Search Climate Insights Directory
110 results
Water: Market Intelligence Report 2017
The report highlights a significant market for green water technologies in South Africa, driven by resource scarcity, rising costs, and climate change. Key opportunities include industrial water reuse, smart water management, desalination, and groundwater development. In the Western Cape, the industrial water reuse market is estimated at R600 million, while the direct potable municipal reuse market is valued at R4.5 billion. The document also emphasizes the water-energy nexus and the need to reduce municipal non-revenue water, which currently stands at 37% nationally.
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Document type: Report
Economic Impact Assessment of Climate Change for Key Risks in Nepal
The study finds that current climate variability already costs Nepal 1.5–2% of its annual GDP, with future climate change projected to add another 2–3% of current GDP per year by mid-century. Key risks include significant agricultural losses in the Terai region, highly uncertain impacts on hydroelectricity investment costs depending on river flow projections, and a 20–100% increase in the intensity and frequency of high river flows. To address these, the report recommends an iterative adaptation pathway, estimating a need for US$2.4 billion in additional investment by 2030 to mainstream resilience.
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Document type: Executive summary
Autocomposites Commercialization Launchpad Kickoff Meeting Post Meeting Report
The Autocomposites Commercialization Launchpad seeks to assemble a manufacturing team to produce a carbon fiber composite part for a 2018 model year vehicle at a volume of 50,000 units per year. The report details investment challenges, technical hurdles related to part design and assembly, and a 10-step action plan to engage OEMs and scale production.
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Document type: Report
Responsible investing for climate change and water in South Africa
The report argues that institutional investors in South Africa, acting as 'universal owners', face material financial risks from climate change and water scarcity. It identifies a lack of investment-grade, liquid low-carbon products and inadequate water risk disclosure as primary barriers. The document suggests that while some progress has been made through green bonds and low-carbon indices, significant regulatory shifts—including higher renewable energy targets and standardised reporting—are needed to scale responsible investing.
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Document type: Report
Financing and Investment for Sugar Cane and Bioenergy in Africa
The document discusses the necessity of investment for various ventures and specifically focuses on the financing of sugar cane-based bioenergy in Africa. It notes that while sugar cane has a long history in certain African regions, investments in its energy applications have been limited, though interest has increased due to climate change, energy security, and rural development concerns.
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Document type: Report
Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012)
During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), China achieved a 19.06 percent reduction in energy intensity against a 2005 baseline, driven primarily by technological development and structural adjustments. Despite these efficiency gains, total emissions increased by 33.6 percent, making China the world's largest emitter in 2007. The government deployed significant investment, totaling 1.73 trillion yuan in new and renewable energy and 859.2 billion yuan in energy efficiency, though these efforts primarily benefited large state-owned enterprises over small and medium enterprises. Looking toward the 12th Five-Year Plan, the document identifies challenges in meeting ambitious energy and carbon intensity targets due to rapid urbanization, rising marginal costs of conservation, and the continued prioritization of GDP growth by local governments.
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Document type: Executive summary
South Africa’s Investment Landscape: Mapping Economic Incentives
The document analyzes South Africa's efforts to attract sustainable local and foreign investment through a combination of industrial policies, such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and a diverse catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives. It highlights a significant decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) between 2008 and 2010, attributed largely to high labor costs, and examines the 'Gateway into Africa' initiative designed to make South Africa a regional investment hub. The paper details various dti-managed incentives targeting SMMEs, industrial development, and specific sectors like automotive and film, while noting that many investors remain unaware of these schemes or find the application process cumbersome.
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Document type: Research paper
Decarbonizing the EU Power Sector
The paper examines the EU power sector's transition toward a low-carbon future, highlighting the critical role of the electricity sector in decarbonizing transport and buildings. It identifies significant risks in current investment trends, such as carbon lock-in from new gas and coal plants, and argues that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) fails to provide a credible long-term signal for post-2020 investments. The authors recommend establishing post-2020 emissions caps and calibrating the ETS to ensure carbon scarcity after accounting for energy efficiency and renewable energy objectives.
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Document type: Research paper
Review of the Additionality of CDM Project 4807: Energy Efficient Power Generation by Nabha Power Limited, India
Sierra Club CDM Watch requests the CDM Executive Board to reject the registration of Project 4807, asserting that the use of supercritical technology was mandated by the Punjab State Electricity Board and is already the industry standard in India. The authors claim the project is not additional because financing was secured independently of CDM support and that the Validation Report used manipulated cost estimates and an inappropriate baseline to justify the project's economic viability.
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Document type: Statement
Request for Review of the Additionality of CDM Project 4533: Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions Through Super Critical Technology – Coastal Andhra Power Ltd., India
A formal request by Sierra Club and CDM Watch to the CDM Executive Board to review the additionality of Project 4533 in India. The authors argue that the project does not meet CDM rules because the Government of India mandated supercritical technology, financing was already secured, and the project sponsor's own shareholder communications describe CDM credits as a 'new revenue stream' rather than a necessity for implementation. They further contend that the project's baseline assumptions regarding coal prices are unrealistically low and that alternative energy efficiency scenarios were ignored.
