Search Climate Insights Directory

This fact sheet describes the design and objectives of governance learning events conducted as part of the CADWAGO project, focusing on co-learning and the co-production of knowledge regarding water governance in the context of climate change.

The report argues that environmental improvements can enhance competitiveness and proposes a strategy for a European eco-efficient economy based on resource efficiency, new technology markets, and stable global carbon pricing. It emphasizes the need for integrated governance, support for SMEs, and international cooperation to prevent carbon leakage and drive global climate action.

The document argues for prioritizing public transport in South African cities to reduce carbon emissions, which currently account for 25% of city emissions, and energy consumption, which accounts for 50%. It identifies barriers such as fragmented management, safety concerns, and apartheid-era urban planning. Proposed solutions include the creation of Transport Authorities, the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and travel demand management strategies like congestion charging and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. A case study of Cape Town suggests that a 10% shift in commuters from private to public transport by 2020 could save 148 million gigajoules of energy and 9 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2024.

The paper argues that incremental improvements are insufficient to address the unsustainability of current road transport, which is locked into a regime of oil and car dependence. Using a multi-level perspective, the authors identify three 'niches' for radical innovation: novel vehicle/fuel technologies (Niche 1), a shift from product ownership to mobility services (Niche 2), and post-industrial lifestyles that reduce overall travel demand (Niche 3). In Sweden, Niche 1 is seen as reaching a 'take-off' phase, particularly with biofuels and hybrids, supported by a history of niche experiments and targeted policies. In the UK, the transition is slower and more 'technology push' driven, though congestion charging in London is highlighted as a successful intervention. The authors conclude that a sustainable future requires the co-evolution and 'niche-accumulation' of all three pathways, as technology alone cannot solve social issues like congestion or obesity, nor can it fully mitigate climate change without demand reduction.

The document outlines a low-carbon travel target for UK residents, recommending zero car ownership and specific distance limits for trains, buses, and shared car use to achieve an annual emission level of 0.7 tCO2e per person.

The document examines the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), finding extensive financial ties to the arms industry through event sponsorship, corporate partnerships, and donations. While the IET lacks a specific ethical investment policy and an overarching environmental policy, it demonstrates some environmental efforts, such as a 'very good' BREEAM rating for its London office. The study notes a lack of transparency regarding the specific corporations in which the IET's £110 million listed investments are held, suggesting likely but unconfirmed links to fossil fuel companies.

The Royal Academy of Engineering maintains extensive financial ties with the arms and fossil fuel sectors, particularly in its school education programmes and high-prestige events, while lacking a specific internal environmental or ethical investment policy.

The document argues that while green stimulus can generate jobs and energy cost savings, it cannot replace comprehensive climate policy. It suggests that G-20 leaders coordinate national stimulus programs to support long-term emission goals and build confidence for UN-led negotiations in Copenhagen.

The document examines the implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Congestion Charging (CC) in London, Singapore, and Stockholm to inform policy development in China. It identifies key areas for analysis, including scheme design, technology, and public communication, and provides specific recommendations for Chinese national and municipal governments to ensure successful adoption, such as aligning local schemes with national strategies and dedicating revenues to transportation improvements.

The document introduces a research paper examining the role of sovereign parametric insurance and regional risk pools (CCRIF, ARC, and PCRIC) in the disaster risk finance architecture for developing countries. It aims to assess how these instruments are deployed across different risk layers, the extent of government utilization, and their impact on protecting poor and vulnerable people, based on a literature review and consultations with 75 stakeholders.

The document outlines the outcomes of a roundtable hosted by WRI and IIED, identifying a mutual desire for collaboration between donor agencies and the private sector to achieve sustainable development. It highlights significant barriers, including a lack of mutual understanding, donor risk-aversion, and a dearth of evidence on effective business models. The summary proposes five key opportunities for progress: creating learning platforms, developing best-practice guidance, establishing shared performance metrics, encouraging high-risk financial innovation, and leveraging the post-2015 development agenda to foster transformational partnerships.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is implementing a 2023-2027 strategy to drive systemic change across three human-centered systems: Cities, Energy, and Food, Land & Water. WRI Europe Stichting serves as the regional representative in Europe, leveraging the region's financial and research hubs to pilot sustainable practices and mobilize funding. The organization utilizes a framework of Global Impact Targets, WRI Impact Targets, and Country-Level Targets to measure success, aligned with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. WRI Europe Stichting's financial report for the 2024/2025 period shows a total income of EUR 17,360,351 and a result for the year of EUR 153,834.

The 2022 UK heatwave, which saw temperatures reach 40.3°C in Coningsby, was made at least 10 times more likely by human-caused climate change. Observational analysis indicates such an event would have been about 4°C cooler in pre-industrial times, though climate models systematically underestimate this trend. The event had significant impacts on human health, with projected excess mortality of over 840 people in England and Wales, and exposed critical vulnerabilities in UK infrastructure and urban planning.