Search Climate Insights Directory

The document explores the transition from electronic money to CBDCs, focusing on China's e-CNY as a tool for renminbi internationalisation and its potential impact on Africa. It details the technical differences between cryptocurrencies and CBDCs, the specific two-tier design of the e-CNY, and the risks associated with privacy and financial disintermediation. For Africa, the paper highlights opportunities for financial inclusion and more efficient remittances, while cautioning against the risks of digital divide and state surveillance. It concludes with recommendations for African civil society and policymakers to engage in the design and standard-setting of digital currency frameworks to maintain monetary autonomy.

In July 2023, SEforALL partnered with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) to provide specialized training to energy planners from nine African countries. The program focused on geospatial data collection, curation, management, and governance to improve the planning of electrification and clean cooking access. Participants from countries including Madagascar, Malawi, and Rwanda are now applying these skills to develop national data governance plans and clean cooking models, utilizing tools such as OnStove.

The report identifies a significant global gap in healthcare electrification, with an estimated 1 billion people lacking reliable power at local facilities and a total investment need of USD 4.9 billion. While solar PV systems dominate current initiatives, the report argues for a shift from short-term procurement models (EPC) to long-term service-based models (ESCO) to ensure sustainable operation and maintenance (O&M). Key recommendations include developing country-specific taxonomies, enhancing inter-sectoral coordination between health and energy ministries, and leveraging climate finance and decentralized renewable energy certificates (D-RECs) to bridge the funding gap.

Reclaim Finance asserts that the top 60 banks provided $122.2 billion to major LNG firms between 2016 and 2022, with most lacking policies to prevent further support. The report highlights that current LNG terminal developments could lead to a 235% capacity increase and 1.9 GtCO₂ of overshoot relative to IEA net zero goals. It criticizes European banks for continuing to finance import terminals despite exceeding current demand, risking long-term gas lock-in.

The report evaluates the impact of FSD Africa's regulatory interventions in African capital markets, highlighting the importance of tailoring international best practices to local contexts and the need for formal implementation support. It identifies capacity constraints at both regulator and market participant levels as significant barriers to the adoption of new frameworks, such as Islamic finance regulations in WAEMU and corporate bond guidelines in Ghana. The document recommends a sequenced and clustered approach to future interventions, with an increasing focus on green and sustainable finance once foundational regulatory structures are established.

The report argues that climate and biodiversity crises disproportionately affect marginalized groups and that nature-based solutions (NbS) must integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) to be effective. It outlines three core components of GESI in NbS: recognizing differences in needs and capacities, facilitating equitable participation in decision-making, and promoting the fair distribution of benefits. The document provides a five-step implementation cycle—system understanding, risk assessment, option identification, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)—supported by case studies from Vietnam, Cuba, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Bolivia.

The report argues that climate and biodiversity crises disproportionately affect marginalized populations and that NbS must be gender-responsive to be effective. It proposes a framework based on three foundational elements: recognizing differences in needs and capacities, facilitating equitable participation in decision-making, and promoting an equitable distribution of benefits. The document outlines a five-step project cycle—understanding the system, risk assessment, identifying options, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)—to mainstream GESI, supported by case studies from Vietnam, Cuba, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Bolivia.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey reveals a growing pessimism about the global information environment, with 63% of experts expecting it to worsen. Key threats are identified as social media platform owners and government actors. While generative AI is seen as a tool for improving content detection and reporting, experts primarily fear its role in amplifying misinformation, harassment, and bias. The consensus emphasizes that accessibility to accurate information and diversity of speech are fundamental to a healthy information environment.

Turkey has expanded its influence in sub-Saharan Africa by leveraging a combination of humanitarian diplomacy, shared religious identity, and an anti-colonial narrative to establish soft power, which has subsequently paved the way for hard power interests. A key pillar of this strategy is the relationship with Somalia, recently solidified by a 10-year Defence and Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement granting Turkey authority over the management and defence of Somali waters. While Turkey positions itself as an alternative to Western powers, it faces competition from other middle powers like the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt. The document notes that Turkey's future engagement will be heavily influenced by its domestic economic crisis, potentially shifting priority toward high-yield economic activities such as defence exports and construction contracts over humanitarian aid.

The report examines the potential effects of International Maritime Organization (IMO) candidate mid-term GHG measures on African economies. Using a CGE model, it finds that a USD100/t carbon levy would generally reduce GDP and household incomes across Africa, increase global food prices, and reduce the supply of maritime services. A case study of Ghana highlights existing freight cost imbalances and the risk of a stranded fleet of older vessels. The authors argue that for such measures to be equitable, revenues must be redistributed as direct grants (not loans) for out-of-sector climate resilience and mitigation, based on criteria including climate vulnerability and historical emissions contributions.

