Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper introduces Targeting Agricultural Water Management Interventions (TAGMI), an online open-access decision support tool designed to identify the most appropriate agricultural water management (AWM) interventions for smallholder farming systems by assessing the likelihood of success for outscaling these interventions at a sub-national level.

This policy brief examines South Africa's two terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. It focuses on South Africa's efforts to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) by formalising institutional links between the UNSC and the African Union (AU), advocating for predictable financial resources, and promoting the role of regional organisations in security management under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

The briefing argues that climate change impacts will make the Sustainable Development Goals almost impossibly challenging for Least Developed Countries unless ambition in development and climate action is urgently increased.

This policy brief analyzes Turkey's 2015 G-20 presidency, focusing on its priorities of inclusiveness, investment, and implementation, and their implications for Africa and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The authors argue that while Turkey has expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa through a 'bottom-up' approach, the G-20's institutional framework remains problematic due to the underrepresentation of African nations and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks.

This research paper examines the role of knowledge brokering and quantitative emissions modelling, specifically the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) model, within the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process of a national energy plan in Estonia.

This case study examines the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant (GPP) in Indonesia, highlighting how public risk mitigation tools, including guarantees and feed-in tariffs, enabled significant private sector investment in a project designed to be the world's largest single contract geothermal plant with a 330MW capacity by 2018.

The document argues that South Africa is legally obligated by its own domestic legislation to uphold the Rome Statute, despite political pressures from the African Union. It critiques the ICC for perceived bias and double standards while simultaneously criticizing the Malabo Protocol for exempting heads of state from the jurisdiction of a proposed African court, thereby perpetuating impunity for political elites.

This document is a country study and data sheet prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and the Oil Change International (OCI) regarding fossil fuel production subsidies in France for the years 2013 and 2014. It serves as a background paper to the report 'Empty promises: G20 subsidies to oil, gas and coal production' to establish a baseline for tracking the phase-out of these subsidies during the global energy transition.

This fact sheet examines the potential for deploying mid-level ethanol blends (E25 to E40) in the United States passenger vehicle fleet to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It discusses the role of ethanol as a renewable octane provider, the compatibility of existing vehicle fleets and retail infrastructure, and the lifecycle GHG reductions associated with different ethanol sources.

This working paper analyzes the experiences of seven Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) between 2011 and 2014 to identify strategies for driving private sector investment in climate resilience, specifically within agriculture, water-intensive industries, and infrastructure.

This executive summary highlights the historical failure of climate change mitigation projects to integrate gender equality, arguing that treating women as victims rather than leaders reinforces inequalities. Based on case studies in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, the report asserts that gender mainstreaming, socially disaggregated data, and gender-sensitive policies are essential for the efficacy, inclusivity, and long-term viability of both large-scale infrastructure and small-scale energy projects.

A statement issued in March 2015 by social movements and civil society organizations at the World Social Forum in Tunis, calling on governments to suspend the G8's 'New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition' in Africa. The signatories argue that the initiative prioritizes corporate interests over small-scale farmers, threatens food sovereignty, and promotes land grabbing.

A March 2015 statement by a coalition of civil society organizations and social movements calling on African governments to cease engagement with the G8 "New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition," arguing that the initiative prioritizes corporate interests over food sovereignty and the rights of small-scale producers.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking World Environment Day 2015, advocating for community-based biodiversity management and criticizing the privatization and financialization of nature.

This briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of food safety, health security, and human security in Southern Africa. It argues that food insecurity and reliance on unsafe food sources strain already constrained health systems and hinder socioeconomic development, calling for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to increase agricultural capacity and reduce dependence on food exports and aid.

This research paper examines the use of amicus curiae submissions by civil society organisations (CSOs) to introduce community perspectives into investor-state arbitration, focusing on the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. The Republic of El Salvador.

This report analyzes the use of amicus curiae briefs by civil society organizations (CSOs) to introduce community perspectives into investor-state arbitration, focusing on the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC vs. the Republic of El Salvador. It details how the Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica de El Salvador (La Mesa), supported by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho (FESPAD), used legal tools to challenge the jurisdiction of the arbitration tribunal and highlight the democratic debate over metallic mining and sustainable development in El Salvador.

This statement from the Climate Bonds Initiative responds to a European Union consultation on the Capital Markets Union, arguing that the EU must take active steps beyond supporting market guidelines to scale the green bond market. The document outlines how existing EU tools and priority areas—such as SME financing, securitisation, and the European Fund for Strategic Investments—can be leveraged to close significant low-carbon investment gaps in the EU and globally.

This case study examines the Olkaria III geothermal power plant in Kenya, the first privately funded and developed geothermal project in Africa. It analyzes how a combination of public sector risk mitigation, phased development, and international development finance enabled a private developer, Ormat Technologies, to successfully deploy a 110 MW binary plant. The document highlights the role of the Kenyan government in reducing exploration and credit risks to attract private capital and provides lessons for scaling geothermal energy in East Africa.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative describes a landscape management approach designed to transform Indonesia's oil palm sector into a high-productivity, sustainable industry. The approach, supported by Unilever and IDH, moves beyond simple supply chain traceability to manage agricultural production and ecosystem protection across connected areas of land at scale. The document details a five-step implementation process and highlights a pilot project in Sei Mangkei, North Sumatra, aimed at improving land-use planning, increasing smallholder productivity, and protecting peat and forest ecosystems.