Search Climate Insights Directory

This fact sheet evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The document reports that while some legal frameworks and demand-side regulations have improved, overall progress is too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with illegal deforestation increasing from 49% to 69% over a seven-year period.

This report assesses the progress of sustainable cooling policies across the 'Critical 9' high-impact countries, focusing on access to cooling, energy efficiency standards, and climate change integration. It highlights significant gaps in electrification planning, financial incentives for efficient devices, and the implementation of National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs).

This report by Ember analyzes the progress of European Union member states in phasing out coal power by 2030. It highlights that while the EU is rapidly reducing coal electricity generation—accelerated by Germany's aim to exit coal by 2030—a small group of countries, specifically Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria, are transitioning much more slowly and will account for the vast majority of the EU's remaining coal power in 2030.

This report by the Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates national actions for climate mitigation in the forestry sector, specifically regarding Goal 7 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It argues that while some progress has been made in monitoring and policy formation, current efforts are insufficient to end forest loss and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The document provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for governments to increase ambition, align financing, and implement six core strategies to protect and restore forests.

This technical note by Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes Brazil's Provisional Presidential Decree (MP) no. 1,065/2021 and Senate Bill (PL) no. 261/2018. The authors argue that the new legal framework for railroad authorizations lacks sufficient procedural clarity, governance, and transparency, which could jeopardize the socio-environmental analysis of private railroad projects.

This research paper examines how trade policy instruments, such as import tariffs and local content requirements, can be used to maximize local economic benefits from renewable energy investments without increasing project costs or delaying the energy transition.

The NewClimate Institute developed a methodology to systematically assess the design of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, applying it to 20 diverse NDCs to evaluate mitigation ambition, comprehensiveness, implementation plans, and transparency.

This May 2021 briefing from the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) analyzes the impact of recent Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) updates and net-zero pledges on global warming projections. It finds that while recent commitments have lowered the estimated end-of-century warming to 2.4°C, this remains significantly above the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, and current policies are still on track for 2.9°C of warming.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs assesses the economic policy responses of low-income countries (LICs) in Africa to the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that while these countries employed expansionary fiscal and monetary tools, the scale and quality of their responses were modest compared to developed and middle-income nations due to pre-existing structural bottlenecks, high debt, and limited fiscal space. The document emphasizes the need for a data-driven recovery approach, increased digital and financial inclusion, and the continued importance of official development assistance, particularly for fragile states.

This briefing by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) evaluates the impact of recent net zero pledges on global warming projections, noting that while targets have lowered end-of-century estimates, a significant gap remains between current policies and the goals required to limit warming to 1.5°C.

This report evaluates Panama's readiness to implement the Mining Policy Framework (MPM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF). The assessment, conducted between December 2019 and April 2020, identifies a sector in a developmental phase with a significant large-scale operation (Cobre Panamá) and a smaller non-metallic sector. While Panama has strengths in environmental awareness and indigenous rights recognition, it faces critical gaps in its outdated legal framework, lack of a cohesive national mining policy, weak fiscal oversight, and a near-total absence of specific regulations for mine closure and artisanal mining.

This policy brief assesses the Africa Energy Guarantee Facility (AEGF), a risk mitigation instrument launched by the European Investment Bank to attract private investment into Africa's sustainable energy sector. While the AEGF aims to unlock $1.4 billion in clean energy investment by providing insurance against political and sovereign risks, the document argues that its success depends on African policymakers creating enabling regulatory frameworks and reducing the high transaction costs and risks that currently deter private investors.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) conducted a pilot study using the Fair Finance Guide International (FFGI) methodology to assess the sustainability of investment policies for two South African development finance institutions (DFIs): the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The report evaluates these institutions against international social, environmental, and human rights standards, specifically highlighting a lack of public policy transparency and insufficient commitments to phasing out fossil fuel financing in the power generation sector.

A briefing by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) providing a global temperature update as of December 2019, highlighting a significant gap between current government pledges and the Paris Agreement goals, while detailing trends in coal, natural gas, and renewable energy.

The 2019 report by the NewClimate Institute analyzes the impact of climate mitigation commitments from cities, regions, and businesses, specifically focusing on ten major emitting economies and 17 international cooperative initiatives (ICIs). It finds that while individual actor commitments provide modest reductions, ICIs offer the most significant potential to close the global emissions gap to 2°C by 2030.

This report by the NewClimate Institute evaluates the progress of G20 countries in transitioning from fossil-fuel-based economies to low-carbon, climate-resilient ones, highlighting a significant gap between current national commitments and the goals of the Paris Agreement.

This report provides an assessment of the Kyrgyz Republic's readiness and capacity to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). Conducted between December 2017 and May 2018, the study analyzes national laws, policies, and administrative processes across six thematic areas: legal and policy framework, financial benefit optimization, socio-economic benefit optimization, environmental management, mine closure, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The assessment identifies strengths in the general tax regime and the existence of 'social packages' for communities, while highlighting critical gaps in outdated technical standards, unpredictable fiscal changes, and a lack of comprehensive mine closure regulations.

This report assesses Namibia's readiness to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). It evaluates the country's mining laws and policies across six thematic areas: Legal and Policy Environment, Financial Benefit Optimization, Socioeconomic Benefit Optimization, Environmental Management, Post-Mining Transition, and Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). The assessment identifies strengths in geological data and revenue generation, but highlights critical gaps in mine closure legislation, occupational health and safety, and the formalization of the ASM sector.

This report assesses how Uganda's water sector institutions and policies integrate gender and climate change considerations into planning, budgeting, and monitoring, utilizing a desk review of strategies and interviews with sector officials.

Paula Caballero, WRI's Climate Director, assesses the UN climate negotiations in Bonn, noting that while progress was made, significant work remains before COP24 in Katowice, Poland. She emphasizes the need for finalized Paris Agreement guidelines, strengthened national commitments by 2020, and increased support for developing countries.