Search Climate Insights Directory

A statement signed by over 100 organizations criticizing the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for failing to eliminate violence and environmental destruction over 14 years. The document argues that the RSPO serves as a 'greenwashing' tool for the industrial palm oil sector, masking human rights violations and deforestation while facilitating the industry's expansion.

This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on the relationship between forest governance and deforestation. It concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and law enforcement, governance improvements are too slow to significantly reduce deforestation, with critical failures remaining in the recognition of indigenous rights and the prevalence of corruption.

This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering indigenous peoples and local communities. The report finds that while some progress has been made in transparency and law enforcement, improvements are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, and significant challenges remain regarding corruption, illegal logging, and the violation of land rights.

This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on forest governance, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. It concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and law enforcement, improvements are too slow to quantifiably reduce deforestation, with significant gaps remaining in land rights and the protection of environmental defenders.

This policy brief evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on improving forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering indigenous peoples and local communities. The report concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and demand-side measures, governance improvements are too slow to effectively reduce deforestation, and violence against land defenders is increasing.

This executive summary evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on forest governance, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. It concludes that while some progress has been made in transparency and international cooperation, governance improvements are too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, which continues at an alarming rate.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines policies and strategies used by governments to promote direct local employment in the mining sector. It outlines a five-step process for developing local employment policies and categorizes interventions into regulatory 'stick'-based approaches and facilitative 'carrot'-based incentives. The document emphasizes the importance of matching labour supply with industry demand, promoting gender equity and Indigenous participation, and preparing for technological shifts such as automation.

This guide provides a set of recommended actions for regional governments to manage waste in a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and creates economic opportunities, focusing on organic waste diversion, open burn bans, and waste energy capture.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that South Africa's unemployment crisis is a macroeconomic phenomenon that cannot be solved through microeconomic interventions alone. The document criticizes the 'orthodox' macroeconomic framework adopted since 1996, characterizing both fiscal and monetary policies as contractionary and detrimental to job creation. It proposes a shift toward a developmental macroeconomic approach, featuring a significant fiscal stimulus and a restructured monetary policy mandate to prioritize employment and productive investment over strict inflation targeting.

The report finds that Berau Regency can meet its palm oil production goals and fill its mill capacities by increasing productivity on existing land rather than expanding into forests. While company plantations operate efficiently, smallholders face significant barriers, including lack of land certificates (only 28% have them), limited access to finance, and poor integration into the supply chain, often forcing them to sell to distant mills or intermediaries. Additionally, Berau lacks CPO refineries, meaning most crude palm oil is exported to other provinces or Malaysia, limiting local value addition.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a strategic framework for governments to design and implement local content policies in the mining sector. It outlines a four-step process—aligning with national objectives, taking stock of capabilities, crafting specific policies, and establishing monitoring mechanisms—to ensure mining investments contribute to sustainable, inclusive economic development and diversification.

A fact sheet detailing a MYR222.3 million Green SRI Sukuk issued by UiTM Solar Power Sdn Bhd to finance a solar power plant in Malaysia.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative, commissioned by SK Securities, analyzes the state of the climate bond market in Korea as of March 2018. It highlights that while Korea possesses a massive overall bond market and strong climate policy commitments, its specific climate bond market remains underdeveloped. The document identifies significant untapped potential for growth, outlines barriers to expansion, and provides comparative examples of regulatory and incentive-based successes in other global markets to suggest a roadmap for Korean policymakers and investors.

This fact sheet by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines key public sector green bond policy developments in 2017 and projections for 2018. It highlights the rise of sovereign green bonds, the establishment of regional and national guidelines in Asia and Africa, the growth of the green sukuk market in Malaysia, and various financial incentives provided by governments to lower issuance costs and accelerate the transition to low-carbon infrastructure.

A fact sheet detailing the issuance of a MYR415m ASEAN Green Medium-Term Note Facility by Segi Astana Sdn Bhd to fund the development of the LEED Silver certified gateway@klia2 shopping mall in Malaysia.

In 2017, global green bond issuance grew by 78% to reach USD 155.5 billion, driven largely by the US, China, and France. The market saw a significant increase in sovereign and sub-sovereign issuance, including the first African sovereign green bond from Nigeria. While renewable energy remains the most common use of proceeds, there was a notable rise in allocations for low-carbon buildings and energy efficiency. The report highlights a trend toward the diversification of financial instruments, such as Green MBS and Green Sukuk, and an ongoing effort to unify regional green finance standards.

This 2018 report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and IFC provides a comprehensive guide for emerging markets to develop green bond markets. It emphasizes the necessity of national guidance to ensure market integrity and alignment with climate goals, while highlighting the success of China's regulatory approach and the innovation of green sukuk in Malaysia and Indonesia. The report introduces a 'Green Bond Market Development Toolkit' to help regulators move from nascent to robust markets through structured milestones and capacity building.

The 2018 New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Progress Assessment Goals Summary reports that the world is not on track to meet Goal 1, which aims to halve the rate of natural forest loss globally by 2020 and end it by 2030. While net forest loss has declined when accounting for regrowth, gross tree cover loss has increased, and tropical deforestation emissions have risen, peaking in 2016.

This report summarizes progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law, while empowering indigenous peoples and local communities. It details developments in producer and consumer countries regarding illegal timber trade, the rising violence against environmental defenders, and the status of financial resources and data collection for land tenure security.

This report assesses progress toward Goal 4 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on supporting alternatives to deforestation driven by basic needs, such as subsistence farming and fuelwood collection. The document highlights a significant lack of aggregate global data to measure progress, relying instead on proxy indicators like the distribution of clean cookstoves and related financial funding.