Search Climate Insights Directory

A policy brief by civil society organizations Traction Energy Asia, Trend Asia, and Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) calling for a low-emission and just energy transition in Indonesia. The document warns that current bioenergy policies, specifically biofuel and biomass co-firing, risk increasing deforestation and carbon emissions while threatening food security and social justice.

This policy brief argues that the United States power grid lacks a comprehensive national development plan, unlike the European Union and China, leaving it fragmented and vulnerable to climate-related extreme weather. It advocates for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to mandate minimum inter-regional power transfer capabilities and establish a robust planning process to improve grid resilience and resource sharing.

This report by the African Center for Economic Transformation analyzes the cocoa value chain in Liberia, identifying significant binding constraints in production, logistics, and governance. It argues that the sector must transition from a traditional commodity model to a high-value-adding industry to drive economic transformation.

This report by the Global Center on Adaptation and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network documents 19 locally led adaptation (LLA) initiatives globally. It emphasizes the importance of devolving decision-making to the lowest appropriate level, addressing structural inequalities (particularly for women and Indigenous Peoples), and providing patient, predictable funding. The document highlights how communities use ecosystem restoration, circular economy practices, and intergenerational collaboration to build resilience, while calling for a shift in climate finance to better support holistic, community-defined priorities.

This executive summary, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, provides recommendations for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27. Based on research by SEI, ICCCAD, and Germanwatch, the document analyzes existing financial architectures to propose a governance and funding model that is equitable, inclusive, and accessible to the most vulnerable communities and marginalized groups in the Global South.

A briefing by Friends of the Earth US urging banks and financiers to prohibit direct and indirect financing of activities that harm Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and habitats containing threatened or endemic species to prevent the estimated extinction of one million species.

This report examines how open-source utility planning software and stakeholder-driven modeling can improve integrated resource planning (IRP) outcomes, using a case study of the 2021 resource plan from Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities.

This briefing from the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that the global decarbonisation agenda presents both socio-economic risks and industrial opportunities for Africa. It advocates for an 'African Green deal' to leverage the continent's mineral resources for economic diversification and industrialisation, rather than remaining a source of raw materials for the global energy transition.

This briefing by RMI argues that the energy transition's reliance on critical minerals requires a shift from treating commodities as undifferentiated goods to implementing mine-to-market traceability. The document highlights how the lack of transparency hides human rights violations and environmental damage, and proposes five key actions to enable commodity differentiation and ensure a just transition.

A commentary by members of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) urging the Swedish government to use its presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023 to increase the European Union's sustainability ambitions and lead on the European Green Deal.

A joint submission by five environmental and health organizations, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Ecojustice, providing recommendations to strengthen Bill S-5, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act. The brief focuses on the recognition of the right to a healthy environment and the modernization of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) regarding the management of toxic substances.

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in South Africa, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Senegal should facilitate a direct leap from fossil fuels to renewable energy, bypassing fossil gas to avoid economic volatility and asset stranding.

A statement by the Life After Coal (LAC) campaign—comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights, Earthlife Africa, and groundWork—urging the South African government to lead at COP27 by supporting climate-vulnerable nations and accelerating a domestic Just Transition away from fossil fuels.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) evaluates the impact of the ABC Cerrado project on the adoption of sustainable pasture management in Brazil. The study finds that while training alone is effective for large-scale producers, small-scale producers require the addition of technical assistance to successfully implement sustainable practices. The document suggests a cost-effective policy approach of providing universal training while focalizing expensive technical assistance on smallholders.

This policy brief by Ember provides recommendations for the European Commission's Grids Action Plan, arguing that power grids must become the backbone of the energy system to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. The document identifies critical gaps in investment, data transparency, and planning frameworks, proposing a shift toward anticipatory grid investments and integrated system-level planning to ensure grid constraints do not hinder renewable energy deployment.

A policy statement from the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) outlining ten priorities for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's 2022 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS).

This briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs argues for the adoption of 'anticipatory governance' within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to transform industrial policy. It suggests that embedding foresight into policymaking allows the region to proactively address uncertainties, such as those highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and leverage emerging trends in digitisation and climate action to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the European Union must utilize the European Hydrogen Bank and targeted subsidies to mitigate market and first-mover risks to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen. The document suggests that strategic public investment can unlock hundreds of billions in private capital, ensuring energy security and sustainability for industrial and transport sectors.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted a set of six recommendations to the Government of Canada for the 2022 pre-budget consultations. The submission advocates for a 'planetary health' approach to policy, urging the federal government to transition toward a wellbeing economy, implement ambitious emissions reductions, phase out fossil fuel subsidies, and invest in climate adaptation and pollution protection.

The October 2022 Executive Summary of the Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates global progress toward the 2030 goals of ending natural forest loss and degradation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded forest land. The report concludes that no global indicator is currently on track to meet these targets, highlighting significant gaps in financing, corporate accountability, and governance.