Our topics | NewClimate Institute

Energy transition

The energy sector is at the heart of the climate challenge. Staying within the 1.5°C temperature limit requires the rapid and full decarbonisation of the entire sector away from fossil fuel based to clean energy systems. This includes the production of energy and power as well as the way we use it in transport, buildings and industry processes. Effective policies, which allow for the widespread application, investment and use of clean energy technologies and energy efficiency measures, need to be adopted urgently across all countries in the world. Although the transition to clean energy...

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Carbon markets

Markets for carbon credits serve as a policy instrument to stimulate public or private investment in projects aimed at reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. As with any policy instrument, the effectiveness of carbon markets in combatting climate change depends on effective implementation and the appropriate use of underlying credits. National carbon markets require different parameter settings than international carbon markets.

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Sustainable development and just transition

Sustainable development and climate change are interlinked. The achievement of development goals crucially depends on our ability to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C. At the same time, placing just transition and sustainable development at the centre of mitigation strategies is critical to build the social and political support needed to raise climate ambition and ensure sustained efforts over time. Any emission reduction strategy hence needs to be part of a larger just transition plan focused on sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic development. The development of coherent...

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Sustainable finance

Driving deep decarbonisation with climate resilient infrastructure in line with the Paris Agreement will require massive investment in climate solutions. Current investments flows are however not consistent with either global climate or sustainable development objectives. Debates around sustainable finance today will play a key role in shifting financial flows that will have important implications for emissions patterns and progress for decades to come. Urgent action is needed to foster enabling environments for Paris aligned investments, phase-out investments in high emissions activities and...

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Mitigation targets, policies and actions

The Paris Agreement mandates countries to develop, communicate and implement so-called nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in the context of long-term strategies (LTS) towards full decarbonisation of the economy. These in turn require climate policy planning and the implementation of policies, measures and action at national, subnational and sectoral levels. Importantly, all climate policy efforts should be aligned with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5°C while securing and safeguarding sustainable development for all...

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Governance and diplomacy

Successfully addressing and solving the climate crisis can only be achieved through cooperation, across countries and regions, as well as within countries, governments and societies. Effective multilevel governance processes and institutions are needed not only to facilitate cooperation but also to enable the development and effective implementation of climate policies and measures. This includes well-resourced institutional capacities, effective communication channels and regulatory and legislative systems. At the international level strengthening multilateral institutions – including the...

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Agriculture and food systems

A rapid and far-reaching transition of agriculture practices and the food system more broadly is key to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Such transition requires minimising direct emissions from agricultural activities, reducing the impact of land use and induced land use change on deforestation, as well as enhancing carbon sink capacity of lands and soils. It calls for a massive shift in the way our food is produced, processed and transported, as well as behavioural changes in relation to what we eat and consume. The challenges are complex, considering population growth...

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Corporate climate responsibility

Many companies are putting themselves at the forefront of climate action and recent years have seen a rapid increase in corporate climate targets. However, this surge in corporate climate target setting, combined with the fragmentation of approaches and a general lack of mandatory regulation and oversight, makes it challenging to distinguish real climate leadership from unsubstantiated greenwashing. For instance, whereas some companies commit to deep levels of decarbonisation within their value chains, others simply pledge “net zero” without making any real emission reductions.

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