Globalisation and Transformation

Across Africa, climate shocks and debt distress fuel each other in a vicious cycle. With external debt more than tripling since 2008, rising costs and plunging currencies are squeezing public finances - leaving little room for vital climate resilience investments. 

Geogenic hydrogen could offer an alternative solution for the energy transition, especially in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like steel production and heavy transport. Geologist Stefan Cramer explores the potential and risks of this natural hydrogen and reveals what is currently known.

This policy brief details the challenging debt dynamics facing African nations and outlines several solutions that would improve their fiscal capacity to address the climate emergency and embark on a sustainable growth pathway.

As this report shows, many countries will face insolvency problems if they seek to ramp up investment to meet climate and development goals.

As the sovereign debt crisis in the Global South continues to unfold, the lack of involvement of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in debt relief efforts has become a contentious issue among major creditors. This report aims to contribute to the ongoing debate over debt relief negotiations and MDBs and makes policy recommendations how to include MDBs better in debt relief.

Climate-related shocks are becoming more frequent and severe. More than ever, countries must invest in climate resilience and just transitions, but for many emerging market and developing economies, high debt burdens put achieving climate and development goals out of reach. A new policy brief explains the proposal advanced by the Debt Relief for Green and Inclusive Recovery (DRGR) Project.

The report analyzes new data on the level and composition of sovereign debt for emerging markets and developing economies and its relationship to climate vulnerability. It estimates the size of debt restructuring and suspension necessary for countries in or at high risk of debt distress to achieve debt sustainability and put them on a path towards meeting their development goals and climate commitments.

Two-pager of the detailed synthesis report "Green hydrogen: Key success criteria for sustainable trade & production"

This report provides the technical background of processes of renewable hydrogen production and its applications in key sectors and discusses factors which will determine the costs reductions for the commercialisation of renewable hydrogen to reach economies of scale.

Based on national consultations in African and Latin American countries, this report examines benefits and risks for local communities and the envisaged exporting countries located in the Global South. It outlines international policy recommendations for how a human-rights based, equitable, just, and environmentally sound trade should work.