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The policy brief outlines a framework for Ghana to achieve sustainable cooling through the integration of cooling needs into national energy and climate plans, the establishment of a National Cooling Plan Committee, and the adoption of passive cooling and energy efficiency standards. It emphasizes the need for 'Cool Cities' initiatives in urban centers like Accra and Kumasi, the modernization of cold chains for agriculture and healthcare via renewable energy, and the use of innovative financing like green bonds to attract private investment.

The report assesses Ghana's energy safety nets, finding that while programs like the National Electrification Scheme and Solar PV initiatives have significantly increased physical access, most lack precise targeting of the poor. The Lifeline Tariff is the only program that explicitly targeted the poor, though it faced challenges with meter sharing and inefficient appliances. The study recommends transitioning to means-testing and improving public education to ensure energy services reach the most vulnerable.

Ghana aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, a transition requiring approximately USD 550 billion in capital investment. The plan identifies a shift toward solar PV, electric vehicles, and clean cooking as primary abatement drivers, while noting that without action, emissions could rise from 28 Mt CO2e in 2021 to over 140 Mt by 2050. The strategy emphasizes the need for de-risking instruments to attract private capital and the establishment of an Energy Transition Office to coordinate implementation.

The report finds that Nigeria's health sector is severely underfunded, with the health budget averaging 5% of the national budget, far below the 15% Abuja declaration. Consequently, over 75% of health spending is borne by households through out-of-pocket expenses. Primary healthcare facilities (PHCs) often rely on user fees to cover operational costs, including electricity from the grid and fuel generators, which cost an average of ₦23,500 to ₦48,000 per month. To achieve the NPHCDA target of 10,000 electrified PHCs, the report estimates a total requirement of $525 million, split between short-term needs ($180 million for 3,433 facilities) and medium-term needs ($345 million for 6,567 facilities). The document recommends a blended financing approach combining government funds like the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), donor grants, and private sector debt and equity to mitigate risks for energy service companies.

The document examines the critical link between reliable electricity and the quality of healthcare in resource-constrained settings. It highlights that unreliable power affects nearly 60% of health facilities in 46 low- and middle-income countries, leading to equipment failure and reduced service capacity. The factsheet advocates for off-grid solar solutions as a cheaper and more reliable alternative to grid extension or diesel generators, citing significant improvements in maternal health, disease diagnosis, and staff and patient satisfaction in countries like India, Uganda, Ghana, and Zambia.

The report argues that energy and mobility sectors must move from silos to synergies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies 19 priority countries and 260 cities, categorizing them into four types: Efficiency Opportunists, Digital Disruptors, Electric Vehicle Leapfroggers, and Renewable Drivers. The document proposes three primary solutions: integrated energy, land-use, and mobility planning; demand-side targeting and management using digital tools; and the deployment of electric mobility (specifically buses and two-wheelers). It highlights a significant financing gap for sustainable transport in small cities and recommends cross-sector alliances and improved spatial data to attract investment.

The report evaluates the extent to which gender considerations are embedded in national energy policies and the corporate practices of energy companies. It utilizes a scoring system to analyze female participation, economic empowerment, education, and labor rights across different income levels and energy sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification.

The document describes the technical interface for the LCDS database, detailing the REST web service queries available to retrieve data sets, country lists, and specific time series data for energy and environment models. It provides specific URL examples for accessing UN Population Prospects, World Development Indicators, IDEES, and IPCC Shared Socioeconomic Pathway GDP projections.

Colombia is utilizing the CCAC SNAP initiative and the LEAP-IBC tool to identify priority emitting sectors and integrate short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) mitigation into its national air quality and climate change policies. The process involves quantifying emission scenarios to inform legal frameworks and funding, with specific focus on agriculture (rice paddies, sugar cane, manure management), transport, brick kilns, and cookstoves. To date, 60 regional climate change plans have been reviewed to identify implementation opportunities, and 15 of the 100 measures in Colombia's INDC resulted from SNAP Phase I.

