Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the Global Center on Adaptation and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network documents 19 locally led adaptation (LLA) initiatives globally. It emphasizes the importance of devolving decision-making to the lowest appropriate level, addressing structural inequalities (particularly for women and Indigenous Peoples), and providing patient, predictable funding. The document highlights how communities use ecosystem restoration, circular economy practices, and intergenerational collaboration to build resilience, while calling for a shift in climate finance to better support holistic, community-defined priorities.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) has issued a call for concept notes for its 'From Knowledge to Action' program, which provides grants to African organizations to support locally-led, inclusive, and climate-resilient actions by mobilizing indigenous and local knowledge.

The 2023 CleanAir NDC Scorecard by the Global Climate and Health Alliance analyzes 170 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to assess how governments integrate air quality and health considerations into their climate plans. The report finds that while most NDCs mention air quality, there is a significant gap in quantifying health impacts and establishing forward-looking targets, with low- and middle-income countries generally showing higher levels of integration than high-income nations.

This document provides the technical annexes for the 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment, detailing the definitions, regional aggregations, and methodologies used to track forest loss, degradation, restoration, and biodiversity. It includes a specific data table comparing 2022 deforestation levels against a 2018-2020 baseline for 30 high-impact countries.

The Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report documents a global gathering of over 1,200 participants aimed at taking stock of evidence on building resilience across people, communities, urban systems, socio-ecological systems, and market systems. The report emphasizes the need for 'locally led adaptation,' the integration of mixed-methods evidence (combining quantitative data with lived experience), and the bridging of funding gaps for climate resilience, noting that less than $50 billion is spent annually against needs of $160 billion to $340 billion.

The 'GUIDANCE NOTES: IGF Mining Policy Framework 2023' is a comprehensive guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help governments implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework. The document provides detailed recommendations across six 'Pillars'—Laws, Policies, and Institutions; Financial Benefits; Socio-economic Benefits; Environmental Management; Post-Mining Transition; and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining—to ensure the mining sector contributes to sustainable development and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 'Cadre d´orientation des politiques minières de l'IGF' is a comprehensive guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2023. It provides a policy framework for the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) to support its 80 member countries in implementing sustainable mining laws and regulations. The guide is structured around six pillars: laws and institutions, financial benefits, socio-economic benefits, environmental management, mine closure transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

This December 2022 briefing by Global Energy Monitor examines the planned US$245 billion expansion of gas infrastructure in Africa. It highlights a significant imbalance where investments in LNG export terminals and pipelines for international markets—driven by Europe's short-term energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine—far outweigh investments in domestic power generation and renewable energy, creating a high risk of stranded assets.

This December 2022 report by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the expansion of gas infrastructure in Africa, highlighting a significant imbalance where investments are heavily skewed toward export terminals rather than domestic energy access. The report warns that the surge in interest driven by Europe's need to replace Russian gas creates a high risk of 'stranded assets' and diverts funding from renewable energy and local electrification.

This December 2022 briefing by Global Energy Monitor examines the expansion of gas infrastructure in Africa, highlighting a significant trend toward export-oriented projects driven by Europe's energy crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report warns that prioritizing LNG exports over domestic energy needs and renewable energy investments risks creating stranded assets and hindering universal electricity access on the continent.

This report by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the expansion of gas infrastructure in Africa, highlighting a significant trend toward export-oriented projects driven by Europe's short-term energy needs following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The document argues that the focus on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports and pipelines risks creating 'stranded assets' and diverts investment from domestic energy access and renewable energy.

This briefing from the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that the global decarbonisation agenda presents both socio-economic risks and industrial opportunities for Africa. It advocates for an 'African Green deal' to leverage the continent's mineral resources for economic diversification and industrialisation, rather than remaining a source of raw materials for the global energy transition.

Good Governance Africa's statement on COP27 highlights the establishment of a fund for vulnerable developing countries as a major achievement, while criticizing the Global North for failing to acknowledge its responsibility for climate change and the lack of a unified African strategy on energy transition and governance.

This policy brief by Zero Carbon Analytics explores the establishment of comprehensive loss and damage facilities at the national level for African countries to address climate-induced economic and non-economic losses. It distinguishes between avoidable, unavoided, and unavoidable risks, proposing a framework that combines risk finance (e.g., insurance, bonds) and curative finance (e.g., trust funds, impact investments) to build resilience and provide compensation.

This document describes the approach and methodology used for a special report titled "Impact of COVID-19 in Africa: A scenario analysis to 2030 (July 2020)". It outlines the use of the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform to model three scenarios against a pre-pandemic baseline, focusing on economic growth, poverty, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets through 2030.

This report outlines the objectives of a community of practice on African climate finance, convened by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), to identify adaptation finance priorities for the COP27 conference in Egypt.

This final evaluation report details the activities and impacts of the Economics for Nature (E4N) partnership from 2018 to 2022. E4N, a collaboration between the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), Capitals Coalition, Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), and WWF France, aimed to integrate natural capital into national green economy planning and economic decision-making to shift toward 'nature-positive economies'.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice analyzes the USD 8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in South Africa. It argues that the deal's reliance on blended finance and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) shifts commercial risks to the state and consumers while privatizing gains. The document warns that this 'de-risking' approach may worsen South Africa's fiscal position, increase energy poverty through higher tariffs, and undermine local renewable energy manufacturing. It proposes alternative pathways, including the regulation of private finance, debt cancellation for 'odious debt', climate reparations, and the implementation of allocative green credit policies.

The 2022 analysis by Sustainable Energy for All identifies significant global gaps in cooling access, with 1.2 billion people at high risk and 2.47 billion at medium risk. The report highlights that the population at high risk increased by 28 million since 2021, driven by urbanization and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in high-impact countries.

This report examines the role of international finance institutions (IFIs) in supporting the transition to low-carbon steel production, particularly in emerging and developing economies. It finds that IFIs have historically had limited exposure to the steel sector and are only in the early stages of developing green industrial strategies. However, the report argues that IFIs can accelerate the transition by de-risking first movers, supporting the development of green hydrogen and circular economy strategies, and creating demand for green steel through sustainable procurement in infrastructure projects.