Search Climate Insights Directory

The 2023 Mining Policy Framework (MPF), published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on behalf of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), outlines a systemic approach to mining governance. It covers six key areas: laws and institutions, financial benefits, socioeconomic benefits, environmental management, post-mining transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The framework emphasizes the need for transparent fiscal regimes, the protection of human rights and indigenous peoples' consent, rigorous environmental standards to combat climate change, and the formalization of the ASM sector to improve livelihoods and safety.

The guidance notes support the implementation of the IGF Mining Policy Framework across six pillars: Laws, Policies, and Institutions; Financial Benefits; Socio-economic Benefits; Environmental Management; Post-Mining Transition; and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining. It provides specific recommendations for governments to regulate mining activities, optimize fiscal revenues, protect human rights and the environment, and manage the transition after mine closure.

The IGF Mining Policy Framework Guidance 2023 outlines six pillars for sustainable mining governance. It emphasizes the creation of transparent legal frameworks, the optimization of public revenues through progressive fiscal regimes, and the promotion of local socioeconomic benefits with a strong focus on gender equality and indigenous rights. The guide details environmental standards for air, water, and biodiversity, mandates rigorous mine closure planning with financial guarantees, and provides specific strategies to formalize and support artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) while eliminating harmful practices like child labor and mercury use.

The IGF Mining Policy Framework is a detailed guide for governments to regulate the mining sector sustainably. It is organized into six pillars: laws and institutions, financial benefits, socio-economic benefits, environmental management, mine closure transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The framework emphasizes transparency, gender equality, human rights, and the protection of indigenous peoples. Key recommendations include the use of integrated environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), the establishment of robust financial assurance for mine closures, and the formalization of the ASM sector to reduce poverty and environmental harm. It specifically advocates for the elimination of mercury in ASM and the implementation of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous communities.

The document defines a just energy transition as a shift toward sustainable energy that incorporates environmental justice, ensuring marginalized groups are central to decision-making. It analyzes South Africa's current energy system, which is dominated by coal (approximately 80%), and outlines the legal frameworks, such as the Constitution and NEMA, that support community rights. The guide provides practical steps for accessing information via PAIA, securing free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), and participating in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). It also highlights the potential for community-based renewable energy initiatives, using a case study from Kenya to illustrate successful local ownership.

The document serves as a community guide to South Africa's energy transition, explaining the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy through the lens of environmental justice. It details the current energy mix—dominated by coal—and the legal frameworks, such as the Constitution and NEMA, that protect community rights to information and a healthy environment. The guide provides practical steps for accessing government information via PAIA, ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and participating in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). It also highlights the potential for community-led renewable energy projects, using a case study from Kenya to illustrate successful local energy ownership.

The document serves as a legal resource for South African communities to navigate the transition from fossil-fuel-based energy to renewable sources. It defines the Just Energy Transition (JET) and environmental justice, analyzes South Africa's current energy mix—which is 80% coal-dependent—and outlines the legal frameworks, such as the Constitution and the National Environmental Management Act, that support community participation. The guide provides practical steps for accessing information via PAIA requests, securing Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and engaging in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). It also highlights the potential for community-based renewable energy initiatives and the importance of Community Development Agreements to ensure local benefits.

The document analyzes the gap between the formal legal recognition of climate justice and its practical application in Africa's mining and petroleum sectors. It highlights systemic failures in enforcement, the limitations of current judicial and administrative sanctions, and the marginalization of local communities. The report advocates for a shift toward 'active' judiciaries, the adoption of specific climate laws, and the strengthening of corporate due diligence to protect vulnerable populations from the environmental and social impacts of extractive activities.

The 2023 Annual Monitoring Review marks the conclusion of SEforALL's 2021-2023 Business Plan, reporting the overachievement of cross-organizational KPIs. Key results include the mobilization of over USD 8 billion towards energy access and clean energy transitions, the facilitation of 26,669 new energy access connections, and the support of 31 countries in 2023. The report details achievements across four thematic areas: Energy Diplomacy and Advocacy, Energy Access and Closing the Gap, Energy Transitions and Climate, and the Intersection with other SDGs. Notable outcomes include the spearheading of UN Energy Compacts with USD 1.3 trillion in commitments and the deployment of the Universal Energy Facility (UEF) in five countries.

The report outlines a phased roadmap for the Green Power Corridor (GPC) in North-East Asia, aiming to integrate the power grids of China, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation. Using a cost-optimization model, the study demonstrates that enhanced connectivity reduces system costs, accelerates the adoption of low-cost renewables, and supports national net-zero targets. The proposed roadmap is divided into three phases: laying the groundwork (2023-2030), implementation (2030-2040), and organic development (2040 onward), focusing on six building blocks: political accord, institutional framework, infrastructure backbone, financial arrangements, regulatory framework, and social acceptance.

