Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines proposed amendments to two Isiolo County bills. For the Wildlife Management and Conservation Bill, it suggests expanding the definition of 'problem animal' for proactive conflict management, ensuring community nomination for the Board of Trustees, and protecting the land access rights of indigenous pastoralists. For the Community Conservancies Bill, it recommends adopting the 'community' definition from the Community Land Act 2016, introducing public access to information, and detailing meaningful community participation processes.

The Hong Kong green bond market in 2020 saw a record number of deals but an 18% decline in total volume to USD 2.09bn. Low-carbon buildings remained the primary theme for proceed allocations, though waste reached a record high. The market is supported by new government initiatives, including a 2050 carbon neutrality pledge and the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme. While local issuance is significant, mainland China entities continue to drive the broader green debt market arranged in Hong Kong.

Fiji has used its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to mainstream Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), positioning it as a strategic priority across five priority sectors. The process involved creating a NAP Framework and a 'NAP catalogue' to coordinate adaptation actions, resulting in 160 priority measures. A key implementation example is the use of vetiver grass for riverbank protection and erosion control, supported by a new nursery in Labasa. Fiji's approach emphasizes the link between healthy ecosystems and socioeconomic development, integrating traditional and scientific knowledge, and aligning with international commitments like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

The report assesses Turkmenistan's institutional capacity for climate change adaptation, highlighting the critical vulnerability of the water and agriculture sectors. It identifies the Inter-Sectoral Commission on environmental protection as a key driver for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process and recommends formalizing institutional frameworks, harmonizing legislation, and improving cross-sectoral data exchange to mainstream adaptation into national planning.

The document examines nuclear developments in Algeria, Egypt, and Libya, noting that while all three operate research reactors for medical and industrial use, their ambitions for nuclear power plants vary. Egypt is the most advanced, currently constructing four reactors at Al Dabaa with Russian support. Algeria and Libya have expressed long-term interests in nuclear energy, though these remain largely discursive or stalled by political instability and cost. The author argues that these pursuits are often driven by 'techno-nationalist' prestige rather than purely economic or environmental needs, especially given the viability of solar energy and the region's water scarcity.

The document outlines systemic governance failures in South Africa from a youth perspective, highlighting exclusion from political decision-making, extreme economic inequality, and poor infrastructure in education and health. It argues that while progressive policies often exist on paper, implementation is slow and unsystematic, particularly regarding land reform, climate change transition, and youth employment. The submission recommends institutionalising youth quotas, expanding social protection through a basic income grant, and reforming the electoral system to allow independent candidates.

The document examines the intersection of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction and water security in the Vaca Muerta region, highlighting risks from wastewater management and climate-driven water scarcity.

The report examines the challenges of transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia and compares the region's current cooperation frameworks with the successful models of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) and the USA-Canada Air Quality Agreement. While Northeast Asian countries have implemented strong national measures, regional cooperation remains limited to data sharing and lacks binding emission targets. The authors propose a strategy based on three pillars: building scientific consensus, sharing best practices, and promoting technology cooperation to foster trust and reduce pollutants.

The report examines the ecological importance of Arctic wetlands, particularly their role in global carbon storage and biodiversity, while analyzing the public policy frameworks used by Arctic states to manage them. It highlights that while scientific knowledge of wetland functions is extensive, significant gaps exist in policy coherence, the influence of societal interest networks, and real-time mapping. The document advocates for a Social-Ecological Systems (SES) approach to stewardship, emphasizing the necessity of indigenous and local community participation and the adoption of advanced geospatial AI tools to improve wetland inventories and monitoring.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has committed to fully divesting its investment portfolio from fossil fuels starting in October 2021, following an internal audit that revealed approximately 5% of its holdings were in fossil fuels via mutual funds. While the AGU has ceased accepting fossil fuel sponsorship for events—ending a long history that included over $620,000 from ExxonMobil between 2001 and 2015—Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) argues that the AGU lacks transparency, as it does not disclose the specific companies within its $120.6m investment portfolio. The AGU also aims to chart a path toward net carbon neutrality for all investments and is transitioning its buildings to net zero energy, though no target dates for the latter have been provided.

The ASEAN sustainable finance market reached a record high of USD 12.8bn in GSS bond and loan issuance in 2020. Singapore leads the region in volume, particularly through green loans for real estate, while Indonesia and Thailand show strong growth driven by sovereign issuances. The market is increasingly diversifying into sustainability-linked instruments and social bonds, although the latter remained less active in 2020. The report highlights the critical role of government support, the development of regional and national taxonomies, and the influence of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in scaling green infrastructure.

