Search Climate Insights Directory

This IISD report presents the results of a 2018 online survey of 72 respondents from 54 developing countries regarding their investment treaty negotiation processes. It examines trends in treaty renegotiation, the impact of investment disputes, the use of model treaties, ratification procedures, and the specific government agencies involved in leading and supporting these negotiations.

This case study profiles Sunny Irrigation, a company providing affordable, portable solar-powered water pumps to smallholder farmers in Africa to address challenges related to inconsistent water sources and high upfront costs of irrigation systems.

This report by the World Resources Institute argues that securing community land rights is a cost-effective strategy for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and mitigating climate change. It highlights the gap between the amount of land inhabited by indigenous and rural communities and the amount legally recognized by national governments, warning that this insecurity leads to deforestation and poverty. The document advocates for legal reforms, simplified formalization procedures, and a more equitable playing field between communities and corporate interests to protect global carbon sinks and biodiversity.

A Stockholm Environment Institute study assesses the vulnerability of electricity expansion plans in the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) to climate-driven changes in hydropower generation, concluding that planning for a slightly wetter climate than historical trends provides the most resilient strategy.

This research paper analyzes the political transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the December 30 election, where Félix Tshisekedi was announced as the winner. The author outlines the significant domestic and regional hurdles Tshisekedi faces, including contested election legitimacy, the need for a peaceful handover from Joseph Kabila's 18-year regime, and the necessity of regional diplomatic cooperation to ensure stability.

This executive summary report, produced by WWF South Africa in collaboration with IIASA, assesses the current and future potential for sustainable aviation biofuel feedstock production in sub-Saharan Africa. Using a systems analysis approach and RSB sustainability criteria, the study identifies 'REMAIN' land—areas not required for food security or environmental conservation—and evaluates the technical potential of various feedstocks to meet a minimum 60% greenhouse gas (GHG) savings criterion. The report concludes that while significant technical potential exists, it is likely to decrease by 2050 due to population growth, food demand, and climate change.

This guide, prepared by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and SouthSouthNorth (SSN), translates the findings of the 2019 IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land specifically for African policymakers. It examines the bidirectional relationship between land and climate, the risks of desertification in arid zones, and the resulting impacts on food security and poverty. The document outlines sustainable land management techniques, the importance of gender-inclusive policies, and the need for integrated governance to enhance resilience across the continent.

The report 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape 2019', produced by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Climate Policy Initiative, analyzes public and private finance commitments for electricity and clean cooking in 20 high-impact countries (HICs) from 2013 to 2017. It finds that while electricity finance reached a record high in 2017, it remains far below the levels required to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030, particularly for residential users and in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clean cooking finance saw a severe decline in 2017, further widening the investment gap.

This briefing document provides context for the 2019 Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Global Meeting in Cape Town. It reviews the state of the global green transition in 2018, outlines the GEC's ten-year history and mission to champion inclusion, equity, and environmental limits, and defines the meeting's focus on ensuring 'everyone gets a stake' in the transition through participation, livelihoods, and ownership rights.

This 2019 fact sheet by the Green Economy Coalition tracks the progress of the green economy in Uganda, detailing government policy initiatives, international support, and the ecological challenges facing the River Rwizi catchment area.

This report analyzes the global coffee market, focusing on the growth and impact of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs). It examines production and consumption trends, the role of Low Human Development Countries (LHDCs), and the risks posed by price volatility and climate change to the sector's sustainability goals.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies outlines recommendations for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to address state non-cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It proposes specific legal and political mechanisms to ensure the ICC can effectively investigate and prosecute serious international crimes.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and UNDP examines the progress of African nations in implementing and monitoring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions. Based on a survey of 126 stakeholders across 38 countries and a review of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), the document highlights Africa's leadership in governance statistics and the challenges of funding and data accessibility, while showcasing innovative national practices in data sovereignty and multi-stakeholder engagement.

The 2019 report 'Dynamiser le financement de l’accès à l’énergie : UN TOUR D’HORIZON', produced by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Climate Policy Initiative, analyzes public and private financing for electricity and clean cooking access across 20 developing countries from 2013 to 2017. It highlights a significant gap between current investments and the funding required to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030, noting that while electricity funding reached a record in 2017, clean cooking finance collapsed and most funds do not reach the most vulnerable populations.

The 2019 Energizing Finance report reveals a significant funding gap for SDG7, with electricity and clean cooking investments falling far short of universal access needs. While electricity finance hit a record USD 36 billion in 2017, most went to grid-connected renewables and non-residential users, leaving off-grid solutions and Sub-Saharan Africa underfunded. Clean cooking finance collapsed by 73% in 2017 to USD 32 million. The report emphasizes the need for innovative financing and targeted support for vulnerable groups, particularly women.

As of 2018, 38% of Ugandan households had electricity access. To reach universal access by 2030, the report forecasts a need for 4.7 million new grid connections, 320 new mini-grids, and stand-alone solar for 52% of households. Total financing for off-grid electricity and improved cooking is estimated at USD 2.3 billion. In the cooking sector, 95% of households rely on biomass; the report identifies a need for 15 million industrial wood stoves and 11.9 million industrial charcoal stoves by 2030, with a cumulative ICS enterprise financing need of USD 193 million and an affordability gap of USD 344 million.

The World Resources Institute and Fledge's Land Accelerator supports entrepreneurs in restoring degraded land to combat climate change. The 2019 cohort featured 14 businesses from eight African countries, focusing on sustainable products like organic fertilizers, biofuels, and agroforestry. The initiative is grounded in the potential for sustainable land use to generate US$2.3 trillion and 70 million jobs globally by 2030.

This literature review examines the challenges of prioritisation and alignment in public sector planning and budgeting, with a specific focus on the South African context. It analyzes international case studies from Chile, Malaysia, and Uganda to identify successful mechanisms for linking strategic goals to resource allocation and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The report highlights that successful prioritisation is deeply dependent on the socio-political environment, institutional stability, and the balance of power between central and local government. It concludes that South Africa's fragmented institutional structure and factional politics hinder the implementation of aligned planning, suggesting a pragmatic, incremental approach and the potential for genuine participatory governance at the local level.

This report examines the intersection of gender and migration in South Africa, arguing that current migration policies are largely gender-neutral or geared toward men, which increases the vulnerability of women migrants. Through focus groups and interviews with mixed migrant women in the Western Cape, the study highlights the 'triple discrimination' of xenophobia, racism, and misogyny faced by African women migrants, and calls for rights-based, gender-sensitive policy reforms.

This research paper, produced by Friends of the Earth Africa (FoEA), proposes the establishment of a sui generis international tribunal to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations. The document argues that existing national and international mechanisms are ineffective, allowing multinationals to operate with impunity through complex corporate structures and influence over governments. It provides a detailed proposed statute for an 'International Tribunal on Multinationals, Other Enterprises and Human Rights' (TIMEDH), emphasizing accessibility for victims, a shift in the burden of proof to companies, and a permanent seat in a southern state.