Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative examines recent developments in climate adaptation finance, highlighting the growing gap between estimated adaptation costs and current funding levels. It discusses the roles of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee and the Adaptation Fund, the challenges in tracking adaptation finance flows, and the economic risks associated with nature loss as identified by the World Economic Forum. The document argues that addressing these challenges requires a fundamental rethinking of production, redistribution, and equity to support the most vulnerable populations.

This research paper examines the capacity of green bonds to bridge the global adaptation finance gap, specifically focusing on private sector involvement. The author concludes that while green bonds can finance adaptation, they currently do so to a very limited extent and are unlikely to significantly close the finance gap due to geographic mismatches, project scale issues, and a general lack of corporate climate risk awareness.

This Green Bond Fact Sheet describes a JPY 10 billion (USD 92 million) senior unsecured green bond issued by ORIX on January 30, 2020, with a five-year tenor maturing on January 30, 2025.

The Bank of Nagoya issued a JPY 10 billion green bond on December 13, 2019, to finance capital expenditures for photovoltaic power generation, including solar panels and related equipment.

A Green Bond Fact Sheet for a JPY 1.5 billion bond issued by ITOCHU Advance Logistics Investment Corporation on December 12, 2019, to fund certified green buildings in Japan.

A fact sheet detailing a JPY 8bn green bond issued by Tess Engineering Co., Ltd. on December 13, 2019, to acquire completed solar power plants in Japan.

This executive summary, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), argues for the urgent reform of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules regarding domestic agricultural support. The authors contend that current rules fail to limit the subsidies of major agricultural subsidizers and do not adequately address the growing support from emerging economies, hindering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). The document proposes simplifying domestic support rules, introducing new global limits based on production value, and establishing special treatment for developing countries.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development evaluates Japan's funding of fossil fuels relative to other G20 OECD member countries, highlighting its role as a major public financier of overseas coal and liquefied natural gas projects despite some reductions in overall support.

This fact sheet details a JPY300m (USD3m) private placement green bond issued by Shizen Energy Inc. on November 29, 2019, to finance a solar power plant in Japan.

Daiwa House Industry issued a JPY6bn (USD55m) senior unsecured green bond on November 25, 2019, to fund certified buildings, including Project Machida, Project Hachioji, and Project Urayasu II. The bond features a 10-year tenor, a 0.530% coupon, and a 'Green1' rating, with a second party opinion provided by Sustainalytics. Reporting on CO2 emissions, energy, and water consumption will be managed by DHR and reviewed by the Japan Credit Rating Agency.

A Green Bond Fact Sheet detailing a JPY 10 billion (USD 92 million) green bond issued by Seibu Holdings on December 12, 2019, to fund energy-efficient trains and solar power facilities.

Shimizu Corporation issued a JPY10.000m (USD92m) green bond on December 12, 2019, to refinance the YOKOHAMA GRANGATE office building. The building, scheduled for completion in February 2020, targets LEED 'gold' and CASBEE Yokohama S-rank certifications through energy-saving technologies and resilience standards for earthquakes and environmental disasters.

A briefing by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) providing a global temperature update as of December 2019, highlighting a significant gap between current government pledges and the Paris Agreement goals, while detailing trends in coal, natural gas, and renewable energy.

This fact sheet details a JPY 10bn (USD 92m) green bond issued by Gunma Bank on November 26, 2019, with a 10-year tenor. The proceeds are designated for renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and green transportation, with a second-party opinion provided by Sustainalytics.

This report by the NewClimate Institute assesses the potential for seven specific countries to increase their greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to align with the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing 1.5°C.

This policy brief by the NewClimate Institute presents national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 aligned with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. It compares two distinct methodologies for distributing these targets: fairness-based approaches, derived from Climate Action Tracker evaluations, and cost-effectiveness approaches, based on marginal abatement cost curves.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the status of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the role of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). It details the two primary cooperation avenues (Article 6.2 and 6.4), the challenges of establishing a rulebook—including debates over additionality and double counting—and provides examples of pilot projects and national strategies, particularly focusing on Canada's preparations.

The 2019 Global Landscape of Climate Finance report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes global climate-related primary investment from 2013 to 2018. It finds that while annual climate finance reached record levels, crossing the USD half-trillion mark in 2017 and 2018, current investment levels remain significantly below what is required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and a 1.5 ˚C scenario.

This fact sheet details a JPY 3.3 billion green bond issued by AEON REIT Investment Corp on October 21, 2019, to fund environmentally certified buildings and efficiency renovations.

A fact sheet detailing a JPY 7.3 billion green bond issued by Tokyu Land Capital Management on September 27, 2019, to fund renewable energy projects.