Search Climate Insights Directory

The 2020 research identifies a global universe of USD 913.2 billion in unlabelled climate-aligned bonds from 420 issuers across 45 countries. Transport is the dominant theme, accounting for 55% of the volume, followed by Energy (24%) and Water (10%). China is the largest single source, representing 36% of the global total, while Developed Markets (DM) account for 50%. The report emphasizes a significant opportunity for refinancing, as over 40% of these bonds will mature by 2024, potentially increasing the labelled green bond market by 65% within nine years if transitioned. The analysis also highlights the role of the EU Taxonomy in improving disclosure and the potential for green hydrogen and electric vehicle infrastructure to drive future issuance.

The document introduces the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, a simulation-based tool designed to calculate environmental, social, governance, and climate risks, as well as externalities in infrastructure projects. It details the three-pronged modelling approach—system dynamics, project finance, and spatially explicit models—to provide a more comprehensive cost-benefit analysis than traditional financial valuations. The report provides sector-specific examples (energy, buildings, roads, wastewater, irrigation, and natural infrastructure) and outlines how these modules can be integrated into Indonesia's Vision 2045 (IV2045) system dynamics model to bridge top-down national strategy with bottom-up project implementation.

The document introduces a new integrated approach for water resource planning in Bolivia that merges the national Plan Nacional de Cuenca (PNC) with Robust Decision Support (ADR). This methodology was applied to the Río Rocha basin to incorporate long-term uncertainties, such as climate change and demographic shifts, into the planning process. A key innovation is the use of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system within a Participatory Decision-Making Model (MTDP), allowing stakeholders to interactively evaluate the impacts of different management interventions through quantitative indicators. The authors argue that this integrated approach legitimizes planning instruments through effective participation and provides a replicable model for other strategic basins in Bolivia.

The project aims to mitigate the impacts of increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall in Southern Madagascar, which have led to frequent droughts and food insecurity. It proposes a paradigm shift from focusing solely on water supply infrastructure to adapting the underlying water resources system. Key strategies include managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to store wet season surpluses, expanding hydro-meteorological monitoring networks, and developing community-based drought adaptation plans. The project targets 24 communes with approximately 553,240 direct beneficiaries, utilizing a combination of GCF grants and co-financing from the World Bank and UNICEF.

The report identifies key 'catalyst' goals that drive progress across the entire 2030 Agenda in Sweden, while highlighting specific trade-offs where progress in one goal hinders another. It emphasizes that while most interactions are positive, targeted interventions are needed for goals that receive little systemic support and for resolving critical conflicts, particularly those involving energy, biodiversity, and economic growth.

The 2021 report by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) finds that annual urban climate finance averaged US$ 384 billion in 2017/2018, which is significantly lower than the estimated requirement of US$ 4.5 to 5.4 trillion. Investment is heavily concentrated in OECD countries and China, with severe underfunding in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Mitigation efforts, particularly in sustainable transport and buildings, dominate the funding landscape, while adaptation and resilience receive less than 10% of project-level finance. The report emphasizes that cities act as both providers of infrastructure and administrators of regulations, and recommends strengthening municipal financial capacities, aligning local and national climate policies, and utilizing blended finance to bridge the investment gap.

The 2021 report on the state of cities climate finance reveals a significant gap between current investment levels and the trillions of dollars needed for urban climate action. While global urban climate finance averaged 384 billion USD annually in 2017/2018, funding is heavily concentrated in OECD countries and China, leaving developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia severely underfunded. The report emphasizes a critical shortage in adaptation and resilience funding, which accounts for less than 10% of urban climate finance. It argues that mobilizing further investment requires 'enabling conditions' across national, city, and climate-specific levels, urging governments and international financial institutions to provide predictable funding and technical support to help cities transition to sustainable development paths.

The evaluation of Burkina Faso's 2015-2020 National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NAP) found that 67% of planned actions were either completed or in progress, though the average physical completion rate was lower at 49%. While institutional capacity building (Strategic Area 1) saw a 93% completion rate, sectors like housing and infrastructure and cross-cutting areas for women and civil society struggled significantly due to poor resource mobilisation and a lack of institutional leadership. Key physical achievements included the Zagtouli solar power plant and extensive land recovery, but the report highlights critical failures in monitoring, evaluation, and gender-disaggregated data collection.

The evaluation of Burkina Faso's 2015–2020 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) reveals a mixed record of implementation. While 67% of planned actions were either completed or are ongoing, the overall physical realization rate stands at 49%. Success was highest in the livestock (75%) and water (84%) sectors, while gender-related and civil society actions saw 0% completion due to a lack of institutional leadership. Key barriers included insufficient financial resource mobilization, security instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The report recommends strengthening institutional accountability, improving resource mobilization strategies, and better integrating gender and civil society into future adaptation frameworks.

