Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the financial and institutional barriers preventing South African municipalities from accessing climate finance to support the just energy transition (JET). It highlights a significant gap where less than 10% of tracked climate finance reaches local governments, despite their critical role in electricity distribution and community resilience. The document analyzes current funding models, the impact of national policy frameworks, and provides recommendations to improve municipal creditworthiness and project bankability.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the barriers and success factors for attracting private sector capital into urban climate investments in emerging economies. It identifies obstacles across macro, city, and project levels and provides a framework of recommendations for city governments, public sector partners, and private/third sector entities to improve local enabling conditions.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the barriers and opportunities for National Development Banks (NDBs) to increase financing for climate-smart urban infrastructure. It identifies a significant gap between the potential of NDBs to act as intermediaries and the current reality, where only a small minority finance local governments. The document provides a 'City Maturity Model' consisting of 12 dimensions across strategic, financial, policy, and operational levels to help city officials improve their creditworthiness and project pipelines to better access NDB funding.

This policy brief, prepared by the Climate Bonds Initiative in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and commissioned by the Brazilian Ministry of Economy, explores how subnational consortia in Brazil can utilize innovative financial modeling to fund sustainable municipal infrastructure. It analyzes the legal barriers facing Brazilian municipalities, proposes the adoption of pooled financing mechanisms (MFGCs), and provides international case studies to support a green economic recovery.