Search Climate Insights Directory

A statement by the World Resources Institute urging the United States government to endorse the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations at the 2017 G20 Summit to protect investors and maintain U.S. business competitiveness.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2017: G20 Edition evaluates the climate efforts of the 20 largest economies, which collectively account for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The index assesses countries based on emissions, energy use, renewable energy, and climate policy to determine if they are on track to meet the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines three key indicators that would demonstrate the G20's commitment to climate action following the 2015 Paris Agreement, ahead of the September summit in Hangzhou, China.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for G20 countries to reform fossil fuel subsidies. It advocates for the use of voluntary peer review processes to increase transparency, the establishment of an ambitious and defined timetable for phasing out inefficient subsidies, and the implementation of targeted support to protect the poorest populations during the transition.

This briefing by Simon Maxwell of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) proposes a 'green growth guarantee' as a concrete deliverable for the G20 summit in Los Cabos and the Rio+20 Summit in 2012. The author argues that while technical discussions on green growth are advancing, political leaders need a high-profile commitment to support developing countries in planning and implementing sustainable growth through indicators, financial engagement, and peer review.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice examines the challenges and progress of phasing out fossil fuels within G20 nations. It highlights the economic and social dependencies that hinder the transition, the failure of G20 countries to meet subsidy reduction promises, and the specific goals of South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency to champion a people-centered, just energy transition.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development evaluates Australia's government support for fossil fuels, noting a 30% increase in support relative to the 2014–2016 average and highlighting significant tax exemptions for producers and users.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Africa's potential to become a global green hydrogen hub and outlines how G20 members can support a just energy transition on the continent. It highlights Africa's competitive advantages in renewable energy and infrastructure while detailing specific national projects and regional frameworks necessary for scaling production.

This policy note, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in October 2025, advocates for a shift from incremental to transformational climate adaptation in Africa. It outlines the conceptual differences between these approaches, identifies systemic barriers to implementation across the continent, and provides strategic recommendations for South Africa's G20 presidency to champion scalable, just, and context-specific adaptation frameworks.

The G20 Energy Access Action Plan is a multi-phase voluntary collaboration framework designed to strengthen G20 member cooperation on energy access. The first phase specifically targets improving electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa through six strategic pillars: policy and regulatory environments, technology deployment, investment and finance, capacity building, regional integration, and coordination. The plan emphasizes sharing knowledge and good practices while respecting the sovereign right of nations to determine their own energy mix.

This compendium, led by India's Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), explores how G20 countries can promote energy-efficient lifestyles by combining rational motivations with positive emotional narratives. It highlights the 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) movement and provides case studies on energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and transport, emphasizing that human-centered communication can accelerate the transition to decarbonized economies.

The 2021 Production Gap report by the Stockholm Environment Institute finds that global government plans for fossil fuel production in 2030 are more than double what is required to limit warming to 1.5°C. Despite net-zero pledges, most major producers plan to increase or maintain production, and G20 nations have provided more new funding to fossil fuels than clean energy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research paper, produced by the World Resources Institute and UNDP for the G20 Climate and Sustainability Working Group, argues that Long-Term Strategies (LTSs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are synergistic tools essential for achieving Paris Agreement goals and fostering sustainable economic growth within G20 nations.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Climate Analytics evaluates how the climate commitments of G20 countries influence the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C, concluding that while current pledges are insufficient, ambitious G20 action could limit warming to 1.7°C.