Search Climate Insights Directory

This background note from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Africa's energy export and import trends under a 'Current Path' forecast up to 2043, highlighting the contrast between a few major energy exporters and a majority of countries dependent on imports.

An open letter from a coalition of movements, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society organizations urging the European Union to implement strict human rights, environmental, and governance safeguards within the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to prevent the exploitation of resource-rich countries in the Global South during the energy transition.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the systemic challenges facing food production in Africa and proposes specific interventions for the G20 to help the continent avoid missing the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and AU Agenda 2063 targets.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs advocates for the upscaling of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the vulnerability of coastal and island states to climate risks and argues that integrating EbA into national policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can simultaneously address climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic development.

This report examines the use of risk mitigation and transfer (RMT) instruments to enable utility-scale renewable energy investments in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Through case studies in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia, the authors analyze how financial instruments from development finance institutions (DFIs) help projects reach financial close by addressing offtaker, political, and currency risks. While RMTs have successfully protected existing projects during recent economic shocks, the report finds they are currently insufficient to enable new projects in countries facing severe debt distress, such as Zambia.

The World Resources Institute outlines four key demands from the ACT2025 consortium for COP28: advancing ambition to limit warming to 1.5°C through a 43% emissions cut by 2030; scaling up people-centered adaptation; operationalizing loss and damage institutions; and mobilizing trillions in climate finance to replace the insufficient billion-dollar commitments.

This research paper examines ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) interventions in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) coastal region, focusing on how these projects can provide livelihood opportunities and be scaled. The authors identify an incremental, community-led model—starting with periodic fishery closures to meet immediate food needs before expanding to broader conservation—as a highly effective approach for achieving sustainable outcomes.

This case study describes the development of the Malawi Integrated Energy Planning (IEP) Tool by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The tool provides a data visualization platform and geospatial analytics to help the Malawian government and private sector identify the least-cost solutions for achieving universal energy access by 2030, specifically targeting electricity and clean cooking.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for the African private sector. It explores how Africa's abundance of critical minerals and renewable energy potential—particularly for green hydrogen—positions the continent as a strategic partner for the EU's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The document identifies financial, technological, and capacity-building opportunities for African companies, while warning against the risk of Africa remaining a mere resource supplier in an unequal partnership.

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.

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 by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) role in supporting security sector reform (SSR) across its member states. It identifies critical gaps in coordination between the AU and other international partners, as well as internal resource constraints, and proposes strategies to enhance political buy-in, civil society engagement, and institutional alignment to ensure SSR processes are sustainable and reflect national priorities.

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 report by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) provides an overview of the food systems context in southern Africa, focusing on the pivotal events of 2021. It details the drivers necessitating food systems transformation—such as climate change, urbanisation, and malnutrition—and summarizes the outcomes of major international summits (UNFSS, AGRF, COP26) and regional initiatives led by the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) to build climate-resilient and sustainable food systems.

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.

The July 2022 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the complexities of Africa's regional economic communities (RECs), the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), the identity crisis of the African Standby Force (ASF), and the systemic challenges in eradicating extreme poverty across the continent.

The Mauritius-China Free Trade Agreement (MCFTA) is analyzed as a strategically motivated pact that likely benefits China more than Mauritius. Due to a massive trade imbalance and limited industrial capacity, Mauritius is unlikely to significantly increase exports to China, while Chinese imports and real estate investments are expected to grow. The paper suggests the MCFTA may be a geopolitical tool for China to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean and a prototype for future agreements with other African nations, though it currently poses little risk of diverting Mauritian trade away from the African continent.

The IDFC Green Finance Mapping Report 2021 analyzes the green finance commitments of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC) members for the year 2020. It highlights a milestone where cumulative green finance since 2015 surpassed $1 trillion, while noting a 6% decline in new 2020 commitments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report introduces a new dedicated tracking mechanism for biodiversity finance alongside traditional climate mitigation and adaptation flows.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) identifies perceived knowledge gaps and barriers hindering the adoption of 'gridless' (decentralized) water, sanitation, and energy services. Based on workshops with 48 global stakeholders, the report argues that project failures often stem from socio-technical and systemic issues—such as regulatory mismatches, lack of user-centric design, and unsustainable business models—rather than technical performance.

This October 2021 briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance argues that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement is a critical priority for global health. It calls on governments to integrate health into climate policy through transitions in energy, transport, food systems, and healthcare infrastructure to mitigate rising health threats and inequalities.