Search Climate Insights Directory

A briefing on a workshop regarding the creation of a shared superhot rock geothermal testbed to bridge the gap between theory and deployment for high-capex geothermal innovation.

The report identifies a shift in clean energy deployment challenges from technical and economic issues to social and institutional barriers, specifically community resistance to wind and solar projects. Based on workshops with 25 practitioners and researchers, it proposes four paradigm-shifting solutions: a 'fair share' policy to distribute infrastructure burdens across a state, 'off-the-shelf' visioning modules to help communities self-determine their desires before projects are proposed, the creation of local task forces supported by trusted facilitators to build capacity, and the development of co-ownership or co-management models to increase local benefits and acceptance. The document also highlights unresolved tensions, such as the conflict between the urgent need for rapid decarbonization and the time required to build meaningful community trust.

The document explores the role of advanced bioenergy systems in decarbonizing agriculture, emphasizing a 'carbon-negative circular bioeconomy' that combines emissions reductions with permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR). It identifies opportunities such as utilizing biogenic point sources, growing perennials on underutilized land, and replacing synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, it warns of risks including methane leakage from anaerobic digesters, detrimental land-use changes, and environmental justice concerns. The report argues for policy shifts that prioritize CDR over simple energy production and calls for increased research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to scale cellulosic bioenergy technologies.

The workshop report details discussions on the progress of South Africa's recovery from state capture, highlighting systemic obstructions in law enforcement, the need for institutional independence, and proposals for a new Office of Public Integrity. It emphasizes the role of grassroots activism and the necessity of reforming public procurement and local government governance to prevent 'state capture 2.0'.

The report outlines a strategic framework for ending biological threats, focusing on the implementation of pathogen early warning systems, the optimization of public-private partnerships, and the integration of interagency efforts. It emphasizes that while technological tools like wastewater epidemiology and airport sampling have advanced during the COVID-19 pandemic, sustained political will and funding are required to maintain these systems between crises. The document argues for treating pandemic preparedness as a national security issue and recommends improving strategic communications and international trust to ensure rapid outbreak reporting and response.

The document details findings from various water retention sites in the Canadian Prairies, highlighting the effectiveness of small dams and ponds in reducing peak flow and phosphorus. It emphasizes the need for better monitoring, the potential for nutrient reduction optimization, and the challenges of producer adoption due to land devaluation perceptions.

The 2022 Canadian Prairie Water Retention Monitoring and Modelling Workshop, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), convened experts to discuss the optimization of water retention systems. Key outcomes include an agreement on the necessity for more comprehensive monitoring in the Canadian Prairies and the identification of spectral sensors as a tool for advancing monitoring and modelling. The workshop featured nine presentations, including a valuation of ecosystem services in Manitoba's Stephenfield Reservoir and Pelly's Lake, a pilot project for adaptive monitoring on the Winnipeg River using high-frequency sensors, and a demonstration of targeting 'hotspots' for environmental benefits in Manitoba's agricultural regions.

The report details a workshop focused on the design and implementation of seafood traceability programs. It compares the EU's catch certificate scheme and the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), highlighting the shift from paper-based systems to digital interoperability. Key discussions centered on the challenges faced by small-scale fishers, the need for standardized Key Data Elements (KDEs), and the potential of technologies like blockchain and the Global Business Identifier (GBI) to enhance supply chain transparency and combat IUU fishing.

The report documents a series of virtual workshops held in 2021 by Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) involving approximately 30 civil society groups. The discussions focused on the technical, moral, and ethical challenges of achieving net-zero, emphasizing the need for social justice, equity, and inclusion. Key areas of focus included the energy transition, the definition of 'net' in net-zero, and the distinction between incremental and systems change to inform future advocacy and policy asks.

The report outlines a consensus among approximately 30 Canadian civil society organizations to prioritize absolute emissions reductions over carbon removals and offsets. Key recommendations include establishing a firm fossil fuel phase-out date, ending subsidies for nuclear and carbon capture technologies, and integrating Indigenous reconciliation and just transition principles into climate policy. The document highlights a tension between incremental government targets and the systemic change required to align with a 1.5°C warming limit.

