Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that AI and HPC are transforming fusion development from an empirical, physical testing process to an 'in silico' approach, significantly reducing the time and cost required to reach commercial viability. It identifies five critical technical areas where these tools are essential: materials selection, high-temperature superconductors, inertial fusion energy (IFE) challenges, tritium breeding/extraction, and plasma diagnostics and control. Furthermore, the report suggests that AI can support the creation of fit-for-purpose regulations and reduce the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) through predictive maintenance and optimized remote handling. The authors highlight a symbiotic relationship where AI accelerates fusion's development, and fusion eventually provides the carbon-free, firm power required to sustain the energy-intensive growth of AI data centers.

A survey of 23 companies by RMI and the Mission Possible Partnership reveals that airlines and corporate customers are willing to pay a significant green premium for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and SAF certificates (SAFc). Airlines showed an average WTP of $6 per gallon, while corporate buyers averaged $300 per ton of CO2 abated. The study finds a preference for waste-based feedstocks and shorter contract durations. These findings suggest that SAF projects, particularly those using the HEFA pathway, could be bankable today by meeting the financial returns required by investors.

The report investigates the potential for municipal green bonds to support Indonesia's goal of 23% renewable energy by 2025. While provincial governments in Java and Bali generally meet fiscal eligibility criteria, no municipal bonds have been successfully issued as of 2021. Key barriers include complex bureaucratic procedures, a lack of profitable project pipelines, and a conservative investor market primarily motivated by credit ratings and commercial returns rather than green mandates. The authors recommend simplifying issuance requirements, providing clearer central government policy signals, and targeting quasi-government institutions as initial investors.

The report finds a significant gap in how UK contract-based pension providers manage climate risk compared to trust-based schemes, urging the FCA to implement mandatory reporting and guidance.

The report documents a general decline in open domestic ivory markets across Central Africa from 2007 to 2015, with trade shifting toward underground transactions and raw ivory exports to Asia, particularly China. While most cities saw a near total disappearance of displayed ivory, Kinshasa remained a significant hub. The decline is attributed to increased law enforcement, rising raw ivory prices driven by Asian demand, and crashing elephant populations. The report also highlights severe deficiencies in government stockpile management, with an estimated 56,497 kg of ivory leaking from state custody between 1990 and 2015.

The report finds that while most legal ivory stores complied with the phased shutdown of the domestic market, illegal trade persists through physical outlets, websites, and social media. Physical illegal markets have seen a decline in the average number of items per outlet since 2007, but trade has shifted toward second-tier cities and encrypted social media platforms. Prices in illegal markets remain significantly lower than in legal markets, and there is a noted lack of clear government policy regarding the management of unsold ivory stockpiles following the ban.

The 2016 assessment reveals a significant decline in elephant ivory availability in historical physical markets like New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, potentially due to state-level bans. However, the market appears to be pivoting toward online platforms and states without strict regulations, such as Washington, DC and Oregon. The report documents 1,589 items in physical retail and 2,056 items across six online platforms, noting widespread confusion among vendors regarding legal exemptions and a trend of mislabeling ivory as 'bone' or 'mammoth' to evade detection.

The investigation reveals significant illegal harvest and trade of Nautilus pompilius in Indonesia and unregulated, potentially unsustainable harvest in the Philippines. Trade has shifted toward online platforms and processed products like furniture inlays to evade enforcement. The USA is a major consumer market, importing tens of thousands of items annually, while Europe's trade appears lower and less monitored. A critical gap is the lack of species-specific customs codes globally, which masks the true volume of trade.

The report examines the remittance landscape for immigrants in Norway, comparing 42 services across 21 mechanisms, including banks, money transfer operators (MTOs), and informal hawala systems. It highlights a restrictive regulatory environment that often drives users toward illegal services, particularly for transfers to Somalia and Iraq. The analysis reveals that real costs are often hidden through exchange rate spreads, with typical costs for NOK 1,000 transfers ranging from 5% to 25%. While bank transfers can be cheaper for larger amounts, they are often slower and less predictable than MTOs. The report argues that improving financial literacy and regularizing informal services could enhance the development impact of remittances and improve immigrant integration.