Search Climate Insights Directory

The document details the India-UK Energy for Growth Partnership, focusing on four main areas of cooperation: capacity building for legislators, off-grid renewable ventures, the development of the offshore wind market, and the scaling of solar initiatives. It highlights the UK's role in providing technical advisory, financial modeling, and policy frameworks to help India reach its target of 175GW of renewable energy by 2022. Key efforts include the creation of the 'Renewable Energy Local Area Development toolkit' for legislators and the formulation of the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy in 2016.

The study finds that climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall, will likely cause significant economic losses in the Mpanga river catchment, particularly in the energy sector. Annual costs for the energy sector are estimated between US$25 million and US$98 million by 2030-2035, while the water supply sector in the Rushango area may face annual losses of US$45,000 to US$79,000. Adaptation measures, including water resource regulation and energy diversification, are considered high priorities as they only need to offset between 2.8% and 32.8% of estimated losses to be economically justified.

The report argues that climate mitigation projects often ignore gender, treating technical solutions as 'gender neutral,' which can reinforce inequalities. By examining projects in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, it demonstrates that integrating gender perspectives—through sex-disaggregated data, targeted training, and safety measures—increases the effectiveness and long-term viability of mitigation efforts. It highlights the role of international mechanisms like the UNFCCC, GEF, and CDM in promoting gender-responsive climate finance.

The 2015 Union Budget of India incorporates 'Green India' goals through electric vehicle promotion, revised renewable energy targets, and irrigation funding, though it lacks focus on green skills, crop insurance, and resilient 'Smart Cities'.

The report argues that the proposed 1.2 GW Karpowership gas power plants are not aligned with a least-cost investment pathway for South Africa. Drawing on a study by Meridian Economics and the CSIR, it finds that the grid should prioritize rapid renewable energy build-out and storage, with new gas capacity not being economically optimal until the mid-2030s. The document concludes that commissioning these plants by 2022 would create an unnecessary economic burden for ratepayers and that the procurement process (RMIPP) was biased against renewable energy options.

The document asserts that "clean coal" is impossible, as the entire coal cycle—from mining to combustion—causes severe damage to health, water, and the climate. It critiques three specific technologies: High Efficiency, Low Emissions (HELE) plants, which only reduce CO2 by up to 20% while increasing costs; Circulating Fluidised Bed (CFB) systems, which increase solid waste and N2O emissions; and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which remains unproven in South Africa and faces high costs and geological transport challenges. The text highlights that Eskom and Sasol are primary coal users in South Africa, and that wind and solar power are cleaner, cheaper alternatives.

The Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality's Spatial Development Framework (SDF) 2020 provides a long-term spatial vision to transform the region's apartheid-era layout into a sustainable, integrated environment. The plan identifies a nodal hierarchy with Volksrust and Vukuzakhe as primary nodes, and Amersfoort, Perdekop, and Wakkerstroom as secondary nodes, with Daggakraal as a rural node. Key strategies focus on densification to prevent urban sprawl, the protection of high-potential agricultural land, and the development of tourism, particularly in the Wakkerstroom wetland area. The framework also addresses critical infrastructure backlogs, projecting a need for 10,234 additional housing units by 2040 and significant increases in water and electricity demand. Environmental management is central, with specific guidelines to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change through 'green infrastructure' and eco-friendly building materials.

Clean Creatives warns shareholders of Interpublic Group and Omnicom that their proposed merger consolidates significant risks linked to fossil fuel clients, including legal liabilities, reputational damage, and future revenue losses as energy markets transition.

The Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme provides a globally recognised framework for labelling debt instruments, assets, and entities aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. Since 2012, it has certified over USD350bn of Use of Proceeds Green Bonds as of 30 September 2025. The scheme utilizes a network of Approved Verifiers to ensure climate integrity across various certification types, including Use of Proceeds, Asset, Entity, and Sustainability-linked debt. A 2025 update expanded the standard to include a Resilience Taxonomy for projects strengthening resilience to physical climate risks. Eligible sectors span energy, industry, transport, agrifood, and infrastructure.

