Search Climate Insights Directory

Power Forward 4.0 finds that 60% of Fortune 500 companies have set at least one climate or energy target, a 12-percentage-point increase since 2017. While GHG reduction targets are most common (54%) and Science-Based Targets (SBTs) have increased sixfold, only 20% of the Fortune 500 have set or committed to an SBT. The report highlights a rise in net-zero commitments (17%) and 100% renewable energy targets (58 companies), though it notes significant gaps in the financial, fossil fuel, and retail sectors. Despite progress, the report argues that voluntary action is insufficient and calls for federal and state policies, such as carbon pricing, to align the US private sector with the Paris Agreement and the US Nationally Determined Contribution.

The report outlines a framework for Chile to establish a national green taxonomy, which would serve as a classification system to identify sustainable economic activities and prevent greenwashing. It recommends that Chile follow a three-step path: adopt existing international taxonomies (such as those from the EU, China, or Climate Bonds Initiative), adapt them to local contexts, and lead the development of new criteria for sectors lacking international benchmarks, specifically mining. The document identifies energy, transport, construction, and industry as priority sectors for mitigation, while emphasizing that adaptation and resilience criteria must be developed in parallel across all sectors. It proposes a three-level governance structure involving government ministries, technical coordinators, and industry experts, and suggests focusing initial applications on green debt instruments.

Estonia generates approximately 167,000 tons of food waste annually, equivalent to 127 kg per capita. Households are the largest contributors, accounting for 48% of total waste and 40% of total food loss. The total monetary value of food wasted in the supply chain is estimated at €164 million per year. The report details waste patterns across sectors, identifying spoilage in households and inadequate sales planning in retail as primary drivers, while recommending strategic roadmaps, improved monitoring, and expanded food donation systems to reduce these losses.

ClientEarth's review of 250 large UK-listed companies reveals a systemic failure to provide material climate-related financial information, with only 4% including such factors in financial accounts and 4% of auditors explicitly addressing them. While narrative risk disclosures are improving, they are often boilerplate. The report recommends mandatory TCFD-aligned reporting, stronger regulatory enforcement to prevent 'greenwash', and increased investor stewardship.

Global climate finance reached USD 632 billion in 2019/2020, but growth has plateaued, with an increase of only 10% between 2017/2018 and 2019/2020. To meet 1.5 °C objectives by 2030, annual finance must increase by at least 590% to USD 4.35 trillion. Mitigation remains the primary recipient of funds, dominated by renewable energy, while adaptation finance is growing but remains almost exclusively public. Investment is heavily concentrated in East Asia and Pacific, Western Europe, and North America.

The paper introduces a science-based approach to assess the Paris alignment of new investments by comparing the carbon intensity of new assets against thresholds required to meet specific temperature goals, accounting for locked-in emissions from existing assets. Unlike portfolio-based methods that focus on current ownership, this method attributes responsibility to the original finance providers at the time of asset creation. The authors detail the application of this methodology to the global power sector and the U.S. light road vehicle transport sector, utilizing data from the IEA and other technical sources to establish carbon intensity benchmarks and evaluate financial commitments.

The report finds that tracked green finance in India averaged INR 124 thousand crores (USD 19 billion) per year for FY 2017-2018, representing only about 10% of the estimated annual requirement for climate action. Domestic private finance was the largest contributor, with the vast majority of funds flowing into renewable energy, specifically solar and wind power. While public finance increased due to government initiatives and the role of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the report highlights significant data gaps and the need for a standardized green finance taxonomy and a national measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system to scale investments.

The report identifies the COVID-19 pandemic as a 'dress rehearsal' for climate change impacts on the global food system, highlighting the vulnerability of producers and the informal food sector. While essential services and large retailers maintained operations, the crisis exposed systemic inequalities and the brittleness of efficient supply chains, leading to increased food waste. The document emphasizes the need for a post-pandemic 'new norm' characterized by pre-competitive collaboration, integrated sustainability, and a shift toward e-commerce to ensure food security and resilience.

A study by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-Rio finds that the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) has not resulted in efficiency gains for the region's industries. Despite significant tax expenditures—reaching R$ 27.8 billion for ZFM, Western Amazon, and Free Trade Areas in 2015—both energy and productive efficiency levels in the ZFM remained similar to the national average from 2003 to 2015. This lack of impact persists even in the most representative sectors, such as two-wheel vehicle production and audio and video, where tax benefits are most concentrated.

