Search Climate Insights Directory

This document is a petition submitted on November 2, 2018, by three Romanian non-governmental organizations—Alburnus Maior, Greenpeace Romania, and the Independent Center for the Development of Environmental Resources (ICDER)—requesting non-disputing party (amicus curiae) status in the ICSID arbitration case Gabriel Resources Ltd. and Gabriel Resources (Jersey) v. Romania. The petitioners seek to provide the Tribunal with evidence and perspectives on the environmental, cultural, and social impacts of a proposed open-pit gold mine in Roşia Montană, as well as details regarding domestic legal challenges to the project.

This amicus curiae submission, filed by Alburnus Maior, Centrul Independent pentru Dezvoltarea Resurselor de Mediu (ICDER), and Greenpeace Romania, argues that Gabriel Resources Ltd. failed to meet investor responsibilities and legal requirements regarding a proposed gold mine in Roșia Montană, Romania. The document contends that the company lacked due diligence on project feasibility, violated human rights related to adequate housing, and failed to obtain necessary environmental and archaeological permits under Romanian and EU law.

This media backgrounder from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) examines the 'Monsanto Papers'—discovery documents from U.S. litigation—and their implications for Health Canada's 2017 re-evaluation of glyphosate. The document alleges that Monsanto engaged in ghostwriting scientific papers, manipulating public perception of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and collaborating with regulatory bodies to maintain the registration of glyphosate.

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains the regulatory framework and procedures for foreign entities to issue green panda bonds in mainland China. It details the requirements for both panda bonds (yuan-denominated bonds issued by foreign entities) and green bonds, highlighting the role of Chinese regulatory bodies, the importance of the interbank market, and the process for aligning with both national and international green standards.

This handbook by the Climate Bonds Initiative provides a comprehensive guide for foreign entities wishing to issue green panda bonds in mainland China. It details the regulatory landscape, the definition of green panda bonds, the step-by-step issuance process, and the specific requirements for both panda bonds and green bonds within the Chinese market.

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative provides a comprehensive overview of the regulations, procedures, and market dynamics for foreign entities wishing to issue green panda bonds in mainland China. It defines the green panda bond as a Renminbi-denominated bond issued by a foreign entity in China with proceeds dedicated to green projects, requiring compliance with both panda bond and green bond guidelines.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the role of public finance in mobilizing private investment for renewable energy in Indonesia. It evaluates eight public finance instruments used between 2012 and 2016, identifying significant financing barriers—such as high interest rates and a lack of long-term debt—and recommends strategic shifts toward using local development financial institutions and improved revenue support to meet the country's 2025 renewable energy targets.

The 'People Power Now!' Energy Manifesto, published by Friends of the Earth International in November 2018, calls for a systemic overhaul of the global energy system to achieve climate justice and energy sovereignty. The document argues that the current economic model, driven by corporate profit and the commodification of nature, is unsustainable and must be replaced by a people-centered system based on 100% renewable energy, energy sufficiency, and social equity.

This manifesto by Friends of the Earth International calls for a systemic transformation of the global energy system to achieve energy sovereignty and climate justice. It argues that the current economic model, based on privatization and the commodification of nature, has led to ecological and social crises. The document outlines ten key demands, emphasizing that energy should be treated as a common good rather than a commodity, and advocating for a transition to 100% renewable energy that is decentralized, community-controlled, and socially just.

This manifesto by Friends of the Earth International calls for a radical transformation of the global energy system, moving away from a profit-driven model toward 'energy sovereignty' and climate justice. It advocates for energy to be treated as a common good, the universal right to energy sufficiency, and a transition to 100% renewable energy that is decentralized, community-controlled, and equitable between the Global North and South.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the flow of public money in G20 countries that supports fossil fuel production and consumption. It argues that despite international commitments like the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, G20 governments continue to provide substantial subsidies, credit support, and state-owned enterprise (SOE) investments to the fossil fuel sector. The document provides eight case studies of reforms in countries such as Indonesia, Canada, Argentina, and India, as well as the European Union, to illustrate how public resources can be shifted toward a low-carbon economy and sustainable development.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how G20 governments can reform public support for fossil fuels to align with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. It provides eight case studies of reforms in consumption and production subsidies, public financing, and taxation, while offering a framework for transitioning public funds toward clean energy and social needs.

This guide from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) introduces the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA), explaining its mechanism as a financial instrument for corporate renewable energy procurement. It distinguishes VPPAs from physical PPAs, detailing how they allow companies to support new renewable energy capacity and meet sustainability goals without taking ownership of physical electricity or altering their existing utility relationships.

This policy briefing examines the potential for developing a domestic sunflower value chain in Malawi, identifying bottlenecks in production and processing while highlighting opportunities for industrial growth and diversification from traditional crops.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the interactions between energy transition and agricultural transformation in Rwanda. Using scenario modelling up to 2050, the authors identify critical resource competition hotspots—particularly regarding water, land, and biomass—and argue that a lack of coordinated planning between sectors threatens the country's sustainable development goals and ecosystem preservation.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) examines the interdependencies between water, energy, and food security in Rwanda's Akagera Basin. Using a 'nexus toolkit' comprising policy coherence analysis and quantitative scenario modelling (WEAP and LEAP), the study evaluates how national development goals—such as agricultural intensification and energy transition—interact and compete for limited natural resources. The research highlights criticalS significant trade-offs, particularly regarding water availability for irrigation versus hydropower and the persistent risk of deforestation despite efforts to transition to cleaner cooking fuels.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has developed the 'Village propre–Village productif' (Clean Village–Productive Village) framework to improve rural sanitation by integrating risk management with the productive recycling of local waste. The framework uses a phased certification system to motivate communities to move from basic sanitation to a comprehensive system that protects health and enhances agricultural productivity.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the barriers to creating a sustainable charcoal sector in Kenya, where charcoal serves over 80% of the urban population's cooking energy needs.

This document is a formal comment by groundWork submitted to the South African Department of Energy regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018. The author argues that the IRP 2018 fails to address the urgency of the climate crisis, underestimates the health and environmental costs of coal, and maintains an outdated energy model that prioritizes coal and gas over a rapid transition to renewables.

This fact sheet, based on interviews with EESI staff, examines the transition from diesel to battery-powered electric buses (BEBs), highlighting their environmental and health benefits, economic trade-offs, and the current state of deployment in the United States and globally.