Search Climate Insights Directory

The report analyzes the current legislation of UEMOA member states regarding artisanal gold mining to determine if these laws facilitate 'virtuous practices,' such as the use of gravimetric processing instead of mercury or cyanide. It identifies gaps in strategic, institutional, and normative frameworks and proposes specific reforms, including the legal authorization of mechanization during crushing and processing, an increased role for local authorities, and the creation of 'new generation' reserved gold panning zones.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) identifies three critical themes emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic: the necessity of resilience in human systems to cope with both health crises and climate change; the need for economic stimulus packages to avoid locking economies into a high-carbon future; and the magnification of global inequality, which disproportionately affects the poor in developing countries and frontline workers in developed nations.

The report identifies that Indonesia's solar energy growth lags behind India and the GCC region due to differences in land acquisition policies, policy enabling conditions, and investment risk. It suggests that Indonesia can lower costs by creating a stable investment climate, streamlining decision-making through intra-governmental restructuring, and reconsidering local content requirements, citing the success of long-term Power Purchase Agreements in the GCC and Solar Parks in India.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has implemented social distancing and travel restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Most employees are working from home, and public tours at the Experimental Lakes Area have been cancelled until at least the end of May. Despite these challenges, the organization intends to continue its research, policy advocacy, and publication activities.

The paper analyzes how the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) proposals—specifically Pillar 1 and Pillar 2—could affect the mining industry. It argues for the exclusion of the entire mining value chain from Pillar 1's 'Amount A' to protect the taxing rights of resource-rich countries and expresses concern that 'Amount B' and 'Amount C' could legitimize offshore marketing hubs and shift profits away from source countries. Regarding Pillar 2 (Global Anti-Base Erosion), the author supports a minimum tax to reduce costly tax competition but emphasizes that the rate must align with the mining sector's typically higher statutory rates (25% to 35%) and that mineral royalties should be excluded from the minimum effective rate calculation.

The Falcon Trails resort in Manitoba transitioned from basic environmental protection to a strategic business model centered on sustainability. By rebranding off-grid accommodations as "eco cabins" and utilizing Manitoba Hydro rebates for solar panels and energy efficiency, the resort leveraged its environmental efforts for competitive marketing. The business also implemented an Environmentalist-in-Residence program to further reduce its footprint through textile repurposing and mending.

The report identifies that financial service providers (FSPs) prioritize economic factors—specifically governance and business management—over environmental and social themes when assessing financial risk for agricultural investments. Key priorities include management experience, existing buyer relationships, land tenure, and projected cash flows. While climate change is the most important non-economic theme, with a preference for adaptation measures, social and biodiversity issues are often viewed as having more impact on sustainability than on financial risk reduction. The document recommends that agricultural producers seek capacity-building in business management and that voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) integrate more economic criteria to help producers become more bankable.

The report assesses the legal frameworks for artisanal gold mining in UEMOA member states, identifying significant gaps in strategic planning, institutional coordination, and regulatory alignment. It highlights that most national laws are reactive and out of touch with field realities, particularly regarding mechanization and environmental protection. The document recommends the creation of 'reserved gold mining zones' as an integrated approach to formalize the sector, introduce cleaner gravimetric processing technologies, and improve fiscal collection and social protections for vulnerable miners.

The document analyzes the legal frameworks and practical trends associated with terminating bilateral investment treaties (BITs), specifically focusing on the roles of termination and survival clauses. It details three primary methods of termination—by consent with renegotiation, by consent without renegotiation, and unilateral termination—while providing strategic considerations for states to mitigate investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) risks. The guide also suggests modern drafting approaches for new BITs to avoid the pitfalls of 'tacit renewal' and long survival periods.

The document analyzes the increasing trend of states terminating old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs) due to perceived imbalances in the investment regime. It details the legal mechanisms for termination under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, compares 'tacit renewal' and 'fixed-term' termination clauses, and discusses the impact of 'survival clauses' (sunset clauses). The guide outlines three primary paths for termination: mutual consent (with or without renegotiation), multilateral instruments, and unilateral denunciation. It provides strategic advice on neutralizing survival clauses and recommends that states actively track key treaty dates to avoid missing narrow termination windows.

