Search Climate Insights Directory

This executive summary from Ember reports that wind and solar power reached 10.3% of global electricity generation in 2021. While clean energy sources collectively provided 38% of global electricity, the report highlights a concerning record increase in coal power and carbon emissions, driven largely by surging electricity demand in Asia.

The document reports that clean electricity generated 38% of the world's power in 2021, surpassing coal. While renewables met all electricity demand growth in the first half of 2022, the report notes that unabated coal power must fall by 87% in the next nine years to align with 1.5C goals. Regional analysis highlights China's leadership in wind and solar, Europe's accelerated transition due to the gas crisis, and the significant role of coal mines as the largest source of energy sector methane.

The document details the technical approach for calculating and harmonising monthly wind and solar capacity data. It defines 'installed capacity' as the maximum potential output and explains the process for converting solar data between AC and DC values, using a default conversion factor of 1.3. The methodology describes how onshore and offshore wind are distinguished, often relying on IRENA data when primary sources lack a breakdown. It also specifies the publication schedule (twice monthly) and the use of proxies and linear interpolation to estimate missing data for global aggregates and specific countries. Detailed country-specific sections list data sources, publication lags, and specific adjustments for 25 territories, including the US, China, and the EU.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, with solar growing by 23% and wind by 14%. However, a massive surge in global electricity demand—the highest absolute increase ever recorded at 1,414 TWh—outpaced clean energy growth. Consequently, coal generation hit a new historical peak of 10,042 TWh, accounting for 36% of global electricity and driving power sector CO2 emissions to a record 778 million tonnes, a 7% increase over 2020.

In 2021, wind and solar power reached a record 10.3% of global electricity generation, with total clean energy accounting for 38%. However, a 5.4% surge in global electricity demand—driven largely by economic growth in Asia—led to a record increase in coal power, which grew by 9.0% to reach 10,042 TWh. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions rose by 7% in 2021, the largest percentage increase since 2010, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

The 'People Power Now' manifesto argues that the climate crisis and global pandemics are results of a capitalist economic model that prioritizes profit over people and nature. It calls for a systemic shift toward a 100% renewable energy system that is decentralized, community-controlled, and grounded in social and climate justice. The manifesto demands that energy be treated as a common good rather than a commodity, emphasizing energy sufficiency to end overconsumption in the global North. It advocates for a just transition that protects energy sector workers and requires rich countries to provide climate finance, funded by redirecting military spending and ending tax havens. Central to this vision is the dismantling of patriarchy, racism, and classism to ensure a recovery from Covid-19 that prioritizes the sustainability of life and the rights of marginalized communities.

The document presents a manifesto for 'Energy Sovereignty Now!', calling for a shift away from capitalist and neoliberal energy models toward a system centered on human rights, environmental justice, and community control. It outlines ten demands, including the transition to 100% renewable energy, the recognition of energy as a common good rather than a commodity, and the implementation of a just transition that protects workers and marginalized groups. The manifesto emphasizes the historical responsibility of the Global North to provide climate finance and lead in emission reductions, while advocating for decentralized, small-scale renewable technologies managed democratically by local communities.

The document presents a manifesto for a 'just transition' of the energy system, arguing that the current capitalist model drives ecological collapse and social inequality. It advocates for energy to be treated as a common good rather than a commodity, calling for a shift toward 100% renewable energy through small-scale, decentralized, and community-managed technologies. The manifesto emphasizes 'energy sufficiency,' demanding a drastic reduction in overconsumption in the Global North to allow for equitable access to energy in the Global South. It links climate justice to broader social struggles, including feminist, anti-racist, and anti-capitalist movements, and calls for the redirection of public funds—such as military spending and taxes on the wealthy—toward a people-centered energy revolution.

This report by Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific (APAC) serves as an official contribution to the third session of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises with respect to Human Rights. It advocates for a legally binding UN Treaty to end corporate impunity, specifically targeting the immunity of International Financial Institutions (IFIs), corporate crimes in the Indonesian plantation sector, and the protection of environmental and human rights defenders.

The report by Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific criticizes the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for continuing to fund coal-fired power plants and mines despite its own policies recognizing the risks of climate change. It highlights specific projects in India, Pakistan, and the Philippines where ADB funding led to environmental degradation and community harm. The document calls for a total ban on new coal financing and a shift toward renewable energy alternatives.

The report identifies three primary areas of WTO negotiations that may undermine the UNCCD: agricultural market liberalization, the liberalization of environmental and water services, and the legal relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and WTO rules. It warns that export-oriented agriculture can lead to chemical-dependent farming and displacement of local communities, while the privatization of nature protection and water services may restrict indigenous access to resources. Furthermore, the document suggests that WTO dispute mechanisms might deter states from adopting the most effective anti-desertification measures if those measures are deemed trade-restrictive.

