Climate Change – Global South Policy Review

Designing Climate Finance Packages That Last

Michael Franczak

Integrated, full-spectrum climate finance strategies that align fiscal and monetary policy tools within nationally led frameworks is the key to sustainable climate financing. The authors argue that such cohesive financing—spanning public budgets, private investment, and monetary instruments—is essential to drive sustainable, long-term climate action. Success requires tailoring these financial packages to local economic contexts, ensuring coordination among stakeholders, and embedding them within coherent national systems to strengthen economic resilience and advance climate goals.

Unmasking the Hidden Crisis: Addressing Plastics’ Unknown Climate Effects

Marybeth Collins

Addressing plastic pollution is essential to climate action. Made from fossil fuels, it emits greenhouse gases throughout its lifecycle. By 2050, plastic could consume up to 13% of the global carbon budget. It also disrupts ecosystems and natural carbon sinks, with microplastics affecting climate processes. As the planet warms, plastics break down faster, releasing more emissions and creating a harmful feedback loop.

5 Reasons Companies Are Adding Renewable Energy Credits to Their Net-Zero Emissions Programs

John Melby

Companies are increasingly incorporating Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) into their net-zero emissions strategies for several key reasons. RECs help align clean energy use with real-time operations, enabling more accurate and credible sustainability claims. They support the infrastructure behind renewable energy markets and offer companies a flexible yet impactful way to reduce Scope 2 emissions. By investing in RECs, organizations not only meet environmental goals but also contribute to the growth of clean energy generation. Overall, RECs serve as a practical and verifiable tool in the transition toward net-zero emissions.

Air Quality Worsens Despite China’s Renewable Energy Boom

Marybeth Collins

Despite significant investments in renewable energy, China’s air quality has deteriorated in several northern cities. As of March 2025, 11 major urban centers reported PM2.5 levels exceeding national safety standards. While solar power generation increased by 30.8% and coal usage declined by 3.3%, these improvements have not translated into better air quality. Experts attribute this to factors such as industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and the continued reliance on coal-fired power plants. Additionally, challenges in integrating renewable energy into the existing grid infrastructure have limited its effectiveness in reducing pollution. This situation underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that address not only energy production but also broader environmental and infrastructural issues.

How Training in Green Skills Could Help Turn The Tide Against Plastic Pollution

UNEP

UNEP, in partnership with regional universities, is training students in green skills to fight plastic pollution. The program promotes a circular economy by teaching sustainable practices and waste reduction. By integrating these concepts into academic curricula, it aims to build a workforce ready to support eco-friendly industries. This effort is part of the broader “Green Jobs for Youth Pact” to boost sustainable employment in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Rwanda Sweet Solution For Adapting To Climate Change

UNEP

In Rwanda’s Ngororero district, a UNEP-supported initiative is aiding farmers in adapting to climate change through sustainable beekeeping. By adopting modern hives and planting trees, they have expanded their operation from 20 to 200 hives, enhancing honey production and income. This approach not only provides economic benefits but also restores ecosystems, mitigates climate impacts, and exemplifies how nature-based solutions can foster resilience and livelihoods in vulnerable communities

Bengaluru’s water crisis deepens: Citizen-led NGO Paani.Earth urges Greater Bengaluru Authority to embrace river-centric planning

Sanjana Shashidhar

Bengaluru is facing a worsening water crisis due to rapid urbanization, groundwater overuse, and neglected water bodies. The citizen-led NGO Paani.Earth is urging the new Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to adopt river-centric, watershed-based urban planning. Their initiative emphasizes integrating natural water systems into city development. While the GBA offers hope for better coordination, its success depends on prioritizing sustainable infrastructure and protecting Bengaluru’s vital lakes and rivers.

South Africa climate change act is now in force

Lisa Matata

South Africa’s Climate Change Act, effective from May 2025, marks a major step in enforcing climate action across public and private sectors. It introduces binding measures such as Sectoral Emissions Targets for high-emission industries, mandatory carbon budgets with legal penalties for non-compliance, and stronger regulatory oversight. The Act also mandates local governments to integrate climate planning. It aligns South Africa with global efforts toward a low-carbon, resilient economy.

Going Bananas: How Climate Change Threatens the World’s Favourite Fruit

Nina Lakhani

The climate crisis is threatening the future of the world’s most popular fruit, as almost two-thirds of banana-growing areas in Latin America and the Caribbean may no longer be suitable for growing the fruit by 2080, new research has found.
Rising temperatures, extreme weather and climate-related pests are pummeling banana-growing countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia, reducing yields and devastating rural communities across the region.

Climate change is disrupting the human gut in a new path to illness

Sharmila Vaidyanathan

Research has already found that high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels can diminish the quantity of plant micronutrients like phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and iron, along with protein concentrations in vital crops; these effects add to the complexities that affect the gut microbiota. Climate-driven food shortage and undernourishment could affect the composition of the human gut microbiota, exacerbating the effects of climate change on human health, according to a new review article published in The Lancet Planetary Health.

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