Search Climate Insights Directory

Ryse Energy deployed hybrid mini-grids consisting of 5 kWp wind turbines and 3 kWp solar arrays across 16 islands in Chile's Los Lagos region to power schools and health care facilities. Funded by the Government of Chile for EUR 400,000, the project provides electricity access to a population of approximately 2,000 people, reduces annual CO2 emissions by an estimated 18 tonnes, and created 35 jobs. To ensure sustainability in these remote locations, Ryse Energy provided a one-week intensive operation and maintenance (O&M) training course to community members.

Phaesun GmbH installed a 14.4 kWp solar PV system with battery storage at Orotta Hospital in Eritrea, funded by the NGO Archemed for EUR 75,000. The system provides a reliable power supply for pediatric cardiac surgery and neonatology wards, mitigating frequent grid blackouts and unreliable diesel generators. Since December 2014, the system has enabled round-the-clock operations for critical loads, managed and maintained by the Eritrean Ministry of Health.

Vaya Energy and Schneider Electric installed a solar-powered microgrid at the Dakwa Primary Health Centre in Nigeria to provide 24/7 electricity to a facility that had lacked grid power since 2014. The project, funded via corporate social responsibility, enabled the use of vaccine refrigerators and night-time lighting, contributing to a 50-60% reduction in maternal and child mortality and an 80% increase in night-time deliveries. While successful as a pilot, the document notes that non-profit health centres in marginalised communities cannot afford the upfront costs of solar installation without coordinated support from governments and private entities.

Agnisumukh develops flameless, radiant heat gas burners for commercial kitchens in India, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 30% and eliminating carbon soot. Founded in 2014 by Hari Rao, the company provides alternatives to traditional firewood and inefficient LPG burners, serving over 100 clients in 500 kitchens, including the President of India and the Prime Minister’s Office. The company's innovations have resulted in carbon savings of approximately 7,337 tons and the preservation of 469,201 trees.

The paper introduces a new approach to assess how individual commodity traders are exposed to long-term climate change risks by utilizing gridded crop yield projections and subnational supply chain data. Applying this method to the Brazilian soy sector, the authors find that risk exposure varies significantly between traders because of differences in their sourcing patterns, despite overall uncertainty in crop model yield projections.

HT Energy (S) Sdn Bhd (HTES) is implementing a pilot 2.88 kWp solar-powered hydrogen system at the Long Loyang Clinic in Sarawak, Malaysia, to replace irregular and costly diesel power. The system uses solar PV and an electrolyser to store energy as hydrogen gas (30 Nm3 capacity), providing 25-30 kW of electricity daily for essential medical services. The project aims to avoid 13 to 33 tonnes of CO2 annually and serves as a model for 57 other rural clinics in the region.

The paper argues that Bolivia's response to Covid-19 was undermined by a deep political crisis following the disputed exit of Evo Morales and the installation of an interim government under Jeanine Áñez. This lack of legitimacy led to a deadlock between the executive and the MAS-led legislature, resulting in the failure to secure IMF loans, disputes over the legality of emergency powers, and the repeated postponement of elections. Public trust further eroded due to corruption in medical procurement and the perceived selective application of quarantine measures, leading to widespread protests and a perception that the pandemic was being politicized for electoral gain.

The document highlights how a gender-responsive approach and the introduction of 'women-friendly' tools accelerated the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Nepal's Gandaki province. It identifies key barriers to implementation, such as government staff's lack of technical knowledge and male bias in technology design, and outlines strategies to overcome them, including 'travelling seminars' for political leaders and site-specific agricultural plans.

The document examines the vulnerability of agriculture-based livelihoods to climate hazards in peri-urban Gorakhpur and argues that climate-resilient development requires gender-responsive strategies. It identifies structural governance gaps, such as the lack of gender sensitisation in urban local bodies and the siloed management of urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, as barriers to inclusive resilience. The report advocates for a two-pronged strategy: sensitising policy-makers and planners while engaging diverse social groups, particularly women, through participatory methods and community-based institutions to ensure their needs and priorities are addressed in climate-compatible development.

