Search Climate Insights Directory

The United States of America recommends that the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) invite the international NGO Future Earth to become an Associate under Article XI of its Agreement. The briefing highlights Future Earth's global research network, its existing Memorandum of Understanding with the IAI signed in 2017, and their joint work through the Belmont Forum and various policy processes to advance sustainability and transdisciplinary research in the Americas.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies compares peacebuilding and inclusivity efforts in Liberia and South Sudan to provide practical recommendations for the United Nations and other international actors on sustaining peace.

This research paper examines the establishment and potential implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed on 21 March 2018. It analyzes the projected economic gains, the challenges posed by varying levels of national development, and the political and technical hurdles that may impede the creation of a continent-wide free trade area.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the progress of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance eleven years after its inception. The author argues that while there are normative commitments to democratic consolidation, many African states remain trapped in an 'electoral fallacy' where regular elections occur but democratic governance is not entrenched across institutions. The document identifies internal and external pressures—including the rise of authoritarian models and the prioritization of counter-terrorism over democratic norms—that contribute to democratic deconsolidation.

This report analyzes the effectiveness of peer learning and peer pressure within three Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives (MSIs): the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). It evaluates how these initiatives use mutual dialogue, best practices, and sanctions to improve governance, transparency, and accountability among member states.

This research paper analyzes the USD 18-36 trillion climate investment gap in developing countries and identifies key barriers to scaling finance, such as access to capital and investor skill gaps. It evaluates the roles of various public finance actors—including MDBs, bilateral DFIs, and National Development Banks—highlighting that while NDBs provide the largest flows, they often lack risk mitigation tools. The authors recommend that public actors adopt more flexible capital strategies, harmonize standards, and shift from project-specific finance to broader financial system development to better leverage private investment.

This March 2018 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on its struggles to implement counter-terrorism frameworks, funding crises facing the AMISOM mission in Somalia, constitutional disputes in Burundi, and structural instability in the CEMAC region of Central Africa.

The 2018 Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) report provides a global inventory of policies and regulations supporting Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), focusing on electricity access, clean cooking, energy efficiency, and renewable energy across 133 economies from 2010 to 2017.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law criticizing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for decreasing transparency and hindering civil society participation, specifically regarding a proposed ethics policy and the conduct of the 17th Board Meeting (B.17).

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to engage youth in democratic governance. It argues that while normative frameworks like the African Youth Charter and the African Governance Architecture–Youth Engagement Strategy (AGA–YES) exist, there is a significant gap between these theoretical rights and the practical reality for young Africans, who often face unemployment and political marginalisation.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) outlines the evolution of China-Africa relations, tracing them from historical ties to contemporary economic, diplomatic, and security partnerships. It highlights the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the shift in China's approach from 'non-interference' to active engagement in peace and security, while noting the impact of China's 'new normal' economic slowdown on bilateral trade and investment.

The Global NDC Conference 2017 report outlines the necessity of integrated governance, diverse financing strategies, and robust transparency frameworks to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Key findings emphasize the need for high-level leadership to break down sectoral silos, the translation of NDCs into bankable project pipelines to attract private investment, and the use of the Enhanced Transparency Framework to build trust and track progress toward the Paris Agreement goals.

This research paper examines the rapid pace of urbanisation in Africa, forecasting population trends and identifying the structural challenges that hinder sustainable urban development. It focuses on the emergence of megacities and the disconnect between urban growth and economic structural transformation.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the Khartoum Process, a partnership between the European Union and East and North African states designed to tackle human smuggling and trafficking. The author argues that the process is overly securitised, lacks transparency, and risks empowering authoritarian regimes in the Horn of Africa while ignoring the root causes of migration and the human rights of migrants.

This World Resources Institute working paper analyzes the alignment between the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. By mapping climate actions across 92 INDCs, the authors demonstrate that climate policies often generate mutual benefits for sustainable development, though these synergies are frequently unrecognized or uncoordinated at the national level due to institutional silos.

This policy brief examines the misuse of electric shock equipment by law enforcement agencies in Africa, arguing that such tools often facilitate torture and ill-treatment in violation of international and regional human rights frameworks. It specifically analyzes the legal landscape of anti-torture commitments in Africa and provides a detailed case study on the South African Police Service (SAPS), recommending the prohibition of handheld and body-worn electric shock devices.

This research paper examines the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and its potential to transform Ethiopia into a regional energy hub. It analyzes the project's technical specifications, its alignment with Ethiopia's national growth strategies, and the challenges and opportunities for energy cooperation within the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).

This statement by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Mostafa Tolba, who led the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for nearly 20 years and played a pivotal role in establishing the foundations of international environmental law.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) analyzes the use of fiscal instruments within Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC by November 20, 2015. The review identifies trends in how countries employ fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR), clean energy subsidies, and carbon pricing to support low-carbon development and GHG mitigation.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the activities and challenges of the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) leading into 2016. It focuses on the AU's shifting emphasis toward human rights, the upcoming 2016 elections for the PSC and AU Commission, and the council's mixed success in managing conflicts in Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, and Burkina Faso. The document also explores the persistent linguistic divide between anglophone and francophone member states and the evolving partnership between the AU and the United Nations.