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This research paper investigates the impact of state-assisted Rural Settlements on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 2002 and 2014. The authors find that while overall deforestation in the region declined during this period, the area covered by Rural Settlements increased significantly, contributing to approximately 30% of total deforestation in the Amazon Biome by 2014. The study highlights a paradox where 'Special Settlements'—those designed with environmental conditions—were the primary drivers of this impact, particularly in remote areas far from the agricultural expansion frontier.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) reports that rural settlements were responsible for 30% of deforestation in the Amazon region in 2014. The research highlights that 'special settlements,' intended to promote sustainable practices, contributed disproportionately to this figure, accounting for half of the deforestation caused by all rural settlements.

This research paper examines how the adoption of flex-fuel vehicles (bi-fuel cars) influenced price competition between ethanol and gasoline retail markets in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2002 and 2008. Using a theoretical model and panel data from fuel stations, the authors find that increased flex-fuel penetration reduced retail prices and margins for both fuels, though the effect was more pronounced for ethanol. The study concludes that innovations increasing consumer choice can benefit all consumers, including those who do not adopt the new technology.

This report examines the historical and systemic issues of land tenure in rural Brazil, highlighting how irregular property rights, fragmented registration systems, and the lack of a unified cartographic base contribute to social conflict, illegal deforestation, and challenges in implementing the Forest Code.

The report analyzes public finance in Côte d’Ivoire for 2015 to determine how much investment aligns with the National REDD+ Strategy. It finds a significant gap between current funding and the investment needed to reach 2030 forest cover goals, noting that the majority of land-use finance is 'grey'—agricultural intensification that may drive deforestation due to a lack of safeguards.

This working paper by the Climate Policy Initiative, supported by PILAR and UNPAR, proposes a framework for district-level natural capital assessment in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It argues that current land valuations underestimate the true value of ecosystem services and are hindered by inconsistent government regulations and data gaps. The paper recommends a pilot assessment in Kotawaringin Timur due to its high concentration of palm oil infrastructure and critical high conservation value areas.

The Central Kalimantan: High Conservation Value Provincial Assessment, produced by the Palangka Raya Institute for Land Use and Agricultural Research (PILAR) and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), identifies biological, ecological, social, and cultural values in Central Kalimantan to inform sustainable land use and regional spatial planning.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative examines barriers to agricultural productivity and natural resource management in Mozambique. It identifies bureaucratic delays in tax and trade administration, limited access to credit for small farmers, and gaps in energy and irrigation infrastructure as primary obstacles. The authors propose low-cost policy modifications, including streamlining government administration, developing public-private partnerships, prioritizing key infrastructure, and increasing revenue-sharing mechanisms for community-led natural resource protection.

This CPI working paper proposes a design for natural resource valuation at the district level in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It argues that current land valuation fails to account for critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and water provision, leading to suboptimal land-use decisions. The paper identifies Kotawaringin Timur as a priority area for a comprehensive valuation study due to its high deforestation rates, significant concentration of palm oil infrastructure, and the presence of extensive High Conservation Value (HCV) areas that are currently under-protected.

This executive summary describes a study on High Conservation Value (HCV) areas in Central Kalimantan province, conducted by the Palangkaraya Institute for Land Use+Agricultural Research (PILAR) and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI). The report identifies critical biological, ecological, social, and cultural values to inform sustainable land-use planning and the province's Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS).

The Loans4SME Lab Instrument Analysis describes a proposed technology-driven peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform designed to provide debt financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The platform aims to bypass traditional banking barriers—such as strict collateral requirements and long sanction times—by connecting SMEs with high net worth individuals, family offices, and corporate treasuries using a proprietary credit scoring algorithm.

The P50 Risk Solutions report concludes that a weather-index insurance product designed to hedge wind volume risk is not commercially viable in India. The cost of premiums outweighs the potential reductions in interest rates or improvements in debt-equity ratios. Furthermore, the instrument fails to attract new institutional capital because the financial instability of state-owned power off-takers (DISCOMs) is a far more significant risk to credit ratings than weather variability.

This case study describes Proterra's battery service agreements, which aim to accelerate the adoption of electric buses by reducing upfront costs and mitigating technology risks for fleet operators.

This report analyzes the potential of the third party financing model to help India reach its target of 40 GW of rooftop solar power by 2022. It identifies high upfront costs, limited debt finance, and perceived performance risks as primary barriers, and proposes specific policy changes and financial instruments to scale the industry, particularly for commercial and industrial consumers.

A research paper finds that Brazil's 2008 Resolution 3,545, which tied rural credit to environmental and land-titling compliance, reduced deforestation in the Amazon by approximately 60%. The effect was strongest in cattle-ranching areas and driven by a reduction in medium and large loans, demonstrating a positive correlation between credit availability and land clearing in the region.

This report examines the third party financing model as a means to achieve India's 40 GW rooftop solar target by 2022. It identifies high upfront costs, limited debt access, and performance risks as primary barriers. While the model is viable in most states for industrial and commercial users, it is hindered by consumer credit risk and poor net metering implementation. The authors propose policy reforms (e.g., banker training, DISCOM involvement) and new financial instruments (e.g., P2P lending, green bonds, and investment trusts) to scale the industry.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the economic, social, and environmental consequences of insecure land rights in rural Brazil, highlighting how these insecurities hinder growth and environmental protection while identifying systemic governance obstacles.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the social, economic, and environmental consequences of insecure rural land rights in Brazil. It identifies key drivers of instability, such as the 'social function of property' requirement and institutional complexity, and outlines obstacles to reform, including the lack of an integrated land database and the prevalence of illegal land grabbing (grilagem).

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the insecurity of rural land property rights in Brazil, detailing the social, economic, and environmental costs of this instability and the institutional obstacles preventing its resolution.

This executive summary describes a study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and PUC-Rio's Núcleo de Avaliação de Políticas Climáticas, under the INPUT project, regarding the economic impacts of agricultural expansion in the MATOPIBA region of Brazil. The research focuses on the growth of grain production, specifically soy and corn, and its effects on local municipalities within the Cerrado biome compared to those outside it.