Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy briefing examines the development of sustainable ocean economies (SOE) in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), identifying the drivers of investment and the regulatory and institutional frameworks necessary to transition toward climate-resilient, regenerative blue economies.

This research paper examines voluntary biodiversity credits (VBCs) as a mechanism to bridge the global biodiversity funding gap. It argues that because the standalone business case for VBCs is currently weak, they should be integrated into hybrid financing models—such as carbon markets and debt-for-nature swaps—to attract private investment and ensure scalable conservation outcomes.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines debt-for-nature swaps as a tool to address the intersecting crises of public debt, climate change, and biodiversity loss, with a specific focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. It argues that while these swaps are gaining popularity, they are not a 'silver bullet' due to their limited scale, reliance on local currency, and potential risks to national sovereignty and Indigenous land rights.

A statement by Hon. Kerrie D. Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Barbados, delivered at the Global Review of Aid for Trade 2024. The speech critiques the 18-year history of the Aid for Trade initiative, arguing that its original assumptions failed to account for the volatility of development gradients, the climate crisis, and the extreme vulnerability of small island developing states.

The report "Building Back Greener In the Post-COVID-19 Era" by the Green Economy Coalition argues that the global economic response to COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and the climate crisis must move beyond short-term stabilization toward systemic structural reform. It advocates for an "Inclusive Green Recovery" that integrates social protection with environmental restoration to build long-term resilience.

This research paper by Sisi Tang explores how China can transition its economic relationship with Latin America from expansion to sustainable development. The author proposes three specific mechanisms to enhance climate action: the implementation of clean energy crediting mechanisms, the use of debt-for-climate swaps, and the negotiation of 'greener' free trade agreements (FTAs).

A statement by Hemantha Withanage, President of Friends of the Earth International, analyzing the systemic collapse of Sri Lanka in 2022. The document attributes the nation's political instability, economic bankruptcy, and humanitarian crisis to a neoliberal, undemocratic regime led by the Rajapaksa family, characterized by corruption, illegitimate debt accumulation, and failed environmental and agricultural policies.

This executive summary analyzes opportunities for Latin America to benefit from the restructuring of the international financial system, specifically through the lens of the Bridgetown Initiative and the goals of the Paris Agreement. It identifies five priority areas for reform—immediate liquidity, private capital access, sustainable debt, SDG stimulus, and governance—to address climate, social, and debt crises in the region.