Climate & Development

Food for Thought Ireland and the UN Food Systems Summit

The UN Food Systems Summit will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2021 and this will be a critical moment for the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ireland goes into the Summit with leadership ambitions as it seeks to champion its ‘food systems approach’.

Course Correction: China is going Carbon Neutral

This paper considers China’s ambitions to hit peak greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060, arguing that such a significant shift would make a profound contribution to the effort to keep global temperatures well below 2oC and would play an enormous part in possibly achieving the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Angela Merkel: The Climate Chancellor?

Discussions surrounding how to legislate for and finance Germany’s 2030 Climate Protection Programme continue to dominate political discourse in Berlin. The twenty-three-page document, entitled “Cornerstones for the Climate Protection Programme 2030”, was unveiled by the Climate Cabinet at the Futurium in Berlin on 20 September 2019 against the backdrop of “Fridays for Future” demonstrations taking place throughout Germany and the world. This briefing outlines the economic and political context in which this programme was launched and provides an overview of Germany’s climate protection programme, as well as how it fits into the Chancellor’s legacy as the Climate Chancellor.

Power Transfer 2030

The harder the Brexit the hotter it gets?  Exploring impacts for climate policy

This IIEA policy brief explores the implications of Brexit for climate policy, within the UK, at EU level and internationally. Four scenarios are considered: Remain, Soft Brexit, Hard Brexit and Ultra-Hard Brexit.

IIEA/RDS Climate Smart Agriculture Report

Ensuring food security for all and preventing dangerous climate change are two of the biggest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. This report follows an 18-month process overseen by the IIEA/RDS Leadership Forum on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), under which we worked with stakeholders and experts to identify smart, ambitious and pragmatic solutions for Irish agriculture within this global context. The post IIEA/RDS Climate Smart Agriculture Report appeared first on IIEA.

Understanding the European Council Conclusions on Climate: A 10-Step Guide

At the October Summit, 28 EU leaders agreed a framework for climate policy in the period to 2030, most notable a commitment to reduce emissions by "at least" 40%. This enables the EU to bring a clear commitment to the Lima climate conference in December 2014. A constructive ambiguity, however, characterizes what was agreed in several key respects. Our analysis, which interprets the conclusions by answering 10 key questions, suggests that the new master plan may not be quite as ambitious as it seems.

A New Wave of European Climate and Energy Policy: Towards a 2030 Framework

Against a complex, challenging, and often contradictory background, the EU is currently trying to decide what kind of climate and energy regime it wants and needs in the post-2020 period. Should it replicate the formula of the 2008 Climate and Energy Package to 2030 and beyond? Or are there other pathways that may prove more effective or politically palatable? The European Commission has recently published a consultation paper on a 2030 climate and energy framework and enormous efforts are being expended in Brussels and across the Member States as stakeholders work to shape to terms of the debate. This policy brief attempts to provide an understanding of the current debates and to illuminate the key challenges in designing a new wave of European climate policy. It first sets out the current EU energy and climate framework and discusses progress made to date, before going on to outline a range of key challenges in the design of a 2030 framework. This is the fourth in a series of Environment Nexus policy briefs by experts in the field of climate, energy, agriculture and water.

Living within our Means: Water and Resource Efficiency in the EU

This paper sets out the European policy context for water efficiency before going on to explore a number of areas where the key challenges and opportunities lie, asking whether resource efficiency is the right paradigm for delivering sustainable water use.

Shifting the Climate Finance Paradigm: Nine Key Challenges for Developed Countries

This policy brief explores the policy context defining the current climate finance debate; examines the extent to which commitments have been met; and identifies nine key challenges for developed countries as they enter the new climate finance paradigm, drawing on the lessons of the fast start finance period.

Greening CAP Payments: A Missed Opportunity?

The paper examines the rationale underpinning greening, arguing that it exists to justify the continuation of a large agricultural budget, explores reasons for the apparent failure of the proposals, and reflects on the implications for future efforts to better integrate environmental objectives into EU agriculture policy.

Why Legislate? Designing a Climate Law for Ireland

A climate law would have implications for all areas of government policy and economic activity for at least the next forty years. It therefore has the potential to be one of the most significant legislative initiatives of the current government. While there may be broad political agreement on the necessity for climate legislation, there is a lack of consensus - not to say some confusion - about what a climate law should seek to achieve.

The Copenhagen Conference: How Should the EU Respond?

From Farm to Fork

Jobs, Growth and Reduced Energy Costs: Greenprint for a National Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme

Maintaining competitiveness while advancing the net-zero transition

Matthew Baldwin and Jacob Werksman discuss the future of EU climate and energy policy.

How Do We Feed the World Without Devouring the Planet?

