Search Climate Insights Directory

The paper addresses the lack of systematic tracking for locally led adaptation (LLA) finance, providing governments with metrics to measure both the amount of funding reaching the local level and the extent to which it supports local agency in decision-making. It suggests three primary implementation categories: budget tagging, expenditure review, and integration with existing policy or planning processes. These tools are intended to improve transparency, accountability, and resource mobilization to ensure investments meet the needs of those most affected by climate change.

The paper examines Kenya's road transport electrification, noting that while the transport sector contributes 13 percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, fewer than 1 percent of annual vehicle sales are electric. It argues that increasing EV uptake requires a combination of bolstered policy interventions, improved access to technology and financing, and enhanced technical capacity and public awareness.

The document argues that local communities are often marginalized from national climate adaptation planning and financing, leading to ineffective investments. It positions civil society organizations as essential intermediaries that can facilitate community participation and monitor finance flows. To achieve this, the paper proposes a four-step capacity-building process for CSOs: conducting political economy assessments, analyzing finance allocation and reporting, developing engagement strategies, and pursuing peer-to-peer learning and training.

The document examines the role of local financial institutions (LFIs) in East Africa in financing the productive use of renewable energy (PURE), particularly for SMEs and the agricultural sector. While there is strong interest in expanding PURE lending, LFIs face constraints such as limited staff capacity, credit risks, and insufficient funding. The paper suggests that 17 surveyed LFIs require $174 million to expand their lending and recommends a shift toward more direct lending from balance sheets, the use of green bonds, and collaboration with development partners for de-risking instruments.

Dr. Jonathan Pershing of the World Resources Institute argues that energy security and climate goals are often aligned but require an integrated policy framework to avoid conflicts. He proposes effectiveness and political feasibility criteria to evaluate policies, noting that while efficiency and renewables offer 'double wins,' other options like natural gas imports or corn-based biofuels can create security risks or environmental damage. The testimony provides specific policy recommendations for the US regarding cap-and-trade, production tax credits, transportation, and biofuels, while also highlighting the vulnerability of developing nations and the risk of climate-induced conflict and migration.

The document describes eutrophication as a growing environmental crisis, noting that over 500 coastal areas are impacted and dead zones increased from 10 cases in 1960 to 405 in 2008. It attributes this trend to human activities, specifically wastewater, agriculture, and nitrogen deposition from fossil fuel combustion. The brief predicts that eutrophication will continue to increase, particularly in the developing world, driven by a projected population of 9.2 billion by 2050, a 54 percent expected increase in global meat consumption between 2002 and 2030, and a 50 percent projected growth in energy consumption from 2005 to 2030.

The research identifies a systemic 'siloed approach' where Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are managed by separate institutions, typically environment ministries for NDCs and central cabinet-level offices for SDGs. To overcome this, the paper proposes five core elements for joined-up implementation: coordinating institutions, aligning targets, joint mainstreaming into policy planning, optimizing financial resources, and creating mutually reinforcing monitoring frameworks. The study argues that integrating these agendas reduces transaction costs, fosters 'win-win solutions', and helps ensure a just transition by applying the 'leaving no one behind' principle to climate action. It highlights that while some countries have begun linking these frameworks, a fully integrated approach requires significant shifts in institutional and financial structures to avoid the 'cherry-picking' of targets by line ministries.

The document reports on three regional workshops held in 2012 and 2013 in Jakarta, Nairobi, and Bogota, focusing on the difficulties developing countries face in tracking climate finance. Key obstacles include the lack of a consistent global definition of climate finance, poor inter-agency coordination, and limited data on private and NGO investments. The paper recommends that countries adopt national definitions suited to their circumstances, strengthen institutional arrangements such as focal units or coordinating committees, and that development partners increase transparency and utilize recipient country systems for reporting.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) employs a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting methodology covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The inventory uses an operational control consolidation approach and has established 2019 as its base year for 2030 reduction targets. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from diesel generators and office refrigerators. Scope 2 utilizes both location-based and market-based methods for purchased electricity, incorporating renewable energy certificates for US operations. Scope 3 is the most extensive, covering purchased goods and services (Category 1) via a spend-based USEEIO model, fuel- and energy-related activities (Category 3), waste (Category 5), business travel (Category 6), employee commuting (Category 7), and endowment investments (Category 15). The methodology emphasizes the use of regional emission factors and annual staff surveys to estimate impacts across WRI's global network.