The report analyzes how the GCC region and India achieved low solar energy prices through supportive policies, streamlined procurement, and reduced financing costs, contrasting these with Indonesia's challenges including high local content requirements and developer-borne infrastructure costs.

The Malawi National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Framework provides a structured approach to building climate resilience, integrating adaptation into national development planning, and coordinating stakeholders. It outlines five key mandates: improving community resilience through agriculture and disaster risk management, sustainable natural resource use, improving soil and land management, conserving biodiversity, and providing policy advocacy. The framework adopts a systems approach and emphasizes vertical and horizontal integration, community participation, and gender-responsiveness. It identifies critical gaps in climate modelling and institutional capacity, proposing a roadmap that includes risk and vulnerability assessments, the mobilization of private sector finance, and the integration of adaptation priorities into ministry spending plans, with support from the Green Climate Fund.

The report argues that South Africa should avoid a strict 'standard model' of electricity reform—which emphasizes full unbundling and privatization—in favor of a pragmatic approach that balances economic efficiency with social and environmental priorities. By analyzing India and Mexico, the document finds that unbundling alone does not resolve financial distress or lower prices if tariffs remain regulated below cost. It highlights that while private sector participation via auctions has accelerated renewable energy deployment in India and Mexico, it has also created tensions regarding public ownership. The report recommends that South Africa implement targeted subsidies for the vulnerable and explore community or municipal ownership models to ensure a just transition and successful decarbonization.

The report analyzes how fossil fuel subsidies create direct and pass-through trade effects, distorting markets for crude energy products, refined energy carriers, and energy-intensive industries. It provides empirical evidence on the massive scale of these markets—with fossil fuel product trade alone representing over 10% of worldwide trade value in 2018—and argues that current WTO rules are ineffective at constraining these measures. The document proposes five options for WTO engagement: improving transparency, building capacity, establishing a pledge-and-review process, clarifying existing rules, and negotiating new binding subsidy disciplines.

The 2019 assessment of 47 Voluntary National Review reports indicates that countries are better adhering to reporting guidelines and increasingly prioritizing the principle of 'leaving no one behind'. However, the report finds a continued lack of attention to the broader transformative principles of the 2030 Agenda and a concerning silence regarding the closing of civic space and attacks on human rights and environmental defenders.

In 2019, Canada's federal fossil fuel subsidies totaled at least CAD 600 million, though the actual figure may be higher due to data gaps regarding tax measures and the Trans Mountain pipeline. The report notes a shift in subsidy focus from exploration to production and export infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas. It argues that these subsidies undermine Canada's net-zero 2050 goal and 2030 emissions targets. The document recommends that Canada complete its G20 peer review with Argentina in 2020, commit to no new subsidies, and integrate subsidy reform into its next Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement.

Poplar River First Nation (PRFN) seeks to implement payments for ecosystem services (PES) to support the conservation of its 862,000-hectare traditional territory, Asatiwisipe Aki. By leveraging nature-based solutions, the community aims to create a forest-based economy that provides climate and biodiversity co-benefits for the community and the province of Manitoba. To facilitate this, the study provides a draft PES agreement based on international frameworks, specifically referencing guidance from the Katoomba Group regarding carbon sequestration, biodiversity habitat, and watershed protection.

The document argues that while fragile states often struggle to prioritize climate action due to immediate security and humanitarian needs, integrating adaptation planning with peacebuilding is essential for long-term stability and sustainable development.

Sustainable investing is transitioning from a niche approach to a mainstream financial practice, with global assets under sustainable mandates projected to reach USD 160 trillion by 2036. While adoption is increasing in developed countries, the sector faces challenges regarding capacity at financial institutions and the integration of sustainability into passively managed portfolios. Key future drivers include the centrality of climate risk, the guidance provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the development of innovative financial instruments.

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Nigeria failed poor women, who paid 2–6 times the official price and faced hardships during shortages. The 2016 subsidy removal further stressed household incomes, leading women in rural areas to rely more on inferior biomass fuels. The report recommends against reinstating kerosene subsidies, suggesting instead that funds be redirected toward social protection programs and the financing of clean-burning cookstoves.