The document examines the interplay between regulatory requirements and voluntary sustainability standards in the agricultural sector. It highlights how these instruments can drive sustainable production but may also create trade barriers for smallholder farmers and MSMEs in developing countries. The brief advocates for a 'smart mix' of mandatory and voluntary approaches, supported by technological advances in traceability and the potential development of a global 'Codex Planetarius' for minimum environmental standards.

WRI's 2023-2027 Strategic Plan shifts the organization from a focus on commitments to delivering tangible impact on the ground. The strategy centers on three interconnected global goals: improving human well-being (People), protecting ecosystem health (Nature), and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C (Climate). To achieve these, WRI targets transitions in three 'Human-Centered Systems'—food, land and water; energy; and cities—supported by shifts in 'Enabling Systems' including economics, finance, and governance. The plan prioritizes 12 focus countries and a network of 25 priority cities, utilizing a new results framework based on theories of change to measure progress toward 2027 and 2030 targets.

The WRI 2023-2027 Strategic Plan aims to facilitate a 'great transition' by addressing the systemic links between human needs, ecosystem health, and climate stability. The strategy focuses on transforming three primary human systems—food, land and water; energy; and cities—while reforming the underlying economic, financial, and governance 'enabling systems.' WRI intends to implement these strategies through global initiatives and deep engagement in 12 focus countries, utilizing evidence-based theories of change and multi-year flexible funding to achieve measurable impact aligned with international targets like the Paris Agreement.

The report examines the significant environmental impacts of animal feed, which accounts for 41% of livestock's global greenhouse gas emissions and 98% of its freshwater use. It proposes four key solutions: Responsible Sourcing to end land conversion, Regenerative Agriculture to improve soil health and carbon sequestration, Circular Ingredients to utilize food waste and by-products, and Feeding Innovations to improve efficiency and reduce enteric methane. The document emphasizes that these solutions require a strong enabling environment, including better data transparency, supportive public policy, and strong market signals across the fragmented feed value chain.

The document argues that current global food production pushes the planet beyond its natural limits, contributing significantly to biodiversity loss, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. WWF proposes a systemic transformation focused on four strategic pillars: conservation of critical landscapes, regenerative and resilient systems, thriving people and communities, and innovation and influence. Key goals for 2030 include achieving zero deforestation from commodity expansion and halving the footprint of agricultural food systems through circular approaches.

The 2023 Forest Pathways Report by WWF International highlights that the world is off track to meet 2030 goals to halt deforestation, with a 21% divergence from targets in 2022. It identifies a massive funding gap, where approximately US$2.2 billion in annual public forest-positive finance is dwarfed by up to US$1 trillion in environmentally harmful subsidies. The report emphasizes the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, noting that their territories often have lower deforestation rates. It advocates for a shift from single-value carbon offsets to a 'contributions approach' and the repurposing of agricultural subsidies. Case studies from Brazil, Colombia, Gabon, and Australia illustrate specific challenges and successful interventions in forest conservation and restoration.

The document argues that current global food production is pushing the planet beyond its natural limits, contributing significantly to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. WWF proposes a 'nature-positive approach' centered on four strategic pillars: conservation of critical landscapes, regenerative and resilient systems, thriving people and communities, and innovation and influence. Key targets for 2030 include achieving zero deforestation from agricultural expansion and halving the environmental footprint of food systems by scaling circular and regenerative practices.

The study uses a dynamic input-output model to compare a business-as-usual baseline against two scenarios: an immediate ban (2024–2025) of four products and a phased withdrawal (2025–2030) of six others. Findings indicate that both interventions lead to positive economic outcomes, including real GDP and employment expansion, while reducing the costs of externalities. However, the transition would cause job losses in plastic production and a modest net increase in greenhouse gas emissions due to increased activity in substitute-producing sectors.

The document outlines how electric vehicles, including cars, buses, and trucks, reduce climate pollution and public health risks compared to internal combustion engines. It highlights that EVs have lower lifetime greenhouse gas emissions despite higher manufacturing footprints and emphasizes the need for expanded charging infrastructure to ensure equitable access. The text specifically details California's leadership in mandating zero-emissions vehicles and investing in electric transit and trucking infrastructure.

WWF urges the NRCS to use IRA funding to establish a National Agricultural Soil Carbon Plus Monitoring Network, prioritize the conservation of the Central Grasslands, and transition toward a 'regenerative agriculture' tier of technical assistance. The document emphasizes the need for better data infrastructure, the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for Native Nations, and the reduction of on-farm food loss and waste to maximize climate and biodiversity outcomes.