The document describes the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme, a voluntary labelling system designed to align investments with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. It provides a detailed three-step process for issuing Certified Solar Bonds: pre-issuance (identifying eligible proceeds and creating a framework), issuance (verification and market engagement), and post-issuance (reporting and annual updates). In Brazil, where renewable energy is the largest 'Use of Proceeds' category, the guide highlights the potential for solar bonds, noting that eight of 18 local deals through August 2022 were Certified under Solar Energy Criteria. Eligibility for solar certification requires that facilities generate a minimum of 85% of their electricity from solar sources, with fossil-fuel backup limited to 15%.

The document outlines the Climate Bonds Standard's certification process for solar energy green bonds in Brazil, detailing eligibility criteria, issuance steps, and reporting requirements to align investments with the 1.5°C global warming limit.

The Climate Bonds Standard Version 3.0 provides a framework for certifying bonds that fund climate-aligned projects. It aligns with the Green Bond Principles and requires issuers to meet pre-issuance and post-issuance criteria regarding the use of proceeds, project selection, and reporting. Certification is overseen by the Climate Bonds Standard Board and requires independent verification. The standard utilizes a Taxonomy of Green Definitions and sector-specific technical criteria to determine project eligibility, covering areas such as solar, wind, and low carbon buildings.

The Climate Bonds Standard provides a framework for certifying 'green' bonds, ensuring funds are used for climate-aligned projects. It defines pre- and post-issuance requirements, a two-step eligibility process involving a taxonomy and sector-specific technical criteria, and a certification process overseen by an independent board and verified by third-party auditors.

Bureau Veritas UK Limited provided a pre-issuance limited assurance report for Faro Energy Holdings UK Ltd.'s 2018 Brazilian Solar Bond, concluding that the issuance process conforms with the Climate Bonds Standard 2.1 and Sector Criteria for Solar version 2.1.

DNV GL has provided limited assurance that the Federal Government of Nigeria's proposed N20,000 million climate bond aligns with the Climate Bond Standard Version 2.1, specifically regarding solar energy and afforestation projects. While the bond is deemed compliant in all material respects for pre-issuance, DNV GL issued a Forward Action Request concerning the management systems for the afforestation project to be reviewed during post-issuance verification.

The guidance outlines the roles, methodologies, and reporting standards for independent verifiers ensuring that bonds align with the Climate Bonds Standard. It details the two-phase certification process—pre-issuance and post-issuance—and specifies the types of verification engagements available, including Reasonable Assurance, Limited Assurance, and Agreed-Upon Procedures. The document establishes strict independence and conflict-of-interest criteria for verifiers and provides a structured methodology for engagement, planning, risk assessment, testing, and reporting to maintain the integrity of the Climate Bond Certification Mark.

Beijing Zhongcai Green Financing Consultant Ltd. conducted a pre-issuance verification of a bond proposed by ICBC London Branch. The verification process, based on the Climate Bonds Standard (CBS) Version 2.1 and ISAE 3000, involved reviewing the issuer's Green Bond Framework, project lists, and declarations. The verifier concluded that the bond is in line with CBS requirements and specific sector criteria for solar, wind, low carbon transport, and marine renewable energy.

DNV GL has provided limited assurance that NAB's proposed SDG Green Bond complies with the Climate Bonds Standard Version 2.1 (CBS v2.1) and relevant Sector Technical Criteria. The verification covers a portfolio of eligible assets including wind, solar, marine renewables, electrified passenger rail, and commercial buildings. DNV GL also conducted a qualitative review confirming the bond's alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), specifically targets related to affordable and clean energy, industry innovation and infrastructure, and sustainable cities and communities.

Alberta faces significant economic risks due to its high concentration of workers and GDP tied to transition-vulnerable sectors, particularly oil and gas. While the province has established a foothold in low-carbon electricity, hydrogen, and CCUS, growth is hindered by mixed policy signals and a geographic mismatch between new opportunity companies in cities and vulnerable workers in rural areas.

The document analyzes Alberta's position in the global energy transition, highlighting a tension between emerging low-carbon investments and a continued reliance on the oil and gas sector. While the province shows strength in carbon-free electricity and industrial transition technologies, it faces significant risks due to workforce concentration in vulnerable sectors and contradictory political signals that may hinder large-scale decarbonization.