Search Climate Insights Directory

A September 2023 briefing by Global Energy Monitor analyzing the renewable energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It highlights a significant increase in operational and prospective solar and wind capacity, while noting a heavy reliance on fossil fuels for electricity and a strategic pivot toward high-risk green hydrogen exports over domestic decarbonization.

This policy brief explores how monitoring and evaluation (M&E) can be used to build transformative equity and resilience in South Africa. Based on six case studies, it identifies four key enablers: contextualized learning, inclusive processes, increased agency for Global South actors in M&E design, and institutional arrangements that ensure long-term data ownership. The brief argues that M&E is a tool of power and advocates for a shift from funder-driven compliance to locally-led, reflexive systems that empower marginalized communities.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) and Budget 2022 to determine how climate policies impact poverty and inequality. Analyzing a sample of 67 measures, the report finds that while many policies reduce emissions, they do not automatically produce positive social outcomes and some may even exacerbate systemic inequality without specific social safeguards.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the process of mine relinquishment—the legal transfer of responsibility for a closed mine site from the operator to a government or new landowner. It identifies a global gap in clear relinquishment policies and proposes a six-step framework to help governments manage residual risks and ensure sustainable post-mining land use.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for governments to implement the 'restitution' of closed mine sites. Restitution is defined as the legal transfer of responsibility from the mine operator to a subsequent landowner after closure activities are completed and approved. The document identifies systemic gaps in global policies, where sites often remain indefinitely with operators or are transferred without adequate funding for long-term monitoring. It proposes a six-step policy process: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) provides the scientific foundation and methodology for the "Time to Lead – science to accelerate the Global Goals" campaign. It synthesizes recommendations from five key scientific reports published between 2022 and 2023 to guide decision-makers in accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the September 2023 SDG Summit.

This policy paper maps the landscape of standards and initiatives related to plastic pollution to support international cooperation. It categorizes instruments into government regulations, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. The paper highlights the role of these standards in the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC) and the WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), emphasizing the need for inclusiveness for developing countries and the identification of 'standards gaps' across the plastics life cycle.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is leading an initiative to transition the U.S. school bus fleet to electric by 2030 to eliminate carcinogenic diesel exhaust and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9 million metric tons annually. The initiative focuses on equitable deployment in low-income communities and communities of color, while collaborating with manufacturers, utilities, and policymakers to overcome infrastructure and funding barriers.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines strategies to strengthen Africa's digital infrastructure to enhance economic resilience. It identifies critical gaps in both 'hard' infrastructure (power and broadband) and 'soft' infrastructure (digital ID and payment systems) and proposes a coordinated continental approach through the African Union and the AfCFTA to reduce fragmentation and attract investment.

This interim report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the investment needs and barriers associated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), focusing on low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDCs).

This report assesses the potential for renewable energy manufacturing in Southeast Asia, specifically focusing on solar photovoltaic (PV), batteries, and electric two-wheelers, to support decarbonization and economic growth.

This research paper examines the evolution of multilateralism through the lens of relations between the European Union (EU) and the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), particularly against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The author argues that a 'structural disjuncture' exists between the EU's preference for bilateral strategic partnerships and BRICS' pursuit of an inclusive, South-South multilateral model that challenges Western-led global governance and economic norms.

A research paper by the NewClimate Institute analyzing the German transport sector's emissions projections as of August 2023, concluding that current policies align with a global warming path of approximately 3°C.

A report by Energy Innovation finds that leasing an electric vehicle (EV) is currently the most affordable option for new car buyers in the United States, outperforming the costs of buying or leasing internal combustion engine vehicles.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of the Life after Coal Campaign, submitted further comments on the draft South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) in August 2023. The submission argues that gender equality and justice must be a deliberate, central outcome of the energy transition rather than an afterthought, as systemic patriarchy and existing discrimination currently limit women's participation in the renewable energy sector.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the alignment of Indonesia's power sector finance with its Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 roadmap. It identifies a significant financing and capacity gap for renewable energy, noting that while renewable finance has grown, it remains far below the USD 16 billion annual investment required to meet national targets.

Ember submitted two statements to the Australian government regarding the Safeguard Mechanism in August 2023. The submissions focus on establishing stringent international best practice benchmarks for new coal mines and evaluating the proposed production variable for run-of-mine coal to ensure it drives genuine methane emissions reductions without creating windfall credits for open-cut facilities.

This guide by RMI outlines how US states can maximize the impact of $8.5 billion in home energy rebates provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It details two primary programs—the Home Efficiency Rebates and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates—and proposes three strategic actions for states: prioritizing low-income and disadvantaged communities, stacking multiple incentives to reduce upfront costs, and developing complementary state-level policies to scale building retrofits and workforce training.

This RMI fact sheet argues that scaling green hydrogen for a 1.5°C-aligned future will have a minimal impact on global freshwater supplies, as its water consumption is comparable to or lower than fossil-fuel-based hydrogen and other energy production methods. While global impact is low, the document emphasizes the need for intentional project siting and the use of alternative water sources to avoid straining local water-stressed regions.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the financing landscape of Indonesia's power sector from 2015 to 2021. It highlights a significant gap between current investment trends and the funding required to meet the country's Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 targets, while detailing the shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy finance.