Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief examines the intersection of international trade and climate change, specifically focusing on how the World Trade Organization (WTO) can facilitate cooperation to support climate mitigation and adaptation goals while ensuring a just transition for developing countries.

This report by Trend Asia analyzes the environmental risks associated with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara's (PLN) co-firing policy, which mixes biomass with coal in power plants. The author argues that the massive land requirements for energy plantation forests (HTE) to supply wood pellets will likely lead to significant deforestation, contradicting Indonesia's climate commitments.

Trend Asia reports that PT PLN's plan for 10% biomass co-firing in 107 coal power plants could drive massive deforestation in Indonesia. The report estimates a need for up to 2.33 million hectares of energy wood plantations, which, based on historical trends, could result in the loss of over 1 million hectares of natural forest. It highlights contradictions in Indonesia's climate targets and argues that biomass is not a carbon-neutral energy source due to the resulting 'carbon debt'.

This research paper examines renewable energy project financing via public-private partnerships (PPP) in Southeast Asia and Central Asia, noting a transition from hydropower toward solar and wind projects to meet growing energy demands and emissions commitments.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes how the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) can implement the Glasgow Statement to end international public finance for fossil fuels and redirect those funds toward clean energy.

This policy brief by Ember provides recommendations for the European Commission's Grids Action Plan, arguing that power grids must become the backbone of the energy system to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. The document identifies critical gaps in investment, data transparency, and planning frameworks, proposing a shift toward anticipatory grid investments and integrated system-level planning to ensure grid constraints do not hinder renewable energy deployment.

The State of Climate Action 2022 report assesses progress across 40 indicators of systemwide transformation required to limit global warming to 1.5°C, finding that none of these indicators are currently on track to meet their 2030 targets.

This guide by RMI describes resilience hubs as community-serving facilities designed to support vulnerable populations during and after extreme weather events. It outlines five foundational areas of support—power, communication, facilities, operations, and services—and provides six strategic lessons for cities implementing these hubs, emphasizing community partnership, energy efficiency, and the integration of solar and battery storage.

Between October 2021 and September 2022, wind and solar energy became the primary source of electricity in Chile (27.5%), surpassing coal (26.5%) for the first time. Since 2016, Chile has successfully met increasing electricity demand through renewables, leading to a 6% reduction in emissions between 2016 and 2021 despite an 11% rise in demand. The country aims for 80% renewable electricity by 2030 and a zero-emission grid by 2050, supported by a plan to phase out coal by 2040.

Between October 2021 and September 2022, wind and solar power overtook coal as the primary source of electricity in Chile, generating 27.5% of the total compared to coal's 26.5%. Since 2016, Chile has successfully met rising electricity demand through renewable growth, leading to a 6% drop in power sector emissions between 2016 and 2021. While the government targets a coal phase-out by 2040 and a zero-emissions grid by 2050, the report suggests these targets should be accelerated to 2030 and 2035 respectively to align with IEA recommendations.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that providing government financial support for the decarbonization of Canada's oil and gas sector is an ineffective use of public funds. The document asserts that the industry possesses sufficient windfall profits to fund its own emissions reductions and that public subsidies risk prolonging the lifespan of fossil fuel projects, creating stranded assets, and slowing the transition to renewable energy. It specifically critiques the reliance on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) as a high-cost, low-impact solution and advocates for redirecting public investment toward proven low-carbon technologies like wind, solar, and grid electrification.

The report 'Navigating Energy Transitions: Mapping the road to 1.5°C' analyzes various climate and energy pathways to determine the requirements for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It focuses on the necessary phase-out of fossil fuels, the scale-up of renewables, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy systems, specifically regarding Europe's reliance on Russian gas.

The report by Ember outlines a pathway for Australia to significantly reduce annual methane emissions from coal mines by 2030. It argues that coal mine methane (CMM) mitigation is a cost-effective and rapid way to meet climate targets, potentially reducing Australia's total annual methane emissions by 18% by 2030.

This final report, commissioned by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, provides a comprehensive analysis of scenarios for Estonia to achieve climate-neutral electricity production by 2050. The study evaluates eight scenarios—one baseline and seven climate-neutral—comparing them based on costs, risks, socio-economic impacts, and technical feasibility. The report recommends a strategy based on either 'All Technologies' or 'Renewables and Storage' as the most balanced paths forward, while cautioning against a heavy reliance on nuclear energy or carbon capture and utilization (CCU) due to high risks or poor economic outcomes.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reviews the decisions made during the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-30) in 2022. It outlines the necessary actions for the Executive Council regarding the IAI's operating budget, the recruitment of a new Executive Director, and the establishment of committees for Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as Scientific Diplomacy.

This briefing by RMI argues that green hydrogen is entering a rapid growth phase known as an "S-curve," moving from pilot projects to the creation of new markets. The document outlines how decreasing renewable energy costs, increased policy action, and expanding industrial demand are driving the technology toward mass-market adoption, offering significant economic opportunities for first-movers across the value chain.

This research paper examines decarbonisation options for the heating sector in Ulaanbaatar, comparing full electrification with the use of solar assisted ground source heat pumps (SAGSHP) to reduce electricity demand and total costs.

This briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs argues for the adoption of 'anticipatory governance' within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to transform industrial policy. It suggests that embedding foresight into policymaking allows the region to proactively address uncertainties, such as those highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and leverage emerging trends in digitisation and climate action to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the European Union must utilize the European Hydrogen Bank and targeted subsidies to mitigate market and first-mover risks to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen. The document suggests that strategic public investment can unlock hundreds of billions in private capital, ensuring energy security and sustainability for industrial and transport sectors.

This policy brief examines how the war in Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains and increased fertilizer prices across Africa, threatening food security and crop yields. It argues that while short-term input subsidies are necessary, African nations must pursue long-term industrialization to build local fertilizer manufacturing capacity using the continent's own natural gas, coal, and phosphate rock reserves.