Search Climate Insights Directory

The proposal seeks USD 662,065 over 18 months to address five key barriers to climate finance in Saint Lucia: limited NDA capacity, lack of a long-term readiness vision, insufficient accreditation capacity for the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), the absence of a climate finance monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system, and limited knowledge sharing. Key planned activities include the digitalization of the 'No-objection' procedure, the creation of a national climate change website, and the development of a comprehensive MRV system to track public and private climate finance flows. The project will be implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) under the guidance of the National Designated Authority (NDA).

The document examines the need for strategic alignment between Nepal's national policy frameworks—specifically those concerning sustainable development, climate change, and disaster risk reduction—following the country's 2015 constitutional change. It highlights the ongoing review of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the relaunch of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process as key opportunities to improve the coherence and efficiency of climate action.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) advocates for integrating NDC priorities into national stimulus packages to ensure a low-emission recovery. It highlights the GCF's role in providing financial instruments and readiness support to help developing countries, particularly LDCs and SIDS, implement climate-resilient infrastructure and energy efficiency without increasing debt burdens.

The document argues for a 'One Health' approach to prevent future pandemics by protecting ecosystem integrity and stopping the illegal wildlife trade, noting that 70% of new emerging diseases are zoonotic. It advocates for systemic recovery strategies, including 'farm-to-fork' agricultural approaches and sustainable supply chains for commodities like coffee, cocoa, and cotton. The text emphasizes the need for 'do no harm' standards in recovery investments, the scaling of green finance—citing that mangrove investments can yield $7 in economic benefits for every dollar spent—and the alignment of biodiversity goals with the Paris Agreement's NDCs and the Convention on Biological Diversity's 2030 goals.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to forest sector law reform, emphasizing the necessity of a clear forest policy, inclusive stakeholder participation, and a structured, iterative process. It provides technical guidance on drafting clear, coherent laws that comply with legal hierarchies and avoid contradictions with other sectoral legislation. Through case studies from Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire, the guide demonstrates how civil society engagement and targeted advocacy can lead to improved forest governance, including the recognition of community land rights and the implementation of sustainable management principles.

India faces significant climate vulnerability, with nearly 3% of its GDP at risk annually. To meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals, India requires $2.5 trillion in investments between 2016 and 2030, yet it is currently mobilizing less than 25% of this requirement. A primary barrier to scaling these investments is the lack of an agreed-upon definition of 'green finance,' leading to confusion and inconsistent reporting across the financial sector. The document proposes a combination of international practices, a principles-based approach (aligning with national goals and net carbon reduction), and a sectoral taxonomy to create a formal definition. Such a framework would enable better tracking of capital flows, mitigate greenwashing, and allow financial institutions to better assess climate-related physical and transition risks. The authors recommend forming a stakeholder task force to develop a comprehensive green finance roadmap that includes a common taxonomy, mandatory climate risk disclosures, and regulatory incentives to divert capital from carbon-intensive sectors.

The report outlines the design and operationalization of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for Grenada's National Adaptation Plan (NAP). It identifies gaps in current data management—such as reliance on anecdotal knowledge and fragmented storage—and proposes a system to track goal achievement, implementation of Programmes of Action, and vulnerability reduction. The document recommends appointing a NAP M&E Coordinator and consolidating NAP indicators with the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) outcomes to ensure a coherent approach to climate resilience.

The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process is a strategic framework established in 2010 under the Cancun Adaptation Framework to help developing countries identify and address medium- and long-term climate adaptation priorities. It moves beyond ad hoc projects to embed adaptation into national development planning, budgeting, and decision-making. The process consists of three broad phases—planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E)—supported by enabling factors such as financing and capacity development. It is distinct from National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), which focused on urgent short-term needs, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), though it can operationalize the adaptation commitments within NDCs. The document emphasizes that a NAP is both a process and a document, and that effective processes must be country-driven, gender-responsive, and inclusive of the private sector and sub-national actors.

The report assesses the alignment of Nepal's climate, disaster risk, and sustainable development policies within a new federal governance structure. It identifies six key entry points for alignment: institutional arrangements, existing policy synergies, capacity building, information-sharing mechanisms, implementation and financing strategies, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks. The document argues that strategic alignment will increase coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness in achieving climate-resilient development goals.

