Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper provides recommendations for the negotiations at COP 24 in Katowice, Poland, regarding the operating modalities, governance, and financial mobilization of the Adaptation Fund to ensure its effectiveness under the Paris Agreement.

This working paper examines how Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) can align their portfolios and activities with the global temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, specifically focusing on the energy supply and transport sectors.

This research paper identifies factors influencing the environmental integrity of international carbon market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement and suggests that policy-makers use a combination of approaches to mitigate associated risks.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), writing on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, urges ABSA Group Limited to withdraw financial support for the proposed Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations. The CER argues that these projects are not 'procured', face significant legal challenges, and contradict the 'least cost' options identified in the 2018 draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The document highlights severe health risks for residents in the Waterberg-Bojanala and Highveld Priority Areas, high greenhouse gas emission intensities, and the potential for these projects to cost South Africa nearly R20 billion more than necessary.

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, urging Standard Bank to withdraw financial support for the proposed Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power plants in South Africa.

This guide outlines the methodology used by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assess and include debt instruments in its Green Bond Database. It details a three-step screening process based on the Climate Bonds Taxonomy to ensure that listed bonds align with climate science and the 2-degree Celsius warming limit set by the Paris Agreement.

This report assesses the greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments of over 6,000 cities, states, and regions and more than 2,000 companies across 9 high-emitting countries and the European Union, concluding that while these non-state actor actions are significant, they are insufficient on their own to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C or well-below 2°C.

This research paper examines the conditions under which transparency leads to transformative change in environmental governance, specifically analyzing the relationship between transparency, accountability mechanisms, and power structures. Using the case of climate finance under the Paris Agreement, the authors argue that transparency alone is insufficient for an equitable climate policy regime if accountability and compliance are weak.

This research paper, published by the NewClimate Institute and prepared by the Project for Advancing Climate Transparency (PACT) consortium, outlines requirements and practical suggestions for the implementing guidelines of the Paris Agreement. It aims to assist negotiators in meeting a December 2018 deadline to operationalize the agreement by addressing gaps in planning, implementation, and review processes.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, submitted detailed comments on the Climate Change Bill, 2018. The CER argues that the Bill focuses too heavily on government bureaucracy and fails to address the urgency of the climate crisis or provide sufficient mechanisms for holding emitters accountable. Key recommendations include setting a strict, legally binding emissions trajectory aligned with the Paris Agreement, ensuring full public disclosure of carbon budgets and GHG reports, and establishing independent oversight and appeals bodies.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute analyzes global trends in national climate change legislation, strategies, and targets between 2007 and 2017, highlighting the influence of international agreements on national policy adoption.

A formal letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, to Eskom's Board of Directors requesting information on the status of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for two coal-fired power stations: Thabametsi and Khanyisa.

A statement from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to the South African Minister of Energy and Director General of the Department of Energy, challenging the procurement of two coal-fired power stations (Thabametsi and Khanyisa). The CER argues that these projects fail the 'value for money' test, lack necessary legal authorisations, and would exacerbate climate change and economic instability.

This briefing note by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues for the integration of human rights and people-centered principles into the Paris Agreement Implementation Guidelines. It provides specific wording proposals for the Bangkok session of the Subsidiary Bodies (September 2018) across four key areas: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Transparency Framework, the Global Stocktake, and Article 6 mechanisms.

This briefing note provides an overview of the 2018 Talanoa Dialogue on Climate Ambition, outlining how National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society can integrate human rights-based perspectives into the process to inform future national climate commitments.

This article argues that the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement must explicitly address the phasing out of fossil fuel production to keep global warming well below 2°C. It suggests that mapping a transition away from fossil fuels under the UNFCCC process would increase the effectiveness and ambition of international climate mitigation.

The Climate Bonds Taxonomy is a science-based guide published by the Climate Bonds Initiative to identify assets and projects compatible with a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy aligned with the Paris Agreement's 2-degree Celsius warming target. It provides a 'traffic light' system to categorize assets as automatically compatible (green), potentially compatible (orange), incompatible (red), or requiring further work (grey), serving as the basis for the Climate Bonds Standard certification process.

A letter from the Life After Coal Campaign to the South African Minister of Finance, presenting findings from a University of Cape Town Energy Research Centre (ERC) study. The document argues that the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations are financially, socially, and environmentally harmful and should not be pursued.

A letter from the Life After Coal Campaign to the South African Minister of Public Enterprises, presenting findings from a University of Cape Town Energy Research Centre (ERC) study that argues against the commissioning of two coal-fired independent power producer (IPP) stations, Thabametsi and Khanyisa, due to high costs, increased emissions, and financial risks to Eskom.

A letter from the Life After Coal Campaign to the Portfolio Committee on Energy regarding a study by the University of Cape Town’s Energy Research Centre (ERC) on the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations. The campaign argues that these independent power producer (IPP) projects are not 'value for money', would increase system costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and would further destabilize Eskom's financial position.