Search Climate Insights Directory

This exploratory analysis by the World Resources Institute estimates that investing in climate services for health (CSfH) yields economic returns between US$3.60 and $68.40 per dollar invested. Despite modest funding requirements—estimated at $12–$18 million annually for a median-sized developing country—these tools remain underfunded and underused, with only 23% of surveyed WMO Member States integrating meteorological data into health surveillance.

This policy brief by RMI examines the critical shortages in the United States' electric grid supply chain, noting that demand for hardware has surged since 2019 due to load growth and grid modernization. The document details the risks of high import reliance and proposes a three-pronged federal strategy—easing near-term bottlenecks, expanding domestic production, and promoting innovation—to secure the supply chain, reduce costs, and foster economic growth.

This report by RMI argues that the United States is well-positioned to lead the next-generation geothermal supply chain by leveraging existing oil and gas expertise, but warns that targeted policy and research are required to avoid bottlenecks and capture economic benefits.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the collapse of multilateralism in the Sahel, focusing on how military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have led to the formation of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) and a strategic pivot away from Western-led institutions toward partners like Russia and China.

This briefing by RMI analyzes the economic impact of utility-scale wind and solar energy on rural American agricultural lands, noting that revenues from these sources are becoming comparable to major agricultural commodities in several states.

This report by Ember argues that reducing coal mine methane (CMM) emissions is an urgent and economically feasible way to slow near-term global warming and improve public health. It highlights that a significant portion of CMM can be mitigated using proven technologies like ventilation air methane (VAM) oxidation and drainage systems, with some measures offering negative net costs.

This report by Energy Innovation analyzes the economic and environmental potential of electrifying industrial heat in India, arguing that solar-powered electrification is often the cheapest energy option and can significantly reduce pollution and energy use.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges faced by African raw commodity producers, specifically focusing on the lack of value addition in the cashew and cocoa sectors, regional agricultural growth forecasts through 2043, and a widening gap between local crop production and food demand.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the stagnation of African agricultural productivity since independence, highlighting the roles of poor policy, land tenure issues, conflict, and climate change in maintaining a significant yield gap compared to the rest of the world.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the decline of Zimbabwe's agricultural sector resulting from land redistribution programmes and policy failures between 1992 and 2020.

The research paper argues for a binding international agreement on fossil fuel subsidies within the WTO framework to address global negative externalities and climate change. It proposes using the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) as a model, specifically highlighting the Standardized Carbon Rate Measurement (SCRM) as a way to move beyond definitional debates. The authors suggest that successful subsidy reduction must be linked to a state's capacity to transition to green energy and may require WTO waivers on local content requirements to support renewable energy transitions.

This report by Ember analyzes the impact of drought on hydroelectric power generation in Türkiye, detailing how declining water availability increases reliance on natural gas imports and threatens energy security.

This report by Ember and the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) argues that falling costs for 'electrotech'—solar, batteries, and electric end-use technologies—provide a faster and cheaper path to energy access and economic development for emerging markets than traditional fossil-fuel-based models. It highlights how many CVF nations are already leapfrogging developed economies in solar penetration and electrification, reducing their dependence on expensive fossil fuel imports.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute proposes a national strategy for Nigeria to capture and commercialise methane emissions from its oil and gas sector. It argues that treating methane as a strategic commodity rather than just a pollutant can mitigate climate impact while unlocking significant economic value, improving energy access, and creating jobs.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that Nigeria can transform its methane emissions from the oil and gas sector into an economic asset. By capturing wasted gas from flaring, venting, and leaks, Nigeria could unlock significant annual value, improve energy access, and meet climate commitments through a structured governance and commodification strategy.

This RMI fact sheet outlines the economic, grid, and environmental benefits of replacing electric resistance heating and water heating systems with heat pumps in US households.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the priorities and potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It analyzes Africa's historical reliance on primary commodity exports, the prevalence of informal intra-African trade due to high formal costs, and how the AfCFTA aims to drive industrialization and structural transformation by reducing trade barriers and fostering regional value chains.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the barriers to agricultural transformation in Africa, focusing on the critical link between formal land ownership, access to credit, and food security.

This report section analyzes the impact of commodity dependence on African economies, detailing the 'resource curse' where heavy reliance on raw material exports correlates with poor governance, political corruption, and slow economic growth. It contrasts the development trajectories of resource-rich and resource-poor nations and discusses the role of sovereign wealth funds and the global energy transition in shaping future demand.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the state of the manufacturing sector across Africa, highlighting a trend of premature deindustrialization and the varying levels of industrialization across different income groups. It examines the role of Chinese investment in the continent's industrial landscape and the challenges African nations face in moving from raw material exports to high-value manufacturing.