led, reflexive systems that empower marginalized communities.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) and Budget 2022 to determine how climate policies impact poverty and inequality. Analyzing a sample of 67 measures, the report finds that while many policies reduce emissions, they do not automatically produce positive social outcomes and some may even exacerbate systemic inequality without specific social safeguards.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the process of mine relinquishment—the legal transfer of responsibility for a closed mine site from the operator to a government or new landowner. It identifies a global gap in clear relinquishment policies and proposes a six-step framework to help governments manage residual risks and ensure sustainable post-mining land use.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for governments to implement the 'restitution' of closed mine sites. Restitution is defined as the legal transfer of responsibility from the mine operator to a subsequent landowner after closure activities are completed and approved. The document identifies systemic gaps in global policies, where sites often remain indefinitely with operators or are transferred without adequate funding for long-term monitoring. It proposes a six-step policy process: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines policy steps for governments to manage the relinquishment of closed mine sites—the legal transfer of responsibility from the operator to a new owner or the state. Analyzing over 40 jurisdictions, it finds a global lack of clear relinquishment frameworks. It highlights successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile, and recommends a six-step process involving comprehensive closure plans, independent verification, residual risk assessment, and dedicated long-term funding mechanisms to ensure environmental stability and sustainable land reuse.

This special edition of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the resurgence of military coups and unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) in Africa, specifically focusing on a 'third wave' since 2019. The report analyzes the drivers of these coups, the role of 'constitutional coups' (manipulating term limits), the impact of civil-military relations, and the effectiveness of African Union (AU) and regional sanctions.

This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute examines the weaknesses of parliamentary oversight in South Africa. It finds that while legal powers are sufficient, political pressures from the dominant party, poor committee management, and inadequate technical resources hinder the ability of MPs to hold the executive accountable. The authors distinguish between basic 'explanatory accountability' and the nearly absent 'amendatory accountability'. Key recommendations include creating a committee to oversee the Presidency, reforming the appointment of committee chairs to include the opposition, and establishing a formal tracking system for executive compliance with parliamentary resolutions.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the real estate portfolios of the MAVERIC consortium partners, detailing the Swedish real estate investment landscape, accounting standards for asset valuation, and the specific portfolio compositions of several major institutional investors.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) provides the scientific foundation and methodology for the "Time to Lead – science to accelerate the Global Goals" campaign. It synthesizes recommendations from five key scientific reports published between 2022 and 2023 to guide decision-makers in accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the September 2023 SDG Summit.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute provides an overview of the evolving landscape of climate risk reporting for financial actors and corporates, with a specific focus on Swedish real estate investors. It details the distinctions between physical, transition, and systemic risks, compares international and EU-specific reporting frameworks, and discusses the shift from single to double materiality approaches in sustainability disclosures.

This policy paper maps the landscape of standards and initiatives related to plastic pollution to support international cooperation. It categorizes instruments into government regulations, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. The paper highlights the role of these standards in the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC) and the WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), emphasizing the need for inclusiveness for developing countries and the identification of 'standards gaps' across the plastics life cycle.

This report by Trend Asia and a national solidarity coalition investigates violence and human rights violations on Rempang Island on September 7, 2023. The conflict arose from land marking activities for the Rempang Eco-city project, a National Strategic Project (PSN) managed by BP Batam and PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG). The investigation finds that joint security forces used excessive force, including tear gas fired near schools, leading to physical and psychological trauma among residents, children, and elderly people. The report characterizes the situation as 'Capital Violence,' where state security apparatuses are used to accelerate business interests, resulting in arbitrary arrests, lack of community participation, and the creation of a climate of fear through the establishment of security posts in residential areas.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is leading an initiative to transition the U.S. school bus fleet to electric by 2030 to eliminate carcinogenic diesel exhaust and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9 million metric tons annually. The initiative focuses on equitable deployment in low-income communities and communities of color, while collaborating with manufacturers, utilities, and policymakers to overcome infrastructure and funding barriers.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development discusses the importance of aligning national financing strategies for climate change adaptation with other financial plans, such as those for biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals, to ensure coordinated resource mobilization and implementation.

The Little Book of City Climate Finance is a guide that outlines the challenges of urban climate financing and the components required to develop a city climate finance roadmap to meet mitigation and adaptation goals.