Search Climate Insights Directory

The document discusses the importance of behavioural insights in development aid, highlighting a project in Hola, Kenya, where proposed quality-improving technologies for mango farming failed because farmers prioritised quantity for processing markets over quality for export markets.

The IAI Directorate expanded its international visibility and partnerships through participation in major climate and biodiversity forums, including the IPCC, UNFCCC, and CBD. Key achievements include securing Observer Status with the IPCC and UNCCD, establishing Memoranda of Understanding with Future Earth and IPBES, and launching a digital science communication campaign during COP-23. The Directorate also focused on enhancing the science-to-policy interface, specifically regarding ocean knowledge, climate-resilient megacities in the Americas, and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.

The report examines the transition of public procurement from a back-office function to a strategic tool for delivering government services and addressing climate change. It highlights a global trend toward reforming procurement laws to ensure value for money across the lifecycle of assets and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to shift markets toward sustainable consumption and production. The document defines sustainable public procurement as a mechanism to reduce environmental impact, create positive social and economic outcomes, and foster markets for innovative, climate-friendly technologies and infrastructure.

The report examines the urgent need for innovation in mining due to declining productivity and rising costs. It details advancements in automation, electrification, and renewable energy, while highlighting the role of governments in ensuring these gains are shared with local communities. Case studies illustrate specific applications of AI, solar power, and new business models across Canada, Australia, Chile, and other regions.

The authors use a simulation-based multi-criteria land use optimization procedure to identify scenarios that balance terrestrial carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, land and water use, and food security. The analysis indicates that substantial increases in agricultural productivity are key to achieving better outcomes across these goals, with potential terrestrial carbon sequestration reaching 98 GtC and biodiversity risk reduction of 53%. The research also examines synergies and trade-offs between these global scenarios and local or national goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The document outlines the critical role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, emphasizing that there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach. It identifies key opportunities, such as strengthening accountability and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships, alongside significant challenges including the lack of common metrics for success and inadequate technical capacity. To address these, the briefing proposes emerging solutions focused on stakeholder alignment, resource strengthening, and improving data quality, such as using sex-disaggregated data and leveraging Information and Communication Technologies for data collection.

The document outlines the critical role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, emphasizing that there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach. It identifies key challenges such as the lack of common metrics for success, data gaps, and inadequate technical capacity. To address these, the report suggests emerging solutions focused on stakeholder coordination, resource strengthening—including the use of international funding like the Green Climate Fund's Readiness Programme—and improving data quality through gender-sensitive indicators and ICT tools. Case examples from South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya demonstrate the importance of aligning M&E with existing national structures and international commitments like the SDGs and NDCs.

The document outlines the critical role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It identifies key challenges such as the lack of common measurement criteria, resource constraints, and the complexity of gender integration. To address these, the briefing proposes emerging solutions focused on stakeholder coordination, resource strengthening, and improving data quality, while highlighting country-specific examples from South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya.

The document outlines the critical role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, emphasizing that there is no single formula for its implementation. It identifies key opportunities, such as improving resource efficiency and cross-sectoral partnerships, alongside challenges like the lack of common metrics for adaptation success and inadequate technical capacity. The text proposes emerging solutions focused on stakeholder alignment, resource strengthening, and improving data quality, including the use of gender-disaggregated data and information communication technologies.

The document argues that while there is significant overlap between G20 initiatives, the AU Agenda 2063, and the UN 2030 Agenda, the G20 can further support Africa by addressing gaps in regional economic integration, infrastructure financing, and inequality. It recommends that African G20 participants, particularly South Africa, prioritize areas where the G20 adds value to the African development agenda and advocate for a development-focused global dialogue on inequality.

The document highlights the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in achieving Target 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which mandates the elimination of subsidies contributing to the overexploitation of fisheries by 2020.

