Search Climate Insights Directory

The research introduces a multidimensional index to measure socioeconomic vulnerability to COVID-19, incorporating macroeconomic exposure, healthcare coverage, financial inclusion, social protection, and gender inclusivity. Using data from 83 countries, the study finds that African nations are among the most vulnerable, with gender inequality acting as a primary driver. Regression analysis confirms that higher vulnerability scores and more stringent containment measures were associated with more significant per capita income losses in 2020. The author argues that pandemic response strategies must move away from 'one-size-fits-all' containment measures and instead prioritize gender inclusion, social protection, and financial inclusion to build resilience.

The report investigates the impact of a transition to a green hydrogen economy on TVET-level employment in South Africa, contrasting domestic development with international export opportunities. It identifies key sectors for skill development—including chemicals, electrical machinery, and PGM mining—and argues that while GHE jobs are expected to grow significantly after 2030, the TVET system must address structural gaps and develop specialized curricula in fuel cell and electrolyser manufacturing to support a just transition for workers in coal and refining.

The report argues that the EU's proposed 20% to 30% emissions reductions by 2020 are inadequate to maintain a 2ºC warming limit and fail to address the global inequality of the climate crisis. Using the Greenhouse Development Rights (GDRs) framework—which calculates obligations based on a 'Responsibility and Capacity Index' relative to a development threshold—the authors find that the EU's fair share of the global mitigation requirement is approximately 23%, amounting to roughly 850 MtC by 2020. This obligation is described as a 'two-fold obligation' requiring both deep domestic reductions and significant international investment in the South. The authors contend that the EU must provide courageous leadership by unilaterally committing to its proper share of the global burden to break the North-South negotiating impasse ahead of the Copenhagen summit.

The CIRCLE ERA-Net project established a Nordic research network to examine local climate adaptation and mitigation through three workshops held in Norway, Sweden, and Finland between 2008 and 2009. The project identified that local adaptive capacity is historically linked to national policy and that adaptation and mitigation are often integrated in local discussions. Findings suggest that while national initiatives are necessary, they are insufficient on their own, and that local capacity in peripheral regions often depends on market-based competitiveness. The project resulted in two joint peer-reviewed articles and a proposal for a follow-up network, NORDCLAD-Net, to further interdisciplinary research and communication on adaptation.

The document identifies ten proven climate solutions that, if scaled up in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, could reduce emissions by approximately 150 million tonnes by 2030 and save up to 1.2 billion euros.

The policy brief examines how the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) can utilise their renewable energy potential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It argues that current grid infrastructure is insufficient and that significant investments in interconnections with Nordic countries—specifically Sweden and Finland—are essential to balance wind power fluctuations and reduce dependency on non-EU energy sources. The analysis compares various production and interconnection scenarios, finding that a 100% renewable target is feasible if the region integrates more deeply with the Nordic Power System (NPS).

The 2021 Production Gap report by the Stockholm Environment Institute finds that global government plans for fossil fuel production in 2030 are more than double what is required to limit warming to 1.5°C. Despite net-zero pledges, most major producers plan to increase or maintain production, and G20 nations have provided more new funding to fossil fuels than clean energy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report details the creation of the LEAP Ireland 2050 model to simulate GHG emissions from Ireland's energy and agriculture sectors. It evaluates the impact of the 2019 Climate Action Plan (CAP) targets, specifically electric vehicle (EV) penetration and residential retrofitting, while introducing the Application Script Editing Tool (ASET) to improve model topology and sensitivity analysis.

The report analyzes the 'technological innovation system' (TIS) for solar PV and CCS, contrasting the EU's market-pull approach with the US's R&D-push focus. While solar PV has seen rapid growth and falling costs, it faces risks from fluctuating European subsidies. CCS is stalled in the 'valley of death' due to high capital requirements for large-scale demonstration and a lack of long-term climate policy, particularly in the US.

The report examines the environmental consequences of unsustainable lifestyles, particularly in industrialised nations, and explores the interplay between sustainable production and consumption. It evaluates accounting methods like Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) models to capture embedded emissions in trade, argues for an equitable global burden-sharing framework for climate mitigation, and analyses the psychological and institutional drivers of consumer behaviour. Key findings highlight the 'rebound effect' where efficiency gains are offset by increased consumption, and the potential of the 'functional economy' to reduce resource throughput via product lifetime optimisation and product-service systems.