The report argues that the plastics industry employs a 'corporate playbook' of delay, distraction, and derailment to protect its business model. It analyzes voluntary commitments from major polluters, finding them lacking in accountability and ambition. Through case studies in 15 countries, it demonstrates how companies lobby against mandatory collection systems like Deposit Return Systems (DRS) and promote 'false solutions' such as chemical recycling and bioplastics to shift responsibility onto consumers.

The report argues that the plastic industry employs a 'playbook' of distraction, delay, and diversion to protect profits while appearing to address the plastic crisis. It analyzes the voluntary commitments of ten major polluters, finding them largely lacking in transparency and accountability. The document highlights how companies use trade associations and fake environmental groups to lobby against mandatory collection and reuse laws, even while publicly supporting some initiatives. It concludes that voluntary actions have failed and calls for mandatory legislation, including deposit return systems and taxes on virgin plastics.

The document exposes how the plastic industry uses a 'playbook' of confusion, delay, and prevention to thwart progressive laws. It argues that voluntary commitments by major corporations are largely 'lip service' and that the industry actively lobbies against mandatory collection and reuse systems while promoting 'false solutions' like chemical recycling.

The document argues that the plastic industry uses a 'manual' of delay, distraction, and derailment tactics to protect profits and avoid mandatory regulations. It analyzes voluntary commitments from ten major polluters and over 50 collective initiatives, concluding that they lack transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. The report highlights how companies promote 'false solutions' like chemical recycling and bio-based plastics while lobbying against deposit return systems and mandatory collection targets. Case studies across 15 countries demonstrate a pattern of corporate hypocrisy, where companies may support legislation in the EU while fighting it in Africa, China, and the US.

The report argues that major plastic polluters use voluntary initiatives as a 'smoke screen' to delay, distract, and derail progressive legislation. It analyzes the commitments of the ten largest plastic polluters and over 50 joint initiatives, finding them lacking in ambition, transparency, and accountability. The document details industry tactics such as shifting blame to consumers and promoting chemical recycling, while calling for mandatory legislation, including 90% collection targets and deposit return systems.

The document investigates how Karnataka can manage its increasing flexibility needs—driven by high solar and wind capacity—through a portfolio of demand-side measures, energy storage, and powerplant operational changes. It argues that a balanced portfolio of these options can reduce system costs by up to 10% and carbon emissions by up to 35% by 2030, potentially making new coal capacity redundant. Key recommendations include amending grid codes to allow cost recovery for flexible thermal operations, completing agricultural feeder separation, and developing a 'data mission' to support locational pricing and market design.

The report identifies 12 cases of fire in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes in August 2020, totaling 20,064 hectares of prior deforestation. It links these fires to the preparation of land for pasture or crop production and highlights that major traders like Bunge, Cargill, and JBS are connected to farms engaging in these practices.

The report examines the growth of private equity (PE) in the behavioral health sector, specifically focusing on autism, eating disorders, and addiction treatment. It argues that PE's demand for outsized returns in an underfunded sector creates risks such as inadequate staffing, reliance on unlicensed personnel, and the potential for patient abuse. The document provides detailed case studies of Sequel Youth and Family Services and Community Intervention Services to illustrate these risks, including allegations of fraud, neglect, and systemic abuse across multiple US states.

The document argues that public funds alone cannot meet Africa's growing energy demands, which require an estimated $120 billion annual investment until 2040. It advocates for 'green financing'—blending public and private capital—to overcome high infrastructure costs and investment risks. Using Kenya's experience, the brief details how instruments like Partial Risk Guarantees, concessional loans, and Feed-in Tariffs have attracted private investment for wind, solar, and geothermal projects. It specifically recommends that the EU and development partners provide technical assistance and risk-mitigation products to create enabling environments for private sector energy investments across the continent.

The report outlines strategies for organizations to manage business air travel emissions, emphasizing the need for direct reductions over carbon offsets. It discusses the use of absolute and intensity targets, the importance of senior management leadership, and the role of decision-support tools in encouraging sustainable travel choices.

The report inventories organic waste in Naivasha, Kenya, identifying significant potential for resource recovery from wastewater, faecal sludge, municipal solid waste, and agro-industrial residues. It highlights existing initiatives such as biogas production at Gorge Farm Energy Park and briquette manufacturing by Sanivation, while noting critical data gaps and stakeholder conflicts in waste collection.