Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines several classification systems used to identify sustainable investments, including the Climate Bonds Taxonomy, the EU Taxonomy, the Colombian Green Taxonomy, and the Mexican Sustainable Taxonomy, as well as domestic Brazilian initiatives from FEBRABAN and BNDES. It provides detailed breakdowns of the technical screening criteria, eligibility requirements, and mitigation and adaptation goals for agricultural and forestry activities across these frameworks. The analysis highlights the transition from general environmental objectives to specific, measurable metrics such as GHG emission reductions and carbon stock increases, while noting the varying degrees of regulatory force—ranging from mandatory EU regulations to voluntary guides in Mexico and Colombia.

The IAI's proposed 2024-2030 Strategic Plan focuses on three main themes: meeting the needs of member parties regarding global environmental change, advancing sustainability science in the Americas, and ensuring the institutional sustainability of the IAI. Key initiatives include funding transdisciplinary research on climate-health and biodiversity nexuses, expanding the STeP fellowship program, implementing an open data policy by 2026, and establishing a regional office in Central America and the Caribbean by 2025.

The IAI Directorate has proposed a Strategic Plan for 2024-2030 organized around three themes: meeting the needs of Parties to address global environmental change, developing science for the sustainability of the Americas, and ensuring the sustainability of the IAI as an organization. Key initiatives include funding transdisciplinary research on the climate-environment-health nexus, biodiversity, and ocean-coast-island systems through the Belmont Forum, as well as expanding the STeP program and establishing a new office in Central America and the Caribbean by 2025.

The report identifies that climate change creates systemic stressors for the UK Home Office, ranging from direct threats to public health and infrastructure to indirect risks like societal polarization and organized crime. It argues that the Home Office must move from a reactive to a proactive posture by establishing a high-level climate security policy initiative. The proposed Action Plan is built on four pillars: exercising sustained leadership, understanding and anticipating risks through better data and literacy, collaborating with domestic and international partners, and implementing specific preventative measures to protect citizens and maintain social cohesion.

The Acumen Climate Action Pakistan (ACAP) Fund is a USD 90 million blended finance facility, requesting USD 28 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to support venture and growth-stage agribusinesses in Pakistan. The fund targets three investment themes: Farmer Platforms and Financial Solutions, Smart Farming, and Post-Harvest Technologies. It aims to benefit approximately 13.1 million people by improving farmer incomes, increasing the adoption of climate-smart agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The program includes a USD 10 million Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to support portfolio companies in areas such as gender initiatives, ESG reporting, and climate adaptation. ACAP seeks to demonstrate the commercial viability of adaptation-focused business models to catalyze further private sector investment in Pakistan's agriculture sector.

Chile has proposed that the Climate Science and Resilience Center (CR2) be admitted as an Associate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The proposal highlights CR2's regional research ambitions in South America and Antarctica, its interdisciplinary approach to bridging natural and social sciences, and its contributions to Chilean public policy, including the 2022 Framework Law on Climate Change and the design of Chile's NDC for COP25. Additionally, CR2's leadership in climate services is noted through the creation of the Climate Risk Atlas of Chile (ARClim) and 14 other open-access climate services.

A survey of 500 likely voters in Los Angeles County reveals strong public support for 'polluters pay' litigation, with 74% of respondents supporting lawsuits against major oil and gas companies to cover climate costs. The data shows that 69% of voters believe taxpayers face increased costs due to climate change, and 87% believe oil and gas companies should be responsible for some portion of these costs.

The E-Mobility Program seeks 169.92 million USD from the Green Climate Fund to leverage a total investment of 454.4 million USD for the transition to zero-emission urban mobility. The program focuses on the large-scale deployment of battery electric buses (BEBs), the integration of non-motorized transport (NMT), and the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation measures to increase the resilience of urban transport infrastructure against flooding and extreme heat. It targets a total GHG emission reduction of 11,415,080 tCO2eq over the asset lifetime and aims to benefit approximately 3.68 million people.

The briefing reorganizes the 10 elements and 44 negotiation options identified by the Co-Chairs of the Ad-Hoc Work Programme (AHWP) for the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) into a condensed format. It covers critical dimensions of the goal, including temporal scope, quantum, structure, and potential sources of finance, aiming to streamline the complex set of options for stakeholders ahead of the 2024 negotiation sessions.

