Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the potential impacts of proposed World Trade Organization (WTO) fisheries subsidy rules on the Southern Longline (SLL) tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Focusing on South Pacific albacore, the study examines six fleets (China, Chinese Taipei, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and French Polynesia) to assess how prohibitions on subsidies for IUU fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity would affect fleet profitability and regional sustainability.

This report examines the potential impacts of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on fishing subsidies, specifically focusing on shrimp fisheries in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. It analyzes how prohibitions on subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overcapacity, and overexploited populations could affect industrial and artisanal fleets in Latin American countries.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines government support for fuel consumption in the fisheries sector, analyzing data from the OECD and WTO. It highlights the prevalence of fuel tax concessions and direct price support across both OECD and non-OECD economies, while noting significant gaps in transparency and notification within WTO frameworks.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the fiscal burden and distributional efficiency of electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies in India. It identifies significant knowledge gaps due to outdated census data and proposes various targeting mechanisms—including volumetric, categorical, and income-based approaches—to ensure subsidies reach the poorest households without compromising energy access.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution presents Southern African states with an opportunity to transform their economic trajectories through a systemic innovation approach. It advocates for a 'just e-volution' that integrates the mining, automotive, and energy sectors to move toward a low-carbon economy, specifically suggesting a 'Green New Deal' for the SADC region to avoid becoming a dumping ground for obsolete internal combustion engine technology.

This report by Energy Innovation outlines an illustrative policy pathway to achieve net zero emissions in the United States by 2050 using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS). The proposed pathway aims to abate over 6 Gt of emissions annually and save more than 120,000 lives per year by reducing particulate pollution, focusing on the industrial, transportation, electricity, and buildings sectors.

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights to the IPP Office of the Department of Energy requesting an update on the commercial and financial close deadlines for the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations, noting that the deadlines of 2 and 3 November 2019 have expired.

This case study, part of a larger report on BRICS nations, analyzes the fiscal relationship between the South African government and fossil fuels, focusing on revenue dependence and the impact of subsidies.

This case study, part of a larger report on BRICS nations, analyzes the fiscal relationship between the Chinese government and fossil fuels, focusing on revenue percentages and the impact of subsidies.

This case study, part of a larger report on BRICS nations, analyzes the fiscal relationship between the Brazilian government and fossil fuels, focusing on revenue dependence and the impact of subsidies.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute compares geothermal and coal power generation in Kenya, evaluating their impacts on costs, affordability, reliability, and sustainable development. The study finds that geothermal energy is significantly more cost-effective, creates more domestic employment, and has far lower environmental and health impacts than the proposed coal plants in Lamu and Kitui.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines the potential of renewable energy mini-grids to help Kenya achieve universal electrification by 2022. It argues that mini-grids are often more cost-effective than national grid extension for rural and remote areas and can provide significant socio-economic and climate benefits, though they remain under-represented in national planning documents like the 2018 Kenya National Electrification Strategy (KNES) and the 2017-2037 Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP).

RMI is testing a "community-led" approach to rural minigrids in sub-Saharan Africa through its "Sharing the Power" project. Unlike top-down models, which RMI argues can lead to stranded assets and system failure, community-led projects are designed in partnership with local leadership and structures. RMI hypothesizes that this approach can increase electricity demand for productive use and reduce system costs and prices by 60% compared to 2018 levels. The program is currently evaluating implementation in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, submitted a formal request to Minister Gwede Mantashe for written reasons regarding the promulgation of the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity published on 18 October 2019.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, submitted a formal request to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 5 November 2019 for written reasons regarding the approval of the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity published on 18 October 2019.

An open letter from a coalition of environmental activists to President Cyril Ramaphosa urging that the South Africa Investment Conference (5–7 November 2019) prioritize responsible investment over the exploitation of natural resources, specifically opposing the weakening of water use regulations to attract business.

This legal investigation, conducted by Front Advokater for the Stockholm Environment Institute, analyzes the legal protections available to Swedish samebyar (Sami villages) against land exploitation for hydropower. It examines the historical context of hydropower development in northern Sweden, the fundamental rights of the Sami people, the current environmental permit process, and the implications of new legislation effective January 1, 2019, regarding the review of existing hydropower plants to establish modern environmental conditions.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, submitted formal objections on November 1, 2019, to the Final Scoping Assessment Report (FSR) for the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (also known as the Energy Metallurgical Special Economic Zone or EMSEZ). The CER argues that the FSR is fatally flawed due to inadequate public participation, a failure to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the appointment of an incorrect competent authority. The document details severe concerns regarding the project's impact on water scarcity, climate change, air quality, and biodiversity in the Limpopo Province.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and NAPC/PUC-Rio analyzes the changes introduced by Decree No. 9,760/2019 to the rules for converting environmental fines into environmental services in Brazil. The document details the evolution of federal legislation, the specific modifications to the conversion process, and the remaining regulatory gaps that hinder the full implementation of the conversion program.

A Global Energy Monitor report stating that China is driving global coal power expansion, with its capacity increasing by 42.9 GW between 2018 and mid-2019 while the rest of the world decreased. The report highlights that provincial-level approval surges (2014-2016) created a massive pipeline of projects that central government restrictions have failed to fully stop. It concludes that proposed capacity increases to 1,200-1,400 GW by 2035 would far exceed IPCC limits for keeping global warming below 2°C.