Search Climate Insights Directory

This document provides an overview of approximately 50 climate and energy policies adopted or underS under development between July 2018 and May 2019 across 25 countries and regions, supplementing a December 2018 report on projected greenhouse gas emissions.

The policy brief introduces the PLACARD (PLAtform for Climate Adaptation and Risk reDuction) Legacy Framework, an adaptable tool for researchers and policymakers to systematically plan for long-term positive impact and value addition in complex projects.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the potential for biogas to help Indonesia meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, analyzing two development pathways and the policy barriers hindering their implementation.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines five strategies to reduce the food system's impact on freshwater resources, highlighting the disparity between the water people drink and the water required to produce their food.

This report provides an air-pollution dispersion model and health risk assessment for 14 industrial facilities in and around South Africa's Mpumalanga Highveld Priority Area (HPA). The analysis compares actual 2016 emissions against a scenario where facilities comply with the 2020 Minimum Emissions Standards (MES), finding that current emissions cause significant early deaths and exceed multiple international air quality guidelines.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative, produced in collaboration with PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero), examines the potential for a guarantee instrument to attract private capital for renewable energy in Indonesia. It identifies a significant investment gap and explores how credit guarantees can mitigate specific risks to help the country reach its 2025 clean energy targets.

This research paper examines 'bog breathing'—the shrinkage and expansion of peat surface levels in response to water table changes—and its impact on carbon stock calculations in northern England's upland blanket bogs.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the June 2019 Climate Negotiations (SB-50) in Bonn, focusing on the integration of human rights into climate policies, the development of Article 6 mechanisms of the Paris Agreement, and the work of various UNFCCC constituted bodies.

This document is a Rule 16A notice filed in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, in June 2019. It outlines the constitutional issues raised by applicants—including GroundWork and the Vukani Environmental Justice Alliance—regarding air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area and the failure of the Minister of Environmental Affairs to establish regulations to implement the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan.

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law outlines the international legal frameworks and specific UNFCCC entry points for promoting public participation and access to information in climate policies. It emphasizes the need for procedural rights to prevent harm to communities, particularly within the mechanisms of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and suggests ways to enhance the inclusivity of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the intergovernmental negotiating process.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the potential for Brazil to increase agricultural and beef production without further deforestation. Using stochastic frontier models based on 2006 Agricultural Census data, the research quantifies the production gains possible by eliminating inefficiencies and the corresponding capital and operational investments required to achieve them.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative details the potential for Brazil to increase agricultural production by 79-105% and livestock production by 27% without increasing deforestation. This growth depends on eliminating inefficiencies through significant investments, specifically a 48-52% increase in equipment value and a 44-51% increase in operational costs.

This briefing transcript discusses the implementation of nature-based infrastructure—such as wetlands, oyster reefs, and dunes—to enhance coastal resilience against sea level rise and extreme weather in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Experts highlight the cost-effectiveness and co-benefits of these solutions compared to traditional 'gray' infrastructure and call for federal policy reforms to prioritize the beneficial use of dredged sediment and pre-disaster mitigation funding.

The research paper proposes a wholesale electricity market design to facilitate rapid decarbonization by combining a centralized regional spot market for short-term efficiency with decentralized forward procurement for long-term investment. The authors argue that this approach minimizes the risks of over-investment and political interference associated with centralized capacity markets while leveraging public policy instruments to internalize carbon externalities.

This report by Energy Innovation examines the need to modernize wholesale electricity market designs to accommodate the transition from large, fuel-burning power plants to decarbonized resources like wind, solar, and energy storage. It identifies the limitations of the current 'marginal cost dispatch' paradigm and proposes ten principles for future markets, while outlining two primary pathways for evolution: a 'Robust Spot Market' approach and a 'Long-Term Plus Short-Term Markets' approach.

This document is a written contribution from Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) to the UN's open-ended working group (IGWG) regarding a proposed legally binding treaty to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises in relation to human rights. FoEI analyzes the 'Zero Draft' presented in 2018, arguing that it is too weak to end corporate impunity and represents a setback compared to previous 'Elements' papers. The document details specific legal gaps in the draft—such as the lack of direct obligations for corporations and insufficient definitions of value chains—and includes testimonies from affected peoples across different continents calling for an international court and the primacy of human rights over investment agreements.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) provides a critical analysis of the 'Zero Draft' of a proposed UN legally binding instrument to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises in relation to human rights. FoEI argues that the draft is too weak, lacks essential principles, and fails to provide effective mechanisms to end corporate impunity. The document includes general comments on the draft's structure, specific contributions from FoEI representatives across different continents, and recommendations for the revised version of the treaty to be presented at the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG).

This written submission by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) analyzes the 'Zero Draft' of a proposed UN legally binding instrument to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises in regarding human rights. FoEI argues that the Zero Draft is too weak, lacks direct obligations for corporations, and fails to provide effective mechanisms to end corporate impunity, calling for a revised version that prioritizes human rights over commercial interests.

This briefing, produced by the NYDF Assessment Partners, Chatham House, and Climate Focus, evaluates progress in forest governance across nine tropical forest countries. It examines twelve indicators across five governance areas—legal and institutional frameworks, tenure and resource allocation, demand-side measures, transparency, and the rule of law—to assess how these nations are working toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). While some countries have improved their legal frameworks and transparency through international partnerships, the report highlights systemic weaknesses in the rule of law, a lack of cross-sectoral policy coherence, and persistent challenges in securing land tenure for local communities.

This report by FSD Africa and Cenfri examines the remittance landscape in Nigeria, identifying it as the highest recipient of remittances in Africa. While formal flows are significant, the sector is characterized by high informality, regulatory volatility, and infrastructure gaps that hinder the reduction of transaction costs and the expansion of financial inclusion.