Search Climate Insights Directory

The report analyzes the legal frameworks of 22 IGF member countries to identify systemic gaps in the implementation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) in mining. Key issues include ambiguity over the rights of exploration permit holders to transition to exploitation, inadequate timing for submitting closure plans and financial guarantees, and a lack of coordination between mining and environmental authorities. The document argues for a shift toward using ESIAs as genuine decision-making tools that can lead to project rejection, the adoption of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) to identify sensitive zones, and the strengthening of community participation and independent monitoring to ensure sustainable mine closure.

The report proposes a three-year plan to transition Canada from voluntary to mandatory climate-related financial disclosure by 2021, aligning with TCFD recommendations. It highlights a market failure where Canadian clean technology firms face significant capital barriers and negative retained earnings, while the oil and gas sector carries substantial undisclosed 'tail risks' relative to global carbon budgets. The author recommends updating federal and provincial laws, such as the Canadian Business Corporations Act, and suggests that Canada align its sustainable finance frameworks with emerging EU taxonomies to diversify trade and attract international capital.

The report analyzes six water quality trading (WQT) and offset programs—including the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Offsetting Program, the Lake Taupō nitrogen trading program, and the Tualatin River program—to derive lessons for Manitoba. It identifies that successful programs typically require a regulatory cap on pollutant discharges and significant variations in abatement costs between point sources (PS) and nonpoint sources (NPS). Key findings emphasize the importance of load-based rather than concentration-based regulations, the use of offset ratios to account for uncertainty and time lags, and the necessity of engaging agricultural producers through trusted intermediaries and simplified procedures. The report also highlights 'credit stacking,' where landowners receive multiple payments for combined benefits, such as nitrogen reduction and carbon sequestration, as a driver for program uptake.

The report argues that tokenizing the equity or debt of sustainable infrastructure projects can lower the cost of capital and make these assets more bankable. It identifies key value propositions including reduced underwriting and secondary market fees, enhanced transparency through IoT integration, and the democratization of investment via fractional ownership. However, it notes significant regulatory hurdles regarding security token compliance and technical challenges concerning the reliability of the Ethereum blockchain and the 'oracle problem' of linking on-chain tokens to off-chain physical assets. The document provides examples of Swiss start-ups like Tokenestate, Smart Valor, and Mt Pelerin that are developing security token standards and marketplaces to facilitate this transition.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) critiques the ICSID Secretariat's proposed rule amendments (Working Paper #2), stating they fail to address core concerns of states and stakeholders. The IISD argues that many necessary reforms—such as prohibiting 'double-hatting' of arbitrators, mandating the publication of awards, and expanding the grounds for review of decisions—cannot be achieved through rule changes alone and require amendments to the ICSID Convention itself. The document specifically recommends stricter standards for arbitrator independence, more flexible expedited arbitration rules for developing countries, and the introduction of mechanisms for third-party intervention and joinder to protect the rights of non-party stakeholders.

The workshop brought together officials and municipal representatives from WAEMU member states to analyze the implementation of mining local development funds (MLDFs) and other community development tools. Participants evaluated the current state of MLDFs in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, while discussing alternatives used in Mali, Niger, and Benin. The sessions explored the integration of MLDFs with environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), local content policies, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and community development agreements (CDAs). The workshop concluded that an ideal approach involves combining an MLDF with either mandatory CDAs or voluntary CSR plans, prioritizing transparency, alignment with local development plans, and outcome monitoring.

The report examines the global coffee market, highlighting a growth in VSS-compliant production which reached at least 34% of total production in 2016. While demand is increasing in emerging economies, the sector faces risks from price volatility and climate change. The analysis identifies Ethiopia and Uganda as having high potential for VSS expansion among LHDCs.

The global tea market is growing, with retail value projected to reach USD 73 billion by 2024, driven by demand in Asia and the Pacific. While VSS-compliant tea grew significantly from 2.4% of the market in 2008 to 19.4% in 2016, the sector faces challenges including climate change, poor labour conditions, and a highly concentrated value chain. The report identifies significant opportunities to expand sustainable production in China, India, and Sri Lanka, as well as in LHDCs like Burundi and Uganda.

The document summarizes a survey of 72 respondents from 54 developing countries, highlighting a trend toward modernizing investment treaties to close litigation loopholes and align with domestic laws. It reports that 21 countries are renegotiating or terminating existing treaties, and 24 have been subject to treaty-based investment disputes that influenced their policy approach. The survey also tracks the use of model investment treaties and the level of involvement from Parliaments and political leaders in the negotiation process.