The document critiques soil carbon sequestration markets, asserting they allow major polluters to avoid real emission reductions while increasing corporate control over agriculture. It highlights how these systems favor large-scale industrial farms, marginalize smallholders, and rely on unreliable measurement methods. The text further details the role of governments and corporations, such as Yara, in promoting these mechanisms despite scientific evidence suggesting that 'climate-smart' practices do not significantly increase soil carbon storage.

The report examines the EIB's operations in the Global South, specifically in Zambia, Chad, Cameroon, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. It contends that the EIB functions as a demand-driven institution that finances high-yield projects for European firms rather than prioritizing social or environmental goals. Key criticisms include a lack of transparency, failure to adhere to EU environmental and social standards, and the promotion of harmful projects such as large dams and extractive industries. The document concludes with recommendations for a fundamental review of the EIB's project selection, accountability, and monitoring processes.

The document critiques soil carbon farming as a mechanism for corporations and governments to offset emissions without making deep cuts. It contends that these schemes entrench industrial farming, facilitate corporate data grabbing, and marginalize smallholder farmers and traditional knowledge. The author asserts that soil carbon sequestration is technically unreliable, often overestimated, and cannot compensate for the long-term impact of fossil fuel combustion.

The document provides the technical annexes for the Forest Declaration Assessment, detailing the definitions and methodologies used to measure deforestation, forest degradation, and restoration potential. It establishes a 'gross zero' deforestation benchmark for 2030, requiring a linear 10 percent annual reduction in loss relative to a 2018-2020 baseline. The methodology incorporates satellite data and econometric models to estimate GHG emissions from forest loss and identifies 'cost-effective' restoration potential based on a carbon price threshold of USD 100/tCO2eq. A provided table lists the 30 countries with the highest absolute levels of deforestation in 2021, showing varied trends such as a 3% increase in Brazil and a 25% decrease in Indonesia compared to the baseline.

The report argues that African cities face a critical choice between unsustainable 'business-as-usual' urban sprawl and a '3CR' model (compact, connected, clean, and resilient). Using economic modelling for 35 major cities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, it demonstrates that while incremental investments of US$280 billion are needed by 2050, the net present value of benefits is significantly positive. It identifies systemic barriers—including poor municipal creditworthiness and restrictive national laws—and proposes four national enabling mechanisms and six specific financial instruments to unlock private and public capital.

The document serves as a technical resource for designing and issuing gender bonds in Africa, aligning with International Capital Market Association (ICMA) standards. It details the issuance process for both use-of-proceeds (UoP) and performance-based bonds, emphasizing the need for gender-disaggregated data, internal working groups, and external reviews. The guide highlights the growth of the gender bond market in Africa, citing recent issuances in Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania, and provides case studies and frameworks to help issuers direct capital toward women-owned MSMEs, housing, and leadership diversity.

The document serves as a practical resource for the issuance of gender bonds in Africa, detailing the process from preparatory work to post-issuance reporting. It defines gender bonds as mechanisms to channel funding toward projects reducing gender inequalities, categorizing them into use-of-proceeds (UoP) and performance-based structures. The guide emphasizes the importance of gender-disaggregated data, the role of external reviews (such as Second Party Opinions), and the support of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) as anchor investors. It highlights emerging markets in Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania, and provides specific criteria for eligible projects, particularly the financing of women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises (WMSMEs).

The report examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected local currency bond markets (LCBMs) across MEFMI member countries. It finds that while the crisis increased government borrowing needs and operational risks, most countries maintained stability through fiscal, monetary, and financial policy interventions. Key findings include a general increase in the average time to maturity of domestic debt, a shift in investor behavior toward safe assets, and the use of liability management operations like rollovers and switches. The document concludes that deepening LCBMs, strengthening debt management strategies, and improving market transparency are essential for resilience against future crises.

The Sustainable Urban Transport project is a proposed programme in the Philippines designed to decarbonize the transport sector by scaling the production and uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and promoting non-motorized transit. With a total indicative cost of USD 248,195,408, the project seeks USD 186,627,231 from the Green Climate Fund to overcome high upfront capital costs and limited domestic manufacturing capacity. Key objectives include deploying 3,000 e-jeepneys and 5,500 e-trikes, conducting a feasibility study for Electric Bus Rapid Transit (eBRT), and developing financing mechanisms through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). The project expects to reduce emissions by 708,250 to 991,550 tCO2-eq over its lifespan and create direct employment for approximately 100,000 beneficiaries.