The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
Mountains are home to a variety of ecosystems that provide vital services directly to 1.1 billion people and billions of others living in connected lowland areas. Half of humanity depends on mountains for the provision of freshwater alone. Mountain ecosystems cool local temperatures, increase water retention, provide carbon storage, and …
Reducing black carbon emissions will help in avoiding climate tipping points, building resilience and delivering clean air. This policy brief outlines the latest science on black carbon, examples of cost effective solutions, and recommendations for policymakers, funders and governments. This briefing by Clean Air Fund, the Center for Study of …
Actions by governments in the Group of Seven (G7) can play a vital role in advancing inclusive, secure and sustainable energy transitions worldwide and addressing the climate crisis. In 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) was invited by G7 Leaders at the Hiroshima Summit to develop advice on how to …
Rapid deployment of low-emission fuels during this decade will be crucial to accelerate the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Significant electrification opportunities are available for the road transport sector, while the aviation and marine sectors continue to be more reliant on fuel-based solutions for their decarbonisation. Fuels obtained from electrolytic …
In many low- and middle-income countries, sewage sludge generated from wastewater treatment systems has potential environmental and health hazards. To tackle this challenge, there is a need for innovative options given the increasing concerns and policies restricting sewage sludge dumping in landfills and elsewhere, and a growing awareness about the …
The 29th edition of the International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics offers a detailed analysis of global industrial performance using recent data. With dedicated chapters on manufacturing, mining, and utilities, it highlights sector-specific trends in response to crises, emphasizing challenges and resilience. The publication delves into trade, competitiveness, and broader industrial …
India topped countries in the South-East Asia region for the most number of malaria cases and deaths in 2022, according to this report published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Each year, WHO’s World malaria report provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of trends in malaria control and elimination across …
2023 has shattered climate records, accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The WMO provisional State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record. Data until the end …
With increased urbanization and economic growth, cities across the world must find ways to meet urban mobility demands while ensuring transportation is affordable and emissions that contribute to climate change are limited. As cities rapidly urbanize and people’s incomes rise, vehicle ownership is growing and more road space is being …
Progressive policies are critical to boost the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition and spread them broadly across the world, this new report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) ahead of the UN Climate Conference COP28 in Dubai finds. Volume 2 of IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023, …
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched its annual Statistical Yearbook, covering latest trends in the world’s agrifood systems and highlighting for the first time the impact of disasters on agriculture and the cost and affordability of a healthy diet.This publication offers a synthesis of …
Energy Efficiency 2023 is the IEA’s primary annual analysis on global developments in energy efficiency markets and policy. It explores recent trends in energy intensity, demand and efficiency-related investment, policy and technology. This tenth edition of the market report also features a new spotlight section, focused on key issues facing …
Climate change impacts globally have increased the urgency for ambitious action on adaptation. This is especially the case in the world’s most vulnerable regions, including Africa. This report covers global status and trends of adaptation finance and provides a deeper analysis of Africa at a regional level, given the heightened …
This issue brief aims to highlight consumption-driven emissions inequities among income classes, both within and across nations. It examines a diverse range of developed and developing economies, accounting for approximately 81 per cent of global emissions, 86 per cent of the world's GDP, and 66 per cent of the global …
This paper describes a method for estimating future frequencies of climate hazards that are specifically relevant for decision-making in public health, infrastructure, agriculture, disaster mitigation, and climate adaptation. Decision making and long term planning in government, the private sector, and civil society can benefit from local estimates of the future …
Signatories to the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) committed to shifting international public finance away from fossil fuels and into clean energy. While progress has been made in restricting fossil fuel finance, it is not clear that similar progress has been made in prioritizing support for clean energy. This report …
The second edition of the Net-Zero Industry Tracker report provides a detailed analysis of the progress heavy industrial and transport sectors are making worldwide, in their efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. These sectors, which account for more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, need multifaceted solutions that …
This study shows that a combination of additional strategies in the “All Out” scenario could further reduce emissions in line with a well-below 2°C pathway with the same parameters. This is similar to what a previous ICCT study, Graver et al., (2022, found is achievable for the aviation sector, but …
Biomass-derived energy is poised to play a pivotal role in the ongoing energy transition. According to IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario, outlined in the World Energy Transitions Outlook, bioenergy is projected to constitute 22% of total primary energy supply by 2050. This ambitious goal will necessitate a substantial increase in primary biomass …
This report presents analysis of nine projects supplying electricity to remote communities across the globe, identifying key success factors and best practices to inform future projects. As of 2021, 675 million people worldwide had no access to electricity. In order to achieve the objectives of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) …
