Search Climate Insights Directory

This guide describes the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), a free, open-source System Dynamics computer model developed by Energy Innovation Policy & Technology LLC to help policymakers evaluate the effectiveness of climate and energy policies on greenhouse gas emissions, economics, and public health.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines recommendations for federal just transition legislation in Canada, suggesting a framework based on international best practices and social dialogue.

This fact sheet explains the formation and types of glaciers, the drivers and consequences of their melting due to global warming, and the importance of legal protections for these freshwater reserves, highlighting Argentina's National Glacier Law.

This fact sheet describes the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), an open-source tool developed by RMI and Energy Innovation to help states estimate the impacts of climate and energy policies. It specifically outlines how the EPS can be used by state governments to meet the requirements of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, including GHG inventory, emissions projections, and benefits analysis.

The 2022 Report on the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health details the collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and health civil society to integrate health considerations into global climate policy. The report highlights 2022 achievements, including coordinated submissions to the UNFCCC, advocacy for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and the establishment of a WHO Health Pavilion at COP27. It outlines future goals for 2023 and 2024, including a proposed World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on climate change, air pollution, and health.

The Climate Change Performance Index 2023 executive summary evaluates the climate mitigation efforts of the 60 largest emitters. It highlights that no country is currently on a 1.5°C pathway, leaving the top three ranks unoccupied. While Denmark leads in most categories, major emitters like China and the US are ranked in the 'very low' category. The report notes a wide disparity in performance among EU member states and identifies Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan as the worst overall performers.

A professional toolkit by CIEL and OHCHR providing a framework for integrating human rights into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes that climate ambition must be science-based to protect human rights, requires inclusive participation of marginalized groups, and advocates for a just transition for workers and the protection of indigenous land rights.

A November 2022 report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) based on a 50-state survey reveals that major U.S. companies in the technology, banking, and insurance sectors frequently employ state-level lobbyists who also represent the fossil fuel industry. The report highlights a contradiction between these companies' public net-zero climate goals and their reliance on 'multi-client lobbyists' who promote continued fossil fuel dependence.

This research paper examines the social impacts of the EU's Fit for 55 Package, which targets a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It argues that while the long-term health and environmental benefits are clear, the transition risks marginalizing vulnerable citizens and carbon-dependent regions. The authors advocate for progressive fiscal policies, the redistribution of carbon revenues to households, and targeted support through the Just Transition Fund and the Social Climate Fund to ensure a just energy transition.

A reflective statement by Ruth Butterfield, Director of SEI Oxford, marking the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Environment Institute's outpost in Oxford. The document outlines the center's evolution from a small team focused on rural vulnerability to a global actor in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and policy bridging.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), on behalf of the 'Electrifying Canada' private sector task force, outlines the requirements and obstacles for scaling up clean electricity production in Canada to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It argues that current utility planning is insufficient to meet the projected demand and proposes five catalysts—specifically focusing on regulatory mandates, proactive planning, and private investment—to accelerate the transition.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and EsgSolution analyzes the state of green finance policy in China in 2021, focusing on the alignment of green bond standards with carbon neutrality goals, the impact of regional policies, and the expectations of market stakeholders.

Research using the Oregon Energy Policy Simulator evaluates the impact of current and potential climate policies on emissions, GDP, and employment in Oregon.

Natural Justice submitted comments on 31 January 2022 regarding the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's (DMRE) Gas Master Plan Base Case Report. The organization argues that gas development contradicts climate commitments, perpetuates fossil fuel dependence, and lacks sufficient protections for affected communities and the environment.

Natural Justice (NJ) submitted a critique of the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's (DMRE) Gas Master Plan Base Case report on January 31, 2022. NJ argues that the plan is incompatible with climate commitments, lacks sufficient risk analysis regarding financial and environmental costs, and fails to provide adequate mechanisms for public participation and community compensation.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines how Canada can utilize federal legislation to advance a just transition, drawing on international best practices and interviews with 15 experts.

The document argues against the normalization of solar geoengineering as a climate policy option, asserting that planetary-scale deployment cannot be governed justly within the current international political system. The authors call for the United Nations and governments to establish an International Non-Use Agreement on Solar Geoengineering to maintain political control over these technologies.

This fact sheet describes a project implemented by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) from January 2022 to June 2023. The project aims to enhance the resilience of coastal and island states in Southern Africa by integrating ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) into national climate policy responses.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that the Canadian federal government should adopt a whole-of-government approach to climate change to improve performance through cross-departmental collaboration and integrated policy-making.

This working paper by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) outlines a structural agenda for a green economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. It distinguishes between short-term stimulus and long-term structural reforms, providing a nested framework of policy measures and a set of prioritisation criteria to help governments transition from immediate crisis management to systemic socio-ecological transformation.