In his address to the IIEA, George Monbiot will answer the question posed in his most recent book, Regenesis: How do we feed the world without devouring the planet?

Decarbonising Ireland’s Gas Network

Two Nations, One Mission: Irish and Canadian Reflections on COP28

Ambassador Stewart and Director Walsh offer their views on what came out of COP28 and how countries might pursue their efforts to address global climate challenges, mitigate the impacts of climate change and accelerate the green transition.

Development Assistance in a Changing World

Keynote address by Carsten Staur, Chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee

Protectors of the Planet: Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples

UN SDG Advocate Hindou Ibrahim addresses the challenges posed by climate change and speak about the role of Indigenous Peoples in protecting the environment and delivering a just transition.

Achieving a Sustainable Future for All

This Real Talk event, co-organised by the IIEA and Coca-Cola Ireland will convene an expert panel to discuss how industry, NGO’s and policymakers can achieve climate action goals through the power of partnerships.

The Australian Election: Implications for Climate and Foreign Policy

In her address to the IIEA, Kate Clayton analyses the results of the recent Australian federal election and highlights the key issues facing the Albanese Government.

Sustainable Forestry: Combatting the Climate and Biodiversity Crises

The expert panellists discuss the role of sustainable forestry in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises.

The Future of the European Hydrogen Economy

In this session, three international experts explore the potential of green hydrogen in the EU’s transition to a carbon-neutral future.

The Fight for Climate After COVID-19

Alice C. Hill will explore her core arguments made in her latest book, The Fight for Climate After COVID-19, in which she argues the global response to COVID-19 can serve as a lesson for the urgency and scale of the response required to avert climate disaster.

A Zero Waste Vision for Europe

The Spirit of Green: The Economics of Collisions and Contagions in a Crowded World

In ‘The Spirit of Green’, Nobel Prize-winning economist William Nordhaus describes a new way of green thinking that would help us overcome our biggest challenges without sacrificing economic prosperity, in large part by accounting for the spillover costs of economic collisions.

Harnessing Inclusive Multilateralism for International Development

Commissioner Urpilainen reflects on the role of inclusive multilateralism in international development and provides insights as to how it can used to foster partnerships in the context of international development.

Climate and Community│’Le climat, Tous ensemble!’

This conference highlights the important role that each of us can play to address the serious climate and environmental challenges which we face.

The Value of Energy: A New Framework for the Transition to Net Zero

Three expert speakers assess the implications of a new framework to accelerate economic growth and facilitate a clean energy transition.

WEBINAR: The Future of Flying: Zero-Emission Aviation

Mr Llewellyn will highlight the factors needed to lay the groundwork for a climate-neutral commercial aircraft.

WEBINAR: Circularity to Restore the Earth

Ms Andersen will argue that incorporating circularity into economic models will be vital to restore the earth and to secure humanity’s future.

The European Green Deal: Future-Proofing Energy in Ireland

Cities and Climate Action: Perspectives from Dublin and Marseille

WEBINAR: Cities and Climate Action: Perspectives from Dublin and Marseilles

Hazel Chu, Lord Mayor of Dublin and Michèle Rubirola, Deputy Mayor of Marseille will discuss their efforts in making Dublin and Marseille sustainable and climate-resilient cities.

WEBINAR: The European Green Deal: Future-Proofing Energy in Ireland

Stabilising the Democratic Republic of the Congo

WEBINAR: Offshore Wind: The Future of Irish Energy?

Building Popular Support for the Energy Transition: The Battle for Hearts and Minds

Towards a Sustainable Agriculture: Workshop on Global and EU Medium and Long-Term Policies

This expert workshop provided a forum for discussing agricultural policies from a medium to long-term perspective, in preparation for the OECD agricultural ministers meeting expected to take place in April 2016, and to form a view on EU Common Agricultural Policy post-2020.

The Paris Climate Agreement versus the Trump Effect: Countervailing Forces for Decarbonisation

In this publication, IIEA Senior Fellow Joseph Curtin argues that the “Trump Effect” has created a powerful countervailing force acting against the momentum which the Paris Agreement on climate change hoped to generate.

Climate Risks: Can the Central Bank Manage Them Effectively?

Pragmatism over Purism: How to design a Carbon Tax to Win Political and Social Support

From prices and machines to citizens and communities: making climate action more effective

Tipping Points and Climate Impacts: We care, but when will we care enough?

Take Charge! – Together Towards a Low Carbon Future

Should US reveal the truth and withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement?

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sets out his vision for the Europe

The historic signing of Paris Agreement and the need for greater climate ambition

Green Bonds and COP 21

Pledges, “ratchet” mechanisms and clean-tech innovation:  The three pillars of a successful Paris outcome

Maturing of the Carbon Tax Debate