Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper analyzes South Africa's voting patterns and foreign policy achievements during its first (2007-2008) and second (2011-2012) terms as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The author assesses the country's progress toward its 'African Agenda,' including goals of South-South and North-South cooperation and the pursuit of permanent African representation on the Council.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's voting patterns and foreign policy achievements during its first (2007-2008) and second (2011-2012) terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The author finds that South Africa has become more confident, increasing its co-sponsorship of resolutions and successfully promoting its 'African Agenda,' particularly regarding cooperation between the UNSC and the African Union (AU).

This report summarizes a 2011 workshop on climate adaptation for transportation, highlighting that local contextual data (e.g., infrastructure condition) is often more critical for decision-making than broad climate models. It identifies significant communication gaps between scientists and engineers, calls for a central information clearinghouse, and recommends updating engineering standards to move beyond historical data. Key needs include higher-resolution precipitation data, better economic tools for cost-benefit analysis of adaptation, and increased federal support for state and local capacity building.

This report examines how the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) integrates climate change mitigation and adaptation into its mission of facilitating U.S. private investment in developing countries. It details OPIC's transition from general environmental guidelines to a specific 2010 Environmental and Social Policy Statement, which establishes greenhouse gas (GHG) emission caps, energy efficiency requirements for intensive sectors, and reporting mandates for high-emitting projects.

This book chapter analyzes the California Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and its influence on the innovation and deployment of low-emission, hybrid, and zero-emission vehicle technologies in the United States using the Technology Innovation System (TIS) framework.

This briefing by Energy Innovation argues that while fuel quality standards are a critical first step in reducing air pollution in China, long-term success depends on developing sustainable, dense, and walkable cities to avoid the car-reliant model of the 20th-century United States.

This policy brief analyzes the impact of biofuel consumption mandates in the United States and the European Union on global food commodity prices, examining the 'food versus fuel' debate and proposing mechanisms to mitigate price volatility.

The Bottom-Up Energy Analysis System (BUENAS) is a stock accounting model developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to project energy demand and evaluate the impact of energy efficiency policies, specifically Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling (EES&L) programs, across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses the Climate and Regional Economics of Development (CRED) model to analyze the gap between current climate-economic policy recommendations and the emission reductions required to limit global warming to 2°C. The authors argue that conventional models, such as DICE, often underestimate climate damages and ignore international equity and the needs of future generations. By incorporating updated science, lower discount rates, and cross-regional investments from rich to poor countries, the CRED Optimal scenario demonstrates that it is possible to achieve a high probability of staying below 2°C while simultaneously reducing global income inequality.

This research paper argues that South Africa should lead a campaign to nominate a qualified African candidate for the presidency of the World Bank to challenge the historical precedent of American appointments and advocate for global economic governance reform.

This research paper analyzes the challenges and opportunities for establishing a common trade and investment agenda among the BRICS nations. It highlights the tension between complementary economic relationships—where China imports resources from Brazil, Russia, and South Africa—and conflicting national strategies to promote domestic manufacturing. The author suggests that BRICS cooperation should focus on resuscitating the WTO Doha round, engaging with China's shift toward a consumption-led economic model, and coordinating currency reform positions within the G20.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the legal complexities of 'indirect expropriation' in international investment law. It analyzes how the lack of a clear definition in most investment treaties creates tension between the protection of foreign private investments and the sovereign right of host states to regulate in the public interest, particularly regarding health, environment, and human rights.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the legal complexities of 'indirect expropriation' in international investment law. It analyzes how the lack of a precise definition in treaties allows arbitral tribunals to apply varying criteria—such as the 'sole effect doctrine' or proportionality—which can conflict with a state's sovereign right to regulate for the public interest, including health, environment, and human rights.

This research paper by Trudi Hartzenberg for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the intersection of trade, investment, and competition policy in South Africa. It analyzes how South Africa balances the need for foreign direct investment (FDI) and global trade integration with domestic development goals, particularly employment creation. The paper details the evolution of South Africa's competition regime, the role of the Competition Act of 1998, and the complexities of managing cross-border mergers, using the Walmart-Massmart transaction as a primary case study.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute argues for the accelerated market entry of E15 ethanol blends to combat rising gasoline prices and address a domestic ethanol glut.

This briefing by RMI analyzes the impact of low natural gas prices, driven by hydraulic fracturing, on the growth of renewable energy in the United States. While low wholesale gas prices create near-term financing challenges for utility-scale projects, the document argues that distributed solar PV and long-term cost declines in wind and solar will ensure continued renewable energy expansion.

The Nineteenth Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) agreed to expand the IAI Directorate's capacity to provide scientific knowledge for public policy and increase public awareness through a distributed structure hosted by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the theoretical benefits and practical drawbacks of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), specifically focusing on their ability to integrate into sustainable development frameworks. It argues that while PPPs can attract capital and encourage life-cycle technology investments, they often suffer from high costs, reduced transparency, and a lack of explicit sustainability safeguards.

This research paper describes the Clipore program, a large-scale research initiative funded by Mistra that operated from 2004 to 2011 to support international climate policy development.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the domestic systems used to measure, report, and verify (MRV) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation actions in China, Germany, Italy, and the United States. The study finds that while emissions tracking is well-established and consistent across these nations, the MRV of mitigation actions is fragmented, often relying on ex-ante projections rather than ex-post evaluations of actual reductions achieved.