Search Climate Insights Directory

The report analyzes the transition to virtual meetings for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that while virtual formats increased participation and reduced costs, they hindered informal networking. Survey results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the organization of CoP-29, though there is a noted need for better introductory materials for new participants and more frequent communication between sessions via Zoom and newsletters.

The IAI Executive Direction reports progress on transdisciplinary research, particularly regarding climate-sensitive infectious diseases in the Caribbean and drought monitoring in the La Plata basin. The report highlights the expansion of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program and the launch of the IAI Transdisciplinary Academy to improve the interface between science and public policy in the Americas.

The document examines the transition of Latin America and the Caribbean from experimenting with nature-based solutions (NBS) to wider adoption. Based on a dataset of 156 projects identified in 2020, it highlights that while NBS can provide sustainable alternatives to carbon-intensive 'gray' infrastructure, many projects remain in the preparation stage and lack sufficient funding. The review focuses on sectors such as water, sanitation, housing, energy, and transportation, noting a concentration of projects in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

The GFCR Investment Window is a proposed $500 million fund, with $125 million requested from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as a first-loss equity position. Managed by Pegasus Capital Advisors, the fund targets 'climate refugia'—reefs most likely to survive warming oceans—by investing in sustainable ocean production, ecotourism, and sustainable infrastructure to reduce local stressors. The program aims to protect 29,000 hectares of reef, create over 12,700 direct jobs, and benefit over 35 million people indirectly. It utilizes a dual-window model, pairing the Investment Window with a Grant Window to provide technical assistance and pipeline incubation.

The report finds that while the Paris Agreement has integrated forests into the international climate agenda, national ambitions in NDCs remain insufficient and often lack quantitative targets. Public finance for forest climate goals is a small fraction of the required amount, with 'grey' finance for deforestation-driving sectors vastly outweighing 'green' investments. While many countries have established REDD+ programs and robust monitoring systems, implementation is hindered by weak governance, widespread illegality, and a lack of secure land tenure for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The report recommends scaling up domestic and international finance, strengthening land rights, and expanding demand-side regulations in consumer countries to curb illegal deforestation.

The report analyzes the energy portfolios of ten major private equity firms, finding that 80% of their energy assets are in fossil fuels. It highlights that these investments often yield low returns and disproportionately impact communities of color, while the industry's private nature allows these activities to avoid the public scrutiny faced by publicly traded oil majors.

The report argues that community lands, managed by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), are critical for climate mitigation due to their ability to sequester carbon and maintain biodiversity. Despite managing approximately half of the world's land, only 10% is legally recognized. The document provides evidence that secure land tenure leads to lower deforestation rates compared to state-managed lands and is a cost-effective mitigation strategy. However, these lands face increasing threats from illegal mining, drug trafficking, and land grabbing, while land defenders face rising violence. The report concludes that international climate finance significantly underserves IPLCs and calls for governments to prioritize legal land titling and the protection of environmental defenders.

The document argues that community lands, which cover approximately half of the world's land, are critical for carbon sequestration and biodiversity. It highlights that secure land tenure for IPLCs leads to lower deforestation rates and more effective climate mitigation than state-managed areas, often at a lower cost. However, the report notes that most community land lacks legal recognition, IPLCs receive less than 1% of official development assistance for climate change, and land defenders face increasing violence. It recommends securing land rights, improving law enforcement, and directing international climate funds toward IPLC-led management.

The TGNR project identifies a symbiotic relationship between corruption and organized crime that drives four main 'motors' of environmental degradation in Colombia: illegal gold mining, timber trafficking, wildlife trafficking, and illegal land appropriation. The report argues that corruption allows criminals to access power, while organized crime provides corrupt officials with illicit services like violence and extortion. To counter this, the project recommends legal reforms (such as classifying environmental crimes as predicate offenses for money laundering), strengthening state institutions, improving technological information systems to reduce official discretion, and empowering local communities to reduce their vulnerability to criminal networks. The document emphasizes that these illegal activities threaten Colombia's national security by funding armed groups and cause significant economic losses through tax evasion and 'criminal dumping'.