The report examines the viability of green fertilizer in Kenya, noting that it is currently about 20% more expensive than conventional options, largely due to high capital costs. It warns that without policy and financial interventions, these costs could negatively impact farmer productivity and livelihoods.

The document argues that zero carbon buildings (ZCBs) are attainable globally through various policy pathways focused on operational carbon emissions. It emphasizes the leadership role of cities and suggests that ZCB goals are more achievable when definitions expand beyond individual building boundaries to include off-site clean energy or portfolio-wide considerations. The research utilizes policy reviews and stakeholder consultations from India, China, Mexico, and Kenya to demonstrate that feasible ZCB pathways exist across diverse national and subnational policy contexts.

The study examines the extent to which agrifood policies in Kenya, Uganda, and India incorporate electricity needs for mechanization, water access, and postharvest processing. It argues that integrating electricity infrastructure can increase crop cultivation and income while reducing food loss. To improve policy effectiveness, the paper recommends establishing time-bound mandates, interministerial coordination, financial incentives, and public-private partnerships to align agrifood systems with sustainability and climate resilience goals.

The research examines Makueni County's planning processes to demonstrate how integrating energy planning into development budgets can overcome fragmented approaches that currently hinder the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure for essential services. It identifies five primary barriers to this integration—including capacity gaps, data limitations, and poor coordination—and proposes a framework to align county and national government plans to achieve universal energy access.

In Kenya, 30–40 percent of food is lost or wasted between production and consumption, contributing to food insecurity for approximately 15 million people and causing annual economic losses of an estimated KES 72 billion ($578 million). These losses drive greenhouse gas emissions and waste critical resources like land, water, and energy. Despite commitments under the 2014 Malabo Declaration and SDG 12.3, progress is hindered by weak policy coordination, lack of financing, and a limited capacity to accurately measure and report food loss and waste. The report advocates for a "Target-Measure-Act" approach to reduce food loss and waste by half by 2030.

The briefing argues that scaling PAYG energy access in Kenya and Tanzania requires a shift from exclusive reliance on international capital to the mobilization of local financial institutions. It suggests that DFIs and donors can bridge this gap using credit guarantees, lines of credit, and 'fund of funds' to reduce perceived risks for local banks. The document highlights that approximately 35 million people in Kenya and 36 million in Tanzania lack electricity, and an estimated one billion dollars is needed to scale PAYG services for broader impact. Drawing on the IDCOL program in Bangladesh, the authors recommend that local commercial banks engage through short-term trade finance and that national governments provide clear grid extension plans to encourage private investment.

The document describes a partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Population Services Kenya (PS Kenya) to evaluate a pilot project where health-care providers selected renewable energy options to ensure power supply continuity. The study concludes that effective demand-based energy access requires a comprehensive exploration of user needs regarding technology, finance, and capacity building services.

The document defines Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) as the devolution of authority and resources to local actors—particularly marginalized groups—to give them agency over the design and delivery of climate adaptation. It highlights a significant funding gap, noting that less than 10% of global climate fund finance reached local levels between 2006-2016. To address this, the document promotes the 8 LLA Principles, launched at the 2021 Climate Adaptation Summit, and calls for 25% of climate finance to be dedicated to LLA, potentially increasing toward the LDC Group's target of 70% by 2030. It emphasizes the necessity of grant-based finance for public goods and low-income communities to build the resilience required to attract larger private investments.

The WRI Results Framework establishes a structured system to plan and evaluate programmatic progress across three primary human systems: food, land & water; energy; and cities. It sets specific global targets for 2030 and WRI intervention targets for 2027, focusing on outcomes such as reducing agricultural land demand by 100 Mha, increasing the share of zero-carbon electricity by 9% in target geographies, and improving urban climate resilience. The framework integrates Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and utilizes a tiered approach of global, intervention, and country-specific targets, supported by impact indicators for people, nature, and climate.

This World Resources Institute working paper reports on three workshops held in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to identify challenges developing countries face in monitoring and tracking climate finance. It details nine primary technical, political, and capacity barriers, ranging from inconsistent definitions and lack of institutional coordination to the limited transparency of development partners and the difficulty of tracking private financial data.

The document details water stress in cities including São Paulo, Mexico City, Karachi, Los Angeles, Nairobi, Brisbane, and Seville, highlighting the roles of poor planning, climate-driven drought, and infrastructure failure. It advocates for a transition to climate-resilient water budgets through demand reduction, diversified water sources, and improved governance to avoid 'Day Zero' scenarios.