Search Climate Insights Directory

The 'Assessing Subnational Enabling Framework Conditions for Urban Climate Finance' guide, developed by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), provides a tool for subnational governments to evaluate and improve the regulatory, institutional, and financial environments necessary to scale urban climate finance.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes trade frictions arising from national and subnational plastic pollution measures implemented by WTO members. By examining Specific Trade Concerns (STCs) and Trade Policy Review (TPR) questions, the authors identify six primary types of regulatory issues—timing, transparency, stakeholder engagement, proportionality, justification, and discrimination—and provide recommendations to help policy-makers design measures that minimize trade disruptions.

This policy brief examines China's role in transferring green technology to the Global South, highlighting its leadership in renewable energy and the mechanisms used to support sustainable development. While China has established numerous bilateral agreements and funds, the document identifies significant challenges including a gap between environmental commitments and actual impacts, limited local operational capacity, and geopolitical tensions.

A statement delivered by Hon. Kerrie D. Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Barbados, on 26 June 2024, calling for the immediate entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the conclusion of negotiations on overcapacity and overfishing.

This case study examines a results-based loan incentive used to accelerate the retirement of units 14 and 15 of the Tocopilla coal plant in Chile. In 2021, IDB Invest and Engie Energia Chile (EECL) closed a deal to finance the 151 MW Calama wind farm, utilizing a blended finance package that reduced the interest costs for EECL based on the volume of carbon emissions abated through the early decommissioning of the coal units.

In 2022, Starwood Energy Group accelerated the retirement of the Logan and Chambers coal plants in New Jersey by 30 months. This was achieved through a three-part strategy: renegotiating PPAs with Atlantic City Electric to save ratepayers $30 million, refinancing $200 million in debt via MetLife to fund the transition, and planning the redevelopment of the sites into grid-scale battery storage (876 MWh and 960 MWh). The move is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 3.9 million tons.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) 2020-2023 Synthesis Report details the organization's progress in advancing climate resilience through three primary pillars: innovation, knowledge, and policy. During this period (Phase II), GRP expanded its network to over 80 organizations and shifted toward a more diverse Secretariat spanning 14 countries. Key achievements include the incubation of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), the growth of the Resilience Evidence Coalition, and the establishment of the Resilience Hub at COP26, COP27, and COP28 to amplify Global South voices in climate policy.

The REGULATING AND ENABLING INNOVATION R3LAB TOOLKIT is a practical guide published by FSD Africa in June 2024 to help insurance regulators in Africa balance the promotion of innovation with consumer protection. It provides a structured framework for conducting innovation gap and ecosystem assessments, introduces a diverse set of regulatory, supervisory, engagement, and monitoring tools, and offers guidance on converting these into actionable workplans with measurable KPIs.

This fact sheet by Zero Carbon Analytics explains the mechanics, predictions, and regional impacts of La Niña, the cool phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. It details the likelihood of a transition to La Niña in 2024, the increasing frequency of multi-year events, and how human-caused climate change influences these phenomena without offsetting overall global warming.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the current technological landscape of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and the potential for emerging technologies to drive sustainable development. It analyzes the ASM life cycle—from exploration to mine closure—and identifies gaps in technology adoption, particularly regarding worker safety, environmental protection, and financial inclusion. The document highlights the dual nature of technological advancement: while it can increase productivity and recovery rates, it also risks displacing labor, especially women, and potentially increasing environmental degradation through overmining.

The April 2024 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners reveals that while global coal capacity reached a record 2,130 GW in 2023, there is a stark divide: China continues to expand its fleet, while most other countries are reducing new construction. The report highlights that only 15% of operational capacity has retirement plans aligned with the 1.5°C goal. Regional analysis shows significant progress in the EU and UK, stability in Sub-Saharan Africa (dominated by South Africa), and a lack of new projects in the MENA region.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal power trends in 2023, highlighting a contradiction where global operating capacity reached a historic high despite a general decline in new construction outside China. It focuses heavily on Indonesia, where the growth of 'captive' coal plants for industrial smelters and a lack of clear phase-out targets threaten climate goals.

This document is a Japanese translation of an excerpt from the 'Boom & Bust Coal 2024' report by Global Energy Monitor and its partners. It tracks global coal-fired power plant plans as of April 2024, highlighting a contradiction where global coal capacity reached record highs in 2023 despite a general trend of shrinking development pipelines in most countries except China.

This document is a Korean translation of selected sections from the 'Boom & Bust Coal 2024' report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) and its partners. It analyzes global trends in coal power plant capacity as of April 2024, highlighting a contradiction where global capacity reached record highs in 2023 despite a general decline in new project starts outside of China. The text provides specific regional updates, with a detailed focus on South Korea's coal phase-out challenges, financial risks associated with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and the socio-economic implications of a just transition.

This document is a Portuguese translation of excerpts from the 'Boom & Bust Coal 2024' report by Global Energy Monitor and its partners. It tracks global coal power plant capacity, noting that while many countries are reducing development, global operational capacity reached a historic peak in 2023, driven largely by China. The text provides detailed updates on coal trends in China, India, the G7, G20, and specifically focuses on the status of coal plants and phase-out commitments across Latin America.

This report, published in April 2024 by Global Energy Monitor and several partner organizations, tracks the global development of coal-fired power plants. It highlights a divergence in trends: while new construction is reaching record lows outside of China, China is seeing an eight-year high in new construction. The report specifically examines the risks of expanding coal capacity in Central Asia, where proposed projects contradict climate goals and add to an aging, worn-out energy infrastructure.

The report 'Auge y caída del carbón 2024' analyzes global coal-fired power generation trends in 2023, highlighting a contradiction where global operational capacity reached an all-time high despite a decline in new construction outside of China.

This report, published by Global Energy Monitor and a coalition of partners, tracks global coal-fired power plant capacity as of April 2024. It highlights a paradoxical trend where global coal capacity reached record highs in 2023, driven primarily by China, despite a general decline in new coal construction in the rest of the world and increasing phase-out commitments.

This briefing paper critiques the G20's "Better, Bolder and Bigger" framework for Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) reform, arguing that its private-sector-first approach prioritizes profit over people and planet. The authors highlight risks including the erosion of accountability, continued fossil fuel financing, and a lack of gender-sensitive strategies, urging a shift toward grants-based financing and systemic democratization.

This report, published by Trend Asia and several international partners, analyzes global coal power trends in 2023. It highlights a contradiction where global coal capacity reached a historic high in 2023 despite a general decline in new construction outside of China. The document provides detailed analysis of China's continued expansion and Indonesia's struggle with 'captive' coal plants supporting the nickel industry, which complicates its energy transition goals.