Search Climate Insights Directory

The report evaluates Madagascar's cold chain infrastructure, focusing on medical vaccines and four agricultural value chains: potatoes, tomatoes, fisheries, and dairy. It identifies significant gaps in electricity access and road infrastructure that lead to high post-harvest losses and inequitable vaccine coverage. The analysis proposes electrification scenarios for healthcare facilities and investment roadmaps for agricultural cooling, emphasizing the high return on investment for fisheries and dairy.

The report evaluates the expansion of Parques del Río Norte in Medellín, Colombia, finding that the project generates a return of USD 1.67 for every dollar invested over 30 years. These benefits stem from reduced flood risk, improved air quality, and economic gains in property values and retail revenue. The document recommends investing in nature-based infrastructure (NBI) and ensuring continuous maintenance to combat urban heat islands, water pollution, and river erosion.

The report argues that Poland requires a diverse technological portfolio—including wind, solar, nuclear, and carbon capture—to decarbonise its power system by 2050. Modelling of 19 scenarios indicates that relying on a narrow set of technologies increases system costs and infrastructure needs, while a 'base' scenario suggests a rapid transition involving a massive build-out of onshore wind and the introduction of nuclear power to replace coal.

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of Bogota's Metro Line 1 indicates the project is highly profitable, with discounted net benefits ranging from USD 2,051 million to USD 6,177 million depending on the modal shift from private transport. The assessment highlights significant added benefits in retail revenues, public health improvements from reduced air pollution and increased physical activity, and reduced traffic congestion. The project's integrated benefit-cost ratio is estimated between 1.5 and 1.9 per USD 1 invested.

The report outlines a methodological framework for evaluating infrastructure in the Shymkent–Tashkent–Khujand economic corridor, comparing 'business-as-usual' scenarios with sustainable alternatives for transport and buildings. It proposes shifting from road-based freight to electrified rail and adopting green building standards to reduce CO2 emissions, lower operational costs, and improve health and employment outcomes. The assessment utilizes the SAVi methodology to integrate externalities, such as the social cost of carbon and health impacts, into a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis.

The report applies the SAVi methodology to analyze two scenarios for Bogota's transport infrastructure: a current scenario (20102022) focusing on BRT and NMT, and a future scenario (20102058) including the MRT system. The analysis finds that while conventional benefit-cost ratios (BCR) are low (0.3 to 0.6), the sustainable BCR (S-BCR), which incorporates externalities like health, retail revenues, and CO2 emissions, is significantly higher (3.8 to 6.1). The most substantial added benefits are identified as retail revenues and property value increases, while the only negative value is the time lost due to increased walking and cycling. The report concludes that the strategy is an attractive investment that improves quality of life and supports climate targets.

The report outlines Colombia's energy transition pathways through 2052, evaluating five scenarios: Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition (TE). It details the shift from coal and hydrocarbons toward non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), including solar, wind, and hydrogen. The analysis covers demand-side efficiency in residential, industrial, and transport sectors, as well as the strategic role of critical minerals like copper and nickel. Economic evaluations using benefit-cost ratios indicate that while residential and tertiary efficiency measures are highly beneficial, industrial transformation requires significant capital investment and state support due to high private costs.

The PEN 2022-2052 is a long-term planning exercise by Colombia's UPME to transition the national energy matrix toward sustainability and decarbonization. It analyzes five scenarios—Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition—ranging from conservative technological updates to ambitious transformations. Key focus areas include the electrification of transport, the integration of non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), the development of a hydrogen economy, and the potential introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMR). The report emphasizes that while Colombia has the capacity for carbon neutrality, current trajectories may not meet the 2030 NDC goal of a 51% emission reduction without accelerated implementation of efficiency and substitution measures.

The SAVi assessment of the Tirana–Durres railway in Albania indicates the project is highly profitable, with a benefit-cost ratio of 4.79 and cumulative discounted net benefits of EUR 415.51 million between 2023 and 2053. The primary economic drivers are avoided vehicle operating costs resulting from a shift from road to rail, followed by health benefits from reduced air pollution and increased physical activity, as well as time savings.

The report argues that falling battery prices, driven by economies of scale and innovation (Wright's Law), will make battery electric heavy-duty vehicles (BEHDVs) more affordable than diesel equivalents sooner than previously estimated. Using updated BNEF forecasts, the study finds that by 2030, BEHDVs will be cheaper to purchase than diesel versions for four out of five analyzed vehicle types. This economic shift enhances the total cost of ownership (TCO) advantage and suggests that the benefits of the US EPA's proposed Phase 3 emissions standards are likely to exceed initial predictions.

