Search Climate Insights Directory

In a 2017 address, SAIIA National Chairman Fred T Phaswana discusses the erosion of international cooperation and multilateralism due to rising populism, protectionism, and political instability in Western societies and South Africa.

This fact sheet by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a comprehensive overview of employment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors globally and within the United States as of 2016 and 2017. It utilizes data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to compare clean energy jobs against fossil fuel employment and detail specific subsector growth.

The World Resources Institute's 2015 Form 990 outlines its organizational structure, which includes four centers (Business, Economics, Finance, and Governance) and a focus on six critical issues: climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities and transport.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains the structure and potential of Green Covered Bonds, highlighting their ability to provide low-cost, long-term financing for climate-friendly infrastructure and buildings through a 'Dual Recourse' mechanism.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines the progress of public policy regarding green bonds in 2016 and projections for 2017. It highlights the emergence of sovereign green bonds, the role of green bonds in financing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and various innovative financial tools used by governments to attract private capital for climate infrastructure.

This fact sheet by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines public sector activities and policy developments in the green bond market during 2016, emphasizing the role of governments in leveraging private capital to meet climate-aligned infrastructure needs.

This briefing paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative explains the structure of covered bonds and argues for their application to low-carbon finance. It highlights how the dual recourse structure of covered bonds—providing claims over both a dedicated asset pool and the issuer—can lower funding costs for banks and increase institutional investment in green infrastructure and energy-efficient buildings.

This fact sheet by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a comprehensive overview of employment trends in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors within the United States and globally, primarily using data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as of 2016 and 2017.

The 'Green Bonds Highlights 2016' fact sheet by the Climate Bonds Initiative reports that 2016 was a record-breaking year for the green bond market, with annual issuance aligned with international definitions reaching USD 81 billion. The document highlights the market's diversification across countries, issuer types, and sectors, noting the significant rise of China as a leading issuer and the emergence of sovereign green bonds, starting with Poland.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute analyzes international practices for Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Congestion Charging (CC), focusing on case studies from London, Singapore, and Stockholm to provide recommendations for Chinese cities facing severe air pollution and traffic congestion.

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 report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) synthesises seven years of experience in promoting 'climate compatible development'—an approach that integrates climate mitigation and adaptation with poverty eradication and human development. The document provides a framework for mainstreaming climate concerns into national macroeconomic planning, sectoral policies, and local governance, while emphasizing the necessity of political leadership, cross-government coordination, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. It details the financial challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, the role of 'knowledge brokers' in translating science for policy-makers, and the importance of gender-sensitive implementation to ensure equitable outcomes.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) investigates the systemic use of official documents to mask the illegal origin of timber exported from the Peruvian Amazon in 2015. By analyzing 855 inspection reports and 2,364 Forest Transport Guides (GTF), the study reveals that exporters frequently exploit gaps in supervision and target markets with weak legality regulations to move high-risk timber.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the systemic use of official documentation to launder illegal timber from the Peruvian Amazon for international export. By reviewing 865 Visual Inspection Certificates and 2,364 Forest Transport Permits (GTFs) from 2015, CIEL identifies patterns where exporters exploit gaps in supervision and transparency tools to bypass legality controls, particularly when exporting to markets with weak due diligence requirements.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that meeting the Paris Agreement's temperature goals requires an explicit phase-down of fossil fuel production, not just consumption. It outlines six mechanisms within the UNFCCC framework—including NDCs, long-term strategies, and the global stocktake—that Parties can use to integrate supply-side restrictions and transition support into their climate commitments.

This synthesis brief details the Stockholm Environment Institute's (SEI) efforts to support the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Key areas of focus include the need to phase down fossil fuel production, the creation of a transparent reporting framework, and the importance of equitable mitigation shares, noting that wealthy nations like the US and EU are currently falling short. The brief highlights specific case studies in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, and introduces tools such as LEAP and the NDC Explorer to help countries plan and track their climate goals.

WWF South Africa reports that one-third of the country's food (10 million tonnes annually) is wasted, costing the economy R61.5 billion and wasting significant water and energy resources. Most waste occurs early in the supply chain, particularly in fruits and vegetables. The report highlights the environmental impact of landfill methane and the social contradiction of high waste alongside widespread hunger and childhood malnutrition. It calls for collaborative action, better data reporting via the FLW Standard, and improved consumer education on date labels to reduce waste.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement regarding the appointment of Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, as U.S. Secretary of State, emphasizing the need for him to commit to the Paris Agreement and U.S. leadership on climate action.

RMI's briefing outlines a market-driven pathway to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C by the end of the century. The analysis suggests that a nearly 100 percent renewable energy system is feasible by the mid-2050s if the adoption of clean energy follows the disruptive S-curve patterns seen in previous industrial revolutions, such as the rise of the automobile.

This report provides a 2016 progress update on the first ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates global trends in natural forest loss, private sector commitments to deforestation-free supply chains, restoration pledges under the Bonn Challenge and UNFCCC, and the evolution of international climate finance and forest governance.