Search Climate Insights Directory

The report finds that US farmers apply 3.5 to 5.8 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizer in excess of what crops can absorb, contributing to significant greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. It highlights that nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023 was responsible for approximately 120 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The authors argue that voluntary USDA programs like EQIP and CSP are underfunded and that the next Farm Bill should prioritize soil health and agroecology to reduce chemical dependency and climate risks.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance outlines the critical links between industrial food systems, fossil fuel reliance, and adverse health outcomes. It highlights how the industrialization of agriculture contributes to 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions and drives a 'global syndemic' of obesity and undernutrition. The document emphasizes the role of fossil-fuel-derived agrochemicals and plastics in promoting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biodiversity loss. To address these crises, the Alliance recommends establishing sustainable dietary guidelines, decarbonizing food processing and transport, adopting agroecological practices, and eliminating subsidies for harmful industrial agricultural practices.

The CPI’s Climate Finance Toolkit provides a framework for Ministries of Finance to align public and private climate finance with national priorities while managing debt vulnerability. It categorizes 14 financial instruments—ranging from grants and green bonds to catastrophe bonds and debt-for-climate swaps—allowing users to filter them by economic sector, risk type (credit, liquidity, market), and debt impact (direct or indirect). The tool is intended to support coordination between national governments, domestic public financial institutions, and external actors like multilateral development banks.

The study finds that while solar PV is the backbone of Nigeria's net-zero electricity system, the lowest-cost and most reliable pathways require a technology-neutral approach that includes nuclear power and natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). Restricting these firm low-carbon technologies increases total installed capacity by approximately 50% and annual investment requirements by about 7%. Under baseline demand, net-zero timelines require average annual investments of US$7–10 billion, but a high-demand scenario aligned with Nigeria Agenda 2050 would increase average annual investment to US$35.8 billion and nearly triple total system costs.

The document outlines a series of 'must-have' and 'nice-to-have' recommendations for the Polish state and the European Union to unlock SMR deployment. For Poland, priorities include durable political support, flexible financing models like adjustable Contracts for Difference (CfDs), national coordination for technology down-selection, and a dedicated workforce development framework. It also emphasizes the need to streamline permitting for SMRs on industrial sites, potentially leveraging the EU's Net-Zero Industrial Act (NZIA). At the EU level, the document calls for increased funding from existing and future funds (MFF 2028-34), a more relaxed State Aid process, and the formal recognition of nuclear technology's contribution to decarbonisation goals. Additionally, it suggests that Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries pursue joint procurement and a coordinated approach to reproduce successful pilot projects to achieve economies of scale.

ASEAN requires an estimated US$281 billion annually by 2035 for its energy transition, necessitating a strategic blend of bilateral financing from China, Japan, and the US. While China provides scale and speed through asset-led infrastructure, Japan focuses on system-level upgrades and concessionality, and the US employs blended finance to mobilise private capital. The report argues that ASEAN countries are transitioning from being mere deployment markets to becoming manufacturing hubs for EVs, solar PV, and critical minerals. It recommends that the 2026 ASEAN Summit be used to align these national industrial strategies into coordinated regional value chains to avoid duplication and attract diverse global capital.

The report finds that climate targets adopted by 83 global investors are largely insufficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the real economy, citing a lack of targets, poor quality, and limited scope. It argues that without science-based sectoral targets and regulatory oversight, these goals amount to greenwashing and fail to manage systemic climate risk.

Indonesia is experiencing an explosive surge in captive coal power, with total operational and prospective capacity reaching nearly 31 GW. This growth is heavily concentrated in nickel hubs like Central Sulawesi and North Maluku, dwarfing the expansion of the national power grid. The report highlights significant data discrepancies in official JETP mapping and warns that regulatory loopholes in PERPRES 112/2022 allow 'national strategic projects' to bypass coal moratoriums. This trajectory is projected to cause 27,000 additional air pollution-related deaths and USD 20 billion in economic burden, while creating 'sacrifice zones' that risk Indonesia's position in global green supply chains.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment – Nova Scotia (CAPE NS) urges the Halifax Regional Council to maintain full funding for HalifACT, asserting that cutting the estimated $6 million Climate Action Tax will shift financial burdens to the healthcare system. The letter highlights that climate change in Nova Scotia is driving increases in extreme heat mortality, respiratory issues from wildfire smoke, and the spread of Lyme disease. It argues that proactive investment in climate resilience is fiscally responsible, noting that every $1 spent today avoids $13 to $15 in future costs. Furthermore, the authors state that funding cuts disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, such as seniors and low-income residents in urban heat islands, who rely on programs like the Solar City initiative and home retrofits.

