Search Climate Insights Directory

This report analyzes South Africa's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019–2020 term. It examines the current geopolitical dynamics of the Council, the expectations placed on South Africa as a regional power, and provides strategic recommendations for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to maximize the country's international visibility and influence.

This report details user feedback and recommendations gathered from focus group discussions (FGD) in Estonia, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine to inform the development of ClimVis Europe, a planned pan-European climate visualisation tool. The document evaluates three existing tools—the Global Climate Monitor, the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, and the Copernicus Climate Information Portal—and outlines specific user preferences regarding language, accessibility, data resolution, and the communication of climate uncertainty.

This fact sheet outlines the potential for reducing emissions in the Baltics, Poland, and Ukraine by scaling up ten existing climate solutions, which could lead to significant emission reductions and cost savings by 2030.

This research paper evaluates the impact of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) on nitrous oxide (N2O) abatement in the adipic acid sector. While the carbon market successfully incentivized abatement levels of 98% to 100%, which exceed previous technical benchmarks, the authors find that the CDM created significant economic incentives that led to carbon leakage. Specifically, production shifted from non-CDM plants to CDM plants during the 2008-2009 economic downturn, resulting in an estimated 13.5 MtCO2e of issued credits that did not represent real emission reductions.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the environmental integrity of Joint Implementation (JI) during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The authors conclude that approximately three-quarters of JI offsets likely did not represent additional emissions reductions, potentially increasing global greenhouse gas emissions by 600 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

A statement from 82 Latin American and Caribbean civil society organizations providing suggestions and requests to the COP30 Presidency to ensure concrete implementation results in Belém do Pará, Brazil, focusing on climate ambition, adaptation, finance, just transition, and biodiversity synergies.

A statement from 82 civil society organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean providing strategic recommendations to the COP30 Presidency to ensure the conference delivers concrete implementation outcomes regarding climate ambition, finance, adaptation, and just transition.

This testimony by Rob Bradley, Director of the International Climate Policy Initiative at the World Resources Institute, argues that the United States has a critical opportunity to resume international leadership on climate change. Bradley asserts that the global landscape has shifted since the Kyoto Protocol, with major developing nations now proposing their own mitigation plans and the Bali Action Plan providing a framework for inclusive, verifiable commitments from both developed and developing countries. He emphasizes the synergy between climate action and economic growth, highlighting 'green' stimulus packages as a means to create jobs and stimulate recovery following the financial crisis.

This WRI working paper surveys 27 public and public-private climate funds (PPCFIs) totaling US$41.3 billion, finding that most focus on mitigation in emerging markets rather than adaptation in least-developed countries. While intended to leverage private capital, few have successfully attracted significant private investment at the fund level due to limited project pipelines, inadequate scale, and cumbersome operational processes. WRI recommends standardizing requirements, improving information transparency, and fostering better market conditions to effectively mobilize private finance.