Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing from RMI and the New Energy Industrial Strategy (NEIS) Center analyzes the global energy crisis triggered by the US-Iran war. It argues that while governments are currently relying on short-term fixes like strategic reserves and subsidies, the crisis provides an opportunity to accelerate the transition to clean energy, electrification, and efficiency to reduce long-term vulnerability to volatile global fuel markets.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute examines the capacity of various forest types to withstand and recover from wildfires, noting that while some ecosystems are fire-adapted, increasing fire frequency and intensity driven by climate change are undermining this resilience. The document details the drivers of vulnerability, the environmental and economic impacts of recent record-breaking fires, and strategies for strengthening forest resilience through protection, restoration, and the support of Indigenous land rights.

The research paper 'The New Twin Fossil Shock' analyzes how two major energy crises in the 2020s—the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the 2026 shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz—are accelerating the global transition to an 'electric age.' The authors argue that unlike the oil shocks of the 1970s, current alternatives such as solar, wind, and electric vehicles (EVs) are cost-competitive, scalable, and provide a permanent route out of fossil fuel dependency.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the impact of various global carbon tax scenarios on Africa's energy transition and economic future, specifically highlighting the 'Sustainable Africa' scenario.

The Climate Bonds Initiative report argues that the European Union must rapidly transition to clean energy to eliminate its vulnerability to global energy shocks, as nearly 60% of its primary energy is imported. It proposes a five-step plan—electrification, grid interconnection, storage deployment, industrial decarbonization, and the use of methane standards—to reduce dependence on high-risk suppliers like Russia and the US. The report highlights a significant investment gap, noting that current clean energy spending (2.1% of GDP) is below the global average (2.9%) and far below the 1,500 billion euros annually needed by 2050.

The Climate Bonds Initiative report argues that the European Union must accelerate its energy transition to eliminate a critical vulnerability: its 60% reliance on fossil fuel imports. It proposes a five-step strategy focusing on electrification, grid connectivity, flexibility, industrial decarbonization, and the use of the EU Methane Regulation to phase out imports from high-risk suppliers like Russia and the US. The report highlights that while 89% of end-energy demand can be electrified, current investment levels (2.1% of GDP) fall short of the 1.5 trillion euros per year required by 2050.

This policy brief by the Climate Bonds Initiative argues that accelerating the transition to clean energy is the primary solution for the European Union to protect itself from global energy shocks and achieve energy sovereignty. It highlights the vulnerability caused by a heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports and proposes a five-step strategy focusing on electrification, grid interconnection, flexible systems, industrial decarbonization, and the use of methane regulations to phase out high-risk suppliers.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative argues that the European Union must accelerate its transition to clean energy to achieve energy sovereignty and protect itself from global geopolitical shocks. It highlights the risks of relying on fossil fuel imports and proposes a five-step strategy—electrification, interconnection, flexibility, decarbonization, and the use of methane emission regulations—to reduce dependence on high-risk suppliers and enhance industrial competitiveness.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers outlines principles for reforming the UN Security Council (UNSC) to better reflect current global power dynamics and increase legitimacy. The author argues for an expanded Council that balances representation with functionality and realism, proposing the removal of the veto and the introduction of minimum capacity criteria for membership.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers analyzes the failure of UN Security Council (UNSC) reform, attributing the deadlock to the entrenched positions of negotiating blocks and the P5 members' desire to maintain the veto power and their associated privileges.

This report analyzes global carbon emissions from fossil fuels and land use, providing forecasts through 2063. It highlights the dominance of coal, the climate impact of LNG, and the roles of major emitters like China, the US, and India, while detailing the specific environmental pressures facing Africa, including deforestation and water scarcity.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) submits a response to the European Union's Arctic policy consultation, urging the EU to maintain its moratorium on Arctic fossil fuel extraction and establish a phase-out timeline for imports from the region.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) urges the European Union to maintain its moratorium on Arctic fossil fuel extraction and phase out imports from north of the Arctic Circle. The submission argues that Arctic oil and gas are too expensive (USD 75/barrel) and slow to develop (13+ years) to provide energy security, while posing severe ecological risks and increasing geopolitical vulnerability, particularly in the Barents Sea shared with Russia. IISD notes that this position aligns the EU with Canada and Greenland, who have implemented similar bans or moratoriums.

This research paper examines Russia's diplomatic, economic, and security relations with Southern African nations, particularly since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It argues that while Russia leverages historical liberation-era ties and anti-Western rhetoric to maintain influence, its impact is severely limited by economic weakness, international sanctions, and a reliance on symbolic gestures over tangible developmental gains.

This fact sheet by RMI explains the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, the United States' role as a leading exporter, and the environmental and economic impacts associated with the liquefaction and transport of gas over long distances.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues against the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UN FCITC). It highlights the structural failures of ISDS—including high costs, inconsistent rulings, and 'regulatory chill'—and warns that adopting such a mechanism would undermine fiscal sovereignty. The brief also draws lessons from the prolonged and complex reform efforts of UNCITRAL Working Group III to caution negotiators against the institutional lock-in and resource drains associated with international arbitration.

This research paper examines the strategic role of BRICS+ members, particularly African nations, in the global critical minerals market and their evolving relationships with the European Union. It analyzes how the expansion of BRICS+ enhances the bloc's control over essential resources for the green and digital transitions while highlighting internal geopolitical frictions that prevent a unified minerals strategy.

This research paper examines how outdated bilateral investment treaties (BITs), specifically the 1989 Belgium-Luxembourg (BLEU)–USSR treaty, are being used by Russian actors to challenge the European Union's financial support for Ukraine. It highlights the risk of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims against Belgium, which hosts Euroclear where immobilized Russian Central Bank assets are held, and argues that such treaties create a 'regulatory chill' that undermines collective security responses to aggression.

This research paper examines the intersection of international trade regulations and Africa's ambitions for green technology and industrialisation. It specifically analyzes the potential impacts of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and US tariffs, arguing that while these measures could theoretically drive demand for renewables, they are more likely to create fiscal constraints and hinder the continent's ability to invest in green R&D. The author advocates for a coordinated African response through the UNFCCC, the WTO, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to secure technology transfer and affordable finance.

This research paper analyzes clean cooking policies across G20 countries, arguing that the current reliance on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies is financially unsustainable, often fails to reach the poorest populations, and contradicts net-zero goals. The authors advocate for redirecting these subsidies toward electric cooking and renewable energy alternatives to achieve universal access by 2030.