Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the global and regional normative and financial responses to the increase in foreign investment in agricultural land and water, often termed 'land grabbing', following the 2008 food crisis. It evaluates various guidelines, principles, and funding mechanisms designed to ensure that agricultural investments are transparent, respect land rights, and contribute to rural development and food security.

This research paper reviews the current and planned climate change adaptation actions in Ghana. It identifies the northern regions and the agricultural sector as the most vulnerable and the primary focus of adaptation projects. While Ghana has established national policies and strategies, the report notes a gap in concrete actions within sectoral policies and a need for a more robust evidence base through monitoring and evaluation.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reviews the current and planned climate change adaptation actions in Senegal. It identifies the country's high vulnerability due to its dependence on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and fisheries, and its exposure to sea level rise and droughts. While Senegal has established a governance framework including a National Climate Change Committee and a National Adaptation Programme of Action, the report finds that mainstreaming climate risk into national and subnational development planning remains modest.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, with a specific focus on Manitoba, Canada. It details the services wetlands provide—such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—while highlighting the severe loss of these ecosystems due to agriculture and urbanization. The document also explores innovative uses for cattails as bioenergy and discusses regional conservation and restoration initiatives.

This document is an annex to the 2018 update of 'India’s Energy Transition: Subsidies for Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy'. It details changes in subsidy policies since 2017 and introduces new summary tables for subsidies related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Saubhagya electrification scheme, and electric vehicles (EVs) at both central and state levels.

This executive summary from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the evolution of energy subsidies in India from financial year (FY) 2014 to FY 2019. It evaluates the shift of public resources between fossil fuels, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, while providing recommendations to align public funding with a clean energy transition, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

This report evaluates the financial sustainability of Indonesia's electricity sector using the Financial Sustainability Electricity Sector (FSES) framework. It examines the state-owned utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), the role of government subsidies, the expansion of generation capacity through Fast Track Programmes, and the challenges of transitioning to renewable energy while achieving universal electricity access.

This white paper examines the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) within sustainable public procurement (SPP), arguing that current models often fail to deliver the best value for taxpayers by overemphasizing upfront purchase prices over long-term operational and environmental costs. The authors identify systemic barriers—including conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of professional expertise, and data gaps—and recommend that LCC be integrated into high-level public expenditure and resource allocation policies rather than remaining a routine procurement task.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the energy transition in Chhattisgarh, India, from FY 2020 to FY 2024. It quantifies government subsidies, public sector undertaking (PSU) investments, and energy-related revenues, highlighting the state's deep fiscal and economic reliance on coal and oil and gas (O&G). The report emphasizes the vulnerability of Chhattisgarh to the energy transition and recommends diversifying revenue sources, better targeting electricity subsidies, and accelerating the shift toward renewable energy to mitigate economic risks.

This scoping study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how to strengthen gender considerations within Kiribati’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, specifically focusing on the Joint Implementation Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KJIP). The report identifies a significant gap between national gender equality goals—which have historically focused on domestic violence—and climate adaptation planning, which remains largely gender-blind. It provides recommendations to integrate a family-focused approach to resilience and to enhance the role of the Ministry of Women, Youth and Social Affairs (MWYSA) in climate governance.

This report provides a comprehensive inventory of nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation implemented in Uganda from 2015 to 2026. It analyzes 19 interventions across diverse ecosystems, emphasizing integrated models that combine ecological restoration with livelihood support to address coupled challenges such as food insecurity, water stress, and disaster risk.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development evaluates the feasibility of tree planting in the Canadian prairie ecozone as a method to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It reviews international policies from the European Union, the United States, and Canada, while analyzing the environmental, economic, and social benefits of afforestation alongside the direct and opportunity costs involved.

This IISD report analyzes the inclusion of Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) and International Regulatory Cooperation (IRC) provisions in regional trade agreements (RTAs), with a primary focus on the USMCA and a comparison with CETA. It examines how these provisions aim to reduce non-tariff trade costs and improve regulatory transparency and stakeholder engagement, while highlighting the administrative and political challenges these obligations may pose for developing countries.

This 2007 research paper examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the hydropower, mining, and construction materials sectors of Lao PDR. It analyzes how economic growth and regional trade agreements, such as AFTA and ACFTA, drive resource extraction and infrastructure development, while highlighting the gaps in environmental governance and the need for stronger implementation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

This research paper examines the challenges developing countries face in implementing Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) standards and technical regulations. It argues that these requirements, while intended to promote sustainable development, often act as technical barriers to trade due to a lack of institutional infrastructure in rule making, conformity assessment, and accreditation. The author highlights how the gap in technical capacity and the high cost of certification disproportionately affect small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and calls for increased technical assistance under the WTO's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement).

This research paper by David H. Stanger for the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the development of an international framework for accreditation to facilitate sustainable trade. It details the roles of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), their respective Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs), and the technical distinctions between laboratory accreditation and certification.

This research paper by Mark Halle examines the integration of environmental concerns and sustainable development within the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author argues that while formal negotiations and the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) have seen limited progress, the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) and Appellate Body have significantly advanced environmental principles by interpreting WTO law in the context of public international law and sustainable development.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra examines the role of services trade in transitioning to a circular economy. Based on a survey of 96 firms and 16 in-depth interviews, the report identifies key services—such as IT, R&D, and waste management—that enable circular business models. It analyzes the modes of service delivery, the impact of digitalization, and the regulatory barriers that hinder the international exchange of these services, ultimately proposing an integrated trade policy approach to support global resource efficiency.

This report provides a gendered analysis of employment and skills within Zambia's large-scale mining (LSM) sector. It establishes a baseline of women's participation, identifying significant underrepresentation in technical and leadership roles, pervasive data gaps, and structural barriers such as gender stereotyping and inadequate workplace infrastructure. The document recommends transforming gender policies into actionable, resourced plans, improving the collection of gender-disaggregated data, and promoting STEM education to prepare women for the 'mine of the future'.

This report analyzes the relationship between international trade liberalization and sustainable development in Argentina during the 1990s. It examines how economic reforms, including the Convertibility Plan and the creation of Mercosur, influenced the country's export patterns and their subsequent environmental impacts, focusing specifically on the manufacturing sector and the intensification of agricultural production in the Pampas region.