Search Climate Insights Directory

Reclaim Finance criticizes ENGIE for its 'false' coal exit strategy, which involves selling coal plants to third parties or converting them to biomass and fossil gas. The document highlights specific cases in Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, Morocco, and Chile, arguing that these actions avoid corporate responsibility for environmental damage and fail to align with a 1.5 °C warming trajectory.

The Climate Change Performance Index 2023 finds that none of the 60 largest emitters are on a 1.5°C pathway, leaving the top three ranks unoccupied. Denmark is the current frontrunner, leading in almost all categories, while China and the US are categorized as 'very low' performers. The report highlights a wide disparity in performance among EU countries and identifies Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan as the worst overall performers due to heavy oil reliance and weak renewable energy adoption.

IDFC members reported a record $224 billion in green finance commitments in 2021, with climate finance accounting for 95% of the total. Mitigation finance reached $186.6 billion, while adaptation finance decreased by 24% to $20.9 billion. Biodiversity finance grew by 31% to $18.4 billion. The majority of climate finance was provided by non-OECD institutions and directed toward the East Asia and Pacific region.

The Africa Private Equity and Debt Programme (2020-2025) focuses on developing private capital markets across Africa to complement public markets. It seeks to increase the participation of local institutional investors, particularly pension funds, through regulatory reform, capacity building, and the creation of demonstration transactions. Key achievements include supporting Kenya's policy framework for private equity and venture capital, launching the AVCA Training Academy, and conducting market studies on private debt and pension fund investments in Southern Africa.

The document describes an ongoing scoping study in Morocco aimed at addressing the green finance gap. The project focuses on identifying financial instruments and structures to support green SMEs and projects, with a feasibility analysis currently in progress to inform the development of a new financing instrument.

The document outlines Africa's objectives for COP27, focusing on the African Group of Negotiators' (AGN) demands for increased climate finance and the recognition of the continent's special circumstances. It highlights a tension between the African Union's (AU) support for natural gas as a transition fuel and the goals of renewable energy activists. The brief also details the roles of specific 'climate champion' countries and the impact of global geopolitical tensions, such as the US-China standoff and the Russia-Ukraine war, on climate negotiations.

The paper examines how multilateral development banks (MDBs) use policy-based operations (PBOs)—unearmarked budget support provided in exchange for policy reforms—and finds that current risk screening is insufficient to prevent these operations from undermining climate goals. Through an analysis of 126 PBOs and six case studies, the authors argue that policy actions can create path dependence in fossil-fuel-reliant activities and delay urgent climate spending. The document recommends that MDBs integrate long-term climate risks into macro-fiscal assessments, include at least one climate results indicator in every PBO, and provide more concessional finance, such as grants, to support ambitious climate action in vulnerable countries.

Algeria's trade is heavily dominated by hydrocarbons, which accounted for 94% of exports in 2017. The country faces significant obstacles to industrialisation and diversification due to the influence of politically connected importers and a lack of regional economic integration within the Maghreb. While the European Union remains its primary trading partner, substantial informal trade exists with Tunisia and Mali, driven by tax and subsidy differentials.

The report assesses how climate change exacerbates gender inequalities in three infrastructure sectors: WASH, coastal/marine ecosystems, and ports. It finds that women and girls bear a disproportionate burden of inadequate WASH services and are largely excluded from formal employment and decision-making in the blue economy and port operations. The document proposes a Gender Action Plan for Climate Fund Managers (CFM) to improve access, amplify women's voices in planning, create formal employment opportunities, and implement robust gender-disaggregated monitoring.

The report finds a massive gap between Africa's annual climate finance needs (USD 277 billion) and actual flows (USD 29.5 billion). While international public finance dominates, private sector contribution is low at 14%. Finance is heavily concentrated in a few countries and sectors, with energy receiving the most investment, while agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) remains underfunded. The report recommends scaling up concessional finance, improving data tracking, and catalyzing private investment to meet 2030 goals.

The methodology for the Landscape of Climate Finance in Africa 2022 defines the scope, terminology, and data treatment used to capture climate finance flows across the continent. It utilizes a combination of public and proprietary data from sources such as BNEF, OECD, and the Climate Bonds Initiative, focusing on mitigation, adaptation, and dual-benefit finance. The document details sector classifications—ranging from energy systems to agriculture—and regional groupings based on UN standards. It also identifies significant data gaps, including the difficulty of tracking domestic budget expenditures, private sector investments in adaptation, and the lack of official reporting on Chinese investments in Africa.