The report examines the application of just transition principles across various sectors in developing and emerging economies to ensure social justice and sustainable development. It specifically analyzes the impacts of policy instruments on employment and identifies ways for the German Development Cooperation to support these efforts. The study covers sectors including coal phase-out, fossil fuel subsidy reform, renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable agriculture, utilizing case studies from countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

New wind and solar power installations in Turkey are now more cost-effective than operating existing coal plants that rely on imports. With international hard coal prices reaching a decade high and renewable costs falling, Turkey faces high import costs—potentially reaching 5 billion USD in 2021—while facing potential EU carbon border levies. Despite the economic viability of renewables, utility-scale solar growth is hindered by transformer capacity limits and restrictions on power purchase agreements.

As of May 24, 2022, 43 companies have committed USD 458 million across 48 countries to support the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge. The largest individual commitments come from Bayer (USD 160 million) and PepsiCo (USD 100 million), with significant regional focus on Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The mid-term evaluation of the GEF6-PdP project indicates a satisfactory overall performance, with significant achievements in operationalizing the wider Patrimonio Natural del Perú (PdP) Initiative and strengthening institutional capacities within SERNANP. The project has successfully signed a Single Close Agreement (MoU) and identified seven key financial mechanisms to diversify revenue streams. However, the evaluation highlights critical gaps in inter-sectoral coordination, the lack of a formal participation strategy for local and indigenous communities, and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While institutional ownership is high, the project's sustainability is threatened by political instability and a lack of a national sustainable financing policy. The evaluation recommends prioritizing the update of SERNANP's Strategic Plan and developing a more robust, participatory methodology for stakeholder engagement.

As of 31 July 2021, the GCF pipeline includes 89 funding proposals requesting USD 6.4 billion and 350 concept notes requesting USD 15.9 billion. The report details the distribution of these requests by sector, region, and theme, while also tracking the progress of the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, specific requests for proposals (RFPs) such as REDD-plus and MSME, and the status of 65 active Project Preparation Facility applications.

The document provides a comprehensive guide to adaptation communications (ADCOMs), which are voluntary reports used by countries to share climate adaptation priorities and needs. It outlines the four primary goals of ADCOMs: increasing the visibility of adaptation, strengthening support for developing countries, providing data for the global stocktake, and enhancing global learning. The text details flexible submission methods—standalone, in conjunction with, or as a component of other documents like NDCs or NAPs—and lists optional content elements ranging from national circumstances to gender-responsive actions. Finally, it explains how countries can leverage existing NAP processes to develop their ADCOMs, even if a final NAP document is not yet complete.

This case study compares the energy matrices of Colombia and Argentina, analyzing their reliance on fossil fuels versus low-carbon sources and their respective commitments to energy transition and emission reductions.

The document is a formal reporting form submitted by Pegasus Capital Advisors (PCA) to the Green Climate Fund regarding the environmental and social safeguards (ESS) for the CRAFT project. The project is classified as Category I-2 and targets several developing countries. It confirms that an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) was disclosed on September 1, 2021, in multiple languages, including English, Arabic, French, Malay, Portuguese, and Spanish, to ensure accessibility in the target countries and for National Designated Authorities.

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) sustainable finance market grew significantly between 2019 and 2021, with total GSS issuance reaching USD 48.6 billion by June 2021. Green bonds remain the dominant instrument, though social and sustainability bonds have expanded rapidly, partly driven by COVID-19 relief efforts. Chile, Brazil, and Mexico are the primary markets, together accounting for 77% of all GSS issuance. While energy is the most funded sector, there is increasing diversification into low-carbon transport and sustainable agriculture. The region is also seeing a rise in sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) and the development of national green taxonomies to standardize climate-aligned investments.

The sustainable finance market in Latin America and the Caribbean grew significantly between 2019 and 2021, with total VSS emissions reaching USD 48.6 billion by June 2021. Chile, Brazil, and Mexico dominate the market, accounting for 77% of all VSS emissions. Green bonds remain the largest segment (USD 30.2 billion), while social and sustainability bonds have seen rapid growth, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Energy is the most funded sector, though transport and land use are significant. The report also highlights the emergence of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) and the ongoing development of national green taxonomies in countries like Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.

The Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) sustainable finance market grew significantly between 2019 and 2021, with total VSS emissions reaching USD 48.6 billion by June 2021. Chile, Brazil, and Mexico dominate the region, accounting for 77% of all VSS emissions. Green bonds are the largest segment (USD 30.2 billion), primarily driven by energy projects and sovereign issuances in Chile. The report also highlights the rise of social and sustainable bonds, the emergence of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), and the ongoing development of national green taxonomies in countries like Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.