Search Climate Insights Directory

This executive summary by FSD Africa examines the 'cusp group' in sub-Saharan Africa—individuals earning $2-$5 per day who straddle formal and informal economies. The report analyzes credit market dynamics in South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana to provide recommendations for regulators and donors to foster healthy credit markets that enable upward mobility without leading to systemic overindebtedness.

This report analyzes the potential of the third party financing model to help India reach its target of 40 GW of rooftop solar power by 2022. It identifies high upfront costs, limited debt finance, and perceived performance risks as primary barriers, and proposes specific policy changes and financial instruments to scale the industry, particularly for commercial and industrial consumers.

A reflection by Ivan Vaalbooi of Natural Justice on the life and contributions of Andries Steenkamp, a leader within the Khomani San and broader indigenous communities in South Africa.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) responds to the Chamber of Mines' critique of its 'Zero Hour' report, defending its research methodology and reiterating claims of poor environmental governance in Mpumalanga. The CER argues that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has failed in its compliance and enforcement duties, leading to widespread pollution and the unlawful granting of mining rights in protected and strategic water areas. The CER calls for increased transparency, better decision-making regarding mining rights, and improved DMR capacity.

An open letter from 30 civil society organisations to South African ministers demanding that Eskom comply with environmental and health laws, cease its opposition to renewable energy, and provide transparency regarding the decommissioning of ageing coal-fired power stations.

This research paper quantifies the conditions contributing to annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at two UK EMEP 'supersites' to inform mitigation strategies for long-term human health burdens.

China saw wind capacity grow from 1.26 GW in 2005 to 91.4 GW by 2013, but faces ongoing issues with grid connection delays and power curtailment due to transmission lagging behind capacity and poor governance coordination. Additionally, a separate IISD study warns that BRIICS nations could face a $278 billion revenue gap by 2030 as they transition away from fossil fuels.

The Alberta Pesticide Survey Report presents findings from an August 2016 telephone survey of 1,000 Alberta residents regarding the perceived risks of pesticides used on lawns and gardens and support for a provincial phase-out law.

This report develops a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reference case for Pakistan, projecting a rise in emissions from 365 Mt CO2e in 2012 to 768 Mt CO2e by 2030 under a business-as-usual scenario. The analysis identifies GDP growth as the primary driver of emissions, with potential increases linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). While the electricity sector is expected to integrate more wind and solar energy, overall demand will likely exceed supply. The report highlights significant data gaps in the waste and agriculture sectors and compares its findings with the NEEDS assessment, noting that autonomous energy efficiency improvements provide a modest reduction in projected emissions.

South Africa's 2nd Biennial Update Report (BUR-2) provides a comprehensive overview of the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2000 to 2012, its mitigation strategies, and the financial and technical support received to transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy by 2030.

This policy brief argues that government-led conservation efforts are increasingly used to forcibly evict indigenous forest-dwelling communities from their ancestral lands, often masking commercial interests like mining and tourism. Using case studies from the Panna Tiger Reserve in India and the Embobut Forest in Kenya, the document details the loss of livelihoods, the disproportionate impact on women, and the failure of compensation schemes. It calls for conservation policies to be aligned with human rights, the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the legal securing of indigenous land rights.

This report, published in September 2016 by the Climate Bonds Initiative and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, outlines a strategic cooperation plan between China and the United Kingdom to accelerate the global green bond market. It identifies the UK as a global hub for green finance and China as a leading policy driver, proposing joint actions to standardize green definitions, expand cross-border investment, and develop project pipelines for low-carbon infrastructure.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines a framework for collaboration between the United Kingdom and China to expand the global green bond market. It identifies the UK as a global hub for green finance and China as a leader in policy support, proposing joint actions to scale cross-border issuance, harmonise green definitions, and develop robust project pipelines to meet the massive investment needs of the low-carbon transition.

A research paper finds that Brazil's 2008 Resolution 3,545, which tied rural credit to environmental and land-titling compliance, reduced deforestation in the Amazon by approximately 60%. The effect was strongest in cattle-ranching areas and driven by a reduction in medium and large loans, demonstrating a positive correlation between credit availability and land clearing in the region.

This report examines the third party financing model as a means to achieve India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022. It identifies high upfront costs, limited debt access, and performance risks as primary barriers. While the model is viable in most states for industrial and commercial users, it is hindered by consumer credit risk and poor net metering implementation. The authors propose policy reforms (e.g., banker training, DISCOM involvement) and new financial instruments (e.g., P2P lending, green bonds, and investment trusts) to scale the industry.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the global financial losses caused by tax havens are sufficient to fund a total transition to renewable energy in the Global South by 2030, asserting that the primary barrier to an 'Energy Revolution' is political will rather than a lack of funds.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International advocates for a legally binding UN treaty to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and end their impunity regarding human rights, environmental, and labor violations. It highlights specific cases in Latin America, Africa, and Asia where corporate power and investment treaties have been used to bypass national laws or obstruct justice for affected communities.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the global revenue lost to tax havens is sufficient to fund a transition to 100% renewable energy for half the world by 2030. It focuses on the financial feasibility of an 'Energy Revolution' in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia, while calling for the dismantling of corporate tax avoidance to fund a just and democratic energy transition.

This case study examines FSD Kenya's efforts to strengthen semi-formal rural delivery channels and link savings groups to formal financial services using a 'making markets work for the poor' (M4P) approach. It details the transition from donor-funded pilots to fee-for-service training models and the use of technology and banking partnerships to increase financial inclusion for rural populations and women.

This case study by the Institute for Security Studies examines the integration of women into the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the broader security sector. It analyzes the gap between formal policy frameworks—including the 2010 Constitution and UN Security Council Resolution 1325—and the practical reality of gender inequality, patriarchal institutional culture, and the limited advancement of women into combat and leadership roles.