Search Climate Insights Directory

This case study describes the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), a partnership co-led by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforSforALL), the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and The Rockefeller Foundation. LaunchedS Launched at COP27, theS theSSSSS the initiative aims to establish high-integrity Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) to channel international finance into African clean energy projects and climate mitigation efforts.

Damilola Ogunbiyi delivered a keynote speech at the 9th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue on March 28, 2023, emphasizing that a global transition to net zero is impossible without the inclusion of Africa and addressing the severe disparity in renewable energy financing for developing nations.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the 20-year history of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details the mechanism's evolution from its 2003 inception to its current status as an AU-incorporated body with 43 member states, while highlighting systemic failures in implementation, slow review throughput, and the limited impact of its recommendations on overall continental governance.

This briefing by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) examines the status of climate change adaptation in Ghana, focusing on the opportunities and barriers to locally-led adaptation. Based on case studies across three ecological zones, the analysis highlights that while local communities are actively employing indigenous knowledge and innovative practices to build resilience, they are constrained by limited financial resources, inadequate institutional support, and poor coordination between national and sectoral strategies.

The AfCFTA aims to create a single African market by eliminating 97% of tariffs, but full implementation is hindered by delayed Rules of Origin negotiations and clashes between national interests and pan-African goals. The Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) serves as a pilot to maintain momentum and test regulatory instruments among eight selected countries.

AFRODAD urges the adoption of the New York Taxpayer and International Debt Crises Protection Act to compel private creditors to participate in debt relief. The organization highlights that 23 African countries face debt distress or high risk, exacerbated by sovereign bonds and global crises including the climate emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine-Russia Conflict.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for the African private sector. It explores how Africa's abundance of critical minerals and renewable energy potential—particularly for green hydrogen—positions the continent as a strategic partner for the EU's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The document identifies financial, technological, and capacity-building opportunities for African companies, while warning against the risk of Africa remaining a mere resource supplier in an unequal partnership.

This report by the African Climate Foundation outlines priorities for reforming the global financial architecture to better support climate investment and sustainable development in Africa. It argues that the current system is dominated by creditor interests and advanced economies, resulting in high borrowing costs, insufficient concessional finance, and a debt crisis that hinders Africa's ability to respond to climate change.

This report analyzes climate change adaptation in Ghana, highlighting a critical gap between top-down national policies and locally led adaptation (LLA). While Ghana has established comprehensive frameworks like the updated NDCs, funding is heavily skewed toward mitigation (87.4%) over adaptation (3.4%). Through case studies in the Savannah, Upper East, and coastal regions, the report demonstrates that LLA initiatives—such as organic shea processing, climate-smart agriculture, and community-based coastal monitoring—are effective but hindered by limited finance and institutional support. The authors recommend devolving financial resources, integrating traditional knowledge, and fostering participatory decision-making to enhance national resilience.

This document provides the technical annexes for the 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment, detailing the definitions, regional aggregations, and methodologies used to track forest loss, degradation, restoration, and biodiversity. It includes a specific data table comparing 2022 deforestation levels against a 2018-2020 baseline for 30 high-impact countries.

The Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report documents a global gathering of over 1,200 participants aimed at taking stock of evidence on building resilience across people, communities, urban systems, socio-ecological systems, and market systems. The report emphasizes the need for 'locally led adaptation,' the integration of mixed-methods evidence (combining quantitative data with lived experience), and the bridging of funding gaps for climate resilience, noting that less than $50 billion is spent annually against needs of $160 billion to $340 billion.

The 'GUIDANCE NOTES: IGF Mining Policy Framework 2023' is a comprehensive guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help governments implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework. The document provides detailed recommendations across six 'Pillars'—Laws, Policies, and Institutions; Financial Benefits; Socio-economic Benefits; Environmental Management; Post-Mining Transition; and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining—to ensure the mining sector contributes to sustainable development and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 'Cadre d´orientation des politiques minières de l'IGF' is a comprehensive guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2023. It provides a policy framework for the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) to support its 80 member countries in implementing sustainable mining laws and regulations. The guide is structured around six pillars: laws and institutions, financial benefits, socio-economic benefits, environmental management, mine closure transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

The 2022 Report on the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health details the collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and health civil society to integrate health considerations into global climate policy. The report highlights 2022 achievements, including coordinated submissions to the UNFCCC, advocacy for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and the establishment of a WHO Health Pavilion at COP27. It outlines future goals for 2023 and 2024, including a proposed World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on climate change, air pollution, and health.

This report by the African Center for Economic Transformation evaluates the sustainability of Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in Ghana. It finds that after 25 years, the EPZ model has failed to meet many of its original objectives and lacks integration with broader industrial policies, environmental standards, and anti-corruption measures. The report recommends a comprehensive policy overhaul, increased private sector involvement in infrastructure, and the adoption of climate-friendly investment strategies.

The November 2022 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines political instability in Tunisia, counter-terrorism strategies in the Sahel, and the security risks posed by acute food insecurity across Africa.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that multilateral adaptation finance largely treats climate risk as a local phenomenon, failing to address transboundary and 'teleconnected' risks that cross borders through trade, financial flows, and shared ecosystems. The authors propose a shift toward 'systemic resilience'—interventions focusing on whole systems rather than individual countries—to deliver shared benefits for both recipient and contributor nations.

This case study describes a pilot initiative by the NAP Global Network and Lensational to integrate the perspectives of underrepresented women into the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes of Ghana and Kenya. By using visual storytelling and photography, the project aimed to bridge the gap between grassroots experiences and national policy-making to ensure gender-responsive climate adaptation.

This research paper provides an overview of climate change adaptation in Ghana, analyzing the country's vulnerability, existing policy frameworks, and the significant gaps in climate finance and local-level implementation. It argues for a shift from top-down planning toward locally-led adaptation to better address the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates global progress toward the 2030 goals of halting deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land. The report concludes that no global indicator is currently on track to meet these targets, noting that while some regional progress exists, radical transformations in finance, governance, and production are required to shift the global forest trajectory.