Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the use of end-user subsidies to bridge the affordability gap for electricity access, specifically focusing on solar home systems (SHSs). It analyzes methodologies for calculating affordability gaps, outlines key design attributes for subsidy programs, and compares case studies from Ghana, Uganda, and Togo to identify best practices and data requirements for improving energy access in high-impact countries.

This report evaluates the sustainability, user preferences, agricultural demand for reused products, and governance capacity of sanitation systems in Montero, Bolivia. It examines a mix of centralized sewer-based systems and decentralized in situ options, concluding that while technical optimizations can improve environmental and health outcomes, long-term sustainability requires stronger governance, policy instruments, and increased public awareness.

This report evaluates the integration of sewered and non-sewered sanitation systems in Montero, Bolivia, focusing on sustainability, user preferences, agricultural reuse of waste, and governance capacity. It highlights the role of the cooperative utility COSMOL in managing mixed systems and identifies technical and policy gaps that hinder the scaling of sustainable on-site sanitation.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute explores the concept of water teleconnections—long-distance interactions between coupled natural and human systems—and argues that relying on a single water management narrative can lead to a misunderstanding of local challenges and the invisibility of water transfers through economic and physical connections.

This issue brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines how U.S. ports are addressing climate change through mitigation strategies—such as electrification and renewable energy—and adaptation measures, including gray infrastructure and nature-based solutions, to protect operations and improve the health of near-port communities.

This legal report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the decision of an arbitral tribunal to deny an amicus curiae submission by CIEL and the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale in the case of Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. v. United Mexican States. The report argues that the denial undermines the legitimacy of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) by ignoring public interests, environmental risks, and human rights impacts associated with the Don Diego deep-sea mining project.

This legal briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the decision of an arbitral tribunal to deny an amicus curiae submission by CIEL and the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale in the case of Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. v. United Mexican States. The briefing argues that the denial undermines the legitimacy of the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system and ignores the significant environmental and human rights risks associated with the Don Diego seabed mining project.

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines how U.S. ports are addressing climate change through mitigation strategies to reduce emissions and adaptation measures to increase resilience against sea level rise and extreme weather.

This case study details three legal challenges filed in Argentina to stop offshore seismic testing and fossil fuel exploration by the Norwegian company Equinor, which had been approved by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development via Resolution 436/2021. While the lawsuits raised concerns regarding biodiversity, climate commitments, and public participation, a court order initially halting the activities was later overturned pending an appeal.

This project update from RMI describes the performance of Nigeria's first commercial undergrid minigrid in Mokoloki, Ogun State. Launched in February 2020 through a tripartite partnership between the Mokoloki community, Nayo Tropical Technology, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the project provides reliable solar power to a community that previously had unreliable grid access. The report highlights the project's financial viability, technical stability, and its role in stimulating local economic growth.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute assesses the alignment between Development Finance Institution (DFI) investments and the national development plans of Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya. It examines how DFIs can better support strategic sectors to enhance development impacts and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This research paper examines the social dimensions of bioeconomy promotion through a "just transition" lens, specifically analyzing bio-based production systems in Brazil, India, and Indonesia. It argues that while the bioeconomy is framed as a tool for climate and socioeconomic goals, it has largely promoted unjust production systems that benefit agribusiness while marginalizing traditional and local communities.

This case study by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) examines the conversion of abandoned mine sites (brownfields) into renewable energy generating spaces (brightfields), specifically focusing on solar and wind projects in Canada and Germany.

A case study by Friends of the Earth detailing the successful opposition to the Jordan Cove Energy Project, a proposed 229-mile natural gas pipeline intended to transport fracked gas from Canada to Coos Bay, Oregon.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the necessity and design of federal just transition legislation in Canada. It evaluates international best practices from 12 jurisdictions to provide a framework for protecting workers and communities during the shift to a low-carbon economy, emphasizing social dialogue, Indigenous partnership, and corporate accountability.

The Climate Insurance Linked Resilient Infrastructure Financing (CILRIF) is a financial innovation designed to provide municipalities with long-term climate insurance and capital for resilient infrastructure. By linking insurance premiums to the implementation of adaptation measures, CILRIF incentivizes cities to invest in resiliency to reduce their long-term insurance costs and overall financing expenses.

This case study describes a circular economy synergy facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between Tradewinds, a parasol manufacturer, and Mors Design, an upcycling initiative. The partnership diverts textile offcuts from landfills to be used as raw materials for boutique handbags.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem protections into mining governance, focusing on the application of the mitigation hierarchy (MH) in Senegal and Turkey. It provides a framework for governments to develop national policies and institutional arrangements to ensure that mining activities result in no net loss (NNL) or a net positive impact (NPI) on biodiversity.

This case study examines the closure and post-mining transition of the Golden Pride Mine (GPM) in Tanzania, highlighting the integration of community engagement, progressive reclamation, and adaptable land-use planning to ensure environmental stability and community resilience.

This case study examines the closure and transition of the Golden Pride Mine (GPM), an open-pit gold mine in Tanzania operated by Resolute Mining Limited. It details the inclusive processes used to manage the site's environmental recovery and social transition, highlighting the use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and the conversion of the open pit into a lake to provide a sustainable water source for local communities.