Search Climate Insights Directory

The document details a refrigeration upgrade at Pick ‘n’ Pay Ceres provided by Energy Partners Refrigeration (EPR) using a CaaS model. By replacing an end-of-life simplex system with an air-cooled, direct expansion multiplex rack configuration using R407F refrigerant and variable speed drives, the store reduced average refrigeration energy consumption by 35% and overall cost per refrigeration-hour by 30%. The CaaS model eliminated upfront costs for the client, with EPR owning and maintaining the system over a 10-15 year term, funded by a portion of the monthly energy savings.

The document outlines the financial landscape for rooftop solar PV in South Africa's commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. It highlights that while high upfront costs are a perceived barrier, a variety of funding options exist, including traditional commercial bank loans, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and emerging models like Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and Pay As You Save (PAYS). It also details specific tax incentives and grants available to reduce the cost of solar installations.

The South African energy services market is expanding, driven by rising electricity costs, energy insecurity, and falling technology prices. The market is divided into small-scale embedded generation (SSEG), energy storage, and energy efficiency, with a total available market estimated at R131 billion by 2035. While rooftop solar PV is the dominant SSEG technology, energy storage is emerging as a critical tool for resilience against load shedding. Energy efficiency faced contractions during COVID-19 lockdowns but retains significant untapped potential. The report identifies emerging opportunities such as Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), behind-the-meter battery storage, and smart metering, while highlighting the role of the Western Cape as a regional hub for green economy investment.

The report calculates that nature-based infrastructure (NBI) could cover between 9% and 14% of the global infrastructure gap, representing a potential annual investment of approximately USD 489 billion. Through a literature review and SAVi assessments, the document demonstrates that NBI often provides significant cost savings—averaging 50.6% less than grey infrastructure—and generates higher value, returning USD 10 for every dollar invested compared to USD 3.6 for traditional built infrastructure.

The document details updates to six specific energy subsidies in India, covering electric buses, energy conservation, regional fuel support, natural gas infrastructure, and hydrocarbon research. It provides financial data from FY 2014 to FY 2020, highlighting a significant increase in the cost of concessional GST for electric buses and substantial spending on the Phulpur Dhamra Haldia Pipeline Project and the National Seismic Programme.

The document outlines Saint Lucia's comprehensive climate policy environment, highlighting the role of the Department of Sustainable Development and the National Climate Change Committee in coordinating national efforts. It details the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (2018-2028), the development of Sectoral Adaptation Strategies and Action Plans (SASAPs), and the submission of an Updated Nationally Determined Contribution in January 2021. The paper also examines the integration of gender considerations, the challenges of climate finance, and the emerging focus on loss and damage policy.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of energy transition progress in Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam. It highlights the role of independent think tanks in driving policy breakthroughs, such as coal phase-outs and renewable energy targets, while identifying systemic barriers including political resistance, grid limitations, and financing gaps. The document argues that while technology strategies (renewables and electrification) are converging, national implementation is shaped by distinct local political and social factors.

In 2021, 1.09 billion people in 54 high-impact countries were at high risk due to a lack of access to cooling, an increase of 50 million compared to 2020. This growth is attributed to the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed millions into extreme poverty, and increasing global temperatures. Additionally, 2.34 billion lower-middle income people are identified as a risk to energy systems and GHG emissions because they are likely to purchase inefficient cooling devices due to price sensitivity.

The SEforALL 2021-2023 business plan focuses on achieving SDG7 through a framework of 'COMMIT, CONNECT, CREATE' to drive energy transitions and access. The strategy emphasizes data-driven implementation, interdisciplinary integration between public and private sectors, and the mobilization of finance flows to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all.

SEforALL's 100 Days Report details its leadership in planning the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26, its research on chronic underinvestment in energy finance, and its country-level support for energy access and COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Africa and South Asia.

