Search Climate Insights Directory

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) proposes the 'Village propre–Village productif' framework to address the lack of integrated risk and resource management in rural sanitation. The framework uses a dual-axis certification system: a 'clean' axis focused on health and hygiene (e.g., eliminating open defecation and managing greywater) and a 'productive' axis focused on the safe recovery of nutrients and energy from waste (e.g., human excreta, animal waste, and ash). By linking sanitation to agricultural productivity and economic benefits, the framework aims to overcome the sustainability and scaling challenges of previous approaches like Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS). It is particularly targeted at smallholder farmers in developing regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, to support multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Novozymes employs enzyme-based catalysts to lower energy and chemical use in over 40 industrial sectors, aiming to save 100 million metric tons of CO2 annually by 2020. The company integrates circular economy principles at its Kalundborg site and uses life cycle assessments to validate the climate benefits of its products, such as bioenergy solutions and agricultural inoculants.

The report analyzes Mpumalanga's spatial status, identifying a resource-rich province dominated by coal mining and agriculture but facing severe environmental degradation and infrastructure backlogs. Key findings highlight that while the province is a national energy hub, it suffers from poor air quality in the Highveld, critical water scarcity, and significant housing shortages. The analysis emphasizes the need for urban restructuring, agrarian transformation in rural areas, and the protection of strategic water source areas and biodiversity corridors against mining encroachment.

The briefing examines the intersection of poverty eradication and climate action, arguing that the "leave no one behind" (LNB) principle is essential for ensuring that the poorest populations—who are most vulnerable to climate impacts—benefit from and participate in the energy transition. It outlines four key implications for climate policy: including the poor in decision-making, targeting them as implementers of adaptation and mitigation, maximizing direct benefits for them, and providing compensatory measures to offset regressive impacts like carbon taxes. The author notes that while many Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mention inequality, few contain concrete measures to realize these benefits, suggesting that upcoming NDC updates provide a critical opportunity to integrate LNB principles.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) employs a three-step screening process to identify eligible green bonds and loans for its database: identifying green-labelled bonds, screening assets against the Climate Bonds Taxonomy, and evaluating the allocation of proceeds. To be included, a bond must allocate at least 95% of its proceeds to aligned green assets; any bond where more than 5% of proceeds are used for working capital, social projects, or non-aligned assets is excluded. The methodology explicitly excludes fossil fuel energy and any assets that extend the life of fossil fuel usage, such as 'clean coal'. The Climate Bonds Taxonomy covers eight categories: energy, transport, buildings, water management, waste management & pollution control, nature-based assets, industry & energy-intensive commercial, and information technology & communications (ICT).

The Responsible Commodities Facility (RCF) is a proposed debt fund designed to halt agricultural expansion into the Brazilian Cerrado by providing low-interest loans to farmers who produce soy and corn on degraded lands. The facility aims to raise US$ 300 million through green bonds to provide crop financing and land restoration loans, utilizing blockchain for traceability and a dedicated exchange to link producers with international sustainable buyers. Over 10 years, the RCF targets the restoration of 1.2 million hectares of land and the avoidance of 55 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

The document examines five types of illegality—resource rights, labor rights, other laws, fraud, and corruption—across several global commodity chains. It provides case studies on beef, palm oil, pulp and paper, cocoa, shrimp, olive oil, dairy, and soy, highlighting how illegal practices drive deforestation, biodiversity loss, and labor abuse. The paper argues that illegality is an underappreciated threat that increases with global food demand and climate change, calling for precompetitive cooperation between governments and companies to ensure supply chain transparency.

The report identifies Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) as critical land areas that provide a disproportionate amount of surface water runoff or groundwater recharge, sustaining over 50% of South Africa's population and 64% of its economy. It establishes a management framework to mitigate impacts from forestry, agriculture, mining, and invasive alien plants, while providing guidelines for government planners to integrate SWSA maps into strategic development frameworks and zoning schemes.

The document examines how green bonds support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically highlighting six goals that receive direct benefits from green investment. It emphasizes that climate action is a crosscutting theme necessary for the success of all SDGs and calls for increased climate risk disclosure across all thematic bond labels to ensure long-term sustainability.

The document highlights the critical link between climate adaptation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that infrastructure must be resilient to both chronic stress and acute shocks to remain functional. It identifies a significant investment gap, with UN estimates for developing countries reaching US$280-500 billion annually by 2050. Currently, the green bond market is heavily skewed toward mitigation, with only 3-5% of proceeds allocated to adaptation and resilience. The briefing calls for clearer definitions, improved sector-specific disclosure, and the integration of adaptation criteria across all thematic bonds to mobilize the necessary capital.

