Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by RMI analyzes the state of the global energy transition entering 2025, highlighting record growth in cleantech and falling costs despite ongoing challenges in methane reduction and energy efficiency.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the critical role of recycled copper, particularly from end-of-life products, in meeting the surging demand driven by the clean energy transition. It highlights that while copper is indispensable for renewable energy and electric vehicles, mining faces significant constraints, making the scaling of circular supply chains essential for sustainability and supply security.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes post-issuance reporting practices for Green, Social, and Sustainability (GSS) bonds, based on a sample of 75 entities that issued USD 1.4 trillion between 2020 and 2023. While reporting is widespread and generally high quality, the study identifies significant gaps in project-level granularity, impact methodology disclosure, and the quantitative linking of bond-level impacts to entity-level sustainability strategies.

This policy brief by the African Food Systems Transformation Collective argues for a 'deep, just transition' approach to African food systems that prioritizes human rights, structural equity, and agroecology over industrialization. Using South Africa as a cautionary example of the failures of industrial agri-food systems, the document provides recommendations for philanthropic organizations to fund multi-sectoral coalitions, grassroots agency, and long-term, context-based research and advocacy.

The 2025 Energy Services Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes investment opportunities in embedded solar PV and behind-the-meter (BTM) lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) for South Africa's commercial, industrial, and agricultural (CI&A) sectors. The report highlights a shift in market drivers from mitigating loadshedding toward long-term cost savings, energy security, and decarbonization to meet international trade requirements.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies and the Global Public Policy Institute argues that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing a profound legitimacy crisis following the January 2025 withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The authors contend that to survive and restore stability, ECOWAS must move beyond its original economic mandate and the current intergovernmental status quo toward deeper political integration and supranationalism.

Friends of the Earth U.S. analyzes the Biden-Harris administration's 6-point policy framework aimed at reducing U.S. imports of products linked to deforestation. While commending the framework's direction, the organization advocates for a holistic approach to illegal deforestation, the establishment of a public due diligence system independent of third-party certifications, and the passage of the federal FOREST Act.

This white paper by the Green Economy Coalition argues that transitioning to a circular economy (CE)—characterized by recycling, reusing, and refurbishing—is essential for achieving a green, just, and inclusive transition and meeting global climate and social targets.

Friends of the Earth urges Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Tropical Rainforest Economic & Environmental Sustainability (TREES) Act, which would make New York the first U.S. state to require proof that state-purchased products are not driving deforestation.

This toolkit by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines policy options to address carbon leakage—the displacement of production and emissions to countries with lower climate ambition. It analyzes the trade-offs of international frameworks, Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), carbon cost containment, subsidies, and product standards, noting that while carbon pricing coverage grew to 24% of emissions in 2024, price divergence continues to drive leakage risks.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines carbon leakage—the displacement of production and emissions to countries with lower climate ambition—and evaluates a toolkit of policy responses including Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), cost-containment measures, subsidies, and product standards.

Zero Carbon Analytics reports on the economic benefits of rooftop solar for households, specifically simulating potential savings for Japanese homes in FY 2020. The report argues that while Japan has the lowest clean energy share among G7 nations, it has significant untapped potential for residential solar to reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlining the necessary components for an effective global plastics treaty during the INC-5 negotiations in Busan, Republic of Korea, emphasizing the need for production caps and bans on hazardous chemicals.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025 evaluates 63 countries and the European Union, representing 90% of global emissions, across emissions, renewables, and climate policy. While renewable energy shares have increased in 61 of the 64 assessed entities over the last five years, the report finds that many high-emitting nations continue to rely on fossil fuels, leaving the top three overall ranks vacant.

This statement from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the G20's green energy transition is at risk of failure unless the rights of Indigenous peoples are legally protected. It warns that ignoring these rights leads to 'green colonialism' and creates significant legal, financial, and reputational risks for governments and industries.

A statement from the Stockholm Environment Institute arguing that the G20's green transition requires the protection of Indigenous rights and the implementation of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to avoid legal, financial, and reputational risks.

A briefing by the NewClimate Institute reporting that global warming projections for 2100 have remained stagnant since 2021, with current policies leading to a median projected warming of 2.7°C.

This report by Ember analyzes the gap between national renewable energy targets and the global goal to triple renewable capacity by 2030, as agreed upon at COP28. It finds that while market forecasts for solar and battery storage are surging, government targets have remained largely stagnant, collectively aiming only for a doubling of capacity rather than a tripling.

This research paper examines the governance challenges of solar radiation modification (SRM), arguing that the current fragmented landscape risks unilateral deployment and the marginalization of the Global South. The authors advocate for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to formally integrate SRM into its agenda, specifically suggesting COP29 in Baku as a starting point to ensure that ethical, social, and justice-based considerations guide the technology's development.

This report by the World Resources Institute evaluates the progress of major global climate commitments across energy, forestry, finance, food systems, urban action, transport, and super pollutants. It concludes that while ambitious pledges have been made, most are currently off-track, with significant gaps between stated goals and measurable implementation.