Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing note by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues for the integration of human rights and people-centered principles into the Paris Agreement Implementation Guidelines. It provides specific wording proposals for the Bangkok session of the Subsidiary Bodies (September 2018) across four key areas: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Transparency Framework, the Global Stocktake, and Article 6 mechanisms.

Paula Caballero, WRI's Climate Director, assesses the UN climate negotiations in Bonn, noting that while progress was made, significant work remains before COP24 in Katowice, Poland. She emphasizes the need for finalized Paris Agreement guidelines, strengthened national commitments by 2020, and increased support for developing countries.

The SEI Strategy 2015–2019 outlines the Stockholm Environment Institute's framework for bridging science and policy to support sustainable development. The strategy focuses on enhancing scientific research through new 'SEI Initiatives', expanding policy engagement to include 'hard-to-reach' stakeholders like the private sector, and strengthening capacity development across individual, organizational, and institutional levels. It also details the enabling infrastructure required for delivery, including communications, ICT tools, financial management, and a custom monitoring system (PMEC).

This case study examines the investment incentive policies for renewable energy in Thailand, analyzing their effectiveness in overcoming barriers to deployment. It details a variety of financial, fiscal, and regional incentives, while highlighting the transition from a feed-in premium (adder) system to a fixed-price feed-in tariff (FIT) to manage costs and avoid overcapacity.

This policy brief evaluates the first phase (2009–2012) of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP), a collaborative initiative designed to build adaptation knowledge and capacity across Asia. The program utilized a three-tiered approach—sharing, generating, and applying knowledge—to mainstream climate adaptation into development planning. While the AKP successfully established a diverse network of local experts and produced over 50 knowledge products, it faced significant challenges regarding leadership consistency, language barriers in dissemination, and the limitations of linear project planning frameworks in measuring long-term social learning.

This 2012 CDKN fact sheet details technical assistance provided to Bangladesh to lead international climate negotiations on 'Loss and Damage' and the development of a participatory M&E tool for community-based adaptation that has since been replicated in Africa.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews approaches and lessons learned for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. It examines the multi-level nature of planning—national, sectoral, and sub-national—and proposes strategies to avoid policy conflicts and leverage existing financial flows to reduce vulnerability.

A statement from Friends of the Earth written during international climate negotiations in Bangkok, criticizing the United States for obstructing progress toward a strong international climate treaty.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the outcomes of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn from March 29 to April 8, 2009. It outlines the progress made across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance—as parties worked toward a global post-2012 climate agreement intended for conclusion at COP-15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the outcomes of the fourteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the UNFCCC held in Poznan, Poland, in December 2008. It details the progress of the two main negotiating tracks—the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)—as they move toward a comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement expected at COP 15 in Copenhagen.

The report analyzes the impact of bilateral trade agreements on copyright and access to knowledge, noting that agreements involving the U.S. often impose protections (such as 70-year terms and anti-circumvention of TPMs) that exceed multilateral standards. It also summarizes IP disputes in the WTO regarding pharmaceutical compulsory licensing and genetic resource disclosure, as well as tensions at WIPO over the Substantive Patent Law Treaty.

The research paper "The Negawatt Revolution: Electric Efficiency and Asian Development" argues that Asian development is hindered by the adoption of inefficient electrical equipment and a utility business model focused on increasing sales rather than customer satisfaction. The authors contrast this with a shift in the U.S. utility sector toward "negawatts"—saving electricity through efficiency and renewables—which is presented as a significantly cheaper and more sustainable alternative to building new power plants.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the outcomes of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn in June and August 2009. It outlines the progress and persistent divisions between developed and developing nations across four key pillars—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance—as they worked toward a global post-2012 agreement intended for adoption at COP-15 in Copenhagen.

This report chapter explores 'green development,' demonstrating how the integration of resource efficiency, environmental sensitivity, and human well-being can lead to superior financial performance in real estate. Through various case studies of commercial buildings, residential developments, and hotels, the text argues that intelligent design reduces operating costs, increases labor productivity, and enhances property value while restoring community and ecological health.

This fact sheet describes the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), an international non-profit research organization focused on sustainability, climate change, and environmental policy. It outlines SEI's organizational structure, its commitment to open access and collaborative research, and the specific thematic focuses of its eight global centers.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews the regulatory landscape of air quality in Thailand. It identifies a fragmented, siloed approach to policymaking across various ministries as a primary barrier to effective enforcement. While some pollutants have decreased over the last decade, national standards remain weaker than World Health Organization guidelines, and monitoring is insufficient to capture the full extent of the problem. The document advocates for the creation of a single, overarching national regulatory body to coordinate multi-sectoral efforts and better integrate climate commitments with air quality goals.

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, outlines the process and benefits of 'mainstreaming' climate change adaptation—integrating it into existing development policies, plans, and practices. Drawing on studies from 13 Asian countries and the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP), the document argues that mainstreaming is the most effective way to scale up adaptation across the Asia and Pacific region by avoiding policy conflicts and leveraging larger financial flows.

This SEI briefing summarizes a regional foresight workshop held in Bangkok in December 2023, conducted as part of a UNEP strategic foresight initiative. The workshop involved 42 academics and practitioners from 15 countries in Asia and the Pacific to analyze plausible future scenarios for the region leading up to 2050, focusing on the intersections of technology, cultural values, economic power, and environmental sustainability.

This fact sheet describes the strategic communication efforts of SEI Asia, based in Bangkok, which aim to bridge scientific research and policy-making. The organization utilizes a variety of multimedia products, media partnerships, and inclusive dialogue to make complex environmental data accessible to policymakers, media, and marginalized communities in Asia.

This report assesses electricity governance in Thailand, focusing on the dominance of government-owned enterprises and the resulting inefficiencies, consumer burdens, and social conflicts.