Search Climate Insights Directory
54 results
Drawdown Review
The Drawdown Review 2020 argues that the world can reach Drawdown by the mid-2040s to mid-2060s by scaling existing technologies and practices. The framework categorizes solutions into reducing emission sources, supporting carbon sinks, and improving society. The report emphasizes that the financial benefits of these solutions, with operational savings exceeding implementation costs four to five times over, outweigh the costs of action.
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Document type: Report
Risks and Uncertainties in Low-Carbon Energy Pathways
The text examines Kenya's energy transition, focusing on the shift toward private-sector participation in the geothermal power sector and the effort to modernize the cooking sector to increase the sustainability of charcoal use.
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Document type: Research paper
Risky Business: Developing Geothermal Power in Kenya
This report examines the expansion of geothermal power in Kenya, highlighting its role in the country's climate mitigation goals and the challenges of attracting private investment due to social, political, and environmental risks.
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Document type: Report
Risky business: developing geothermal power in Kenya
The document examines the barriers to expanding geothermal energy in Kenya, noting that while the resource is abundant and central to the country's climate goals, development is slowed by high upfront exploration costs and infrastructure expenses. It highlights political risks such as the financial viability of the offtaker, Kenya Power, and bureaucratic tensions between national and county governments. Socially, the report identifies community opposition due to land relocation and the uneven distribution of benefits, where marginalized local populations bear the environmental and social costs while urban centers and elites receive the energy benefits. It concludes that for geothermal expansion to be sustainable, the government must better mitigate these risks and ensure equitable benefit-sharing.
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Document type: Briefing
Australia and New Zealand Briefing
As of June 30, 2018, Australia and New Zealand have established themselves as leaders in the use of the Climate Bonds Standard, despite differing national climate policy environments. Australia's market is driven by major banks and sub-sovereign entities, with significant issuance in energy, transport, and buildings. New Zealand's market is more nascent, featuring a world-first green borrowing programme for geothermal energy. Both nations are noted for high levels of certification and best-practice reporting, though further policy support and project pipelines are needed to meet Paris Agreement targets.
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Document type: Briefing
A METHODOLOGY TO ESTIMATE WATER DEMAND FOR THERMAL POWER PLANTS IN DATA-SCARCE REGIONS USING SATELLITE IMAGES
The World Resources Institute developed a three-step method to estimate thermal power plant water demand: identifying cooling and fuel types via satellite images, assigning water-use factors from empirical data, and calculating total use based on net generation. Tested on 200 U.S. plants, the method achieved 90% precision in cooling and 89% in fuel identification, though water demand estimation precision was lower at 69%. The authors note limitations regarding image resolution, the inability to distinguish specific generation technologies within a fuel type, and the reliance on U.S.-based water-use factors which may vary globally.
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Document type: Research paper
Leveraging private sector finance for climate compatible development: Lessons from CDKN
The document outlines nine key lessons for engaging the private sector in climate projects, emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches, strong public policy, and the use of innovative financial instruments. It argues that public sector leadership is essential to reduce risks and demonstrate the business case for private investment, particularly in adaptation projects which are typically seen as riskier than mitigation projects. Case studies from countries like Indonesia, Kenya, India, and Colombia illustrate the effectiveness of risk-sharing mechanisms, pilot projects, and the inclusion of private actors in the design phase of project lifecycles.
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Document type: Research paper
What is the true cost of coal in Central Java?
The document examines the 'true cost' of coal-fired power in Central Java, Indonesia, contrasting the financial and social costs of planned coal expansion against the potential of renewable energy. It argues that current capacity plans may lead to unnecessary overcapacity and that the inclusion of health and climate externalities makes renewables a cheaper alternative.
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Document type: Case study
Lessons and Innovations to Spur Green Investment in Developing Countries
The document identifies three primary barriers to green investment in developing countries: risk gaps (policy, technology, financial, and sovereign), viability gaps (access to finance and high costs), and knowledge gaps. It argues that while sufficient global capital exists, public policy and finance must be better targeted to unlock it. The briefing provides case studies on fiscal policy adjustments in Indonesia to promote sustainable land use, the use of public-private partnerships and government guarantees to develop geothermal power in Kenya, and various innovative instruments developed through the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, such as Energy Savings Insurance and FX hedging facilities.
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Document type: Briefing
Innovative risk finance solutions: Insights for geothermal power development in Kenya and Ethiopia
The paper examines how insurance can mitigate high resource and drilling risks to attract private sector investment in geothermal energy, specifically focusing on capacity-building efforts in Kenya and Ethiopia.
