Search Climate Insights Directory

A statement from the World Resources Institute regarding the Trump administration's formal request to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Strategy 2020–24 outlines the organization's mission to bridge science, policy, and practice to support sustainable development. The strategy focuses on three primary impact areas: reducing climate risk, promoting sustainable resource use and resilient ecosystems, and improving health and well-being. To achieve these, SEI employs a theory of change centered on changing agendas, enhancing capacities, and improving decisions through the co-creation of knowledge and the development of specialized tools.

A letter from a coalition of organizations to the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations requesting that Fiscal Year 2020 funding for U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy efficiency programs be set at the highest approved levels.

A coalition of businesses and organizations wrote to U.S. Appropriations Committees in October 2019 to request $42 million in line-item funding for the ENERGY STAR program for FY2020 and to oppose a shift to a fee-based funding model. The letter highlights the program's success since 1992, citing $450 billion in utility savings, a 3.1 billion metric ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the support of over 2.3 million jobs in the energy efficiency sector.

A statement from World Resources Institute's Leonardo Martinez-Diaz regarding the Green Climate Fund's first replenishment, which saw 27 countries pledge $9.7 billion.

This report from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Africa's agency within the global order, highlighting the challenges of multilateralism, the continent's marginal position in international systems, and the institutional struggles of the African Union.

This document consists of the independent auditors' reports and consolidated financial statements for the World Resources Institute (WRI) and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2019, and 2018. The reportsS reportsSSSS reports, conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, provide an unmodified opinion on the financial statements and compliance for major federal programs, while identifying a significant deficiency regarding the timing of contribution revenue recognition.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the United States can reduce carbon emissions and lower consumer costs by replacing proposed new natural gas power plants with 'clean energy portfolios' consisting of zero-emissions technologies.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs discusses the objectives and context of the September 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York. It highlights the urgency of the 'climate crisis' as defined by the IPCC and UN Secretary General António Guterres, the role of youth activism, and the need to balance climate change mitigation with adaptation, specifically through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Africa.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute examines the relationship between Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTSs) under the Paris Agreement. It argues that aligning these two planning tools—one focused on short-to-medium term commitments (typically 10-15 years) and the other on mid-century visions (approximately 30 years)—is essential to avoid locking in carbon-intensive infrastructure and to ensure efficient use of government resources.

The 2019 report by the NewClimate Institute analyzes the impact of climate mitigation commitments from cities, regions, and businesses, specifically focusing on ten major emitting economies and 17 international cooperative initiatives (ICIs). It finds that while individual actor commitments provide modest reductions, ICIs offer the most significant potential to close the global emissions gap to 2°C by 2030.

A statement from the World Resources Institute (WRI) regarding the Trump Administration's decision to revoke California's tailpipe waiver under the Clean Air Act.

This research paper, commissioned by the Global Commission on Adaptation, argues that Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) is a critical mechanism for achieving climate change adaptation by coordinating agriculture, forests, water, biodiversity, and energy sectors. It details the limitations of siloed sectoral approaches and proposes a framework for multi-stakeholder coordination, strategic planning, and integrated investment to build organizational and ecological resilience.

The Climate Resilience Principles, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in September 2019, provide a framework for integrating climate adaptation and resilience criteria into the Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme. The document defines climate resilience investments as those improving the ability of assets and systems to persist, adapt, or transform against climate-related stresses. It establishes a three-part framework—Framing, Design, and Ongoing Management—to ensure that green bond proceeds are used for assets that are 'fit-for-purpose' and do no significant harm to the broader system. The report also addresses the potential for trade-offs between climate mitigation and resilience goals, suggesting that mitigation requirements might be relaxed for assets providing exceptional resilience benefits in high-risk contexts.

This technical annex assesses progress toward the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Goal 2, which aims to eliminate deforestation from agricultural commodity production (palm oil, soy, paper, and beef) by 2020. The report finds that current efforts by governments and companies are insufficient to meet this target, noting a stagnation in new corporate commitments and significant gaps in reporting, transparency, and the inclusion of indirect suppliers.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that the 2020 goals to halve tropical deforestation and restore 150 million hectares of land are likely impossible to achieve. Despite some progress in Indonesia and specific sectoral moratoria, tropical primary forest loss has increased, and global deforestation remains unsustainable, driven largely by agricultural commodities. Restoration efforts have largely occurred outside natural forests, and corporate commitments have stagnated. The report highlights a critical lack of financial investment compared to other climate goals and emphasizes that the reversal of environmental policies in Brazil and the failure to secure indigenous land rights further undermine forest conservation.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Endorser Perspectives Report evaluates progress five years after the 2014 launch of the NYDF. Based on consultations with 84 endorsers, the report finds that while many commitments have been made, global deforestation has accelerated by 44% since 2014, and the world is not on track to meet its collective forest goals. The report identifies critical barriers—including weak governance, insufficient finance, and insecure land tenure—and outlines eight key lessons to transition from high-level commitments to measurable implementation.

This report presents the perspectives of signatories of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its 2014 inception. It evaluates progress toward ten global goals to end natural forest loss by 2030, identifying systemic barriers such as weak governance, insufficient financing, and land tenure insecurity, while highlighting successful multi-stakeholder partnerships and nature-based solutions.

This report evaluates the progress of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its inception. It finds that despite increased awareness and technological monitoring, global deforestation has accelerated, and most 2020 targets will be missed. The document highlights a critical gap in funding, where investments driving deforestation vastly outweigh those for conservation. It emphasizes that indigenous land rights and strong political will are essential prerequisites for success, while corporate progress is stalled by supply chain complexity. The report calls for a paradigm shift toward 'green finance' and nature-based solutions to align forest protection with global climate and sustainable development goals.

This report by the Forest Declaration Assessment (UNDP) evaluates the progress of signatories of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its 2014 launch. Based on consultations with 84 signatories—including governments, companies, NGOs, and indigenous organizations—the document identifies critical barriers to ending natural forest loss by 2030 and outlines eight key lessons to accelerate implementation. It emphasizes that while high-level commitments are numerous, measurable action is lagging, with tropical primary forest loss increasing by 44% between 2002-13 and the reporting period.