Search Climate Insights Directory

The report outlines a comprehensive framework for sustainable cooling, categorizing solutions into four pillars: technology, services, policy, and finance. It emphasizes that achieving 'cooling for all' requires an optimized approach to meet fundamental needs in comfort and safety, food and nutrition, and health and care, particularly for vulnerable populations. The document introduces a five-part solution approach—Protect, Reduce, Shift, Improve, and Leverage—to guide the selection of measures ranging from nature-based passive cooling to high-efficiency active technologies and regulatory policies.

The document argues that because fossil fuel combustion drives both climate change and air pollution, well-designed carbon pricing—such as taxes, emission trading systems, and the removal of subsidies—can reduce both greenhouse gases and local pollutants. It emphasizes that the short-term health benefits of improved air quality often outweigh the costs of climate policy, which can help build broader political support. The author advocates for a holistic policy approach across all sectors and governance levels, involving multidisciplinary research to avoid unintended consequences, such as chemical reactions caused by partial pollutant reduction.

This document presents the draft regulations for greenhouse gas emissions intensity benchmarks under section 11 of the Carbon Tax Act, 2019. It outlines the methodology for taxpayers to determine sector-specific benchmarks and provides a detailed list of industry benchmark values for various industrial sectors, including mining, chemicals, and energy.

The document presents draft regulations for the Trade Exposure Allowance under section 10 of the Carbon Tax Act, 2019, in South Africa. These regulations establish a mechanism to provide transitional support to specific sectors and subsectors to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage and maintain industry competitiveness while implementing carbon pricing to meet Paris Agreement goals.

The briefing examines the shared origins of air pollution and climate change, primarily fossil fuel combustion, and advocates for integrated policy frameworks. It details the significant health and economic burdens of air pollution, particularly in urban areas and for vulnerable groups. The text demonstrates that the health co-benefits of climate mitigation, such as carbon pricing, often outweigh the policy costs. It provides examples of coordinated efforts in Chile, California, the EU, Madrid, and London, while warning that uncoordinated policies—such as incentivizing diesel vehicles for lower CO2 or installing SO2 filters that reduce plant efficiency—can create counterproductive outcomes.

The author contends that the EU must integrate shipping into its carbon market by 2023 because the IMO has postponed concrete actions, such as slow-steaming. The text highlights the significant emissions of the shipping sector and suggests that carbon pricing, potentially as a tax, could effectively reduce CO2 emissions and generate revenue for research and development.

The November 2019 report by the Center for Climate Change Communication reveals that 73% of registered U.S. voters believe global warming is happening, though beliefs and policy support vary significantly by political party. While there is broad bipartisan support for renewable energy research and the Paris Climate Agreement, deep divisions persist regarding the causes of global warming and the expansion of fossil fuel production. The report also highlights an increase in the importance of global warming as a voting issue for the 2020 presidential election, particularly among Democrats.

The report finds that while a majority of registered U.S. voters believe global warming is happening and human-caused, significant partisan divides persist. There is broad support for clean energy research and carbon pricing, but voters are split on fossil fuel expansion. Global warming has increased in importance as a voting issue for the 2020 presidential election.

The document details Russia's high reliance on fossil fuels, which accounted for 90% of its total energy supply in 2017 and 23.6% of general government revenue. It highlights the dominance of state-owned enterprises like Gazprom and Rosneft, the government's strategy to expand exports to the Asia-Pacific region, and the significant fiscal gap created by the under-taxation of fossil fuel consumption. The report also examines various forms of production and consumption subsidies, as well as the role of the National Welfare Fund in managing windfall revenues.

The document analyzes South Africa's heavy reliance on coal, which provided 89% of its electricity in 2017. It details the fiscal impact of this dependence, noting that while fossil fuel production revenues are modest, consumption taxes—primarily the fuel levy—contribute significantly to government revenue. The report also highlights the role of state-owned enterprises like Eskom and PetroSA, the risks of asset stranding, and the government's commitment to a 'just transition' and carbon taxation despite political flux in energy policy.

Brazil's economy is influenced by significant fossil fuel reserves, particularly 'pre-salt' oil, though it is the least dependent on fossil fuels among BRICS nations due to biofuels and hydropower. In 2017, fossil fuel revenues accounted for 6.8% of general government revenue, while subsidies represented 0.3% of GDP. The government continues to seek increased oil and gas production despite climate commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030. Fiscal complexities include high state-level VAT on fuels, significant tax exemptions for production, and the earmarking of royalties for health and education.

