Search Climate Insights Directory

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that food insecurity in South Africa is driven by income poverty, not food scarcity. It proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) to ensure all adults can afford a basic nutritional diet, noting that current targeted grants are insufficient. The document highlights the severe health and economic costs of malnutrition and argues that a UBIG, combined with a 'just food transition' and systemic food system reforms, can break intergenerational poverty cycles without causing significant inflation.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that food insecurity in South Africa is primarily a result of income poverty rather than food scarcity. It advocates for a Guaranteed Universal Basic Income (UBIG) to ensure all citizens can afford a nutritious diet, highlighting the severe health, social, and economic costs of malnutrition and the limitations of current targeted social grants.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice argues that hunger and food insecurity in South Africa are primarily driven by a lack of income rather than a lack of food production. It proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) as a key mechanism to ensure all citizens can afford nutritious food, thereby breaking cycles of poverty and malnutrition.

This research paper by Shamika N. Sirimanne for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the environmental impact of the rapid growth of e-commerce. It identifies key ecological pressures—including carbon emissions from logistics, packaging waste, and high product return rates—and proposes a multi-stakeholder action plan involving governments, the private sector, consumers, and international organizations to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.

This research paper by Kholofelo Kugler for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade (PCN), adopted in February 2024. The document outlines the protocol's structure, its goals for facilitating digital trade and regulatory harmonization across Africa, and the significant infrastructure and regulatory challenges that may hinder its implementation.

This research paper by Shamika N. Sirimanne of UN Trade and Development explores the environmental footprint of the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. It analyzes how logistics, packaging, and consumer behavior contribute to carbon emissions and waste, and proposes a multi-stakeholder framework involving governments, the private sector, and international organizations to transition toward a sustainable digital economy.

This research paper by Kholofelo Kugler analyzes the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP), adopted in February 2024. The protocol aims to create a comprehensive framework for digital trade across Africa, focusing on trade facilitation, data governance, and digital inclusion. While the main text is adopted, eight key annexes remain under negotiation. The author highlights the potential for the digital economy to significantly boost Africa's GDP and employment, provided that infrastructure gaps and regulatory fragmentation are addressed.

This report analyzes the impact of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) on coffee production in the East African Community (EAC) and its role in accessing the EU market. Meta-analysis shows that mulching, organic manure, and irrigation significantly increase yields, while agroforestry substantially boosts carbon sequestration. The EU is a primary export destination, accounting for 60.1% of EAC coffee exports in 2021, but access requires compliance with strict sustainability, deforestation, and phytosanitary regulations.

This policy brief argues for the adoption of progressive tax instruments—including Financial Transaction Taxes (FTT), net wealth taxes, property taxes, and Resource Rent Taxes—to combat extreme poverty and economic inequality, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the regressive nature of current African tax structures and provides a case study for South Africa, suggesting that a combination of these taxes could generate hundreds of billions of rands to fund social protection and basic income guarantees.

This policy brief examines China's dominant role in Africa's critical minerals sector, highlighting the tension between increased investment and the lack of local value addition. It argues that while China's infrastructure-led approach and state support provide a competitive edge, African nations must shift from exporting raw materials to developing domestic processing and refining capabilities to avoid the 'resource curse' and benefit from the global energy transition.

This policy brief argues that South Africa should use its 2025 G20 presidency to advance African-driven digital public infrastructure (DPI), specifically the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). The author suggests aligning PAPSS with the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-border Payments to improve the speed, cost, and transparency of intra-African and global trade.

A retrospective report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) detailing ten years of the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab). The document analyzes the Lab's role as a market-builder and pipeline incubator, sharing lessons on balancing financial innovation with actionability to mobilize private capital for climate mitigation and adaptation in emerging markets.

The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) report 'Tracking and Mobilizing Private Sector Climate Adaptation Finance' introduces a new methodology and taxonomy to better track private sector investments in climate adaptation. By utilizing a bespoke taxonomy and a machine learning model, CPI increased the annual average of tracked private adaptation finance for the 2019-2022 period from USD 1 billion to USD 4.7 billion. The report identifies significant data gaps, particularly among insurers and pension funds, and highlights that the majority of tracked project-level investment is concentrated in the water and sanitation sector.

This report by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) provides guidance on the design and implementation of trade-related circular economy policies and measures (TrCEMs). It aims to help governments create frameworks that achieve environmental and public health goals while minimizing trade costs and supporting fair transitions, particularly for developing countries.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyses the evolution of climate and energy cooperation between China and Africa within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). It tracks the shift from large-scale infrastructure and resource extraction projects toward "small and beautiful" green initiatives, while assessing how China's commitments align with Africa's strategic priorities for a just energy transition and climate resilience ahead of the September 2024 FOCAC summit.

This case study describes FSD Africa's initiative to integrate the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework into the African financial sector. The program focuses on building institutional capacity, advocating for an 'African voice' in global disclosure standards, and piloting the framework with FirstRand to ensure it is fit for the local context.

This case study evaluates the compliance of Sénégalaise des Filières Alimentaires (SFA), a small rice miller in Senegal, with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). While SFA shows moderate compliance and strong community loyalty, the report recommends formalizing its responsible investment strategy, improving health and safety enforcement, and adjusting pricing to be more competitive.

This case study evaluates the compliance of Mahembe, a small Rwandan agribusiness operating as a coffee cherry producer, green bean processor, and exporter, with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI).

This case study evaluates the compliance of Tropic Coffee, a green bean processor and trader in Rwanda, with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI).

This case study evaluates the compliance of LIMBUA Group Limited, a Kenyan fruit and nut processing and marketing enterprise, with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI).