Search Climate Insights Directory

The Climate Bonds Standard Version 3.0, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in December 2019, provides a science-based framework for certifying green bonds, loans, and other debt instruments. It ensures that these investments are aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Green Bond and Green Loan Principles, utilizing a rigorous process of pre- and post-issuance verification and annual reporting to prevent 'greenwash'.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code (Law 12.651/2012) across Brazilian states, focusing on the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA). It evaluates state-level regulations, the progress of CAR validation, and the operational status of PRAs, highlighting significant regional disparities in progress and the technical challenges facing state environmental agencies.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the challenges of tracking global adaptation finance and proposes a new framework and technical methodologies to better capture these flows, particularly within the private and domestic public sectors.

This policy brief analyzes how the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) achieved low-cost wind and solar bids through a competitive procurement process that mitigated the utility's monopsony market power. The author argues that these results were the product of long-term regulatory oversight, transparent planning, and a structured approval process by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the potential impacts of proposed World Trade Organization (WTO) fisheries subsidy rules on the Southern Longline (SLL) tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Focusing on South Pacific albacore, the study examines six fleets (China, Chinese Taipei, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and French Polynesia) to assess how prohibitions on subsidies for IUU fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity would affect fleet profitability and regional sustainability.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the status of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the role of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). It details the two primary cooperation avenues (Article 6.2 and 6.4), the challenges of establishing a rulebook—including debates over additionality and double counting—and provides examples of pilot projects and national strategies, particularly focusing on Canada's preparations.

This report examines the potential impacts of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on fishing subsidies, specifically focusing on shrimp fisheries in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. It analyzes how prohibitions on subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overcapacity, and overexploited populations could affect industrial and artisanal fleets in Latin American countries.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines government support for fuel consumption in the fisheries sector, analyzing data from the OECD and WTO. It highlights the prevalence of fuel tax concessions and direct price support across both OECD and non-OECD economies, while noting significant gaps in transparency and notification within WTO frameworks.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the fiscal burden and distributional efficiency of electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies in India. It identifies significant knowledge gaps due to outdated census data and proposes various targeting mechanisms—including volumetric, categorical, and income-based approaches—to ensure subsidies reach the poorest households without compromising energy access.

The December 2019–January 2020 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council's (PSC) effectiveness in conflict prevention, the challenges of its membership election process, the AU's efforts to rationalise its numerous external partnerships, and the progress of its Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

This case study describes the first climate change court case in South Africa, where the non-profit Earthlife Africa challenged the environmental authorisation of the Thabametsi coal-fired power station due to the absence of a climate impact assessment.

This case study details a legal challenge brought by the NGO Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) against the Government of Ireland regarding the adequacy of the 2017 National Mitigation Plan in meeting the goals of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution presents Southern African states with an opportunity to transform their economic trajectories through a systemic innovation approach. It advocates for a 'just e-volution' that integrates the mining, automotive, and energy sectors to move toward a low-carbon economy, specifically suggesting a 'Green New Deal' for the SADC region to avoid becoming a dumping ground for obsolete internal combustion engine technology.

This report reviews the status of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in Tanzania, focusing on mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. It identifies significant climate vulnerabilities, including sea-level rise and storm surges, and examines the governance frameworks, policy gaps, and opportunities for integrating nature-based solutions into national climate strategies to enhance coastal resilience and support local livelihoods.

The Carbon Neutral Digestive Initiative (CANDI) is a project by the Stockholm Environment Institute aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of food consumption in Sweden. The report details the findings of Stage 1 (April to December 2019), which focused on understanding consumer preferences, reviewing existing digital footprint applications, and engaging with food industry stakeholders to develop a concept for providing digestible environmental impact information at the point of purchase.

This research paper details the use of Robust Decision Support (RDS) and WEAP modeling to manage water resources in the Rocha River basin, Bolivia. It highlights critical vulnerabilities including unsustainable groundwater extraction, severe river pollution (BOD 428-852 mg/l), and projected water supply reductions of up to 13% due to climate change. The study concludes that no single strategy is sufficient; instead, a combination of the Misicuni project, new water transfers, wastewater treatment plants, and a reduction in agricultural water losses (currently averaging 70%) is required to ensure water security through 2050.

Vigeo Eiris conducted a pre-issuance verification of Banco Votorantim’s first 2019 Green Bond to ensure alignment with the Climate Bonds Standard (CBS) version 2.1. The verification, performed between November 15 and November 29, 2019, concluded that the bond is in conformance with the standard's pre-issuance requirements and sector-specific technical criteria for solar and wind energy.

The NAP Global Network Progress Report 2018-2019 outlines the Network's support for developing countries in national adaptation planning. It notes that 120 developing countries have launched NAP processes and highlights 2019 as a year of significant political momentum for adaptation, driven by the Global Commission on Adaptation, the UN Secretary General, and the IPCC.

This executive summary proposes a framework and recommendations for the design of the Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement to ensure it effectively assesses collective progress toward long-term goals.

This research paper proposes the creation of an independent Global Stocktake (iGST) to enhance the accuracy and transparency of the official Global Stocktake (GST) process under the Paris Agreement. The authors identify significant knowledge gaps in mitigation, adaptation, finance, and equity, and recommend that the iGST focus on synthesizing existing data, fostering common understandings of key climate goals, and providing forward-looking recommendations to raise global ambition.