Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy note by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the landscape of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Africa and provides five strategic recommendations for the 2025 South African G20 Presidency to advance agricultural resilience, financing, and digital transformation across the continent.

This report by the African Future Policies Hub analyzes the economic and administrative burdens placed on African nations by evolving European Union (EU) climate regulations, specifically the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for shipping, and Methane Regulations. The authors argue that these measures often lack adequate mitigation for developing countries, risking significant GDP losses, increased trade costs, and the exclusion of smallholder farmers from EU markets.

This report by FSD Africa, BII, and Copernican Securities examines the potential for securitisation to deepen capital markets in sub-Saharan Africa. It identifies a significant private credit gap and argues that while South Africa has a mature market, other African nations face substantial regulatory, legal, and capacity barriers. The report recommends a holistic approach to regulatory reform, increased technical assistance from MDBs and DFIs, and the adoption of standardised data reporting to attract institutional investors.

A statement by the World Resources Institute (WRI) urging the European Commission to reject a proposed second delay of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enforcement to December 2026, arguing that such a postponement undermines global climate commitments and businesses that have already invested in compliance.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of democratic governance in Southern Africa, focusing on the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in countering democratic backsliding. Drawing on youth consultations and a comparative analysis of West African civil society networks, the report argues that cross-border solidarity and regional networks are essential for strengthening accountability and protecting human rights in the SADC region.

A report by Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA) detailing how deforestation in the Congo Basin disrupts a climate teleconnection that provides critical rainfall to West Africa, specifically threatening the global cocoa supply chain and increasing costs for European importers.

This report by Ember analyses Chinese customs data to demonstrate a significant increase in solar panel imports into Africa in the 12 months leading up to June 2025. The analysis suggests a structural trend toward increased solar adoption across the continent, potentially driven by distributed solar, which could significantly expand electricity supply and reduce reliance on imported diesel.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in accelerating the transfer and adoption of green technologies (greentech) across Africa. It argues that while patents are often prohibitively expensive for local innovators, non-patent IPR—such as utility models, trademarks, and geographical indications—can drive incremental innovation and job creation. The document analyzes the IPR landscapes of Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, highlighting the gap between high-level regional strategies (like AfCFTA and the AU Green Recovery Action Plan) and the practical, detailed IPR mechanisms needed to scale green businesses.

This report by the African Future Policies Hub analyzes whether carbon credits generated under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement should be eligible for deduction from liabilities under the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It argues that allowing such credits would mitigate the negative economic impact of the CBAM on African exporters, retain climate finance within African borders, and provide policy flexibility to host governments, while proposing specific design measures to prevent carbon leakage and ensure credit integrity.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice examines the systemic failures of the international taxation system, which allow multinational corporations (MNCs) and the super-rich to avoid taxes. It critiques the G20/OECD Two-Pillar Framework for favoring developed nations and discusses the push for a more democratic UN Tax Convention, while evaluating the role of South Africa's G20 presidency in advancing tax justice.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice examines the structural causes of the African debt crisis, the impact of high interest rates on public services, and the limitations of G20 initiatives. It argues that the crisis is rooted in a 'rigged global system' and calls for systemic reform and debt cancellation through movements like Jubilee 2025.

This technical explainer by RMI analyzes the voluntary carbon market (VCM) for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) recovery and destruction credits. It details how these projects provide high-additionality climate benefits by permanently destroying potent greenhouse gases like CFCs, while identifying significant logistical, legal, and technical barriers to scaling, particularly in developing nations.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues for the 'ring-fencing' of development expenditures in Africa to protect long-term investments from short-term fiscal and political pressures. It identifies a 'perfect storm' of challenges—including trade fragmentation, the 'securitisation' of economic policy, high debt burdens, and technological disruption—that threaten development financing. The document proposes five specific policy mechanisms to institutionalise this protection and suggests that development finance should be framed as complementary to security priorities to leverage international funding.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the role of private sector investment in unlocking Africa's renewable energy (RE) potential. Using Nigeria as a case study, it identifies financial, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers that hinder the scaling of clean energy and provides strategic recommendations to create a more predictable and attractive investment environment.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) in Africa, focusing on the food sector. It argues that while African governments have set ambitious adaptation targets, governance barriers, financial constraints, and a lack of meaningful integration of local and Indigenous knowledge hinder effectiveness. The document advocates for decentralised finance, inclusive governance, and robust monitoring systems to ensure climate resilience is sustainable and context-specific.

This guide provides a strategic playbook for concessional capital providers to mobilize investment in climate-smart agrifood systems. It identifies a significant financing gap—with global climate finance for the sector reaching only USD 95 billion in 2021/22—and proposes five 'investment plays' to address market failures. These strategies include system-level alignment with national goals, large-scale natural capital restoration, strengthening shared infrastructure, expanding technical assistance for innovation, and scaling local financial intermediaries. The document includes a four-step framework for investor action and detailed case studies of blended finance vehicles operating across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

This case study examines UNI2 Microcrédito, a Colombian microfinance institution, to evaluate the applicability of the Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool to financial intermediaries rather than direct agribusinesses. The study analyzes how UNI2 supports business compliance with the Committee on World Food Security's Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) among its rural and urban clients within agricultural value chains.

The May 2025 Peace & Security Council Report examines escalating tensions between Algeria and Mali, the institutional challenges of AU-ECOWAS collaboration, the rise of 'lawfare' to undermine democracy in Africa, and the role of illicit economies in fueling Sahelian extremism.

This policy brief examines the role of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) in Africa, highlighting how centering decision-making at the community level can address the severe economic and social costs of climate change. While many African nations have integrated adaptation goals into national policies, the document identifies significant governance and financial barriers that hinder the effective implementation of LLA, particularly within food systems.

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for the use of model investment contracts in the agricultural sector to promote responsible investment and sustainable development, particularly in developing countries where domestic laws may be insufficient.