Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief examines how Aid for Trade (AfT) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be leveraged to help developing and least developed countries transition to sustainable trade and circular economies to combat plastic pollution. It highlights a significant mismatch between the limited funding for plastic pollution mitigation and the massive financial flows supporting the petrochemical sector, while proposing specific short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members through the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP).

This report by Ember analyzes air pollution from coal-fired power plants across Europe, identifying Turkey, Ukraine, and the Western Balkan countries as the primary sources of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM10). The analysis highlights a strong correlation between coal generation and pollutant emissions, noting that most of the most polluting plants are over 30 years old, though Turkey is an exception with some newer plants among the top polluters. The report argues that these countries should shift subsidies from dirty coal to their significant renewable energy potentials.

The 2020 global coal power landscape was characterized by a sharp increase in capacity in China, which offset declines elsewhere and led to the first global increase in coal capacity since 2015. While the US and EU saw record closures, China's provincial governments accelerated coal projects as economic stimulants. Conversely, several Southeast Asian and South Asian nations began canceling planned projects due to financing difficulties and shifting policies.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal-fired power plant trends in 2019, noting a general decline in new project planning and construction, contrasted by a net increase in global capacity driven primarily by China.

The 2019 Global Coal Plant Tracker report reveals a contradictory trend: while the global pipeline for new coal plants has shrunk by two-thirds since 2015 and generation fell by 3% in 2019, net global capacity actually increased by 34.1 GW due to a surge of new plants in China. Western commercial banks have largely ceased direct financing for coal, but Chinese state banks and Indian state-owned finance corporations continue to provide significant funding. The report emphasizes that current trends are insufficient to meet the IPCC's goal of an 80% reduction in coal use by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

This report by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and CREA analyzes global coal power plant trends in 2019. It highlights a general decline in new coal development and operational capacity globally, though this trend is heavily skewed by China, which continued to increase its capacity. The report details the financial pressures on the coal industry, the role of public funding, and regional shifts in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the OECD.

This report by Sandbag analyzes how the disparity in carbon pricing between the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and its non-EU neighbors leads to 'carbon leakage,' where high-carbon electricity, primarily from coal, is imported into the EU. The authors argue that this undermines EU climate goals and incentivizes the continued use of coal in neighboring states. To combat this, the report proposes the implementation of a border carbon adjustment (BCA) specifically for electricity imports.

This report analyzes how political and financial de-risking measures can reduce the cost of renewable energy projects in South East Europe by up to 20%, specifically highlighting the potential for onshore wind in Greece and Serbia. It identifies the proposed EU budget guarantee mechanism (2021-2027) as a primary driver for reducing financing costs, which currently hinder renewables from competing with fossil-fired generation.

This guidance document by the NewClimate Institute provides Energy Community Contracting Parties with a framework to consolidate overlapping climate and energy planning processes into a single, efficient system to reduce resource burdens and ensure alignment with international obligations.

This research paper analyzes the USD 18-36 trillion climate investment gap in developing countries and identifies key barriers to scaling finance, such as access to capital and investor skill gaps. It evaluates the roles of various public finance actors—including MDBs, bilateral DFIs, and National Development Banks—highlighting that while NDBs provide the largest flows, they often lack risk mitigation tools. The authors recommend that public actors adopt more flexible capital strategies, harmonize standards, and shift from project-specific finance to broader financial system development to better leverage private investment.

This report summarizes the results of Work Package 4 (WP4) of the HERON project, which conducted forward-looking scenario analyses of energy efficiency policies in the buildings and transport sectors across seven EU countries. Using LEAP modelling software and a Decision Support Tool (DST), the project evaluated Business as Usual (BAU) scenarios against various energy efficiency (EE) scenarios to determine if national targets for 2020 and 2030 could be met and how socio-economic barriers impact these goals.

This research paper analyzes the 2016 EU-Turkey migrant deal, arguing that while it has succeeded in its primary goal of deterring arrivals via the Aegean Sea, it has done so at a significant humanitarian and legal cost. The author contends that the deal, combined with border closures across Eastern and South Eastern Europe, has trapped refugees in squalid conditions and pushed migrants toward more dangerous smuggling routes, while potentially undermining the international principle of non-refoulement.

This briefing analyzes the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which focused on the adoption of the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It examines the successful negotiation process led by the Open Working Group (OWG), initial national commitments to implementation, and outstanding requirements such as the development of indicators and the outcome of the Paris Climate Change Conference.

A statement by Jagoda Munic, President of Friends of the Earth International, reflecting on the devastating floods in the Balkans and the urgent need for a global shift away from fossil fuels and consumption-based economic models to combat climate change.

This research paper analyzes the legal implications of the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, examining the conflict between the right to self-determination and the principles of territorial integrity and national unity under international law.

A joint statement by seven civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, criticising the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) draft Environment and Social Policy for weakening human rights safeguards, reducing transparency, and failing to implement adequate human rights due diligence.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores how public procurement can transition from buying discrete products to procuring functions and services through performance-based specifications. It argues that this shift can drive resource efficiency, stimulate private sector innovation, and reduce costs, provided the business models are aligned with the environmental impacts of the specific product categories.

The PROVIA Guidance on Assessing Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change is an executive summary of a technical framework designed to harmonize and communicate knowledge on climate risk. It provides an iterative five-stage adaptation learning cycle—identifying needs, identifying options, appraising options, planning and implementing actions, and monitoring and evaluation—to help researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers navigate the diversity of available assessment methods and tools.

The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) is a tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to calculate net climate impacts for individuals rather than regional averages. By comparing climate damages against the savings gained from not investing in emission reductions, CIEL demonstrates that while some individuals are currently 'net winners,' the vast majority of the global population will become 'net losers' by 2100 and 2150 as damages outpace savings.

This report analyzes the restructuring of Bulgaria's power sector around 2000, detailing the transition from a state monopoly (NEC) to a 'Single Buyer' model with independent producers and distributors. It highlights the heavy influence of the IMF and World Bank, the failure to implement a fully transparent regulatory framework, and the social strain on low-income households. Key technical data includes a total capacity of 12,668 MW, dominated by thermal (51.7%) and nuclear (29.7%) power. The report also notes Bulgaria's GHG emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol and the critical state of its district heating systems.