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Document type: Statement
Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Development Assistance: Rationale, Institutional Barriers and Opportunities in Mozambique
In Mozambique, development progress is threatened by weather extremes and high poverty levels, making the country heavily reliant on official development assistance. Analysis indicates that a significant portion of this assistance is directed toward climate-sensitive sectors in regions highly exposed to extreme weather. While there is a supportive legislative environment and high climate awareness among donors, limited institutional capacity hinders the mainstreaming of climate adaptation. The authors suggest that bilateral and multilateral donors are positioned to overcome these national-level barriers to foster better integration of climate policies.
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Document type: Research paper
Opportunities and Domestic Barriers to Clean Energy Investment in Chile
The report analyzes Chile's transition toward non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE), noting that while installed capacity in the Central Interconnected Grid (SIC) nearly doubled between 2007 and 2009, the sector remains hindered by high market concentration and financial risks. It details the impact of Law No. 20.257, which mandates a clean energy quota of 5% by 2010 and 10% by 2024, and evaluates CORFO's incentive programs. The document highlights a critical tension between the growth of clean energy and a simultaneous increase in coal-fired generation, which threatens Chile's climate goals and long-term competitiveness.
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Document type: Report
CLIMATE STRATEGIES RESPONSE TO HM TREASURY AND HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS CONSULTATION ON CARBON PRICE FLOOR
The response argues that while a UK carbon price floor aims to increase the viability of low-carbon investments, a unilateral approach may be discounted by investors due to regulatory instability and inconsistency with the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). It suggests that strengthening the EU ETS targets would provide greater clarity, regulatory stability, and market scale for low-carbon technologies like CCS and nuclear power, compared to a national tax-based supplement.
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Document type: Statement
In Search of Aluminum: China’s Role in the Mekong Region
The report examines the emerging bauxite mining sector in the Mekong region, focusing on the strategic interests of China in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It details the investment landscape, where Chinese firms dominate in Laos and provide engineering for Vietnam, while Australian firms lead in Cambodia. The document highlights critical constraints, such as the massive energy requirements for aluminum smelting and the lack of cheap hydropower. It further argues that existing environmental and social regulatory frameworks in these countries are poorly implemented, leading to transparency gaps and risks to indigenous communities and transboundary water systems, particularly the Sekong River.
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Document type: Report
Clean Energy Investment
The document argues that public funding for clean energy in developing countries is insufficient and that the private sector must be the primary driver of investment. It identifies two main categories of obstacles: international investment agreements (IIAs), which may expose governments to arbitration over climate regulations, and domestic policy barriers, such as lack of clear energy signals and monopoly structures. The author suggests that technology transfer is essentially an investment problem and recommends diagnostic national studies, similar to the WTO's Integrated Framework, to identify and remove these barriers.
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Document type: Research paper
Clean Energy Investment
The report argues that while public funds like the $10 billion Clean Technology Fund are necessary, they are insufficient compared to the $22 trillion needed for energy investment by 2030. It identifies domestic policy barriers—such as lack of clear energy signals, monopoly structures, and subsidies for conventional energy—as primary obstacles that make developing countries unattractive to investors. Internationally, the document notes that the 'spaghetti bowl' of international investment agreements (IIAs) may chill climate regulations through risks of indirect expropriation claims and 'fair and equitable treatment' obligations. It recommends national diagnostic studies to identify specific barriers and suggests that improving domestic investment environments is a critical, yet overlooked, mechanism for facilitating technology transfer.
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Document type: Executive summary
Watering Scarcity
The report highlights that global water demand exceeds renewable supplies, with agriculture accounting for over 70% of withdrawals. It argues that increasing crop water productivity through mature technologies and improving policy incentives creates a significant opportunity for private capital investment, despite potential disruptions from the 2008 financial crisis.
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Document type: Report
WORKSHOP REPORT: Carbon Financing Prospects for the Republic of Belarus
The report details the status of Belarus's efforts to engage in carbon markets, noting that while the country has developed a legal framework and a pipeline of projects totaling 13 MtCO2e, the pending ratification of its Annex B amendment to the Kyoto Protocol has pushed the government to prioritize Voluntary Emission Reduction (VER) projects. It highlights the creation of a Department of Climate Change and a planned Carbon Fund, while noting investor concerns regarding bureaucratic barriers and a lack of expertise among middle-level officials.
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Document type: Report
Sayagues: Timbuktu’s Golden Legacy
The document describes Mali as a stable democracy with strong economic growth, largely driven by a gold boom following the 1991 Mining Code revision. South African investment is concentrated in gold mining and energy, contributing positively to state revenue and job creation, though hindered by poor infrastructure, outdated regulations, and limited local business linkages. While Mali is positioned as a potential regional trade hub via WAEMU and ECOWAS, the report notes a gap between the government's pro-investment policies and the practical difficulties faced by operators.
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Document type: Executive summary
FX Hedging Facility
The FX Hedging Facility is a customizable currency hedging product designed to lower costs for foreign investors in India's renewable energy sector by targeting 'tail risk' (extreme currency depreciation). Compared to commercial cross-currency swaps, the facility aims to eliminate counterparty credit and liquidity risks and provide a more efficient use of public grants. In a sample transaction, the facility could reduce hedging costs by approximately 30% and mobilize at least $9 of foreign investment per dollar of donor grant, with a greater than 50% probability of recovering the donor grant. The facility is currently in an advanced conceptual phase, with interest from a commercial bank as a guarantor and potential users such as Hudson Clean Energy Partners, who are interested in investing USD 500 million in utility-scale renewable energy projects.
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Document type: Fact sheet