The report identifies that 1.12 billion people across 76 countries are at high risk due to a lack of access to cooling, with the COVID-19 pandemic increasing this number by approximately 50 million in 2021. It highlights critical gaps in rural and urban poor populations, particularly in Africa and Asia, and examines the urgent need for sustainable cold chains for vaccine distribution. The document also promotes National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs) and showcases passive and solar-powered cooling solutions in countries like Colombia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

The report finds that global investment for energy access is critically insufficient. Finance for electricity in HICs fell to USD 32 billion in 2019, with residential access receiving only USD 12.9 billion—less than one-third of the estimated USD 41 billion annual need. Clean cooking investment has stagnated around USD 130 million annually, far below the USD 4.5 billion required. While renewables saw record highs and fossil fuel finance declined in some areas, significant gaps remain, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Case studies in Mozambique, Ghana, and Vietnam highlight the need for climate-resilient infrastructure and diversified technological approaches to clean cooking.

The 2021 Annual Monitoring Review details SEforALL's efforts to accelerate universal energy access and a just energy transition. Key achievements include the coordination of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE), which articulated over USD 600 billion in finance through more than 200 Energy Compacts. The organization provided targeted support to 27 countries, with significant focus on Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed some deliverables and funding for certain programmes, SEforALL reported progress in electrifying 265 healthcare facilities and leveraging USD 216.9 million for sustainable cooling. The report also highlights the 'Women at the Forefront' initiative, which provided technical training to 100 women in Kenya.

The SEforALL Virtual Youth Summit (9-11 February 2021) engaged 2,343 registered participants from 134 countries to promote Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). The event featured high-level dialogues on the energy transition, a competition for youth-led energy innovations, and virtual fairs connecting youth to academic and career opportunities. Key outcomes included youth recommendations for the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26, emphasizing the need for direct youth engagement in policy documentation and national delegations.

Zimbabwe has increased its climate ambition by raising its 2030 emission reduction target from 33% to 40% per capita compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Unlike its first NDC, which focused only on energy, the revised version is economy-wide, covering Energy, Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU), and Waste. The document emphasizes that Zimbabwe is highly vulnerable to climate change, with 70% of its population reliant on rainfed agriculture, and identifies four priority adaptation areas: climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable water management. Implementation of these goals is conditional on international financial support, with mitigation costs estimated at US$4,834.47 million.

The research develops a model to calculate the investment needs for nine Swedish cities to reach climate neutrality by 2030. Using five 'strategy mixes' and three emission forecasts, the study assesses the financial feasibility of these transitions. Preliminary results indicate that while targets are achievable and financially viable, they require significant shifts in food consumption and substantial investments from private citizens, governments, and industry. For example, in Malmö, total mitigation reductions could range from 17% to 51%, with annual per capita investments between 19,790 and 23,765 SEK.

Highland Park could be 100% powered by local clean energy resources through a combination of rooftop solar (30%), distributed solar (33%), community solar (6%), and energy efficiency (25%), alongside a Community Water and Energy Resource Center. An analysis suggests that installing nearly 44 MW of solar in Highland Park would save approximately $23 million. Achieving this requires the State of Michigan to eliminate solar restrictions and improve compensation, while the City of Highland Park must enact solar ordinances and develop local energy businesses.

The document outlines a 24-month readiness project to enhance the resilience of Trinidad and Tobago's health sector against climate-induced disasters. Key objectives include establishing an Incident Command System (ICS), developing an Event-Based Surveillance App for real-time disaster response, and conducting vulnerability assessments to design 'Climate SMART' healthcare facilities. The project also aims to train the healthcare workforce in disaster risk reduction and develop two high-quality project concept notes for submission to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The proposal seeks USD 599,704 to help Brazil 'leapfrog' to sustainable commercial refrigeration by implementing Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labels for the first time in this sector. The project, implemented by UNEP, aims to reduce electricity demand and GHG emissions, as commercial refrigeration is estimated to account for 25% of energy consumption in an average Brazilian supermarket. Key activities include establishing a Policy Working Group, conducting a national market assessment, developing a Monitoring, Verification and Enforcement (MVE) framework, and creating guidelines for sustainable public procurement. The project also intends to share lessons learned with other MERCOSUR countries to create a regional multiplier effect.

The briefing highlights three key pieces of US federal legislation—the Coronavirus and Climate Relief omnibus bill, the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act, and the American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act—as evidence of bipartisan and ambitious climate momentum. It further argues that President-Elect Biden's cabinet appointments, including the creation of the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and the National Climate Advisor, signal that climate change will be a cross-agency priority integrated with economic and public health policies.