The Savings and Investment Union (SIU) aims to bridge the gap between household savings and productive investments to address an annual financing gap of €750–800 billion by 2030. However, the author contends that the SIU lacks mechanisms to channel funds specifically toward EU priorities or the ecological transition, meaning it could facilitate lending to heavily polluting activities. The document highlights that the initiative is likely to benefit highly concentrated asset management firms, particularly US-based BlackRock and Vanguard, which are identified as major investors in fossil fuel bonds and supporters of fossil fuel company governance.

The European Savings and Investment Union (UEI), proposed by the European Commission to fund EU priorities, is criticized for failing to direct investments toward climate goals. The document asserts that the initiative may primarily benefit large asset managers, specifically naming Blackrock and Vanguard, who are described as having highly damaging climate practices.

The document identifies significant structural, gender-based, and climate-related barriers that prevent women-led enterprises in Nepal from accessing formal and climate finance. Based on a survey of 200 enterprises, it highlights a reliance on personal savings and a lack of preparedness for climate shocks. It recommends a multi-stakeholder approach involving policy alignment, tailored capacity building, de-risking financial instruments, and the promotion of cooperatives to improve market power.

The report assesses the use of the Energy Supply Financing Ratio (ESFR) by global banks to measure sustainable power financing relative to fossil fuels. While six banks have now published or committed to this indicator, the analysis reveals a regional divide: European banks (BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Groupe BPCE) often use narrow fossil fuel definitions and omit underwriting, while North American banks (Citi, JPMorgan Chase, RBC) include broader financing instruments but inflate sustainable ratios by including fossil-related technologies like carbon capture and fossil-based hydrogen.

The report examines the Energy Supply Financing Ratio (ESFR), a metric used to compare bank financing of sustainable energy versus fossil fuels. While adoption is increasing due to shareholder pressure, the author argues that current methodologies are often flawed. European banks like BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole set ambitious targets but use narrow definitions of fossil fuel activities and omit bond/equity financing. Conversely, North American banks like Citi and JPMorgan Chase provide more comprehensive coverage of the fossil fuel value chain but artificially inflate their 'low carbon' figures by including fossil-based hydrogen, carbon capture, and non-energy sectors.

South Africa holds approximately 80% of global Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), which are essential catalysts for PEM electrolysers and fuel cells used in green hydrogen production. While this provides a strategic opportunity for re-industrialisation and decarbonisation, the transition faces severe constraints, including an outdated electricity grid, water scarcity in high-resource areas, and a significant skills gap. The shift also threatens the coal and internal combustion engine automotive sectors, risking large-scale job losses in regions like Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. Geopolitically, South Africa must navigate competition between China and Western powers, particularly as the US has withdrawn support for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The paper argues that for the transition to be 'just', the government must integrate mineral beneficiation with social safeguards, regional SADC integration, and comprehensive workforce reskilling.

The document evaluates the legal implications of proposed UK government requirements for climate-related transition plan (CRTP) disclosures. It concludes that 'comply or explain' and mandatory disclosure regimes are unlikely to materially heighten liability risks for companies and directors, provided existing safe harbour provisions apply. While disclosing the extent of alignment with the Net Zero Objective introduces some risk, it is not considered materially heightened if clear metrics and authoritative standards are used. The authors state that a full legal analysis of requirements to produce an aligned plan or to implement a CRTP is currently impossible due to a lack of detail in the government's consultation regarding obligations, sanctions, and enforcement mechanisms.

Carbon Market Watch claims the European Commission is routinely ignoring or bypassing required impact assessments and public consultations for major climate policies. The author asserts that this shift toward 'vibe-based' policymaking, driven by deregulation and industry lobbying, undermines transparency and risks significant economic and environmental damage, citing specific examples such as the 2040 climate target and the EU ETS2 Market Stability Reserve.

Despite the veto of SB 643, California can leverage SB 840 and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to scale its carbon dioxide removal industry, ensuring it meets its 2030 and 2045 targets while preventing homegrown companies from relocating.

The report examines asset ownership, lease-to-own, and energy-as-a-service models for solarizing health facilities in India and Kenya, highlighting the need to shift from philanthropic grants to blended finance and flexible service-based models to ensure long-term operational sustainability.

Pension funds, managing over USD 73 trillion globally, face systemic risks from climate change that could reduce returns by 33% by 2050. While 200 major funds have begun divesting from fossil fuels to fulfill fiduciary duties, third-party asset managers often maintain carbon-intensive investments. This misalignment has led pension funds to withdraw over USD 100 billion from managers including BlackRock and State Street.