Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing describes Liberia's efforts to enhance sustainable agricultural investment through the renegotiation of large-scale land deals and administrative reforms following the 2006 installation of a democratically elected government.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the barriers preventing ride-hailing drivers in the United States, Europe, and Canada from switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and proposes strategies for governments and industry stakeholders to accelerate electrification.

This research paper argues that African countries must strategically and collectively mobilize climate finance both within and outside the UNFCCC system, as developed nations have failed to meet their financial commitments and are increasingly providing support through debt-increasing loans.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) expresses grave concern over South Africa's fiscal trajectory ahead of the 2021 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), arguing that National Treasury's focus on 'fiscal consolidation' and austerity will hinder economic recovery and harm vulnerable populations.

This case study examines the risks and impacts of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, highlighting the transboundary nature of these disasters and the need for regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) must leverage the global clean energy transition to drive industrialization and address severe energy deficits. The author proposes that the region utilize a combination of green industrial policies, strategic use of natural gas for baseload power, and the leveraging of critical mineral reserves to move up the global value chain, while insisting that the transition must account for the economic differences between developed and developing nations.

This case study describes the Youth Enterprise Grant (YEG), a pilot project by FSD Africa and GiveDirectly that provided smartphones and financial grants to 1,000 youth in the Mathare slum of Nairobi to evaluate the impact of digital technology on livelihoods and business skills.

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development provides five strategic recommendations for climate and development advocates seeking to engage with National Oil Companies (NOCs) to reduce fossil fuel supply and promote sustainable economies.

A case study detailing RMI's assistance to the Government of Montserrat and its utility company in installing a 750 kW solar system and 1 MWh battery storage, which brought the island to 50 percent renewable energy installed capacity.

A research paper by the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) and NewClimate examining the transition risks for Argentina's export-oriented agricultural sector due to global carbon constraints and potential international trade tariffs.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the Build Back Better Act could be made more effective by allowing regulated utilities to opt out of 'tax normalization' requirements for stand-alone battery storage and transmission projects eligible for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). While the bill introduces positive changes such as direct pay and the option for solar developers to use the Production Tax Credit (PTC), the author contends that current normalization rules force utilities to retain some ITC benefits for shareholders rather than passing them to customers, thereby increasing costs and disincentivizing the deployment of critical grid infrastructure.

Friends of the Earth International critiques the COP26 announcement by the UK, US, and 18 other countries to end public financing for overseas fossil fuel projects by the end of 2022, calling it hypocritical due to continued domestic extraction and a lack of climate finance for the Global South.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizing the COP26 announcement to end public financing for overseas fossil fuel projects, arguing that it is hypocritical as participating nations continue domestic extraction and fail to provide essential climate finance for the Global South.

This policy brief examines the necessity and feasibility of decarbonising the global steel sector by 2050 to align with climate goals, noting that while the industry is a major emitter, technological advances make net zero achievable with appropriate policy and investment.

This report, presented as an interview between CIEL staff, criticizes the COP26 presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat for failing to deliver on a promise of the "most inclusive COP ever." It details how unprecedented restrictions on access to negotiating areas in Glasgow have marginalized civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and representatives from the Global South, thereby hindering the monitoring of key climate discussions and the inclusion of frontline perspectives.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to halt deforestation as a rebranding of flawed initiatives that allow corporations and polluting nations to offset emissions rather than reduce them, warning that it risks facilitating land grabbing and human rights violations.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 commitment to end deforestation, characterizing it as a superficial effort that allows major polluters to continue emitting carbon through carbon offsets and market-based mechanisms rather than implementing regulatory action and protecting indigenous rights.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to end deforestation, arguing it serves as a facade for continued fossil fuel use and carbon emissions through offsetting mechanisms. The organization warns that the pledge lacks regulatory teeth and risks repeating the failures of REDD+, potentially leading to land grabbing and human rights violations.

The NDC Update Report 2021, based on a survey of 97 policy makers and experts across 92 countries, evaluates progress on Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) planning. While 95% of respondents report strengthened greenhouse gas emissions targets and improved sector-level grounding, the report concludes that collective ambition remains insufficient, progress is too slow, and financial barriers continue to hinder implementation. It highlights a significant gap in long-term strategies (LTSs), with only 17% of Parties having communicated one to the UNFCCC as of October 2021. The report emphasizes the critical role of subnational governments, noting that 80% of respondents view them as important for NDC implementation, and calls for a shift from narratives of 'green recovery' to concrete actions and the management of trade-offs to ensure a just transition.

This discussion paper introduces the concept of a "transformation seismograph" designed to detect and measure the speed and magnitude of the transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions before such changes are reflected in emissions projections.