The German Green Party has experienced a significant rise in support, surpassing the Social Democrats (SPD) in the 2019 European elections and becoming a leading force in German politics. This momentum is attributed to the party's transition from an anti-establishment movement to a 'responsible political actor' capable of governing, as evidenced by its presence in nine regional governments. The party's success is further driven by the leadership of Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock, who have moved beyond internal ideological divides to embrace 'radical realism'—a strategy that bridges contradictions between economy and ecology. This shift coincides with a broader restructuring of the German political landscape, where traditional 'Volksparteien' (people's parties) like the CDU and SPD are losing influence as society becomes more individualised and climate change becomes a primary public concern.

The analysis argues that while Justin Trudeau has positioned Canada as a reliable, progressive partner for the EU and a defender of the rules-based international order, his actual record is marked by contradictions. Key discrepancies include a gap between international climate leadership and domestic support for extractive industries, a failure to meet UN peacekeeping pledges, and continued arms exports to Middle Eastern states despite human rights rhetoric. The document also contrasts Trudeau's approach with the more hawkish, US-aligned foreign policy proposed by Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.

The research identifies 66 carbon pricing policies globally, categorising adopting polities into five clusters: early adopters, North-American states and provinces, Chinese pilot provinces, second-wave developed polities, and second-wave developing polities. The authors conclude that there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to promoting carbon pricing, as different economic, political, and policy variables drive adoption across different clusters. However, they identify general facilitators, including economic crises, UNFCCC commitments, regional learning, and a preference for emissions trading in carbon-intensive economies.

The report finds that while nearly USD 4.7 billion in results-based finance has been committed since 2010, only 35% has been disbursed as of April 2019. It highlights the slow pace of negotiating Emission Reductions Payment Agreements (ERPAs) and a critical funding gap in the implementation phase of REDD+ activities. While forest carbon markets show some growth in voluntary demand, they remain a small fraction of global deforestation emissions. The document also details domestic payment mechanisms in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica, and outlines various forms of support for jurisdictional-sourcing initiatives.

The report finds that South Africa has sufficient waste biomass to meet the potential demand of Sasol's Secunda plant, with availability estimated at 2 to 4 times the maximum potential demand. Garden waste and sawdust are identified as the lowest-risk feedstocks. Fuel rods are the most cost-competitive densification option for woody biomass, while white pellets are cheapest for soft biomass. The study concludes that biomass feedstock would be 3-4 times more expensive than coal, though this could be offset by SAF premiums and carbon tax liabilities.

Ember argues that the UK's priority should be to remain within the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to maintain a shared Europe-wide approach to carbon pricing. The organization warns against the creation of a standalone UK ETS due to risks of market dysfunction and volatility, suggesting that if the UK must leave the EU ETS, it should implement a carbon tax on power, industry, and aviation with a price floor based on the previous year's average EU ETS price. Furthermore, Ember asserts that carbon pricing must be complemented by direct regulation and public funding to achieve net zero emissions.

The paper finds that removing fossil fuel subsidies across 26 modeled countries leads to an average 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which increases to 13.2% if combined with a 10% energy tax and reinvestment in renewables and energy efficiency. Globally, the removal of these subsidies is estimated to reduce emissions by 6.4% to 8.2% by 2050. The study highlights that governments save an average of USD 93 for every tonne of CO2e removed through subsidy reform, with total cumulative fiscal savings across the 26 countries reaching USD 2.56 trillion by 2030.

The report evaluates South Africa's implementation of SDGs 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, and 17, finding a significant gap between strong policy frameworks and actual delivery. While the National Development Plan aligns well with the 2030 Agenda, the authors highlight systemic failures in education quality, rising unemployment, extreme wealth inequality, inadequate climate action, and high levels of gender-based violence. The document argues that the 'leave no one behind' principle is not being operationalised and calls for greater state accountability and inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement.

The report evaluates the N’Diaye wind farm in Senegal using the SAVi tool, which incorporates externalities and climate risks into financial modelling. While traditional analysis suggests coal is the cheapest option, a holistic cost-benefit analysis reveals that wind energy is the most favourable choice due to lower environmental impacts, higher employment generation, and the avoidance of significant social costs of carbon. HFO is found to be financially non-viable across all scenarios.