Africa requires USD 277 billion annually to meet its 2030 climate goals, yet only USD 29.5 billion was tracked in 2019/2020. International public finance dominates the landscape, while private sector contributions remain low at 14%. The report highlights significant investment gaps, particularly in Southern Africa, and a critical need to shift funding from fossil fuels toward renewable energy and adaptation, especially in the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector.

The report assesses the private debt landscape in Africa, noting that while the market is growing, it remains heavily dominated by Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), primarily in hard currency. It highlights a significant gap in local institutional investor participation due to regulatory constraints, risk aversion, and a lack of local currency vehicles. The study provides detailed analysis of focus markets—Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Morocco—and uses South Africa as a reference for a more developed financial sector. Key recommendations include the introduction of credit enhancement facilities, improved data transparency, and the creation of local currency investment vehicles to reduce foreign exchange risk for borrowers and attract domestic pension funds.

The AfCFTA aims to create a $3.4 billion economic bloc to foster structural transformation through agricultural upgrading, light manufacturing growth, and the deepening of regional value chains (RVCs). While initial tariff offers show potential for significant gains, the document notes that the liberalisation of services has lagged, with a new deadline of December 2023. Implementation is supported by mechanisms like the Afreximbank Adjustment Fund and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, though the authors highlight a critical weakness in accountability: private parties cannot access the AfCFTA's dispute settlement mechanism. The brief concludes that while the project is long-term and potentially 'oversold' to the private sector, it remains a vital instrument for overcoming the limitations of smaller regional economic communities.

The report examines the 'Black Friday' tragedy at the Melilla border, where at least 23 migrants died during an attempted crossing from Morocco to Spain. It contrasts official government claims that the event was caused by criminal trafficking networks with testimonies from survivors and human rights organisations, who describe illegal push-backs and coordinated violence by Spanish and Moroccan security forces. The text further analyzes the geopolitical relationship between Spain and Morocco, highlighting how financial aid and diplomatic agreements regarding Western Sahara are used to secure Morocco's role as a 'border guardian' for Europe, which the author contends leads to systemic human rights violations.

The Russia-Ukraine war has worsened systemic weaknesses in the international food system, disproportionately affecting African countries due to their high reliance on food, fuel, and fertiliser imports from Russia and Ukraine. This vulnerability is compounded by climate-induced weather events, internal conflicts, and structural infrastructure deficits. The report highlights that food price shocks have already triggered protests in countries like Uganda, Malawi, Senegal, and Sudan. To mitigate these risks, the authors recommend that private companies support the diversification of food sources and local agribusiness capacity, while African governments should reduce regulation and leverage regional integration platforms like the AfCFTA.

The document examines the tension between Africa's significant natural gas resources and the global shift toward net-zero emissions. It argues that while gas provides short-term revenue and energy security, long-term investments face high risks of becoming stranded assets due to declining global demand and the falling costs of renewable energy. The paper advocates for leveraging climate finance to scale up renewables and green hydrogen, which it presents as more sustainable pathways for economic diversification and energy access.

FSD Africa's Capital Markets team works to address financing gaps in Africa by developing enabling policies, market infrastructure, and innovative financial products. The report highlights the mobilization of approximately GBP 320 million through bond issuances, including pioneering green and gender bonds in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco. It details the Africa Regulatory Support Programme (ARSP) and the African Local Currency Bond Fund (ALCB Fund) as key mechanisms for reducing currency risk and increasing private sector investment. Moving forward, FSD Africa is concentrating its efforts on five priority countries—Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria—with a strong emphasis on green capital markets and natural capital finance.

The report reviews 24 financing strategies from developing countries, categorizing them into discrete adaptation strategies and general climate action strategies. It finds that while these documents help communicate priorities and attract international grants, there is a significant gap in strategic analysis regarding how to leverage public finance to attract private investment. The report emphasizes the need for stronger engagement from ministries of finance and planning, as well as improved country-level tracking of climate finance to measure the actual impact of these strategies.

The document examines the governance of nuclear safety and security in Africa, highlighting the roles of the Pelindaba Treaty, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It notes that while South Africa is currently the only operator of a nuclear power reactor on the continent, Egypt is constructing one and 16 other nations are investigating nuclear programmes. The brief identifies risks including radioactive waste management, the vulnerability of materials during transit, and the potential for human error, citing specific incidents at South Africa's Koeberg and Pelindaba facilities and Namibia's Rössing Uranium Mine. It recommends increased cooperation with the IAEA, ratification of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), and prioritising human resource training to prevent accidents.