The report finds that despite significant tax exemptions, the industrial sector in the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) shows no increase in productive or energy efficiency compared to the Brazilian national average. Analysis of the most representative sectors, including two-wheelers and audio/video, confirms that these incentives have not translated into comparative efficiency advantages.

The report analyzes the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) as a public policy tool for industrial development in Brazil. It details the complex system of tax incentives—including exemptions and reductions in IPI, PIS/PASEP, and COFINS—and evaluates their distribution across key sectors such as two-wheelers, audio/video, and non-alcoholic beverages. The study compares the ZFM's industrial performance and workforce concentration against national Brazilian averages and provides a brief comparative overview of free trade zones in other countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the US, Canada, and China.

The report identifies 76 climate solutions categorized into reducing emission sources, reinforcing carbon sinks, and improving social equity. It argues that the world can reach the Drawdown point by the mid-2040s if existing solutions are scaled rapidly, noting that the net operational savings of these solutions outweigh implementation costs by four to five times. Key high-impact solutions include reducing food waste, improving health and education, and transitioning to renewable energy like wind and solar. The document emphasizes that these solutions are interconnected and require 'accelerators' such as policy changes and capital shifts to achieve the necessary scale and speed.

The report argues that a political solution to the Cyprus problem would significantly boost the island's economy by creating a unified market, improving productivity, and opening access to the EU and Turkish markets. Using sectoral and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) methodologies, the authors estimate that a solution could increase the total GDP by between 11 billion and 17.4 billion Euros by 2040 compared to the status quo. Key growth drivers include tourism, construction, shipping, and professional services, with wholesale and retail trade expected to benefit most from chain effects. The report also emphasizes that maximizing this dividend requires strong institutions, gender equality, and a sustainable financing model for property compensation.

The report analyzes technical and policy pathways for Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050-2070. It argues that current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are insufficiently ambitious and recommends a shift toward widespread electrification, zero-carbon electricity, and sustainable land-use management. The study highlights that while technical solutions exist, achieving these goals requires profound structural changes in energy and transport systems, as well as the development of Long-Term Strategies (LTS) to avoid stranded assets and ensure a just transition.

The report proposes a policy framework to reach U.S. net zero emissions by 2050, projecting an annual abatement of over 6 Gt of emissions and 120,000 lives saved from reduced pollution. It details sector-specific strategies: industrial decarbonization through electrification and hydrogen; transportation via electric and hydrogen vehicle mandates; a 100 percent carbon-free electricity standard by 2050; and an all-electric building sales mandate by 2035.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs', highlighting that the U.S. energy efficiency sector employs over 3 million people and the global renewable energy sector employed 11 million people in 2018. It details specific employment figures for various technologies—such as solar, wind, and biofuels—and identifies China as the global leader in renewable energy employment. Additionally, it notes the emergence of climate adaptation and resilience jobs, though standardized data collection for these roles remains limited.

The report details Canada's greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2016, highlighting that while overall emissions grew nearly 17%, the oil and gas and transportation sectors were the primary drivers. It examines the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and provides a detailed breakdown of emissions by province and territory, noting significant per capita disparities between jurisdictions like Alberta and Quebec.

The report finds that while some progress has been made, the world is not yet on track to achieve the 2020 climate turning point. Progress is uneven across the six milestones, with most outcomes designated as having insufficient or off-track progress, though some areas like shipping and public climate finance are on track.

The Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) green bond market experienced a strong recovery in 2019, largely driven by Chile's first sovereign green bonds. While Brazil, Chile, and Mexico dominate the market, the region shows significant potential for expansion in green infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and ocean-based 'blue' finance. The report highlights a high prevalence of USD-denominated issuance and a strong reliance on external reviews, though post-issuance reporting varies by issuer size and type.

The document outlines Senegal's commitments to biodiversity and sustainable development, highlighting a $5 million joint program with UNDP to create 100,000 green jobs. It evaluates the agroecology and fisheries sectors, noting successes in organic seed production and artisanal fisher awareness, while warning of systemic failures such as soil degradation, lack of conservation infrastructure, and persistent illegal fishing practices.