The document defines the NAP process as a strategic approach for countries to identify and respond to medium- and long-term climate adaptation priorities. It outlines the transition from short-term project-based interventions to systemic integration of adaptation into national development planning and budgeting. The process consists of a continuous cycle of planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E), supported by technical guidelines from the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LDCEG). The text emphasizes that a NAP is both a document and a process, highlighting the importance of vertical integration between national and subnational levels, gender responsiveness, and private sector engagement. It further clarifies the synergy between NAPs, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The document establishes a framework for evaluating 'high-quality' carbon credits across six quality objectives: robust GHG impact determination, avoidance of double counting, addressing non-permanence, facilitating the transition to net zero, strong institutional arrangements, and positive environmental and social impacts. It details specific criteria for each, such as additionality, corresponding adjustments under the Paris Agreement, and the avoidance of carbon lock-in, to guide buyers in a complex market.

The document outlines a framework for policy makers to create long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LTS) as requested by Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. It proposes that an LTS should be an ongoing visioning exercise integrated into continuous planning and harmonized with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The guide suggests three levels of comprehensiveness for LTS development—ranging from base to detailed—to accommodate different country starting points, and identifies eight key aspects for policy makers to address based on their specific national situations.

Green banks are public or quasi-public entities designed to leverage public funds to attract private capital for low-carbon, climate-resilient investments. They address market gaps by reducing perceived risks for private investors through innovative financial tools, helping countries implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Examples include the UK Green Investment Bank, which leveraged £4 of private investment for every £1 of public funds, and Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which has invested in over 110 transactions to avoid an estimated 190 million tons of CO2.

The document argues that the massive fiscal stimulus required for COVID-19 recovery presents a unique opportunity to transition to a low-carbon economy. It suggests that climate-aligned investments offer higher returns than traditional spending, citing benefit-cost ratios for adaptation between 2:1 and 10:1. The author proposes seven action areas: managing corporate bailouts with emissions targets, investing in climate-smart infrastructure (such as renewable energy and nature-based solutions), promoting regulatory reform, reforming tax and subsidy policies (including cutting fossil fuel subsidies), integrating climate risks into financial regulations, enhancing the role of development finance institutions, and sponsoring R&D for new technologies. The text emphasizes that green investments can create more jobs than fossil fuel investments, noting that in the US, $1 million spent on renewable energy creates 7.5 FTE jobs compared to 2.7 in fossil fuels.

The report analyzes the financial feasibility of decentralized renewable energy (DRE) in Indonesia, specifically in underserved regions like Sumba Island. It identifies four primary barriers to private investment: regulatory constraints regarding business area permits, the unattractiveness of small-scale projects due to low returns and off-taker uncertainty, limited access to innovative financing from local banks, and a lack of risk-mitigation instruments. To address these, the authors propose four business models: joint ventures with Village-Owned Enterprises (VOEs), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) using availability payments, joint ventures with Locally Owned Enterprises (LOEs), and a Special Allocation Fund mechanism with joint operations. Additionally, the report suggests financial instruments such as risk pooling, asset-backed securities, and guarantee instruments to improve the risk-return profile for investors.

The report identifies critical vulnerabilities in Ghana's infrastructure due to rising temperatures, variable rainfall, and sea-level rise. It proposes a comprehensive set of technical and policy adaptations across the water, energy, and transport sectors, emphasizing inter-ministerial collaboration, gender-responsive planning, and the need for sustainable domestic and international financing.

WWF International provides a framework for corporate forest and climate goal-setting, advocating for a mitigation hierarchy that prioritizes avoiding and reducing footprints before pursuing compensation. The guide argues that protecting existing forests is significantly more effective for climate mitigation than tree planting, noting that preventing the loss of one hectare of mature forest avoids approximately 100 tons of carbon, whereas tropical reforestation sequesters only about 3 tons per hectare annually. It further recommends that companies align carbon credit purchases with specific quality criteria and national commitments (NDCs) and pursue transformational change through improved land tenure and multi-stakeholder initiatives.

The document outlines a framework for a 'green and resilient recovery' following the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that the next 18 months are critical as countries invest $10-20 trillion. It advocates for low-carbon infrastructure, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and a revamp of the Bretton Woods system to prioritize well-being over traditional growth metrics. The dialogue warns against bailouts for carbon-intensive sectors like aviation and coal, and highlights the urgent need for debt cancellation in vulnerable developing countries.

The analysis of 52 new good practice cases for the GPD identifies consistent success factors for climate action, including stakeholder engagement, political buy-in, and alignment with national or international frameworks. It also notes emerging trends such as the role of innovation in addressing complex challenges, increased focus on transparency in line with the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework, and the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to align climate and development agendas.

The proposal seeks EUR 447,755 over 18 months to help Morocco bridge a significant financing gap for its NDC. The project, implemented by GIZ, focuses on creating a gender-sensitive financing strategy, developing investment plans for two priority sectors, establishing a financial sector coordination mechanism, and building the capacity of regional and municipal actors, including the Fond d’Equipement Communal (FEC), to develop bankable climate projects.