Search Climate Insights Directory

The NewClimate Institute reports that global expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fossil gas is undermining the Paris Agreement and the 1.5°C warming limit. Despite some policy progress in the US, China, and the EU, current 2030 targets put the world on a path toward 2.4°C of warming, while the pipeline of new LNG capacity threatens to significantly increase emissions by 2030.

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 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 briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that multilateral adaptation finance largely treats climate risk as a local phenomenon, failing to address transboundary and 'teleconnected' risks that cross borders through trade, financial flows, and shared ecosystems. The authors propose a shift toward 'systemic resilience'—interventions focusing on whole systems rather than individual countries—to deliver shared benefits for both recipient and contributor nations.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) introduces a discussion on climate change loss and damage—defined as impacts that cannot be adapted to—ahead of the COP27 negotiations in Egypt. The document outlines the focus of a panel discussion involving experts from Climate Analytics, the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and E3G, covering funding, measurement, and the implications for U.S. policymakers.

The NewClimate Institute's 2022 update analyzes emissions projections for major economies, finding that current policies are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals and that per capita emissions trends vary significantly by country.

This policy brief examines how the war in Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains and increased fertilizer prices across Africa, threatening food security and crop yields. It argues that while short-term input subsidies are necessary, African nations must pursue long-term industrialization to build local fertilizer manufacturing capacity using the continent's own natural gas, coal, and phosphate rock reserves.

The Catalysing Climate Resilience (CCR) programme, funded by the FCDO and managed by BFA Global, aims to build climate resilience for vulnerable households and businesses in Africa through a three-part strategy of seeding new solutions, accelerating promising models, and developing the broader innovation ecosystem.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the priorities and challenges for African nations leading up to COP27 in Egypt. It highlights the continent's push for climate justice, increased financial support for adaptation and loss and damage, and a 'just transition' that allows for the temporary use of natural gas to ensure energy security.

The Green Guarantee Company (GGC) is a specialist guarantor designed to help public and private sector borrowers in emerging and frontier markets access long-term hard currency debt from global institutional investors for climate adaptation and mitigation projects. Managed by the Development Guarantee Group (DGG), the GGC provides full guarantees for bonds and loans of 5-20 years, aligned with the Climate Bond Standard (CBS), to mitigate sovereign and currency risks. The instrument includes a Technical Assistance (TA) facility to build issuer capabilities and market readiness. The GGC aims to catalyze approximately USD 10 billion in commercial term debt over its first decade, targeting sectors such as energy, transport, water, buildings, and waste, with an initial pilot phase in South Africa.

The 'Landscape of Climate Finance in Africa' report by the Climate Policy Initiative provides a baseline assessment of climate finance flows into and within African countries for 2019 and 2020. It highlights a massive gap between the annual USD 277 billion required to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the actual annual flows of USD 29.5 billion. The report analyzes the sources, instruments, and sectoral allocations of this finance, noting a heavy reliance on international public funding and a significant under-investment in adaptation and the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sectors compared to their needs.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), commissioned by FSD Africa, provides a comprehensive baseline of climate finance flows in Africa for 2019 and 2020. It highlights a massive financing gap, noting that annual flows of USD 29.5 billion meet only about 11% of the USD 277 billion needed annually to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030. The analysis details the sources, instruments, and sectoral allocations of these funds, emphasizing the dominance of international public finance and the need for increased private sector engagement and better data tracking.

This briefing by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the global expansion of crude oil pipeline infrastructure, detailing over 24,000 km of pipelines in development. The report highlights the financial costs, environmental impacts, and the risk of stranded assets as countries transition to renewable energy, noting that this buildout contradicts global climate goals to limit warming to 1.5°C or 2.0°C.

This policy brief examines the role of nuclear science and technology in Africa's development and argues for the increased participation of women and youth in the sector. It aligns this goal with African Union (AU) frameworks for gender equality and youth empowerment, identifies existing networks like WiN Africa and AYGN, and outlines the challenges and requirements for expanding inclusion in nuclear energy, medicine, and agriculture.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that African nations must develop a unified strategy and structured communication channels through the African Union (AU) to engage with Russia. It highlights Russia's increasing military and political push into Africa, the continent's economic vulnerability to grain and oil price shocks, and the need for collective agency to avoid becoming pawns in global geopolitical disputes ahead of the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit.

This discussion paper by the African Climate Foundation examines the tension between utilizing Africa's significant natural gas resources for economic development and the risks posed by the global transition to low-carbon energy. It argues that while gas provides short-term revenue and energy security, long-term investments in gas infrastructure are increasingly risky due to falling renewable energy costs and international climate targets. The paper advocates for a shift toward renewable energy (RE) to support industrialization and electrification, provided that climate finance is scaled up.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolving relationship between the Republic of Korea and Africa, focusing on opportunities for collaboration in climate change and energy transition. It analyzes Korea's carbon-neutrality goals and the African Union's Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022–2032) to identify synergies in renewable energy, green minerals, smart cities, and sustainable agriculture.

This research paper analyzes the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and identifies strategic opportunities for Korean investors and the Korean government to reverse a decline in trade with Africa. It highlights the potential for Korea to leverage its expertise in capital goods, automotive manufacturing, and clean energy to integrate into emerging African regional value chains.

This report outlines Tunisia's development from its 1956 independence to 2022. It highlights early social gains in gender equality and education under Habib Bourguiba, followed by a period of non-inclusive growth and cronyism under Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The 2010 Freedom and Dignity Revolution, sparked by economic desperation, ousted Ben Ali but left the country facing weakened macroeconomic indicators, political fragmentation, and unfulfilled promises of structural reform.

The report describes the outcomes of Ashden's Fair Cooling Fund, a grant-making initiative supported by the Clean Cooling Collaborative. The fund provided USD 600,000 to seven organizations to develop sustainable cooling solutions for marginalized communities, focusing on cold chain access and cooling for homes and streets.