The document is a financial record of funding for the Basque Centre for Climate Change in 2024, listing various grants and contracts from international, national, and regional bodies. Key funders include the European Commission, the Basque Government (Eusko Jaurlaritza), and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN). The funding supports a wide array of projects focusing on climate science, biodiversity, agri-food systems, and urban transitions, with individual project grants ranging from small amounts to over 2 million euros.

The study explores a mechanism to transfer non-sovereign MDB loans to African institutional investors, particularly pension funds, in East and West Africa. It identifies a potential pool of eligible assets from the IFC and AfDB and estimates that up to US$8.69 billion in pension assets could be allocated to such a vehicle if locally domiciled. The report proposes a phased implementation starting with a pilot, managed by a dedicated Fund Manager, using an umbrella fund structure with local currency sub-funds to mitigate foreign exchange risks.

The report finds that while a diverse range of urban resilience solutions exist in the Global South's informal settlements and economies, most are in early development stages and heavily reliant on philanthropic funding. It highlights a significant gap in private sector investment and municipal buy-in, while noting that these interventions often yield co-benefits in health, gender equity, and livelihoods. The document recommends that municipalities integrate informal settlements into city plans and that funders coordinate to streamline access for small-scale innovators.

The document argues that South Africa's domestic renewable energy market is insufficient to support a viable manufacturing sector, which requires a minimum annual demand of 3 GW to 4 GW. It identifies the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) as the most advantageous trade framework, providing preferential access to Namibia, Botswana, eSwatini, and Lesotho. The brief also highlights Zambia as a competitive SADC market due to its specific import tariffs on non-SADC countries. It recommends that manufacturers leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and target off-grid electrification opportunities in countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, and Ghana.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey of 412 researchers across 66 countries identifies the availability of accurate information and diversity of voices as the primary features of a healthy information environment. Social media platform owners, governments, and politicians are cited as the most significant threats. While generative AI is viewed as a tool that could potentially improve content detection and journalism, 63% of experts express significant concern regarding its potential to amplify misinformation, harassment, and bias. Experts in developing countries report higher levels of concern regarding AI and platform-based threats but show greater optimism toward interventions like fact-checking and media literacy.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey of 412 researchers across 66 countries identifies the availability of accurate information and diversity of voices as essential for a healthy information environment. Social media platform owners and politicians are viewed as the primary threats. While generative AI is seen as a risk—particularly regarding AI-generated videos—there is moderate hope for its use in content detection and journalistic support. Experts generally predict the information environment will worsen in 2025, emphasizing the need for more research outside the USA and Western democracies.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey reveals a growing pessimism about the global information environment, with 63% of experts expecting it to deteriorate. The availability of accurate information and diversity of voices are identified as the most critical characteristics of a healthy information environment. Social media platform owners, governments, and politicians are cited as the primary threats. While generative AI is viewed as a tool that could improve content detection and journalism, experts are more concerned about its potential to amplify disinformation, harassment, and bias.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey reveals a growing pessimism about the global information environment, with 63% of experts expecting it to worsen. The availability of accurate information and diversity of voices are identified as the most critical characteristics of a healthy environment. Social media platform owners, governments, and politicians are cited as the primary threats. While generative AI is viewed as a tool that could improve content detection and journalism, experts are predominantly concerned that it will amplify disinformation, harassment, and bias. Experts advocate for supporting free and independent media and digital media literacy to build resilience.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey reveals a growing pessimism about the global information environment, with 63% of respondents expecting conditions to worsen. Experts identify the availability of accurate information and diversity of opinion as the most critical characteristics of a healthy environment, while naming social media owners, governments, and politicians as the primary threats. Generative AI is viewed with mixed sentiment: 63% of experts believe it has negatively impacted the environment by scaling disinformation and bias, though 67% hope it will improve content detection and journalistic efficiency. To improve the environment, experts advocate for free and independent media and increased digital media literacy.

The 2024 IPIE expert survey indicates a growing pessimism about the global information landscape, with 63% of respondents expecting it to deteriorate. Experts identify the availability of reliable information and diversity of voices as essential for a healthy landscape, while naming social media platform owners and governments as the primary threats. Generative AI is viewed with mixed sentiment: while 67% hope it can improve content detection and journalism, 63% fear it will amplify biases, harassment, and misinformation. The report calls for support of independent media and improved data access for cross-platform, multidisciplinary research.