The report analyzes the federal permitting process for high-capacity electric transmission lines in the U.S., identifying systemic delays caused by poor interagency coordination, capacity shortages, and regulatory misalignment between federal and state authorities. Based on a dataset of 37 projects and case studies, it argues that while litigation is often cited as a primary barrier, it is rarely the sole cause of project failure. The authors recommend that the President prioritize transmission as a national priority, that Congress consolidate siting authority for multi-state projects, and that agencies adopt more agile, transparent, and collaborative environmental review processes, including expanded use of programmatic EISs and categorical exclusions.

The report estimates that governments in Los Angeles County will need to spend at least $12.5 billion through 2040 to adapt to climate change, with municipal governments bearing the largest share. The highest costs are associated with stormwater management to mitigate flooding ($4.3 billion) and combating urban heat islands through cool pavements ($2.5 billion) and tree planting ($1.4 billion). The study highlights that these costs disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, and argues that fossil fuel companies should be held legally accountable for these expenses.

The document argues that Brazil has a unique opportunity during its G20 presidency and the lead-up to COP30 to champion more equitable and effective climate finance. It identifies critical gaps in funding for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) and proposes reforms to Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the IMF. Key recommendations include the use of 'national platforms' to align NDCs with economic development, the integration of climate risks into investment portfolios, and the promotion of nature-based financing and adaptation funding.

The report highlights 'bright spots' in Canada where local governments are integrating natural infrastructure—such as wetlands, trees, and rain gardens—to complement traditional grey infrastructure for services like stormwater management and flood protection. It examines the City of Nelson's use of bylaws, Halifax Regional Municipality's policy embedding, and EPCOR's integrated investment strategy in Edmonton.

The report examines produced capital—human-made assets used in production—across Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2020. It finds that while produced capital has grown, levels remain low compared to developed nations and are heavily concentrated in a few sectors, such as petroleum in Trinidad and Tobago and manufacturing and real estate in Ethiopia and Indonesia. This concentration creates economic risks and hinders the transition to renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. The authors argue that the lack of regular measurement of produced capital by national statistical offices leaves policy-makers blind to these structural challenges, underscoring the need to move beyond GDP toward comprehensive wealth metrics.

The report finds that Ethiopia's real comprehensive wealth per capita grew by 103% between 1992/93 and 2019/20, primarily driven by human capital. However, this trend reversed in 2018/19 and 2019/20. While produced and market natural capital grew, financial capital declined into negative territory by 2019/20 due to high foreign debt. Non-market natural capital indicators show declining land area per capita and rising temperatures, signaling growing environmental pressures.

The communication strategy for Côte d'Ivoire's National Adaptation Plan (2023–2030) aims to build a climate-resilient society by informing and sensitizing diverse stakeholders. It identifies four strategic axes: political appropriation, public awareness of adaptation practices, documentation of lessons learned, and coordination. The strategy targets institutional actors, community leaders, civil society, the private sector, and the media, utilizing a mix of institutional, behavioral change, and digital communication. Implementation is estimated to cost approximately 50 billion CFA francs.

The report details a field visit to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) and the Zhanghe Irrigation District in China. It highlights the use of a 'digital twin' system for water management, community-led irrigation through Farmers' Water Users' Associations, and research at the Hubei Provincial Irrigation Experiment Station. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between China, Thailand, and other Lancang-Mekong countries to implement climate-resilient agricultural practices.

The Global Subnational Agricultural Production (GSAP) database is the first standardized global dataset providing subnational agricultural production data (2010–21) for the world's 50 most relevant crops. By collecting data from national agricultural censuses and surveys at the district, province, or region level, GSAP fills a critical information gap left by national-level data sources like FAOSTAT. The database currently covers 185 countries and approximately 15,000 subnational jurisdictions, capturing a significant portion of global production for staples such as soybean (92%), maize and sugarcane (85%), and wheat and rice (75%). The project aims to enhance the accuracy of analyses regarding yield gaps, climate adaptation, and supply chain sustainability, with future goals including the launch of a public online platform and the expansion of data to include livestock and forestry.

The report provides a comprehensive compilation of excerpts from the WTO's Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13), focusing on the intersection of global trade with environmental sustainability, climate change, and the UN 2030 Agenda. It highlights a strong collective push to finalize the second phase of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to combat overcapacity and overfishing, while revealing a significant divide between developed and developing nations regarding unilateral environmental trade measures and the need for special and differential treatment (SDT).

The document examines the intersection of South Africa's energy transition and the interdependencies of water, energy, and food security. It identifies significant barriers to policy coherence, including institutional silos, budget cuts to environmental departments, and the political influence of the coal lobby and agricultural sector. The brief concludes that without an integrated framework, the transition risks perpetuating unsustainable coal practices and exacerbating social inequalities, particularly in coal-dependent regions like Mpumalanga.