Search Climate Insights Directory

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.

The NewClimate Institute's 2025 update evaluates the progress of 25 major emitters, representing over 80% of global emissions, toward their climate mitigation targets. The report finds that while total emissions under current policies may peak by 2026, the projected reductions are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal, which requires a 43% reduction by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the intersection of international trade and climate policy ahead of COP 30. It focuses on the use of trade tools—such as border carbon adjustments, green subsidies, and deforestation-free import rules—to advance climate goals while highlighting the risks of market fragmentation and the potential for these measures to deepen inequities between developed and emerging economies.

This SEI working paper proposes a "strategic resilience" framework for climate change adaptation, designed to integrate adaptation into the core of government operations to address transboundary risks and polycrises.

This report analyzes 32 Air Service Agreements (ASAs) among COFFIS member states to identify legal pathways for implementing aviation fuel taxes to support climate targets and fuel efficiency.

This report provides a comparative analysis of global electricity tariff-setting methodologies, focusing on the process of determining revenue requirements and conducting Cost of Supply (CoS) studies. It examines various regulatory models—including rate-of-return, incentive-based, performance-based, and market-based pricing—and evaluates their effectiveness in balancing financial sustainability for utilities with affordability for consumers. The document concludes with specific recommendations for South Africa to modernize its tariff structures and revenue determination processes as it transitions toward a wholesale electricity market.

A joint letter from various Canadian health, environmental, and academic organizations urging the Canadian government to sign the Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change to combat climate disinformation.

This report by Ember, developed for the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), provides a comprehensive analysis of global offshore wind targets across national, subnational, and regional levels. It examines current ambitions, deployment projections for 2030, and the potential for expansion in countries without existing targets, while highlighting the gap between political ambitions and projected delivery.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to exceed total electricity demand growth, resulting in renewables overtaking coal in the global electricity mix for the first time. While global power sector CO2 emissions fell marginally by 0.2%, results varied by region, with emissions decreasing in China and India but increasing in the US and EU.

This briefing examines how the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system hinders climate action and human rights by allowing corporations, particularly in the fossil fuel sector, to sue governments over environmental regulations. It highlights the 'regulatory chill' effect, the inadequacy of current reforms like the Energy Charter Treaty withdrawals, and the significance of 2025 advisory opinions from the ICJ and Inter-American Court of Human Rights which affirm state duties to reduce emissions regardless of prior investment licenses.

The 'Uitfaseerplan fossiele brandstofsubsidies' is a report by the Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth (published via IISD) detailing the Netherlands' strategy to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. The plan emphasizes a 'Whole of Government Approach' and focuses on international and European cooperation to prevent carbon leakage and maintain a level playing field. It outlines specific national measures, including the use of an 'external costs approach' to identify pricing gaps, and provides a detailed inventory of existing subsidies, categorizing them by their phase-out status and legal constraints.

This research paper by RMI proposes the establishment of a government-led Advance Market Commitment (AMC) to scale carbon removal technologies. It argues that current voluntary and compliance markets are insufficient to meet the gigaton-scale requirements needed by midcentury and provides a framework for governments to coordinate demand, harmonize standards, and catalyze private investment to bridge the funding and deployment gap.

A research paper by Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA) examines the economic and health costs of red and processed meat consumption in high-income countries. The analysis finds that wealthy nations in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania face a substantial disease burden from meat consumption, with some countries spending heavily to treat preventable conditions rather than investing in primary prevention. The report argues that shifting toward dietary interventions could significantly reduce healthcare spending and improve public health outcomes.

This report by Ember examines the critical role of electricity interconnectors in maintaining European energy security, preventing blackouts, and mitigating the impact of geopolitical conflicts and sabotage. It argues that expanding and securing cross-border grid capacity is a vital element of protecting European society against hybrid warfare and technical failures.

The executive summary of the 2025 Stocktake report by the Net Zero Tracker analyzes the prevalence and integrity of net-zero targets across national, subnational, and corporate entities as of September 2025, noting a rise in total targets despite political headwinds and significant gaps in target robustness.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics debunks common myths about renewable energy, demonstrating that solar and wind are now the cheapest and most efficient power sources. It provides evidence that renewables are reliable when integrated with storage, have lower wildlife and environmental impacts than fossil fuels, and occupy minimal land. The document specifically clarifies that a 2025 blackout in the Iberian Peninsula was caused by grid failures rather than renewable energy usage.

The report 'Priority Actions for Deforestation- and Conversion-Free Finance' provides a strategic framework to align private financial flows with the goal of halting and reversing deforestation and ecosystem conversion by 2030. It outlines specific priority actions for three key groups: policymakers, central banks and financial supervisors, and financial institutions, emphasizing the need for coordinated action to manage nature-related risks and catalyze a transition to nature-positive business models.

This guide explains Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as the primary vehicle for countries to implement the Paris Agreement's goals. It highlights a critical gap between current commitments (leading to 2.6-3.1°C warming) and the 1.5°C target, urging more ambitious 2025 submissions. The document details the need for $4.5 trillion in funding for developing nations and outlines the NCQG's goal to mobilize $300 billion annually by 2035.

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 briefing by Ember provides recommendations for the European Commission's 'European grid package' to accelerate the upgrade, digitalisation, and expansion of European grid infrastructure. Ember argues that electricity grids should be treated as strategic infrastructure essential for economic growth and competitiveness, rather than just technical assets. The document proposes a shift toward independent and integrated planning, the establishment of a financing 'one-stop-shop', and the adoption of a TOTEX-based regulatory approach to incentivise flexibility and grid-enhancing technologies over traditional capital-heavy reinforcements.