Ghana is utilizing the SNAP initiative to develop a national plan for mitigating short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), integrating these efforts into its National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda. The Ghana EPA is employing the LEAP-IBC model to calculate emissions and benefits across both energy and non-energy sectors. Key sectoral actions include the potential implementation of Euro-benchmarked emission standards for transport, the distribution of 200,000 solar lanterns to replace kerosene, and a Green Cooling Programme to replace high-GWP HFC air conditioners. To support these goals, the Ministry of Finance has established a climate change unit as the National Designated Authority for the Green Climate Fund.

Nigeria is implementing the SNAP initiative by establishing a coordination office within the Federal Ministry of Environment to identify emission sources and develop a national action plan. The process involves integrating the LEAP-IBC tool to model the impacts of emission scenarios on health, climate, and crop yields. Priority sectors for mitigation include cookstoves, agriculture, transport, brick kilns, and the oil and gas industry, with a focus on improving regulation, enforcement, and legislative frameworks to align with Nigeria's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

The EU-UNDP Low Emission Capacity Building Programme is a collaborative initiative funded by the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. It aims to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of developing countries to transition toward low-emission, climate-resilient pathways by supporting the development of GHG inventories, Low-Emission Development Strategies (LEDS), and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).

This research paper, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute for the New Climate Economy, examines the health, economic, and environmental impacts of traditional biomass cooking in sub-Saharan Africa. It analyzes the challenges of transitioning to clean cooking energy and provides case studies from Mali, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Kenya to identify success factors for scaling up improved cookstove interventions.

The report investigates the intersection of poverty and environmental degradation in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), Ghana. It finds that low-income households suffer from severe deficiencies in water access, sanitation, and waste management, which correlate strongly with high prevalences of childhood diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections. The study highlights that while the city has some advanced infrastructure, extreme crowding and unreliable supply systems negate these advantages for the poor. It concludes that an integrated environmental-health strategy, leveraging both government action and local community organisations, is necessary to improve urban welfare.

This report argues that transforming gender relations in sub-Saharan African agriculture is essential for improving agricultural productivity, food security, and overall human development. It posits a causal link between gender equality in households and communities and better agricultural outcomes, asserting that standard development interventions cannot fully succeed unless women and men are on equal footing.

Côte d’Ivoire is utilizing the SNAP initiative to identify and mitigate short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) to improve public health, agriculture, and climate. Priority areas for action include the transportation sector, waste management, industrial processes, oil refineries, and the use of traditional cookstoves. The country is employing the LEAP-IBC tool for emission inventories and planning, with the goal of informing its air quality strategy and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The document discusses the launch and objectives of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC), based on UNEP and WMO assessments. It highlights 16 existing technological measures to reduce methane and black carbon that could lower global warming by 0.5C by 2050 and prevent millions of premature deaths. The text emphasizes that SLCP reduction is a development issue that complements long-term CO2 targets and focuses on practical implementation through national action planning and international collaboration.

The report analyzes how rigid gender norms, lack of capital, and limited asset ownership prevent women from benefiting from agricultural commercialization in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights that women often perform the bulk of the labor but lack control over the resulting income, which can lead to poor product quality and reduced household nutrition. The document provides a strategic framework for interventions, ranging from professionalizing traditional 'women's crops' to redistributive actions that challenge male-dominated chains. Case studies from Kenya (SHEP) and Zimbabwe (ZOPPA) demonstrate that combining gender awareness training with technical capacity building and organic certification can improve income parity and market access for women farmers.

The report argues that climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is only effective when it addresses gender inequalities that make women more vulnerable to climate change and hinder their adoption of sustainable practices. It highlights that women often face barriers such as insecure land tenure, limited capital, and restrictive social norms. Through case studies in countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda, the document demonstrates that successful interventions require a combination of enhancing women's agency (through training and knowledge networks), reforming institutional structures (securing land and credit rights), and transforming gender relations (encouraging male support and shared decision-making). Specific examples include the use of biogas digesters to reduce women's domestic workloads and the implementation of 'climate analogue' visits to share adaptation strategies.

The report examines the shift from public ownership to private, unbundled utility models in the electricity sector, arguing that these reforms are fundamentally issues of sustainable development. Based on case studies from Argentina, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, the authors find that electricity reforms have been primarily driven by financial concerns and donor conditions rather than social or environmental goals. The document advocates for a reform process that addresses the needs of the 1.7 billion people lacking electricity access and aligns investor incentives with a clean energy future to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.