Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and obstacles associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD). It defines CCD as a strategy that minimizes climate impact damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emission future. The document identifies five key sociopolitical drivers—national resilience needs, energy security, economic opportunities, climate finance access, and strong government leadership—and seven primary implementation challenges, including high opportunity costs, political resistance, and institutional constraints.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) analyzes trends in the disclosure of environmental information in South Africa for 2012, comparing them to 2010-11. It finds that while public bodies are more actively responding to requests under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), actual disclosure has decreased and active refusals have increased. Private companies have shifted from ignoring requests to actively opposing disclosure, often through legal proceedings.

This executive summary by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that stricter laws and regulations regarding hazardous chemicals act as drivers for innovation rather than obstacles. By analyzing patent filings and case studies, the document demonstrates how the prospect of stronger regulation encourages the development and market adoption of safer chemical alternatives.

The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) met on February 26-27, 2013, in Switzerland to establish its work programme for Phase 3 (2013–2015). The coalition aims to champion a green economy based on equity, inclusion, and ecological limits, countering a prevailing 'brown economy' landscape and narrow 'green growth' definitions. The strategy focuses on three core activities—dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collective influence—and five thematic projects targeting measurement, financial reform, sector greening, social equity, and natural capital management.

This fact sheet describes a project led by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) to improve the prediction and historical understanding of landfalling tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific (EPAC) basin, focusing on historical reconstruction, lightning patterns, and high-resolution modeling.

This case study examines the investment incentive policies for renewable energy in Thailand, analyzing their effectiveness in overcoming barriers to deployment. It details a variety of financial, fiscal, and regional incentives, while highlighting the transition from a feed-in premium (adder) system to a fixed-price feed-in tariff (FIT) to manage costs and avoid overcapacity.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the financial sustainability of public-private partnerships (PPPs) used to address infrastructure deficits. It details the mechanisms of project finance, including the use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and high gearing ratios, while cautioning that PPPs are not a substitute for government budgets as public funds eventually cover the costs. The document also explores how PPP contracts can be designed to achieve broader environmental and social sustainability goals.

This briefing examines how public authorities can manage and modify existing public-private partnerships (PPPs) to improve their economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Using the United Kingdom's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and its transition to Private Finance 2 (PF2) as a primary case study, the document provides a framework for 'health checks' to assess value-for-money, life-cycle environmental impacts, and social returns during the lifetime of long-term contracts.

The February 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on critical security threats and political transitions across Africa. It focuses heavily on the upcoming general elections in Kenya, the military intervention and political transition in Mali, and the protection of women and children in armed conflict. Additionally, it reviews the outcomes of the 20th AU Assembly summit, including discussions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, and Somalia.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the diplomatic and economic relationship between Russia and South Africa within the frameworks of BRICS and the G-20. It argues that while political collaboration is strong and serves Russia's goal of a multipolar world order, economic ties remain significantly underdeveloped and below their potential.

The Electricity Distribution Grid Evaluator (EDGE) is a MATLAB-based simulation tool developed by RMI to assess the technical and economic implications of integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) into electricity systems. The model evaluates how DERs affect grid operations and stakeholder value across different regulatory environments and utility business models.

This research paper evaluates the impact of climate change and adaptive management on irrigation water supply within the Cache Creek watershed in Yolo County, California, using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system calibrated with 1971–2000 historical data.

This research paper introduces a formal framework to resolve conceptual confusion regarding vulnerability to climate change by using formalisation to make the structure of definitions and assessments explicit.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the intersection of global ageing and environmental change, arguing that social dimensions must be integrated into adaptation planning to address the unique challenges older people face due to variable climate and weather patterns.

This research paper examines the tension between equity and cost-effectiveness in the allocation of international climate change adaptation funding, specifically analyzing 39 project documents considered by the Adaptation Fund Board in 2011.

This case study by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network describes the implementation of 'evergreen agriculture' in Zambia since the mid-1990s. This approach, pioneered by Zambia’s Conservation Farming Unit (CFU) and the World Agroforestry Centre, integrates agroforestry with conservation farming to address the shared root causes of climate change vulnerability and food insecurity.

This study examines the integration of climate change adaptation into sectoral policies using a 'nexus' approach to water challenges in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, highlighting the gap between climate risks and national water planning in the MENA region.

This document is a record of a question-and-answer conference call held on 14 January 2013 regarding a project to strengthen the institutional coordination capacity of El Salvador's Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources (MARN) and the national coordinating body, SINAMA. The call served to clarify terms of reference for bidders, focusing on the design of an online management system, the relationship between organizational development (Component 1) and human resource capacity (Component 2), and the engagement strategy for SINAMA institutions.

This working paper provides a broad overview of climate change impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation in Zimbabwe, synthesizing findings from background papers produced by the Policy and Advocacy for Climate Change in Zimbabwe project.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the outcomes of COP18 in Doha, arguing that the negotiations lacked political will and failed to protect the human rights of vulnerable communities despite the UNFCCC's 2010 recognition of the link between climate change and human rights.