The SAVi assessment of the Tirana–Durres railway in Albania reveals that while the project is not economically viable under conventional financial metrics (BCR of 0.12), it is highly profitable from a societal perspective with a Sustainable Benefit-Cost Ratio (S-BCR) of 4.79. Over a 30-year period (2023–2053), the project is projected to generate cumulative discounted net benefits of EUR 270.34 million. The most significant financial gains come from avoided vehicle operating costs (EUR 96.79 million), followed by health benefits (EUR 44.93 million), time savings (EUR 44.39 million), and avoided accident costs (EUR 41.61 million). The report argues that integrating non-tangible social and environmental externalities—such as reduced CO2 emissions and improved public health—provides a stronger business case for sustainable transport infrastructure in Albania.

The report evaluates the FAME II policy in India, finding that it generates significant net benefits by replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). Using the SAVi methodology, the analysis demonstrates that while the conventional benefit-cost ratio (BCR) remains constant at 1.58 across scenarios, the government's BCR increases as its subsidy contribution decreases. The highest cumulative net benefits (INR 1,606.90 billion) occur in the scenario with the lowest government contribution (25%), as this shifts more of the investment burden to consumers while still stimulating EV uptake. The primary drivers of these benefits are the avoided investment and operation costs of ICE vehicles and reduced fuel use, all of which are borne by users rather than the state.

The report evaluates three primary net-zero transport scenarios for Indonesia: investment in public transport (Scenario 1), 100% private vehicle electrification powered by renewable energy (Scenario 2), and a mixed approach (Scenario 3). Using the SAVi methodology, the analysis finds that Scenario 3 delivers the highest cumulative discounted net benefit of IDR 6,926.03 trillion (USD 450.1 billion) by 2050. While Scenario 2 offers the most attractive benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.97 due to lower infrastructure costs, Scenario 3 provides the greatest overall societal value by combining 'avoid, shift, and improve' strategies. The report emphasizes that achieving net-zero in transport is inextricably linked to the decarbonization of the electricity supply, as sensitivity analyses show that the current energy mix significantly reduces net benefits.

The report analyzes the impact of amine-based carbon capture retrofits at two petroleum refineries and two cement plants in California and Texas. It finds that because carbon capture systems require the removal of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter from flue gas to operate effectively, their installation leads to significant reductions in criteria air pollutants and associated public health improvements. While the systems cause a small increase in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the combined climate and health benefits are estimated to be 1.5 to 4 times greater than the costs of the technology.

The SCPZ programme targets the Kara region in Togo, the Southern agropole in Senegal, and the Boké and Kankan regions in Guinea. It integrates climate adaptation and mitigation by investing in solar-powered drip irrigation, biogas energy for agro-processing, and climate-resilient agricultural (CRA) practices. The project aims to benefit 6.72 million people, with a strong focus on women, and expects to reduce 16.9 million tCO2eq over its lifespan.

The SAVi assessment of the proposed BRT system in Bandung, Indonesia, indicates the project is highly profitable, with a benefit-cost ratio of 6.67 per USD 1 invested. The system is expected to generate USD 2.02 billion in cumulative discounted net benefits between 2022 and 2050. Primary benefits include time savings for users, increased retail revenues near stations, and health improvements resulting from reduced air pollution and increased physical activity.

The policy brief examines the devastating socioeconomic and financial impacts of load shedding in South Africa, highlighting a cumulative 15 percentage point loss in GDP growth from 2020 to 2023. It argues that the current reliance on Eskom's aging coal fleet and proposed nuclear projects is insufficient and too costly. Instead, it advocates for municipalities to leverage solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are significantly cheaper and faster to deploy, to increase electricity supply and reduce bulk purchase costs.

The report finds that heat pumps are the lowest-cost heating and cooling option for most Canadian households over the system's lifetime, though adoption is hindered by high upfront costs, information gaps, and structural barriers for renters. It recommends streamlining rebates, establishing one-stop shop services, and updating building codes to include cooling requirements.

The report finds that heat pumps are the most economical heating and cooling option for the majority of Canadian households over their system life cycle, particularly in cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. Despite this economic advantage, adoption remains low due to behavioral, economic, and structural barriers, including high initial costs, lack of consumer confidence, and complex government rebate programs. The document argues that heat pumps are critical for both decarbonizing residential buildings and increasing resilience against extreme heat, which has caused significant mortality in regions like British Columbia. It recommends that governments maintain financial supports, simplify application processes through 'one-stop shops', implement indoor maximum temperature limits in building codes, and mandate high-efficiency, non-polluting systems in new constructions where electrically-powered heating is most cost-effective.

The SAVi assessment of a proposed 27.4 km BRT system in Bandung, Indonesia, demonstrates that the project is highly profitable from macroeconomic and societal perspectives, despite being economically unviable under conventional financial analysis. While a traditional benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is low (0.27 to 0.28), the sustainable BCR (S-BCR), which includes non-tangible social and environmental benefits, ranges from 6.67 to 7.67. The largest benefits are derived from the value of time saved and increased retail revenues. The report concludes that the project's societal benefits significantly outweigh its investment costs, providing a strong case for sustainable mobility investment in the city.