Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by GreenCape examines the commercial challenges facing the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) agriculture sector, specifically regarding large-scale, centralised models. It argues that the industry is caught in a "Commodity Trap" by attempting to displace low-cost bulk proteins and synthetic fertilisers. The document recommends a strategic pivot toward high-performance, functional additives and bioactive soil amendments to justify premium pricing and overcome scaling and regulatory hurdles.

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global coal plant pipeline in 2025, highlighting a growing disconnect where coal capacity continues to increase—driven primarily by China and India—while actual coal-fired electricity generation declines due to the rapid expansion of wind and solar power.

This technical reference by RMI provides financial institutions (FIs) with a framework and data to conduct transition assessments of power sector companies in Southeast Asia, focusing on operational realities and asset-level analysis to identify risks and investment opportunities.

The steel industry, responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, faces a critical need for decarbonization as demand is projected to rise 39% by 2050. While integrated blast furnaces (BF-BOF) dominate production, the report identifies Hydrogen-DRI as the only current net-zero commercial technology, though it struggles with high costs and hydrogen availability. The authors propose a three-pronged innovation strategy: 'Make Less' (circularity and alternative materials), 'Make Better' (retrofitting and improving DRI), and 'Make New' (disruptive low-temperature and modular furnaces). To overcome capital intensity, the report suggests startups target high-margin niche products like high-purity iron and monetize industrial waste streams to gain commercial traction.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) submitted a contribution to the OECD's public consultation on aligning investment agreements with climate and environmental goals, proposing reforms to investor transparency, responsible business conduct, and the removal of barriers to green investment.

This RMI briefing outlines the roles of key countries and regions—China, Brazil, India, Southeast Asia, and the United States—in the global energy transition as they approach COP30 in Belém, Brazil. It highlights the shift from high-level commitments to tangible actions, such as large-scale renewable deployment, the development of low-carbon shipping hubs, and subnational leadership in the US.

This report analyzes the convergence of nature-based solutions (NbS) and climate adaptation and resilience (A&R) finance, highlighting a massive funding gap where annual nature flows (USD 200 billion) and adaptation funding for developing countries (gap of USD 194-366 billion) are insufficient. Through case studies like Forest Carbon in Southeast Asia and Wildfire Resilience Insurance in the US, the report demonstrates that NbS can reduce adaptation costs and lower insurance premiums. However, scaling these solutions is hindered by difficulties in impact measurement, a lack of standardized metrics, and perverse government subsidies totaling USD 1.8 trillion annually. The authors argue for a shift from reactive to preventive investment strategies and the development of credible, localized impact metrics to unlock private capital.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the future of state governance in the Global South over the next two decades. It examines how demographic shifts, climate change, digital revolutions, and geopolitical multipolarity redefine state legitimacy and function. The study utilizes World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and strategic foresight to propose four global scenarios—Growth, Sustainable, Divided, and War—and four state archetypes—Negotiator, System Builder, Fractured, and Collapsed—to help policymakers build institutional resilience.

The China Energy Transition Review 2025 by Ember analyzes China's rapid shift toward clean energy and electrification, detailing how its domestic policies and manufacturing scale are driving down global costs and pushing global fossil fuel demand toward a structural decline.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and Convergence analyzes the enabling environment for domestic capital mobilization for climate finance in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It examines the barriers preventing local private investment and the potential for blended finance—using concessional capital to attract commercial investment—to bridge the financing gap for mitigation and adaptation projects.

This policy brief evaluates hydrogen-based power generation in Southeast Asia, arguing that while renewable hydrogen is useful for seasonal storage and peaking, the current trend of co-firing in coal and gas plants in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam is cost-inefficient and risks prolonging fossil fuel reliance. It recommends prioritizing renewable energy and grid infrastructure to lower costs and boost global competitiveness.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan 2024-2029 outlines the framework for tracking progress, capturing lessons, and assessing the impact of its resilience initiatives. The plan emphasizes an adaptive management approach and a 'Triple Loop Learning' system to improve resilience outcomes in the Global South, focusing on food, finance, and communities.

This fact sheet by Zero Carbon Analytics analyzes the energy forecasts of the Institute for Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ), arguing that the institute projects unrealistically high future gas demand compared to the IEA, ExxonMobil, and BP. The document attributes these high forecasts to the IEEJ's assumptions regarding the high cost of renewables, a preference for thermal power as a backup, and an optimistic outlook for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

This report by the NewClimate Institute, published under the CASE project, analyzes monitoring frameworks for climate and energy targets in six developed economies to provide guidance for Southeast Asian countries pursuing carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions by 2050.

This report chapter by Ember examines the grid planning strategies of the ASEAN region, highlighting a significant gap between current national transmission expansion plans and the targets required to meet climate goals and rising electricity demand.

This IEJ working paper argues that sovereign debt in the Global South is a tool of neocolonial control rooted in colonial legacies. It critiques G20 restructuring frameworks for ignoring structural causes and proposes a Global South Debtors’ Coalition to leverage collective resources for fairer trade and economic sovereignty.

This policy brief analyzes the implementation of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment (RtHE) in Southeast Asia. While legal frameworks exist, the document identifies significant gaps in procedural rights: information is often withheld due to commercial interests, public participation in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) is frequently superficial, and environmental courts face resource constraints and the risk of being weaponized via SLAPPs. The brief highlights community-led alternatives to EIAs and the role of independent grievance mechanisms and judicial capacity-building as key levers for improvement, noting the development of a regional ASEAN Declaration on RtHE as of December 2024.

The 'Ascensão e Queda 2025' report by Global Energy Monitor and partners tracks the global coal power pipeline as of April 2025. It highlights a paradoxical year where the world saw the lowest amount of new coal capacity in twenty years, yet China and India reached record levels of construction starts and new proposals, respectively.

Trend Asia issues a statement urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to exclude biofuels from the Global Fuel Standard (GFS) to prevent environmental degradation and social harm. The organization argues that replacing shipping's fossil fuel demand with biofuels would exacerbate deforestation, food insecurity, and land grabbing, particularly in the global South.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the role of green guarantees in mobilizing private capital for the climate transition in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). It identifies key structural barriers—including complexity, lack of technical assistance, high costs, and time horizon misalignments—and presents case studies of innovative solutions from organizations such as the World Bank Group, Green Guarantee Company, TCX, GuarantCo, and a partnership between Sida and IFU.