Search Climate Insights Directory

The report analyzes tax incentives across 104 mining projects in 21 developing countries, finding that while legislation is the primary source of incentives, African countries rely more heavily on discretionary contracts. The most common incentives are fiscal stabilization clauses and corporate income tax breaks, both of which pose significant revenue risks. The study notes that the use of these incentives peaked in the late 1990s and again during the 2014-2016 commodity price crash, suggesting a correlation between low commodity prices and more generous tax terms.

The NAP Global Network's 2018-2019 progress report outlines its efforts to enhance national adaptation planning in developing countries through peer learning, technical assistance, and donor coordination. Key achievements include supporting Fiji's first NAP launch, facilitating gender-responsive planning in Africa, and promoting private sector engagement in Ghana, Saint Lucia, and Vietnam. The Network provided technical support to 33 countries this year and continues to focus on aligning NAPs with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to foster climate-resilient development.

The document analyzes how Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), a hybrid public-private utility company, contributed to reducing violence and inequality in Medellín through financial support for social urbanism and the creation of participatory public spaces. It highlights the symbiotic relationship between EPM and the municipal government, noting that EPM's investments in vulnerable areas improved both city security and the company's own operational profitability.

The study finds that internal armed conflict generally leads to a net negative change in women's labour rights during and immediately after conflict. While some qualitative literature suggests conflicts can create opportunities for women's employment, this large-n analysis indicates that negative mechanisms—such as post-conflict insecurity, violence, and a return to traditional gender roles—outweigh potential gains.

The Global Commission on Adaptation's report, 'Adapt Now', presents climate adaptation as a human, environmental, and economic imperative. It argues that current responses are insufficient and calls for a 'triple dividend' approach—avoiding losses, gaining economic productivity, and securing social-environmental benefits. The report details specific strategies for food security, natural environments, water management, urban areas, infrastructure, and disaster risk management, while proposing a 15-month 'Year of Action' to jump-start these transitions through eight dedicated Action Tracks.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has announced the results of its Small Grant Program (SGP-HW) call for proposals. Following a multi-stage review process involving the IAI Directorate, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and external researchers, 10 proposals were shortlisted from an initial 92. Four projects were selected for immediate funding, three were approved subject to resource availability, and three were recommended for alternate funding. The program emphasizes transdisciplinary research and participatory approaches involving policy makers and stakeholders, with grants up to USD 200,000 to support research, capacity building, and data management.

The report finds that 16 of the 25 analyzed major emitting countries and regions are not on track to meet their self-determined NDC targets. While some countries like China and India are likely to achieve their targets, others, including the United States and Japan, require additional measures. Furthermore, current policies are projected to fail in preventing emissions increases up to 2030 relative to 2010 levels in a majority of the analyzed nations, including both developing and OECD economies.

The report identifies storage/cold storage, decentralized renewable energy, feeder roads, and irrigation as critical rural infrastructure for ending hunger. It argues that while these assets are essential for increasing agricultural productivity and farmer income, they face significant financing barriers due to high perceived risks and low population densities in rural areas. The authors propose a mix of donor aid, public spending, and private capital, utilizing innovative instruments such as availability payments, shadow tolls, blended finance, and viability gap funding to make these projects commercially viable and sustainable.

The report details a workshop focused on aligning National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It argues that while NDCs set high-level goals, NAPs provide the technical and operational framework for implementation. Key findings highlight that most participating countries lack a direct link between these two processes and face challenges such as institutional silos, conflicting interests between mitigation and adaptation, and a lack of common monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks. The document proposes a path toward 'systematic alignment' where NDC adaptation content is derived directly from the NAP process.

The report details a workshop focused on aligning National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It argues that while NDCs set high-level goals, the NAP process serves as the operational mechanism to implement these goals at subnational and local levels. The document identifies significant institutional gaps, as many countries operate these processes in parallel without coordination. Key recommendations include establishing joint technical working groups, creating shared monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and developing technical guidelines to move from informal to systematic alignment.

The document argues that the RSPO serves as a greenwashing tool for the industrial palm oil industry, failing to address a production model based on land grabbing, deforestation, and labor exploitation. It asserts that voluntary certification cannot replace state regulation and calls for a moratorium on plantation expansion and a reduction in palm oil demand.

The document argues that the RSPO serves as a 'greenwashing' tool for the palm oil industry, failing to prevent deforestation and land grabbing while promoting a destructive industrial model. It calls for government moratoria on plantation expansion and a shift toward agroecology.

The document argues that the RSPO serves as a tool for 'greenwashing' the palm oil industry, masking systemic human rights violations and deforestation. It asserts that the RSPO's certification principles support a destructive industrial model based on large-scale monocultures, land grabbing, and labour exploitation. The authors call for government moratoria on plantation expansion, a reduction in palm oil demand, and the promotion of agroecology and community land rights.

The statement condemns the election of Jair Bolsonaro as a representative of the 'extrême droite fasciste', arguing that his leadership threatens human rights, social victories, and the safety of marginalized groups. It links his rise to neoliberalism and the influence of transnational oil and agro-industrial companies, while warning of increased militarization and the potential for a military invasion of Venezuela.

Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean (ATALC) condemns the election of Jair Bolsonaro, characterizing his leadership as fascist and neoliberal. The statement warns that his presidency threatens the rights of indigenous people, black communities, and activists, while serving the interests of transnational corporations, particularly in the oil and agribusiness sectors. It links the political situation in Brazil to similar patterns of depoliticization and violence seen in Colombia and Honduras, and expresses concern that Bolsonaro's victory increases the risk of a US-led military invasion of Venezuela.

Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean denounces the election of Jair Bolsonaro as a victory for the 'fascist far right' and neoliberalism. The organization warns that his leadership threatens the rights of indigenous, black, and marginalized communities, while increasing the risk of militarization and violence. It further links this political shift to corporate interests in oil and agribusiness and expresses concern over potential military intervention in Venezuela. The statement concludes with a call for an internationalist anti-fascist front under the framework of the Continental Action for Democracy and against Neoliberalism.

The report finds that while some progress has been made in forest transparency and law enforcement, governance improvements are too slow to significantly reduce deforestation. It highlights critical failures in securing indigenous land rights, persistent corruption, and increasing violence against land defenders. While some Asian economies have adopted demand-side regulations against illegal logging, systemic weaknesses in enforcement and transparency continue to hinder forest protection.

The report finds that improvements in forest governance are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with significant gaps remaining in the legal recognition of indigenous land rights and the enforcement of forest laws. While some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side regulations in emerging economies, corruption remains rampant and violence against land defenders is increasing. The assessment highlights that secure tenure for local communities is more effective for forest protection than legally protected areas, yet a substantial portion of occupied lands remains unrecognized by governments.

The report finds that improvements in forest governance are too slow to quantifiably reduce deforestation, with significant gaps remaining in the legal recognition of indigenous land rights and the enforcement of laws against illegal logging. While some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side regulations in emerging Asian economies, corruption and violence against land defenders continue to undermine forest conservation efforts.

The report finds that while some progress has been made in forest transparency and the adoption of demand-side regulations, overall improvements in forest governance are too slow to effectively reduce deforestation. It highlights critical failures in granting land rights to indigenous peoples and local communities, rising violence against land defenders, and endemic corruption. The document emphasizes that strong governance is a necessary condition for forest protection, noting that illegal deforestation remains prevalent in major producers of palm oil, soy, and beef.