The guidance focuses on four critical areas of environmental governance in mining: water management, biodiversity protection, mine waste stability, and emergency preparedness. It advocates for a risk-based approach and the use of environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) to minimize negative impacts. The document also outlines a five-step gap analysis process—review, assess, prioritize, implement, and monitor—to help governments align their national frameworks with international best practices and the IGF Mining Policy Framework.

The document provides a framework for governments to manage four critical environmental areas in the mining sector: water, biodiversity, waste, and emergency response. It emphasizes the use of legislative, regulatory, and policy tools—specifically Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs)—to minimize negative impacts and protect ecosystems and communities. The guide outlines a five-step gap analysis process (review, assess, prioritize, implement, and monitor) to help governments align their national legal frameworks with international best practices and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The document outlines four critical areas of environmental management in mining: water, biodiversity, mine waste, and emergency preparedness. It emphasizes the role of national governments in regulating these areas through legislative and policy tools, such as Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs). The guide advocates for a risk-based approach to governance, the application of the mitigation hierarchy for biodiversity, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups—including women and indigenous peoples—in emergency planning and monitoring. Finally, it proposes a five-step gap analysis process (review, evaluate, prioritize, implement, and monitor) for governments to align their national legal frameworks with international best practices and Sustainable Development Goals.

The document outlines the role of governments in ensuring sustainable environmental management throughout the mine life cycle. It emphasizes a risk-based approach to governing four critical areas: water resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services, mine waste stability, and emergency response. The guide advocates for the use of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Management Plans (ESMPs) as primary regulatory tools and introduces a five-step gap analysis process—review, assess, prioritize, implement, and monitor—to help governments align their national legal frameworks with international benchmarks such as the IFC Performance Standards and the Mitigation Hierarchy.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach for governments to regulate the environmental impacts of large-scale mining throughout a project's life cycle. It emphasizes the use of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) to ensure sustainable resource management. The guide details specific standards for water quality and basin-level management, the application of the mitigation hierarchy to achieve 'no net loss' or 'net positive impact' on biodiversity, the technical and financial requirements for stable mine waste storage (particularly tailings dams), and the necessity of inclusive, risk-based emergency response planning. It concludes with a five-step gap analysis process—review, evaluate, prioritize, implement, and monitor—to help governments align their national legal frameworks with international sustainability standards.

The document serves as a comprehensive resource for governments to balance resource extraction with environmental protection. It focuses on four critical areas: water management, biodiversity conservation, mining waste stability, and emergency preparedness. For each area, the guide outlines major challenges, international standards (such as IFC Performance Standards and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management), and specific governmental roles. It emphasizes a risk-based approach, the use of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), and the importance of inclusive consultation, particularly with women and indigenous groups. The guide concludes with a five-step gap analysis process—examine, assess, prioritize, implement, and monitor—to help states align their national legal frameworks with international best practices.

The report assesses Turkmenistan's institutional capacity for climate change adaptation, highlighting the critical vulnerability of the water and agriculture sectors. It identifies the Inter-Sectoral Commission on environmental protection as a key driver for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process and recommends formalizing institutional frameworks, harmonizing legislation, and improving cross-sectoral data exchange to mainstream adaptation into national planning.

The report finds that SDG implementation in Sri Lanka is highly synergistic, with only 2% of direct interactions between analyzed targets being restricting. Key 'accelerators' with the highest outward influence include policy coherence, reducing corruption, and climate change capacity. Conversely, targets like drinking water and housing show the lowest outward influence due to potential trade-offs with environmental and resource management. The study emphasizes that because targets are closely intertwined, Sri Lanka requires cross-sectoral collaboration rather than siloed approaches.

The analysis of 36 SDG targets in Sri Lanka reveals a highly synergistic environment where only 2% of direct interactions are restricting. The most significant 'accelerators' for the entire agenda are strengthening policy coherence, reducing corruption, and enhancing climate change capacity. Conversely, expanding access to drinking water and decent housing present the highest risks of trade-offs, particularly regarding natural resource management and water wastage. The findings emphasize that most trade-offs are non-deterministic and can be mitigated through mindful implementation and institutional coordination.

The document examines integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) systems, which recycle nutrients between crops, livestock, and fish to increase productivity and reduce external inputs. It argues that IAA is a promising climate-smart land use approach for Southeast Asia, offering benefits such as livelihood diversification, improved water efficiency, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The brief emphasizes the need for inclusive policies, gender equity, and regional cooperation through ASEAN frameworks to scale up these systems for smallholder farmers.

The report examines the ecological importance of Arctic wetlands, particularly their role in global carbon storage and biodiversity, while analyzing the public policy frameworks used by Arctic states to manage them. It highlights that while scientific knowledge of wetland functions is extensive, significant gaps exist in policy coherence, the influence of societal interest networks, and real-time mapping. The document advocates for a Social-Ecological Systems (SES) approach to stewardship, emphasizing the necessity of indigenous and local community participation and the adoption of advanced geospatial AI tools to improve wetland inventories and monitoring.