The Nordic GSS bond market reached a cumulative volume of USD 88.2bn by the end of 2020, with green bonds accounting for 96% of this total. Sweden is the regional leader, contributing half of the green bond volume and issuing the first Nordic sovereign green bond in September 2020. The market is characterized by strong public sector participation and a high prevalence of low-carbon building projects. External review coverage is exceptionally high, with 99% of cumulative green bond volume reviewed, primarily through Second Party Opinions (SPOs).

The document assesses six policy options to raise cocoa prices and farmer incomes to combat poverty, deforestation, and child labour. It concludes that most trade-based interventions, such as export price regimes or import duties, are unsustainable in the long term due to risks of over-supply, reduced consumer demand, and WTO compatibility issues. The author identifies bilateral partnership agreements as the most promising approach to create the governance and sustainability standards necessary for a comprehensive sector reform.

The document identifies an "unspoken consensus" among the UK, EU, and US that transitioning to zero-carbon power by the 2030s is essential for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. It analyzes official pathways, noting a shared commitment to rapidly phasing out coal and reducing fossil gas, while dramatically scaling up wind and solar power. The briefing highlights a "credibility gap" in other OECD nations, such as Japan and South Korea, which have net-zero targets but lack corresponding coal phase-out commitments.

The report highlights a global divergence in coal power: while most of the world saw record closures and project cancellations, China experienced a significant boom in new capacity, offsetting global declines. In 2020, China's new coal capacity reached 38.4 GW, accounting for 76% of the global total. Conversely, the US and EU27 led in closures, with 11.3 GW and 10.1 GW retired respectively. In South and Southeast Asia, countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh announced plans to cut up to 62 GW of planned coal capacity due to funding difficulties and the falling cost of renewables. The report also notes that global coal capacity is far exceeding the levels required to meet the IPCC's 1.5°C warming limit, with a projected 2,400 GW by 2030 compared to the required 1,100 GW.

The report analyzes perspectives from 48 Canadian civil society organizations on the just transition. It finds a broad consensus on the need for employment security, 'good jobs', and equity for marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous Peoples. The document argues that while Canada has a high capacity for transition, there are significant political gaps, including a lack of institutionalized tripartite processes and the influence of corporate interests. It recommends the implementation of a Just Transition Act, the end of fossil fuel subsidies, and increased support for municipal and Indigenous-led projects. Civil society is positioned as a vital complement to official processes through research, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns.

The briefing details the work of the WTO's Informal Working Group (IWG) on MSMEs, specifically the adoption of a six-part package of recommendations in December 2020 to address barriers like access to finance, information, and trade facilitation. It also analyzes the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs, particularly women-led businesses, and outlines national and international policy responses. Future plans include the development of the 'Trade4MSMEs' web platform and further exploration of digitalization and e-commerce customs duties.

The document details the progress of the WTO's Informal Working Group (IWG) on MSMEs, highlighting a set of six recommendations adopted in December 2020 to improve transparency, trade facilitation, and access to finance. It extensively analyzes the disproportionate negative impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs, particularly those led by women, and outlines national and international policy responses. Future goals include the launch of the 'Trade4MSMEs' platform and further exploration of digitalization and cybersecurity.

The report finds that while IOM3 has transitioned its investment portfolio to a sustainable fund with specific exclusions for arms and certain fossil fuels, it lacks a formal ethical investment policy and maintains transparency gaps regarding its specific holdings. IOM3 continues to accept sponsorship from Tata Steel for educational materials, which SGR argues is incompatible with the Paris Agreement goals.

Natural Justice submits a series of proposed amendments to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act No. 47 of 2013. The organization argues for a 'human-rights approach to conservation' and the inclusion of 'access to information' and 'access to justice' as guiding principles. Key recommendations include establishing an external auditing authority for the wildlife service to prevent abuse of licensing powers, ensuring the inclusion of socially excluded groups (such as women, youth, and indigenous communities) in County Wildlife Conservation and Compensation Committees, and requiring that the declaration of protected areas incorporate local community traditional knowledge. The submission also highlights the need to protect wildlife migratory corridors from state-led and private development projects and calls for clearer guidelines on bioprospecting and the monitoring of offenses within private conservation systems.