Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the barriers and success factors for attracting private sector capital into urban climate investments in emerging economies. It identifies obstacles across macro, city, and project levels and provides a framework of recommendations for city governments, public sector partners, and private/third sector entities to improve local enabling conditions.

This executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues for the adoption of natural infrastructure—such as conserved wetlands and restored riparian areas—to address aging water infrastructure and climate vulnerabilities in the Canadian Prairies. The document advocates for a shift away from 'grey' infrastructure (dams, pipes) toward nature-based solutions to manage water supply, treat wastewater, and mitigate disasters like floods and droughts.

This policy brief outlines six key actions to better integrate Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) holders into marine spatial planning (MSP) in South Africa. Based on a collaborative effort in Algoa Bay, the document argues that current ocean governance often neglects ILK and cultural heritage, recommending co-development of plans, increased transparency, improved data accessibility, and legislative alignment between the MSP Act and the Indigenous Knowledge Act.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines four strategic areas where G7 nations can demonstrate leadership to accelerate the global phase-out of fossil fuels. It argues that the G7 should set a 2030 deadline for coal phase-out, implement the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, end international public finance for fossil fuels, and commit to ending new oil and gas production to align with the 1.5°C warming limit.

This perspective piece by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that UN Member States should adopt a systems-thinking approach to prioritize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the SDG Summit in New York. The authors contend that because SDGs are interlinked, prioritizing specific 'accelerator' goals can boost progress across the entire 2030 Agenda, provided that trade-offs are managed and 'easy fixes' are avoided.

This policy brief, submitted by Amnesty International and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the UNFCCC Transitional Committee in April 2023, argues that the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund must be grounded in international human rights law. The authors advocate for a rights-based approach that prioritizes the most marginalized groups, ensures effective remedy and reparations, and utilizes public, grants-based funding to avoid increasing the debt of developing countries.

The report outlines a roadmap for decarbonizing India's steel industry to prevent a projected 200 percent increase in sectoral emissions by 2050, proposing five technical levers and six strategic policy objectives to transition toward a green steel economy.

This statement, submitted by Accountability Counsel and several endorsing organizations to the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, provides feedback on the role of development finance institutions (DFIs) in ensuring accountability and remedy for human rights and environmental harms caused by their projects.

A joint submission by civil society, academic, and private sector organizations to the Government of Canada urging the reform of the Competition Act to combat 'greenwashing'. The authors argue that the current legal framework lacks specific standards for environmental claims, which distorts the market and hinders the transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.

A congratulatory letter from the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) to the President of Zimbabwe and other high-level officials following the 2nd High-Level Structured Dialogue Platform Meeting on February 23, 2023. The letter expresses support for the Arrears Clearance Programme and provides recommendations on economic reforms, debt transparency, creditor responsibility, and civil society participation to address Zimbabwe's debt crisis.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines the role of hydrogen in achieving 1.5 degrees of global warming and identifies four primary investment opportunities for Latin America, specifically Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, to integrate into the global hydrogen economy.

This briefing, submitted by Amnesty International and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the UNFCCC on February 15, 2023, argues for the full integration of human rights standards into the design and implementation of the new Loss and Damage Fund. The authors advocate for a rights-based approach that ensures non-discrimination, provides effective remedies for affected communities, and prioritizes public grant-based financing over loans to avoid increasing the debt of developing nations.

This policy brief, submitted by Amnesty International and the Center for International Environmental Law to the UNFCCC, argues that the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund must be grounded in international human rights law. The authors advocate for a rights-based approach that prioritizes the most marginalized populations, ensures public participation in governance, and utilizes grants-based funding derived from the 'polluter pays' principle to avoid increasing the debt of developing nations.

An open letter from the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate Change and Health urging health education stakeholders to integrate climate change and environmental degradation into professional curricula to prepare the workforce for future health risks.

This briefing by RMI outlines the concept of a "managed phaseout" for coal power plants, arguing that financial institutions must move beyond simple divestment to actively fund the early closure of plants and the transition to clean energy to ensure the process is just and equitable for workers and communities.

This briefing, submitted by Amnesty International and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the UNFCCC on February 15, 2023, argues that the newly established Loss and Damage Fund must be guided by international human rights law. The authors advocate for a fund based on non-discrimination, substantive equality, and the provision of effective remedies, emphasizing that funding should be public, grant-based, and sourced from historical polluters to avoid increasing the debt of vulnerable nations.

This guide by RMI provides implementation recommendations for state energy offices (SEOs) to design and deploy the Home Efficiency Rebate program established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The $4.3 billion program incentivizes whole-home retrofits for single-family and multifamily dwellings, with higher rebate amounts for greater energy savings and doubled benefits for low-income households.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines recommendations for federal just transition legislation in Canada, suggesting a framework based on international best practices and social dialogue.

This executive summary report details the first in-person meeting of the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) Advisory Board, held from November 11 to 13, 2022, in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The meeting focused on co-developing the SDC's implementation plan, defining its mission and vision, exploring sustainable funding, and strengthening partnerships to enhance the science-policy interface across the Americas, specifically tailored to the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) context.

This executive summary details the first in-person meeting of the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) Advisory Board, held from November 11 to 13, 2022, in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The meeting focused on co-developing the SDC's implementation plan, defining its mission and vision, and exploring sustainable funding and partnership strategies to strengthen the science-policy interface across the Americas regarding global change.