The report analyzes the palm oil sector in Berau, East Kalimantan, finding that the region can meet its production targets and mill capacities without further land expansion by focusing on productivity increases. While corporate plantations operate efficiently, smallholders face significant barriers, including lack of land certification, limited access to finance, and inefficient transport routes. The report recommends strengthening smallholder cooperatives, improving financial access, and exploring the feasibility of local CPO refineries to increase regional value-add.

The report finds that Berau can meet its palm oil production needs and fulfill mill capacities by 2021-2023 by improving agricultural practices and reaching 90% optimum productivity, eliminating the need for further land expansion. While company plantations operate efficiently, independent smallholders face significant barriers, including lack of land certificates, limited access to finance, and inefficient transport routes to mills. The region lacks CPO refineries, resulting in most crude palm oil being exported to other provinces or Malaysia. The authors recommend strengthening smallholder cooperatives, improving bankability, and analyzing the business case for local refineries to increase regional value addition.

The document examines how green bonds support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically identifying SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 as those receiving the most direct benefit from green investment. It highlights that while clean energy (SDG7) remains the largest market share at 40%, other sectors like low carbon buildings (24%) and transport (15%) are significant. The author argues that climate change is a crosscutting threat to all SDGs and calls for the application of 'green' definitions and climate risk disclosure across all thematic bonds—including social and sustainability bonds—to avoid short-term gains that fail long-term climate targets. The briefing concludes that annual green bond issuance must scale to USD1 trillion by 2020 to meet these goals.

The document advocates for federal policy changes in the 2018 farm bill to scale up 'good food' procurement, which prioritizes healthy, local, and sustainably produced foods. It highlights the success of the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) and identifies barriers for small farmers, such as lack of infrastructure and food safety certification costs. The brief recommends supporting the Local FARMS Act, the Food and Farm Act, and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act to improve regional food systems, advance racial equity, and protect animal welfare.

This briefing report from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research outlines the committee's activities, membership updates, and planned meetings leading up to the 26th Conference of the Parties (CoP-26) in June 2018.

The report assesses voluntary sustainability certifications in fisheries, palm oil, and textiles, concluding that many schemes act as 'greenwash' and fail to prevent deforestation, overfishing, or pollution. It argues that the proliferation of labels creates consumer confusion and a 'race to the bottom' in standards. The authors call for the abolition of ineffective schemes and a transition toward science-based, transparent, and holistic regulations that cover the entire product life-cycle.

The Union of Concerned Scientists report 'Betrayal at the USDA' examines the first year of Secretary Sonny Perdue's leadership at the USDA. It argues that the administration has systematically sidelined science and expertise to favor large agribusiness corporations. Key concerns include the appointment of unqualified personnel, the rollback of school nutrition and food safety standards, the disregard for World Health Organization guidelines on antibiotics in livestock, and the promotion of climate change denial. The report also criticizes proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the elimination of protections for small farmers through the dismantling of the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).

The document highlights the link between cocoa cultivation and dramatic forest loss in key producing regions, specifically noting that cocoa is the top driver of deforestation in Ivory Coast and Ghana. While it acknowledges a commitment by major chocolate companies and the governments of Ivory Coast and Ghana to 'No New Deforestation' in West Africa, it argues that this effort must be expanded globally to protect biodiversity in countries like Cameroon, Indonesia, and Peru. The guide encourages consumers to use a scoring system based on three criteria: participation in the West African pact, adoption of worldwide shade-grown agroforestry policies, and a global commitment to refuse deforestation cocoa.

The Uganda Green Economy Barometer 2018 argues that while Uganda has a conducive policy environment and significant natural capital, the transition to a green economy is hindered by poor policy implementation, high initial costs, and a financing gap. It highlights the potential for green growth to create 4 million jobs and boost GDP by 10%, provided there is political commitment, economic reform, and increased private sector investment in sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, and sustainable transport.

The document describes Thailand's top-down approach to developing a bioeconomy focused on adding value to existing commodities like sugarcane and cassava. It highlights a model where the private sector drives innovation while the government facilitates through tax incentives, R&D funding, and regulatory easing. However, the authors note significant challenges regarding social equity, as the system prioritizes large industrial players over smallholder farmers.