Search Climate Insights Directory

This report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the Kalivaç and Poçem hydropower projects (HPPs) on the Vjosa River in Albania. It compares these projects against hypothetical solar PV and onshore wind alternatives, integrating environmental, social, and economic externalities into cost-benefit analyses (CBA), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and financial performance models. The assessment finds that the HPPs are uneconomic and socially costly compared to solar PV, primarily due to high dredging costs and significant losses in agriculture and tourism.

This Green Bond Fact Sheet details a USD 325 million green bond issued by Vena Energy on February 26, 2020, with a five-year tenor maturing on February 26, 2025. The bond is intended to fund renewable energy projects, specifically solar, wind, and hydropower, and is the first green bond from a Singaporean non-financial corporate to be denominated in USD and to acquire a green bond rating.

This case study examines water-use conflicts and water stress in the Campoalegre River basin in Colombia, focusing on the impact of water diversions and fragmented governance on downstream supply.

This legal investigation, conducted by Front Advokater for the Stockholm Environment Institute, analyzes the legal protections available to Swedish samebyar (Sami villages) against land exploitation for hydropower. It examines the historical context of hydropower development in northern Sweden, the fundamental rights of the Sami people, the current environmental permit process, and the implications of new legislation effective January 1, 2019, regarding the review of existing hydropower plants to establish modern environmental conditions.

This fact sheet by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) describes a study on enhancing the climate resilience of water and energy infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system and the Open Source Energy Modeling System (OSeMOSYS), SEI evaluated seven major river basins to estimate the economic risks posed by climate change to hydropower and irrigation, providing recommendations for robust investment decision-making.

This fact sheet details a CHF 200 million green bond issued by BKW Group on July 29, 2019, marking the first utility issuer in Switzerland to do so. The bond, with a maturity date of July 29, 2027, is used to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and terrestrial biodiversity conservation, with current allocations focused on hydro and wind power plants.

This fact sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative details a BRL 1.294 billion (USD 343 million) green bond issued by Neoenergia, a subsidiary of Iberdrola in Brazil, on July 23, 2019.

This fact sheet provides details on a NOK 300 million green bond issued by Clemens Kraft AS on February 13, 2018, to fund small-scale run-of-river hydro power plants in Norway.

This fact sheet describes a EUR 500 million green bond issued by UBI Banca on April 10, 2019, with a five-year tenor. The proceeds are dedicated to financing or refinancing loans for renewable energy projects, primarily solar and wind power.

This research paper examines the energy cooperation between Russia and South Africa within the BRICS framework, analyzing Russia's strategic pivot toward emerging markets and South Africa's shift from a failed large-scale nuclear deal toward renewable energy projects.

A Stockholm Environment Institute study assesses the vulnerability of electricity expansion plans in the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) to climate-driven changes in hydropower generation, concluding that planning for a slightly wetter climate than historical trends provides the most resilient strategy.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the gender imbalances within the energy sector of the Lower Mekong Region (LMR). It argues that without gender-sensitive policies, the transition to renewable energy may reinforce existing inequalities, as women are under-represented in technical roles and often excluded from energy decision-making and benefits.

The Bank of Guiyang issued a CNY5bn (USD731.9m) green bond on August 31, 2018, to fund projects in pollution prevention, ecological protection, and resource recycling. Key projects include sewage plants, wetland restoration, and a small-scale hydropower project. While the Climate Bonds Initiative included the bond due to its ecological focus, it noted potential controversies regarding the use of proceeds for resettlement.

A Green Bond Fact Sheet detailing a TWD 2.9 billion green bond issued by the state-owned Taiwan Power Company on November 15, 2018, to finance various local renewable energy projects.

A Green Bond Fact Sheet for a EUR 50 million senior secured bond issued by Småkraft AS on November 2, 2018, to finance small-scale hydropower plants in Norway.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) examines the interdependencies between water, energy, and food security in Rwanda's Akagera Basin. Using a 'nexus toolkit' comprising policy coherence analysis and quantitative scenario modelling (WEAP and LEAP), the study evaluates how national development goals—such as agricultural intensification and energy transition—interact and compete for limited natural resources. The research highlights criticalS significant trade-offs, particularly regarding water availability for irrigation versus hydropower and the persistent risk of deforestation despite efforts to transition to cleaner cooking fuels.

The Climate Bonds Initiative's Q3 2018 report on the Chinese green bond market details a total issuance of USD 8.5 billion for the quarter, with a cumulative USD 21.5 billion for the first three quarters of 2018. The report highlights the dominance of financial corporates, the growth of local government financing vehicles, and the ongoing alignment challenges between Chinese and international green bond definitions.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute discusses the potential climate, environmental, and social impacts of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia. It highlights the risks of 'carbon lock-in' from coal and fossil fuel investments and the ecological threats posed by hydropower dams in the Mekong region. To mitigate these risks, the authors propose a participatory decision-making framework based on transparency, stakeholder inclusion, and adherence to international sustainable finance standards.

This research paper examines Tanzania's energy options, arguing that decentralized renewable energy is superior to large-scale hydropower, specifically the proposed Stiegler's Gorge dam, for achieving sustainable development and broad-based electrification.

This fact sheet details a USD 200 million green bond issued by Landsvirkjun on March 9, 2018, marking the first green bond from an Icelandic issuer. The proceeds are designated for geothermal and hydropower projects, specifically the Theistareykir geothermal station and the Burfell hydropower plant.