The report details a virtual workshop held on January 21, 2021, which brought together over 200 participants from more than 60 countries to discuss domestic climate finance tracking. Key discussions centered on integrating climate budget tagging into national planning, the role of taxonomies in mobilizing private capital, and the necessity of credible sectoral roadmaps to align financial flows with the Paris Agreement. The document highlights specific national examples, such as Indonesia's use of budget tagging for Green Sukuk issuance and South Africa's development of a green finance taxonomy.

The report identifies significant barriers to EV adoption for California's multi-unit dwelling (MUD) residents, including outdated electrical infrastructure, split incentives between landlords and tenants, and a lack of private capital. It proposes a multi-pronged approach to increase access through updated building codes, streamlined permitting, utility-led 'make-ready' investments, and the use of low-power Level 1 charging to reduce costs and grid strain. The document emphasizes that achieving California's goal of 5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2030 requires addressing these equity gaps, as MUD residents—particularly renters—will be a critical market segment for growth after 2025.

The document describes the outcomes of the Bangalore Urban Mobility Lab, a collaborative effort by RMI, RMI India, Micelio, and the Government of Karnataka. During a workshop on 19–20 February 2020, over 150 stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society identified and prioritized more than ten actionable solutions to address the city's mobility challenges. The report intends to share these insights to accelerate the scaling of sustainable, clean, and citizen-centric transportation in Bangalore, while noting that the COVID-19 pandemic may require adaptations to the implementation process.

The report details a COP25 workshop focused on domestic climate finance mapping. It outlines various tracking tools—such as Climate Budget Tagging and Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Reviews—and discusses how these initiatives help countries identify funding gaps, build investor trust, and mainstream climate goals into national budgets. The document also identifies systemic challenges, including data gaps and the need for inter-ministerial coordination, while proposing the creation of a community of practice to share best practices.

The report details a workshop held in July 2019 to discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines for Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture and Forestry, which were adopted in October 2018 to promote sustainability-driven investments in the region.

The report details two workshops held in 2018 focused on South-South and triangular cooperation for climate action. It highlights case studies of technological exchange in agriculture, water management, and urban resilience, while identifying systemic barriers such as funding gaps and a lack of institutional capacity at the subnational level.

The report details a December 2015 workshop in Paris focused on 'low carbon clubs' or multijurisdictional cooperative approaches (MCAs). Participants argued that these clubs should aim to increase emissions reduction ambition and could use carbon pricing to fund technological innovation in sectors like gas, electricity, oil, and mining. The discussion highlighted the potential for linking diverse carbon markets through initiatives like the World Bank's Networked Carbon Markets (NCM) and emphasized the need for non-pricing incentives—such as technology transfer and capacity building—to encourage participation from developing nations and the Alliance of Small Island States.

The document details a workshop focused on transitioning Peru's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) from formulation to implementation. It identifies five priority sectors—water, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forests, and health—and outlines the necessary institutional reforms, such as strengthening the National Water Authority (ANA) and integrating adaptation goals into sectoral planning instruments. The report emphasizes the need for a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system, likely led by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), and maps out support from international cooperation agencies like GIZ, USAID, and the IDB.

The report outlines discussions from a July 2015 workshop regarding the creation of 'low carbon clubs'—coalitions of countries, regional entities, or nonstate actors cooperating on climate objectives. Participants emphasized that such clubs must provide excludable benefits to members to incentivize participation and prevent free riding. The discussions highlighted the necessity of linking carbon pricing with technology innovation and redistribution to ensure efficiency and consumer acceptability. While a global carbon price is deemed unattainable, these clubs are seen as a way for actors to move at 'multiple speeds' complementary to multilateral frameworks like the UNFCCC and the WTO.

The document outlines the transition to Mobility as a Service (MaaS), where on-demand, multimodal transportation replaces the dominance of personally owned vehicles. It identifies interoperable transit data (ITD) as the critical infrastructure needed to enable seamless trip planning and payment. The report details barriers to this transition—including regulatory gaps, payment fragmentation, and inconsistent data standards—and proposes solutions such as public-private partnerships, the development of integrated payment portals, and the implementation of 'commuting as a service' pilot projects.