Search Climate Insights Directory

The September 2021 Global Update from Climate Action Tracker reports that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant (20-23 GtCO2e). The report introduces a new rating system where only The Gambia is rated as overall 1.5°C compatible, while most developed nations are rated as 'Insufficient' or worse due to inadequate climate finance and policy implementation. It further critiques the lack of transparency and robustness in most national net zero targets and highlights the continued reliance on coal and gas in several major economies.

The 'Just Recovery Renewable Energy Plan for Africa' by Friends of the Earth Africa proposes a transition to a 100% renewable energy independent continent by 2050. Based on modelling by Dr. Sven Teske, the plan aims to eliminate energy poverty and address the dual crises of climate change and Covid-19 through a people-centred, democratic energy system that prioritises social justice and gender equity over corporate profit.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the mineral requirements of the energy transition, focusing on the ethical, environmental, and geopolitical challenges associated with the sourcing of cobalt, nickel, and lithium for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

This report uses the Global Subsidies Initiative – Integrated Fiscal Model (GSI-IF model) to analyze the potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and fiscal savings across 32 countries through fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and fossil energy taxation by 2030.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how trade policy, specifically tariffs, can be used by developing countries to balance the goal of maximizing local economic benefits from clean energy investments with the need to minimize project costs. It analyzes the bill of materials for wind and solar projects to identify which components are suited for local production and evaluates the trade profiles of several countries to provide a framework for aligning trade and energy policies.

This July 2021 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical security and political challenges across Africa. It focuses on the African Union's (AU) struggle to implement maritime security strategies, the rise of cybercrime and the legislative responses in South Africa, the ten-year legacy of the Arab Spring in North Africa, and the impact of the June 2021 elections on Ethiopia's structural divisions.

This policy brief examines the role of nuclear science and technology in advancing Africa's sustainable development, specifically aligning with the AU's Agenda 2063 and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights applications in healthcare and agriculture, the existing infrastructure of research reactors, and the legal frameworks ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the continent.

The 100 Days Report details the activities of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) from February 5 to May 15, 2021. The organization focused on advocacy for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), supporting the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and the COP26 Energy Transition Council, and providing technical assistance for energy access in several developing nations.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines the Noor Solar Power Station in Morocco, focusing on the measures taken by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) to ensure that the large-scale renewable energy project provided economic and social benefits to local communities while managing adverse impacts.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines Morocco's 2014 fossil fuel subsidy reform, which aimed to reduce government spending on fossil fuels and reinvest those savings into renewable energy to enhance energy independence and meet climate goals.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the barriers and opportunities for National Development Banks (NDBs) to increase financing for climate-smart urban infrastructure. It identifies a significant gap between the potential of NDBs to act as intermediaries and the current reality, where only a small minority finance local governments. The document provides a 'City Maturity Model' consisting of 12 dimensions across strategic, financial, policy, and operational levels to help city officials improve their creditworthiness and project pipelines to better access NDB funding.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the current disaster risk finance architecture is inadequate for developing countries facing 'compound shocks'—simultaneous or sequential disruptive events such as pandemics, economic crises, and climate-driven natural disasters. The authors propose systemic reforms to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) and the Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) to shift incentives from post-disaster relief toward pre-disaster resilience and preparedness.

This case study by Ember evaluates the transition strategy of ENGIE, a France-based global energy company. The report argues that ENGIE's reliance on converting coal plants to fossil gas and biomass, its lack of a comprehensive coal phase-out schedule, and its 2°C Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) accreditation are not aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C objective.

This policy brief evaluates the Global Programme of Action (GPA), a non-binding UNEP initiative launched in 1995 to combat land-based marine pollution. While the GPA successfully shifted global focus toward source-based action and established key partnerships for nutrient management, marine litter, and wastewater, it has struggled against increasing pollution levels and a shift toward more specialized, legally binding treaties. The document highlights that 80% of marine pollution comes from land, with plastics and untreated sewage posing severe threats to marine ecosystems and human livelihoods.

This briefing examines the 25-year history and impact of the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, detailing its role in coordinating international efforts to combat marine pollution from terrestrial sources.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute maps the green bond landscape in Africa as of January 2021. It identifies the market as nascent and underdeveloped, dominated by a few states and entities, and outlines the structural barriers and opportunities for scaling up green finance to meet climate mitigation and adaptation needs across the continent.

This annex to the 2021 NYDF Goal 7 Progress Report provides technical and economic mitigation potential estimates for forest-related activities, analyzes the ambition of forest targets in National Determined Contributions (NDCs), and estimates the global finance needs and public finance flows for forest mitigation.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the divergent approaches to migration between Africa and Europe, arguing for a shift from securitised responses toward a collaborative partnership focused on development, legal labour pathways, and the regularisation of remittances.

This policy brief explores green growth financing mechanisms to support Africa's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the 'twin COVID–climate crisis' provides an opportunity to 'build back better' by integrating sustainable investment into stimulus packages, leveraging private capital through green bonds, and reforming fiscal and financial regulations to increase climate resilience.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021 evaluates 57 of the world's highest greenhouse gas emitters, finding that no single country is currently on a path compliant with the Paris Agreement goals. While the European Union improved its ranking to 16th place, the report highlights a stark divide between leading nations and G20 members like the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, who are rated 'very low'.