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) tool by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) integrates system dynamics simulation with project finance models to value risks and externalities typically ignored in traditional financial assessments. It applies to asset types including energy, roads, buildings, irrigation, sewerage treatment, and nature-based infrastructure. The tool aims to support the goals of the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals by optimizing value for money across an asset's life cycle. Case studies demonstrate its application in valuing climate-risk-related road disruptions in Morocco, the economic gains of wetland conservation in India, and the internal rate of return for wind energy in Senegal.

The document analyzes the intersection of five major agricultural voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and gender equality themes. It finds that while VSSs can improve working conditions for waged women and promote children's education, they risk exacerbating gender inequalities if they prioritize cash crops over women's subsistence farming or increase women's unpaid labor burdens without providing childcare or gender-transformative training.

The report evaluates global environmental governance in 2019, highlighting a disconnect between urgent scientific warnings and stalled political action. While progress was made in managing hazardous wastes and plastics, climate and biodiversity governance faced significant setbacks. The document emphasizes the growing need for integrated governance to address the interlinked nature of climate, ocean, and land degradation, while noting that most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not on track for 2030.

The report reviews global environmental governance in 2019, highlighting progress in plastic waste regulation and scientific reporting, while noting failures in climate ambition and biodiversity negotiations. It emphasizes the growing need for integrated governance and forecasts 2020 as a critical year for the Paris Agreement and the post-2020 biodiversity framework.

The document examines how disruptive technologies in mining—categorized into digitalization enablers, big data integrators, productivity optimizers, and sustainability improvers—affect different economic contexts. It highlights that while automation increases efficiency and safety, it risks displacing low-skilled workers, particularly Indigenous populations in Australia and local workers in Mali. Conversely, water-saving technologies in South Africa, such as closed-loop recycling and dry tailings disposal, offer positive spillovers for local communities through improved water access and infrastructure.

The document examines three case studies to demonstrate the impact of capacity building for women in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. In Mongolia, the Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) project combined government support with leadership and managerial training to help women formalize illegal operations and improve environmental rehabilitation. In Zambia, the Extractives Industry Transparency Alliance (EITA) utilized local civil society organizations to provide business and governance training to women in the extraction of development minerals. In Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Accountability and Artisanal Mining Program (ZAAMP) focused on strengthening the internal management and governance systems of miners' associations. The report concludes that for empowerment initiatives to be sustainable, they must involve governments as active partners, leverage local civil society organizations to ensure local ownership, and focus on leadership training to create a multiplier effect through associations.

The report analyzes 104 mining projects across 21 countries, finding that while incentives are more common in primary law than in contracts, African countries rely more heavily on contract-based incentives. Tax stabilization and corporate income tax (CIT) incentives are the most frequent, with stability periods averaging 20 years and tax holidays averaging nine years. The analysis notes a correlation between the increase in incentives and the commodity price crash of 2014–2016, while highlighting that cost-based incentives remain uncommon despite being better suited for mining investments.

The report analyzes tax incentives across 104 mining projects in 21 developing countries, finding that while legislation is the primary source of incentives, African countries rely more heavily on discretionary contracts. The most common incentives are fiscal stabilization clauses and corporate income tax breaks, both of which pose significant revenue risks. The study notes that the use of these incentives peaked in the late 1990s and again during the 2014-2016 commodity price crash, suggesting a correlation between low commodity prices and more generous tax terms.

The report details a March 2019 workshop aimed at addressing the opportunities and challenges of Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) in Kenya's tea industry. Key findings highlight that while VSCs improve market access and environmental practices, they impose prohibitive costs and create 'certification fatigue' due to a multiplicity of standards. The document recommends the development of a national benchmarked standard, similar to the Kenya Flower Council's model, and the creation of a multistakeholder platform to implement a collective action plan.

The report details a multistakeholder workshop focused on the impact of Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) on Rwanda's coffee sector. It identifies significant barriers for smallholder farmers, including high annual audit costs, a lack of local certification bodies, and a mismatch between the supply of certified coffee and market demand. The document proposes solutions such as the development of a national 'Rwanda GAP' standard, the translation of training manuals into Kinyarwanda, and the creation of a multistakeholder platform for data sharing and coordination to improve the economic viability and sustainability of the sector.

The global cocoa market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2019 to 2025, driven by demand in Western Europe, North America, and emerging Asian economies. While VSS-compliant cocoa grew significantly between 2008 and 2016, the sector faces long-term supply risks from ageing trees, climate change, and systemic poverty. The report highlights the potential for VSS expansion in LHDCs, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Togo, to improve farmer livelihoods and environmental outcomes.