Can Special Economic Zones deliver on their promise of structural transformation for Africa? A new study shows that while they have not always lived up to expectations, they are evolving — and could become powerful tools for inclusive growth on the continent. Continue reading A new start for Africa’s Special Economic Zones?
By Dr Moritz Kraemer, Chief Economist and Head of Research at LBBW Bank and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Finance at SOAS, University of London and Dr Ulrich Volz, Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Finance at SOAS, University of London and Senior Research Fellow at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
Many developing countries are struggling under a high sovereign debt burden and rising interest rates that leave little fiscal space to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Climate Accord.
While the 80 economies designated by the World Bank as low-income countries (LICs) or lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) – home to over half the world population –contributed just over 17% of total world carbon emissions in 2021, and much less in terms of historical emissions, global population growth will be entirely driven by these countries in the coming decades. Their future contribution to global emissions is set to grow substantially if the foundations for low-carbon development pathways are not put in place today.
Continue reading “The First Trillion is the Hardest: How to Raise the Necessary Funds for Poor Countries’ Climate Mitigation Investments”
Par Jason Gagnon, chef d’unité et économiste principal, Centre de développement de l’OCDE, et David Khoudour, conseiller mondial en mobilité humaine, PNUD
Il est bien connu que les transferts de fonds contribuent de manière significative aux économies des pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire : ils représentent en moyenne plus de 5 % de leur PIB. Ce que l’on sait moins, en revanche, c’est que l’aide apportée par les communautés à l’étranger est quatre fois plus importante dans les pays frappés par des catastrophes liées au changement climatique : en Haïti, au Honduras ou au Népal, les transferts de fonds représentent plus de 20 % du PIB.
Continue reading “Diasporas, des acteurs invisibles de l’action climatique”
By Jason Gagnon, Head of unit and Senior Economist, OECD Development Centre, and David Khoudour, Global Human Mobility Adviser, UNDP
Diasporas are not only at the forefront of the response to climate disasters, their action goes deep, way beyond the short term: in addition to sending money to their families, they invest in healthcare and reconstruction, design and lead climate adaption projects –e.g. for access to water and sustainable energy–, help diversify livelihoods and boost the resilience of local communities e.g. by improving food security and access to education. Continue reading Diasporas, the invisible heroes of climate action
By Shruti Agarwal, Senior Climate Adviser with Save the Children
Children are looking to world leaders to demonstrate brave leadership. As one child from India told us, “It’s not children’s job to clean the mess spread by their elders.” But they are not just passive victims. Children have distinct capacities to contribute to climate action within their communities, countries and globally. Yet their rights, specific needs and perspectives have been overlooked in climate discussion. This must change. Continue reading COP28: Prioritising children in the fight against climate change
By Ruurd Brouwer, CEO, TCX, and Barry Eichengreen, Professor of Economics and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
Private-sector funding will be essential for raising the trillions of dollars needed to finance climate-change abatement and adaption projects in emerging and developing countries. The question is: will that finance be forthcoming?
Continue reading “Currency risk is stifling climate finance for developing countries. It should – and can – be mitigated”
By Will Nichols, Head of Climate and Resilience Risk, Verisk Maplecroft
Record temperatures, wildfires, storms and floods have all made headlines in 2023 as the world braces for a new climate reality. But the secondary impacts of these climate shocks cannot be ignored.
Governments and business organisations in Latin America must ask difficult questions about the relationships between climate impacts and secondary risks, including:
Continue reading “Cascading climate risks are a threat Latin America must take seriously”
By Anzetse Were, Development Economist and Senior Economist, FSD Kenya
Discussions on green and climate finance in Africa often dwell on two issues. The first is why it’s so difficult to scale-up this type of financing on the continent. The second is the issue of layered risk: some are not keen to layer ‘ESG’ risk on top of ‘Africa’ risk in investments.
Continue reading “What does Climate Risk really mean for African economies?”
By Benjamin Kumpf, Head of OECD Innovation for Development Facility, Leila Mucarsel, Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer in Transformative Innovation Policy at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina) and Avilia Zavarella, Junior Innovation Specialist at OECD Innovation for Development Facility
In the face of the climate emergency, around 140 countries, which emit close to 90% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, are planning to reduce their emissions to as close to zero as possible (known as net zero) in the upcoming decades. Around a third of these are low and middle-income countries (LMICs),the countries most affected by climate change. So how can countries in the Global South achieve a socially-just transition? One key element is innovation, and potentially mission-oriented innovation.
Continue reading “Mission-oriented innovation: a suitable approach for just net zero transitions in the Global South?”
By Nikolaus Lang, Global Leader, The Global Advantage Practice, BCG & Managing Director & Senior Partner; and Burak Tansan, Global Topic Leader ESG in Emerging Markets & Managing Director & Senior Partner at BCG
Embracing sustainability is the key to success for Emerging Market Companies that want to compete on a global stage – both today and into the future. Despite starting at a major disadvantage, selected companies are bridging the gap and finding ways to invest in sustainability from environment to social and governance – without sacrificing growth or profitability.
Continue reading “Future-proofing success: Why Emerging Market Companies are Embracing Sustainability”