Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing reports on the progress of the 'Initiative for conducting a national climate assessment in support of adaptation and mitigation: Training and capacity development in Latin America and the Caribbean'. The initiative, supported by the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and AmeriGEO in partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), aims to strengthen climate risk assessments to support local and regional decision-making.

The Sustainable Debt Market Summary Q1 2022 reports that cumulative GSS+ labelled debt reached USD3 trillion by the end of the first quarter of 2022. Despite this milestone, the market experienced a year-on-year decline in issuance volumes of nearly 30% due to market volatility, rising interest rates, and the war in Ukraine.

This interim report describes the design and early implementation of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Regional Assessment (IAI-RA). The IAI-RA is a boundary-spanning activity intended to reconcile the supply and demand of scientific knowledge by identifying the specific information needs of government decision-makers in the Americas to better guide science funding and capacity building related to global environmental change (GEC).

The report provides an update on the 'Initiative for conducting a national climate assessment in support of adaptation and mitigation: Training and capacity building in Latin America and the Caribbean', a project supported by USGCRP, AmeriGEO, and the IAI to strengthen climate risk assessments for local and regional decision-making.

This report provides an update on the 'Initiative for conducting a national climate assessment in support of adaptation and mitigation: Training and capacity development in Latin America and the Caribbean,' established by Decision XXIX/9 of the Conference of the Parties of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2022' tracks the global coal plant pipeline, highlighting a stark divergence between China's continued expansion and a broader global trend toward phasing out coal. While COP26 commitments significantly increased the number of plants with phase-out dates, China's surge in new construction and the persistence of 'clean coal' narratives in some OECD countries challenge the 1.5 degree Celsius warming target.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence between the decline of coal in most OECD and non-OECD countries—accelerated by COP26 commitments—and a continued expansion of coal capacity in China. The document examines the impact of international funding withdrawals, the perceived failure of 'clean coal' technologies, and specific national trajectories in major emitters like India, Indonesia, and the United States.

This policy brief examines the challenges faced by developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) participating in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on electronic commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide in infrastructure and information, arguing that current negotiations focus too heavily on regulatory cooperation rather than the foundational capacity building and technical assistance required for these nations to implement future commitments and benefit from the digital economy.

This fact sheet describes Global Shipping Watch (GSW), an open-access demonstration platform developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to link maritime emissions with specific supply chain actors, including traders, carriers, and consumers.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines five essential elements for establishing a 'gender lens' in international trade policy. It discusses the ongoing efforts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG) to integrate gender equality and women's economic empowerment into trade rules, arguing that a comprehensive framework is necessary to ensure trade policies support the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights commitments.

This report analyzes the global development of green taxonomies, highlighting three main approaches: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria (TSC), and principle-based. It focuses on the alignment between the EU and China taxonomies, noting that while the EU emphasizes six environmental objectives and strict 'do no significant harm' (DNSH) criteria, China focuses on three broader objectives aligned with its national pollution and climate goals. The report emphasizes the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT) as a tool to reduce market fragmentation and facilitate cross-border investment. It also discusses implementation, noting mandatory disclosure requirements in the EU and mandatory labeling for onshore green bonds in China.

This policy brief by Transforma evaluates the economic recovery strategies of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) following the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that current 'inertial' recovery paths risk locking in fossil fuel dependency and hindering climate goals. It advocates for a 'just and resilient recovery' that integrates social equity, gender perspective, and climate adaptation into long-term economic planning.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) synthesizes the activities of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the Committee's use of the State reporting procedure to address mitigation, adaptation, extractive activities, and climate finance, while also reviewing the Committee's General Comments on science and land rights.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development discusses the necessity of watershed-scale governance for mine water management to balance industrial needs with human rights and environmental sustainability, highlighting examples from Mongolia and Chile.

This report documents the 52nd meeting of the Executive Council (EC-52) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held via videoconference on November 18, 2021. The meeting focused on implementing decisions from the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29), reviewing the operational budget, and updating the Council on scientific projects and capacity-building initiatives across the Americas.

The report details the 52nd meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council, held via videoconference on 18 November 2021. The meeting focused on implementing decisions from the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29), reviewing the core budget and endowment fund, and updating the Council on science and capacity-building initiatives, including a new drought information system for southern South America.

This policy brief reviews fifty years of international efforts to regulate ocean dumping, focusing on the evolution from the 1972 London Convention to the more restrictive 1996 London Protocol. It examines the challenges of managing radioactive waste, the regulation of climate mitigation technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the role of regional treaties in protecting marine ecosystems.

An analysis by Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs regarding opportunities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address environmental crises and sustainable development during its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This document is a participant list for the 52nd Meeting of the Executive Council to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held on 18 November 2021. It lists representatives from member countries (including Canada, Chile, the US, and Panama), observer parties (Argentina, Colombia, and Peru), and various advisory and observer organizations.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) must leverage the global clean energy transition to drive industrialization and address severe energy deficits. The author proposes that the region utilize a combination of green industrial policies, strategic use of natural gas for baseload power, and the leveraging of critical mineral reserves to move up the global value chain, while insisting that the transition must account for the economic differences between developed and developing nations.