The report highlights the potential for a 'triple win' through fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and increased fuel taxation, which could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by 23% and raise government revenue equivalent to 2.6% of GDP. It notes that global fossil fuel subsidies are approximately USD 425 billion annually and provides examples of India and Indonesia saving USD 15 billion each in 2015 through FFSR. The text links these fiscal instruments to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals 7, 12, and 17.

The paper finds that while some countries like Ethiopia and Peru align their NDCs with national strategies, others like Bangladesh and Ghana exhibit a disconnect between climate commitments and energy planning. It argues that integrating climate objectives into national development strategies and leveraging co-benefits such as job creation and health improvements can drive higher ambition in revised NDCs.

This policy brief develops a metric for 'convenient access' to public transit by combining spatial (distance to stop) and temporal (bus frequency) data. Applying this to Winnipeg, the analysis finds that only 53% of the population has convenient access during peak hours. It further demonstrates that proposed cuts to 22 bus routes would have resulted in 5.6% of residents losing convenient access and 5.54% losing all access to transit. The brief argues that such quantitative monitoring is essential for informing sustainable urban development and evaluating the impact of policy changes on ridership.

The agriculture and land sectors (AFOLU) contribute approximately 24% of total GHG emissions, but also sequester about one third of annual anthropogenic emissions. While technical potentials for mitigation are high—with some estimates suggesting up to 23.8 GtCO2e yr-1 through conservation and restoration—significant uncertainties remain regarding the persistence of carbon sinks and the practical implementation of large-scale removals. Achieving Paris Agreement goals requires a combination of reducing deforestation, sustainable land intensification, and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, though these are often hindered by institutional, economic, and socio-cultural barriers rather than just technical limitations.

The global green bond market reached a cumulative issuance of USD 521bn by 2018, with USD 167.6bn issued in 2018 alone. The USA, China, and France emerged as the leading national markets. The report highlights a significant increase in issuance from financial institutions, particularly commercial banks, and a growing trend toward shorter-dated bonds. While Europe remains the largest overall market, the Asia-Pacific region saw the highest year-on-year growth at 35%. The market is also diversifying into other labelled instruments, including sustainability, social, and blue bonds, and expanding into emerging markets through the adoption of regional standards like the ASEAN Green Bond Standards.

The document argues that current NDCs are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C and calls for transformative systemic change across all sectors. It provides a framework for governments to conduct national gap analyses, align their short-term plans with long-term global requirements, and implement disruptive innovations and governance reforms. Key recommendations include the urgent withdrawal of financial support for fossil fuels and the integration of climate-resilient planning into mainstream development and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) strategies.

The authors critique current integrated assessment modelling (IAM), specifically as used in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15), for being biased toward market-based policies and global cost-optimization while ignoring local priorities and institutional barriers. They propose a 'fit-for-purpose' paradigm where models are selected based on stakeholder-defined questions and indicators, rather than fitting questions to existing models. This bottom-up approach is presented as essential for creating inclusive, voluntary low-carbon transitions, particularly in complex environments like cities and coastal areas. The brief suggests that this shift in process—not necessarily in the models themselves—is required for future IPCC reports and the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake.

The report evaluates global progress in forest governance and land rights, noting a record 182 killings of environmental defenders in 2016. While it highlights positive developments in illegal timber import controls in countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and the US, and the implementation of EU FLEGT agreements in Indonesia and Vietnam, it warns that climate finance for local communities remains insufficient, with only 10 percent reaching the local level in 2016. The document also emphasizes the lack of gender-sensitive provisions in community-based tenure regimes and the ongoing effort to track tenure security via SDG Indicator 1.4.2.

The report evaluates the SDG indicators finalized in 2017, concluding that they fail to directly measure gross forest loss or specific restoration efforts. While SDG 15.2 includes an ambitious aim to "halt deforestation," the report argues that the reliance on net rather than gross deforestation indicators weakens the target in practice. Furthermore, it notes that targets for forest restoration, afforestation, and reforestation are not quantifiable in the final SDGs, and the current indicators do not allow for specific measurement of these activities.