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 …
Cross-border guarantees are an important but underused tool for mobilizing private climate finance. A recent OECD evaluation found that guarantees leveraged 26% of all mobilized private finance between 2018-2020 and were among the preferred risk mitigation tools of private investors. Studies suggest that larger and more effective credit guarantee facilities …
This Used Heavy- Duty Vehicles and the Environment: A Global Overview of Used Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Flow, Scale and Regulation report analyses the flow and scale of used heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) from three major used HDVs exporters – Japan, the European Union (EU) and Republic of Korea (ROK). It also reviews …
This issue of perspectives, looks at how using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and broader nature-positive approaches can minimize and mitigate negative impacts on the environment, and how it can be an instrument for conflict prevention. The improved understanding of the environmental dimensions of armed conflict and their link with peace and …
This report examines the current conditions of walking and cycling in cities. It reviews the literature on the potential benefits of active mobility, highlighting the importance of moving away from car-centric development. It also explores how cities developed into car-centric environments, with a particular focus on moto-normative assumptions. The report …
The 2023 state of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector focuses on the intersection of ASM and sustainable development goal 5 (SDG 5) - achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It applies the SDG 5 framework for the first time to systematically report on gender inequalities …
National climate ambitions have been hampered by a lack of understanding of the impacts of the transition to a low-carbon economy as well as the consequences of inaction. Amid legitimate concerns regarding transitional impacts, financing needs, and the institutional and political constraints to low-carbon policy implementation, knowledge and analytical skill …
This study uses household survey data from 58 countries around the world to compare the labour market outcomes of rural and urban workers, taking into account the specific socio-demographic characteristics of rural populations. It also provides an overview of the legal frameworks that can be used to address rural-urban employment …
More than a fifth of the world's migrating species are at risk of going extinct as a result of climate change and human encroachment, according to this report by the United Nations. Migratory species globally are facing critical challenges, with nearly half in decline and over 20 per cent threatened …
This paper offers an updated and comprehensive review of recent studies on the impact of climate change, particularly global warming, on poverty and inequality, paying special attention to data sources as well as empirical methods. While studies consistently find negative impacts of higher temperature on poverty across different geographical regions, …
Many emerging and developing economies are missing out on the wave of global clean energy investment as the high cost of capital for new projects is deterring developers and stifling opportunities in the new energy economy, particularly for some of the world’s poorest countries, this new IEA report finds. Global …
This report provides a regional breakdown of 1.5ºC compatible renewables deployment, showing what six major world regions – the OECD, Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – could contribute towards upscaling renewables by 2030. It compares these benchmarks to the latest IEA …
In a recent global policy report published by the Food System Economics Commission, a multinational and multidisciplinary team of over forty researchers carried out the most ambitious food economic study yet to evaluate means by which the food system could be economically improved. They conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the …
Air pollution is a major threat to health, and the dangers are particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries. However, little is known about how the burden of pollution is spread across the wealth distribution in these countries. This paper uses new data providing high-resolution wealth estimates for more than …
The REN21 Renewables and Sustainability Report (RESR) builds on a yearlong research and consultative process among a wide range of stakeholders across sectors. It was conceived as a reference document bringing together different perspectives to analyse the benefits and identify the best practices to mitigate the potential negative impacts of …
As people worldwide grapple with the effects of rising temperatures, companies are under increasing legal, financial, and societal pressure to cut their emissions. Voluntary standards and initiatives for carbon management (VSICMs) are voluntary measures that organizations can use to develop, report, register, or certify certain activities or processes related to …
This report is the second in a series of three reports addressing judicial aspects of the struggle to secure justice for climate displaced persons everywhere. This series is designed to provide practical support to those forced to flee their homes because of the effects of climate change and to human …
This paper delves into the evolving landscape of climate finance for social protection. It gives an overview of current social protection spending, financing and coverage gaps across the world, and explores how climate finance can strengthen social protection systems, build resilience and improve socio-economic outcomes. The brief then zooms into …
Although the benefits of a gender-inclusive approach to mobility for transport decarbonization, access to jobs, and human capital advancement have been increasingly recognized globally, this topic has not received sufficient attention. The lack of attention to gendered mobility barriers is partly due to a limited understanding of the wider benefits …
Food insecurity has been increasing dramatically. In 2022, 258 million people in 58 countries faced acute food insecurity, an increase of 34 per cent from the previous year. Trade can be an important enabler of economic development and the smooth flow of agricultural trade is a necessary condition for food …
Renewables are growing rapidly and nuclear power is on track to reach new all-time high next year, enabling low-emissions generation to outpace robust electricity demand growth. Global electricity demand is expected to grow at a faster rate over the next three years as the clean energy transition gathers speed, with …
