Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper analyzes the challenges and opportunities for establishing a common trade and investment agenda among the BRICS nations. It highlights the tension between complementary economic relationships—where China imports resources from Brazil, Russia, and South Africa—and conflicting national strategies to promote domestic manufacturing. The author suggests that BRICS cooperation should focus on resuscitating the WTO Doha round, engaging with China's shift toward a consumption-led economic model, and coordinating currency reform positions within the G20.

This report documents a study group session held on 12 March 2012, organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs and the International Development Law Unit at the University of Pretoria. The session focused on South Africa's strategic approach to its membership in the BRICS group, analyzing the value-add of the alliance to South Africa's economic priorities and discussing challenges related to global economic governance, trade imbalances, and internal inequality within the BRICS nations.

This briefing by Simon Maxwell of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) proposes a 'green growth guarantee' as a concrete deliverable for the G20 summit in Los Cabos and the Rio+20 Summit in 2012. The author argues that while technical discussions on green growth are advancing, political leaders need a high-profile commitment to support developing countries in planning and implementing sustainable growth through indicators, financial engagement, and peer review.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic impact of Chinese trade, investment, and construction firms in Kenya. It highlights a significant trade imbalance, the proliferation of counterfeit Chinese goods, and the competitive pressures faced by local construction firms, while evaluating the effectiveness of Kenyan legislative responses such as the Anti-Counterfeit Act of 2008 and the National Construction Authority Act of 2010.

This policy briefing examines the evolution of South–South co-operation (SSC) and the shifting landscape of global development effectiveness. It argues that while the rise of emerging powers provides African nations with more diverse options and reduced dependence on Western donors, these new partners primarily pursue their own national interests. The author recommends that African states, regional bodies, and the African Union proactively develop codes of conduct, enhance negotiating capacity, and insist on transparency and accountability to ensure SSC aligns with national and regional development priorities.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews approaches and lessons learned for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. It examines the multi-level nature of planning—national, sectoral, and sub-national—and proposes strategies to avoid policy conflicts and leverage existing financial flows to reduce vulnerability.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the domestic systems used to measure, report, and verify (MRV) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation actions in China, Germany, Italy, and the United States. The study finds that while emissions tracking is well-established and consistent across these nations, the MRV of mitigation actions is fragmented, often relying on ex-ante projections rather than ex-post evaluations of actual reductions achieved.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the failure of the Kimberley Process (KP) to address human rights abuses and smuggling in Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields. It argues that the KP's narrow definition of 'conflict diamonds'—which only covers rebel groups—is inadequate when abuses are perpetrated by state security forces. The authors call for a reform of the KP's definitions and monitoring mechanisms to include government accountability.

The report summarizes China's low-carbon progress during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), noting a 19.06% reduction in energy intensity despite a 33.6% increase in total emissions. Key drivers included technological upgrades and structural economic shifts, supported by massive investments in renewables (1.73 trillion yuan) and energy efficiency (859.2 billion yuan). While large enterprises and government-led administrative targets drove success, the report highlights challenges for the 12th Five-Year Plan, including the need to support small and medium enterprises and manage rising energy demand from urbanization.

This executive summary of the 'Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012)' evaluates China's performance during its 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP). It details the drivers behind the reduction in energy intensity, the effectiveness of various policy instruments, and the challenges facing the subsequent 12th FYP.

The CRED V.1.3 Technical Report describes the methodology of the Climate and Regional Economics of Development (CRED) model, an integrated assessment model designed to estimate the optimal pace of climate mitigation investment and its global cost distribution. Version 1.3, completed in June 2011, focuses on the distribution of climate damages and policy costs across nine global regions to inform international climate negotiations.

This research paper analyzes the impasse of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) following a ministerial meeting and evaluates the strategic negotiating position South Africa should adopt. It highlights the tension between domestic policy imperatives—specifically industrial policy and agricultural support—and the need for multilateral trade agreements.

This briefing outlines the key agenda items for the 18th African Union (AU) Summit held in Addis Ababa from 23-30 January 2012, including leadership elections, budget approvals, and the inauguration of a new headquarters building.

Energy efficiency represents 44% of global GHG abatement potential in a 2°C scenario but receives a small share of climate finance, which is largely concentrated in emerging economies like China. Market barriers hinder the scaling of funding in both developed and Developing Countries. The report advocates for increased funding from bilateral and multilateral development banks to leverage private finance and suggests using the Green Climate Fund to establish an innovative financing framework for cost-effective energy efficiency actions.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for the Asia region. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and exposure, providing a framework for integrating disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation to enhance long-term resilience in Asian countries.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesizes findings from the IPCC's Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) with a specific focus on Asia. It examines the interplay between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and exposure, providing policy recommendations for Asian decision-makers to integrate disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation and sustainable development.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesizes findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for the Asia region. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and exposure, providing guidance for decision-makers on integrating disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation to build long-term resilience.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of public procurement as a strategic tool for driving green growth and innovation. It argues that governments can leverage their significant purchasing power to create demand for sustainable products, thereby incentivizing private sector innovation and scaling green markets. The document provides a theoretical framework for sustainable value creation and presents several international case studies to illustrate different approaches to Green Public Procurement (GPP).

This policy brief, produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute in partnership with the business leaders' initiative 3C, examines the risk of metal scarcity for low-carbon technologies. Using a custom scenario calculator, the authors analyze the future supply and demand for cobalt, lithium, neodymium, indium, and tellurium, concluding that cumulative supply deficits for several of these metals could hinder the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

This policy brief evaluates China's efforts to establish a domestic carbon trading system during its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). It describes the transition from top-down command-and-control measures to market-based instruments, highlighting the role of regional pilots and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) while identifying significant structural and administrative challenges to achieving a functional national system by 2016.