Climate Change
News
Figuring out China’s coal goal
Xi Jinping’s vow to end China’s international coal is puzzling China watchers with details on how far the promise goes still unclear.
African environment ministers renew support for green recovery
Environment ministers from the African continent last Thursday pledged mobilization of additional resources to accelerate a post-pandemic recovery that is green and inclusive.
Want a clean energy future? Look to the tax code
There’s one thing holding public power back as the industry strives to meet the ambitious clean energy goals — the federal tax code. As it currently stands, federal tax policy puts public power communities at a disadvantage by having them pay more for the same clean energy outcomes as customers in other market.
Reports
G-20 Member Countries Support Fossil Fuels at Levels Untenable to Achieve Paris Agreement Goals (BloombergNEF, Bloomberg Philanthropies)
BloombergNEF and Bloomberg Philanthropies report reveals G-20 member countries have given more than $3.3 trillion in subsidies for coal, oil, gas, and fossil-fuel power from 2015-2019.
Financing an inclusive circular economy: De-risking investments for circular business models and the SDGs (Chatham House)
Circular economy activities aim to reduce overconsumption, design-out waste and restore and regenerate ecosystems and natural capital. However, new financial instruments and investments are needed to support the growth of these business models and innovations at scale.
Política Fiscal y Cambio Climático: Experiencias Recientes de los Ministerios de Finanzas de América Latina y el Caribe (IDB)
Finance and planning ministries play a central role in promoting fiscal policies that generate more and better jobs with the transition to green economies. Adequate fiscal planning would help the decarbonization of the region’s economies create 15 million net new jobs by 2030.
Policy Briefs
Border Carbon Adjustments without Full (or Any) Carbon Pricing (Resources for the Future)
As more world leaders consider levying border taxes on climate-damaging goods, a new study looks at ways it can be done in countries—including the United States—that haven’t established a domestic market for carbon emissions.
Redesigning debt: Lessons from HIPC for COVID, climate and nature (IIED)
Focusing on lessons from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, established 25 years ago by the World Bank and IMF, this paper proposes a new international debt relief initiative, which prioritises investment in climate and nature, to get developing countries’ economies back on track post-pandemic.
How to Manage Public Investment during a Postcrisis Recovery (IMF)
This How to Note discusses how countries should manage public investments to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and similar crises. It provides countries with guidance on making efficient use of public investment to support economic recovery on three different capacity levels: basic, medium, and advanced.