The Geological Society of London maintains extensive financial ties to the fossil fuel industry through corporate membership, event sponsorship, and investments, despite public statements supporting climate action. While the society is praised for its transparency in financial reporting, it lacks an overarching environmental policy to govern the activities of its members or the organization itself. The study finds that approximately 70% of its corporate patrons are from the fossil fuel sector, and a significant portion of its 'Science and Education' income is derived from Petroleum Group events. Links to the arms industry were not explicitly found, though gaps in investment data leave this possibility open.

The report estimates that the 2019 carbon footprint of EU military expenditure was approximately 24.8 million tCO2e, equivalent to the emissions of 14 million average cars. It identifies significant data gaps and a lack of transparency in GHG reporting across EU member states and military corporations, often justified by national security. The study highlights France as the largest contributor to the EU military carbon footprint and Poland's military technology industry as a high emitter due to its coal-reliant electricity grid. It recommends urgent reviews of security strategies to reduce armed force deployment, mandatory transparent GHG reporting for militaries and contractors, and the implementation of reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement.

The document consists of three tables identifying corporations and organisations involved in fossil fuels and arms. It details the roles of various oil, gas, and coal companies, their reserves rankings, and their environmental records. It also lists global arms manufacturers, their involvement in nuclear weapons programmes, and UK military entities, highlighting ethical concerns regarding recruitment and military strategy.

TESS supports the WTO's Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP) and its draft Ministerial Statement for MC13, emphasizing that trade policies are essential tools for addressing plastic pollution. TESS advocates for a post-MC13 workplan that includes 'deep-dive sessions' on challenges like single-use plastics and sachets, particularly focusing on the needs of developing countries, LDCs, and SIDS. The statement also highlights TESS's upcoming initiatives, including a panel at MC13 and a seminar with the World Customs Organization on Harmonized System (HS) amendments.

The document provides a detailed analysis of Law 2099 of 2021, which aims to modernize Colombia's energy transition. It examines the expansion of public utility declarations for renewable energy projects, the modification of tax incentives to include hydrogen and geothermal energy, and the consolidation of energy funds into FONENERGÍA. The report highlights significant risks, including the promotion of 'blue hydrogen' from fossil fuels, the potential for environmental degradation due to streamlined licensing, and the risk of displacing populations lacking formal land titles. It also discusses the specific challenges of geothermal development in páramo ecosystems and the government's continued reliance on combustible gas as a transition bridge.

The document identifies key drivers of tropical deforestation, noting that cattle and soy are primary drivers in Latin America, while palm oil and timber dominate in Southeast Asia. It highlights a shift in demand from rural to urban and export markets, driven by urbanization and global dietary trends toward meat. While Brazil has seen success in reducing deforestation through industry moratoria and REDD+ programs, the report warns that biofuel production could create new pressures on forests. Overall, tropical deforestation emissions have decreased by a third or more compared to the late twentieth century.

The document provides a comprehensive analysis of carbon pricing mechanisms, specifically carbon taxes and emissions trading systems (ETS), within the Brazilian context. It evaluates international experiences, such as the EU ETS, to demonstrate that while short-term costs increase, long-term benefits include fostered innovation and business growth. The report details various macroeconomic studies on Brazil, suggesting that the negative impacts of emission restrictions can be minimized through revenue recycling and technological progress. It emphasizes the importance of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and recommends that the Brazilian government establish a transparent climate governance structure. For companies, it suggests incorporating climate change into corporate strategy and adopting internal carbon pricing as a risk management tool.

The We Mean Business Coalition analyzed 30 early adopters of the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to showcase innovative solutions for challenging disclosure requirements. The report highlights diverse approaches to double materiality assessments, TCFD-aligned climate risk quantification, Scope 3 emissions 'hot-spotting', and supply chain due diligence. It emphasizes that while many early adopters are only partially aligned with the regulation, their methods for reporting on internal controls, whistleblower cases, and climate transition action plans serve as practical guides for companies facing mandatory reporting from 2024.

The report analyzes the first wave of CSRD climate reports from 93 large EU companies, finding that while limited assurance is standard, many companies are restating or erasing historical data to improve quality. It identifies a trend toward integrating sustainability internal controls with financial systems and notes that while GHG reporting is improving, monetized climate risk and opportunity reporting remain rare. The document also evaluates the adoption of the EU Taxonomy and the reporting of political lobbying and climate-related executive incentives.

The document argues that carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) may be essential for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2050. It identifies key technical and regulatory challenges—such as permanence, MRV, and liability—that UNFCCC Parties must address to ensure safe and transparent CCS deployment.