Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper examines how to improve the resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems to hazards by analyzing risks at regional, urban, and individual levels and exploring the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs).

This briefing describes the concepts presented in the book 'Resource Revolution' by Stefan Heck and Matt Rogers, which argues that companies can spark a new industrial revolution by dramatically improving resource productivity through five specific strategic approaches.

This opinion paper by Simon Maxwell, Executive Chair of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKn), proposes a five-point plan to win the public and policy argument on climate change. The author argues that because climate policy creates winners and losers, a strategic approach is necessary to build and sustain support for the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society.

This background brief outlines the mission and strategic framework of the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) Mining and Sustainable Development Initiative. The initiative aims to ensure mining contributes to inclusive growth and social development without compromising the environment by shifting the focus of mining agreements from narrow fiscal benefits to a broader range of economic and social expenditures.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores how public procurement can transition from buying discrete products to procuring functions and services through performance-based specifications. It argues that this shift can drive resource efficiency, stimulate private sector innovation, and reduce costs, provided the business models are aligned with the environmental impacts of the specific product categories.

The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS2), published in June 2013 by the Department of Water Affairs, provides a strategic framework for the protection, use, development, conservation, and management of South Africa's water resources over a five-to-ten-year period. The strategy aims to align water management with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. It identifies South Africa as a water-stressed country facing challenges such as security of supply, environmental degradation, and resource pollution. The NWRS2 prioritizes equitable water allocation, water conservation and demand management (WCWDM), and the establishment of robust institutional arrangements, including nine Catchment Management Agencies and nine Regional Water Utilities. To implement these goals, the document estimates a total sector investment requirement of R700 billion over ten years.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines a strategic framework to increase the adoption of carbon fiber composites in mainstream passenger vehicles to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency. Based on a November 2012 workshop with approximately 40 experts, the report proposes a 'parts-based approach' to avoid the risks of whole-vehicle redesign while scaling the supply chain. It identifies high-value parts for near-term adoption, analyzes the business case for these components, and recommends the creation of an Innovation Hub and a coordinated effort to develop lower-cost precursors to overcome material cost barriers.

This briefing document outlines the 'Autocomposites Commercialization Launchpad,' an RMI-led initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of carbon fiber composites in the automotive industry. The strategy focuses on a 'parts approach,' targeting the commercialization of specific, high-value components for mainstream vehicles by model year 2018, rather than attempting whole-vehicle transformation immediately. The document emphasizes the need for a collaborative 'A-Team' across the supply chain—including OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and material producers—to overcome technical barriers and share the significant upfront costs associated with design and tooling.

This briefing outlines an 8-point plan to mobilize the $75 trillion held by institutional investors toward the low-carbon transition via the bond market. It argues that while climate-resilient infrastructure provides the long-term, secure assets pension funds and insurers seek, current deal flow is too small and fragmented. The plan proposes aggregating small projects into investment-grade offerings, utilizing public sector risk-sharing and regulatory leverage, greening development banks, and implementing standardized climate bond certifications to bridge the annual investment gap of $1 trillion to $1.3 trillion.

This 2011 anniversary briefing by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) outlines the organization's 40-year history, its evolution into a global federation of 76 national member groups, and its strategic approach to environmental and social justice. The document details FoEI's shift toward addressing systemic neoliberal economic drivers and its commitment to a 'mobilise, resist, transform' framework to combat climate change, deforestation, and corporate power.

This report, published by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) in June 2011, commemorates the organization's 40th anniversary. It outlines FoEI's history, its evolution into a global federation of 76 member groups with over two million supporters, and its strategic focus on resisting neoliberalism to achieve environmental and social justice.

This document is a policy brief on the energy transition in the European Union (EU), focusing on the role of the EU's 'Fit for 55' package and the 'REPowerEU' plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. It discusses the necessity of scaling up renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and diversifying energy sources to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels following the invasion of Ukraine. The brief emphasizes the need for integrated planning, investment in infrastructure, and social safeguards to ensure a 'just transition' for workers and regions affected by the shift away from carbon-intensive industries.

This briefing by Mohamed El-Ashry for the World Resources Institute outlines four guiding principles for climate adaptation strategies to ensure that economic development and poverty alleviation are not compromised by climate risks. The author emphasizes that the world's poorest populations, particularly in rural Asia and Africa, are the most vulnerable and require urgent international support to build resilience and protect public health.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Annual Program for 2006/07 outlines a strategic shift toward integrating scientific excellence with policy relevance and adaptation to global change. The plan focuses on consolidating cooperative research networks, enhancing administrative efficiency, expanding capacity building through training institutes, and strengthening partnerships across the Americas to create a 'network of networks' for science and capacity building.

The document proposes a strategic commercialization path for fuel cells and hydrogen (H2) that avoids the need for immediate, massive bulk-supply infrastructure. The strategy relies on the development of "Hypercars"—ultralight, high-efficiency vehicles—and the integration of fuel-cell deployment between buildings and vehicles. By first establishing fuel cells in buildings for co- or trigeneration and using decentralized "hydrogen appliances" for production, the market can build the volume necessary to reduce fuel-cell costs to levels competitive for vehicles. Ultimately, the strategy envisions a transition from decentralized production to bulk supply, including wellhead reforming of natural gas with carbon sequestration and the conversion of hydroelectric dams into "Hydro-Gen" plants.

This document outlines the nine strategic pillars of the Critical Minerals Mission for Sustainable Strategic Advantage (CMMSSA), a framework designed to transform South Africa's critical minerals sector. The strategy focuses on moving from raw mineral exports to local beneficiation, enhancing geoscience mapping, improving infrastructure, and fostering regional integration within Southern Africa to support the global energy transition.

This fact sheet describes the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), an alliance of six organizations providing research, advisory services, and knowledge sharing to help developing countries implement climate-compatible development. The CDKN focuses on four strategic themes: climate-compatible development strategies, improving access to climate finance, strengthening climate resilience through disaster risk management, and supporting climate negotiators from Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This strategic framework, developed by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP), provides a phased approach for African nations to integrate water security and climate resilience into their national development planning and investment decision-making processes.

The Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa is a national roadmap designed to transition the country from a raw material supplier to a global hub for processed critical minerals and high-value end products. The strategy focuses on leveraging South Africa's vast reserves of platinum group metals, manganese, and vanadium to support the global energy transition, specifically in sectors like electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and renewable energy. It outlines six strategic pillars—geoscience mapping, value addition, R&D, infrastructure, financial instruments, and regulatory harmonisation—to drive industrialisation, job creation, and economic resilience while navigating complex geopolitical tensions and promoting regional integration within Africa.

This report examines the need for U.S. electric utility business models and regulatory frameworks to evolve to support a high-penetration renewable energy future. It proposes a spectrum of utility roles—ranging from minimal involvement to becoming comprehensive energy services providers—and suggests shifting from traditional cost-of-service regulation toward performance-based models like the UK's RIIO to align utility incentives with societal climate and efficiency goals.