Search Climate Insights Directory

This executive summary describes the States’ Electricity Transition (SET) Scoring system developed by Ember to evaluate the electricity transition across 16 Indian states, which represent 90% of India's annual power requirement. The analysis focuses on four dimensions: decarbonisation, power system performance, power ecosystem readiness, and policies and political commitments. While some states like Karnataka show strong performance across all metrics, others, particularly Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, require significant improvements in decarbonisation and system performance to meet national targets.

This fact sheet by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the state of energy markets one year after the invasion of Ukraine, detailing the European Union's rapid reduction of Russian gas imports, the acceleration of the global energy transition toward renewables, and the financial impacts of energy sanctions on Russia and high fuel prices on global consumers.

This report examines the proposed Market-Based Economic Dispatch (MBED) mechanism in India, intended to optimize day-ahead scheduling of power generators to alleviate financial distress in the distribution sector and support the integration of renewable energy.

This case study examines a pilot project conducted between 2020 and 2022 by Swedish retailer Kappahl and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to map the organic cotton supply chains of four garment lines. Using the SupplyShift platform, the project aimed to increase visibility and transparency from farm to retail to manage environmental and socio-economic risks and comply with emerging sustainability regulations.

The research paper 'Toward Multipurpose Trade Policy?' by Nicolas Lamp describes a paradigm shift in international trade, moving from a primary focus on economic efficiency and liberalization toward 'multipurpose trade policy.' This new approach integrates substantive policy objectives—such as climate mitigation, national security, and labor rights—directly into trade policy rather than treating them as externalities. The author outlines the domestic challenges of balancing incommensurable goals and the international implications, including a declining role for multilateral trade law and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes energy efficiency (EE) mechanisms for electricity-intensive consumers, comparing international experiences from the European Union, USA, China, and other nations with the current policy landscape in Brazil. It identifies direct and indirect benefits of EE, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased industrial competitiveness, and evaluates various regulatory, fiscal, and market-based instruments to provide recommendations for improving Brazil's energy efficiency framework.

This report by the Global Center on Adaptation and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network documents 19 locally led adaptation (LLA) initiatives globally. It emphasizes the importance of devolving decision-making to the lowest appropriate level, addressing structural inequalities (particularly for women and Indigenous Peoples), and providing patient, predictable funding. The document highlights how communities use ecosystem restoration, circular economy practices, and intergenerational collaboration to build resilience, while calling for a shift in climate finance to better support holistic, community-defined priorities.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) issued a call for concept notes in 2023 to fund projects led by African organisations that use Indigenous and local knowledge to drive inclusive, locally-led climate-resilient action.

This white paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative presents a blueprint for a climate resilience classification framework designed to mobilize capital market investment into climate-resilient assets, activities, and entities. It proposes a systematic approach to identify eligible investments based on their 'Substantial Contribution' to resilience while avoiding maladaptation and significant harm to other sustainability goals.

The 2023 CleanAir NDC Scorecard by the Global Climate and Health Alliance analyzes 170 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to assess how governments integrate air quality and health considerations into their climate plans. The report finds that while most NDCs mention air quality, there is a significant gap in quantifying health impacts and establishing forward-looking targets, with low- and middle-income countries generally showing higher levels of integration than high-income nations.

The report 'Boom & Bust Coal 2023' analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants in 2022, highlighting a stark divergence between China's surge in new capacity and a general decline in coal development elsewhere. While global operational capacity grew by 19.5 GW, the report notes that nearly one-third of global operational capacity (580 GW) is scheduled for phase-out, though the current pace of closures remains insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals.

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 World Resources Institute's (WRI) 2023-2027 Strategic Plan outlines a transition from a period of global commitments to one of tangible impact on the ground. The strategy centers on three interconnected global goals—improving human well-being, protecting nature, and tackling climate change—and targets systemic change across three 'Human-Centered Systems' (Food, Land and Water; Energy; and Cities) supported by three 'Enabling Systems' (Economics, Finance, and Governance). WRI aims to operate as a centrally coordinated global network with a specific focus on 12 priority countries to drive just transitions.

The 'Mapping India's Energy Policy 2022 (Update)' report provides estimates of Indian government support for fossil fuels, renewable energy, and electric vehicles from FY 2014 to FY 2022, highlighting a significant disparity between fossil fuel and clean energy subsidies.

Minutes from the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Steering Group meeting on December 14, 2022, reviewing the 2022 work plan and establishing priorities for 2023. The meeting focused on the transition to a new social contract and green deal framework, the conclusion of the Economics for Nature programme, and the urgent need for hub funding and improved impact reporting.

This discussion paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative proposes a framework for credible transition finance in the agri-food sector. It argues that current transition instruments, such as Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs), often lack ambition and fail to account for scope 3 emissions. To address this, the paper applies five 'Credible Transition Principles' and five 'Hallmarks' for transforming companies to ensure alignment with 1.5°C climate targets, science-based pathways, and broader sustainability goals including biodiversity and just transition.

Ember provides comments on India's draft National Electricity Plan (Vol.I: Generation), raising concerns about potential shortfalls in meeting 2030 renewable energy targets and the risk of overestimating peak demand, which could lead to excessive coal capacity investment.

This policy brief explores the complex relationship between international trade and sustainable agriculture, highlighting that while agri-food systems contribute 31% of global GHG emissions and drive 80% of deforestation, trade is essential for the 80% of the world population relying on food imports. The author argues for a shift from production-enhancing subsidies to market-correcting ones and suggests utilizing WTO mechanisms—such as the SPS Committee and the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD)—to coordinate global efforts toward sustainable food systems.

RMI argues against the use of climate finance from wealthy nations to support natural gas development in the Global South, asserting that such a move would jeopardize the 1.5°C global warming target and the goals of the Paris Agreement. The document contends that fossil gas is a poor investment for developing countries due to supply dependency, price volatility, and the risk of methane leakage.

A commentary by members of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) urging the Swedish government to use its presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023 to increase the European Union's sustainability ambitions and lead on the European Green Deal.