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Document type: Research paper
Financing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions: Insights from CDKN’s experience
The document examines the financing gap for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), noting that demand for implementation funding far exceeds available dedicated supply. It identifies several barriers to investment, including a narrow focus on specific donor requirements, a lack of financial planning expertise in project design, and misalignment with the investment logic of multilateral development banks. The paper argues that NAMAs must diversify their funding sources and integrate with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to achieve transformational impact, while recommending early engagement with finance ministries and the private sector to improve project bankability.
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Document type: Research paper
The role of the Climate Investment Funds in meeting investment needs
The report finds that the CIF provides a unique, programmatic approach to climate finance that differs from the project-by-project model of the GCF. It has been the largest source of external concessional finance for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), particularly in high-risk technologies like geothermal and concentrated solar power. The authors recommend keeping the CIF operational to maintain momentum and bridge investment gaps, suggesting it work complementarily with the GCF.
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Document type: Report
Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report
The report finds that global geothermal operating capacity reached 13.3 GW across 24 countries by January 2016, with a forecast to reach 18.4 GW by 2021. While international growth is supported by COP21 commitments and the Global Geothermal Alliance's goal of 65 GW by 2030, the U.S. market has nearly stalled at 3.7 GW of nameplate capacity due to cheap natural gas and unbalanced tax incentives. The report highlights that only 6-7% of global geothermal potential has been tapped and emphasizes the need for increased public financing to drive private investment in developing nations.
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Document type: Report
RE-ARCTIC: Promoting renewable energy, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and benefitting communities in the North
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that while the Arctic possesses vast renewable energy reserves and successful technology tests, adoption remains slow. To accelerate this transition, the IISD proposes clear long-term targets, the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies—specifically subsidized diesel—and the establishment of public-private partnerships funded by environmental taxes.
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Document type: Briefing
Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) to accelerate geothermal power: Lessons from Kenya
Kenya aims to expand its geothermal power capacity to 5,000 MW by 2030 to support low-carbon development and reduce reliance on hydropower. To achieve this, the government developed a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) designed to mobilise private sector investment and international technical support. While Kenya had an installed geothermal capacity of approximately 340 MW as of October 2014, the development of the NAMA faced hurdles including stakeholder buy-in, securing financial partners, and addressing 'additionality' questions. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of tailored communication and aligning the NAMA's scope with broader sectoral transformation.
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Document type: Briefing
Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) to accelerate geothermal power: Lessons from Kenya
Kenya developed a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) to accelerate geothermal power expansion by increasing private sector investment. The process highlighted several institutional and financial barriers, including a lack of stakeholder awareness and the rigid processes of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). Key lessons include the need for tailored communication and a 'prospectus' approach to documenting NAMA options for donors. The NAMA aims to support 820 MW of additional capacity by 2020, contributing to a long-term goal of 5,000 MW by 2030.
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Document type: Briefing
The Role of Public Finance in Deploying Geothermal: Background Paper
The report identifies geothermal energy as a cost-competitive, low-carbon baseload power source, but notes that its deployment is hindered by high resource risks and long development timelines. It finds that 76-90% of geothermal project investments rely on public debt or equity, as the private sector is generally unwilling to fund the high-risk exploration phase. The document argues that while current policy support often focuses on the operational phase, public finance should be redirected toward the early stages of project development to attract more private capital.
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Document type: Report
The Landscape of Public Climate Finance in Indonesia
In 2011, Indonesia disbursed at least IDR 8,377 billion (USD 951 million) in public climate finance, with the domestic government providing 66% of these funds. The majority of domestic spending (73%) targeted 'indirect activities' such as policy development, primarily in the forestry sector. International development partners contributed 34% of the total, with a stronger focus on direct mitigation and adaptation projects, particularly in energy. The report identifies significant tracking gaps, especially regarding adaptation finance, and highlights the limited role of local governments and the untapped potential of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in delivering climate action.
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Document type: Report
Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan and the Private Sector
The document outlines the role of the private sector in achieving Kenya's low carbon climate resilient development pathway as defined in the National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017. It details sector-specific opportunities for mitigation and adaptation, highlighting existing private sector investments in geothermal power, bagasse cogeneration, and solar panel assembly. The briefing emphasizes that the plan creates new market opportunities and cost savings for businesses across agriculture, energy, ICT, and urban development.
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Document type: Briefing
Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan and the Private Sector
The document outlines the financial requirements for Kenya's transition to a low-carbon economy, estimating that Ksh 1,085 billion is needed for the 2013-2017 National Climate Change Action Plan. It identifies key barriers to private investment, such as arduous project development processes, and suggests improvements including the implementation of the draft Climate Change Bill 2014. While Kenya has a strong track record in renewable energy investment and voluntary carbon markets, the briefing warns that compliance carbon markets are currently limited by oversupply and lack of access to the EU-ETS. It lists several domestic and international funding mechanisms available to Kenyan businesses for clean technology and energy efficiency.
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Document type: Briefing