SEI https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:01:58 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cropped-favicon-20180207-2-150x150.jpg?modtime= SEI https://www.sei.org/ 32 32 Biochar y acción climática: Oportunidades desde las realidades locales https://www.sei.org/perspectives/biochar-y-accion-climatica-oportunidades-desde-las-realidades-locales/ El biochar se ha posicionado como una tecnología prometedora de remoción de dióxido de carbono (CDR), con potencial para generar co-beneficios en productividad agrícola, gestión de residuos y desarrollo rural. Sin embargo, su desarrollo e implementación en economías en vías de desarrollo, como Kenia y Colombia, evidencian que el valor del biochar no es homogéneo ni universal. El biochar se ha posicionado como una tecnología prometedora de remoción de dióxido de carbono (CDR), con potencial para generar co-beneficios en productividad agrícola, gestión de residuos y desarrollo rural. Sin embargo, su desarrollo e implementación en economías en vías de desarrollo, como Kenia y Colombia, evidencian que el valor del biochar no es homogéneo ni universal.

]]> Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:03:55 +0000 Yudi Yepes https://www.sei.org/perspectives/biochar-y-accion-climatica-oportunidades-desde-las-realidades-locales/ Perspective Policy coherence for a just energy transition in Kenya’s electricity sector https://www.sei.org/publications/policy-coherence-just-energy-transition-kenyas-electricity-sector/ Prioritizing investments in renewable energy in Kenya has the highest synergetic potential and contributes to economic growth, energy access, and reductions in poverty, inequality and greenhouse gas emissions.Equity goals related to industrialization and job creation conflict with greenhouse gas emission reduction in the country’s industry and transport sectors.Despite the current transition towards increased renewable electricity generation in Kenya, conflicts remain between deployment of re... Prioritizing investments in renewable energy in Kenya has the highest synergetic potential and contributes to economic growth, energy access, and reductions in poverty, inequality and greenhouse gas emissions.

Equity goals related to industrialization and job creation conflict with greenhouse gas emission reduction in the country’s industry and transport sectors.

Despite the current transition towards increased renewable electricity generation in Kenya, conflicts remain between deployment of renewable energy and affordability of electricity. Thus, this transition has not necessarily led to equitable outcomes.

Kenya should remove the institutional barriers that drive policy incoherence and hinder progress on economic growth, poverty and inequality reduction, and subsequently on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Policy should mitigate the interests and power dynamics in the electricity market that further influence the affordability of electricity and exacerbate inequality and that are drivers of incoherence.

]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:37:10 +0000 Cassilde Muhoza; Philip Osano; Adis Dzebo https://www.sei.org/publications/policy-coherence-just-energy-transition-kenyas-electricity-sector/ Publication Insurance and reinsurance under climate stress: managing systemic risk in global supply chains https://www.sei.org/publications/insurance-reinsurance-climate-stress-risk-global-supply-chains/ This working paper examines how the insurance and reinsurance sectors are responding to these challenges, as well as the emerging limits of traditional risk-transfer models. This working paper examines how the insurance and reinsurance sectors are responding to these challenges, as well as the emerging limits of traditional risk-transfer models.

]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Mikael Allan Mikaelsson https://www.sei.org/publications/insurance-reinsurance-climate-stress-risk-global-supply-chains/ Publication Climate risks to insurance and reinsurance of global supply chains – a new report from SEI shows https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/climate-risks-to-insurance-and-reinsurance-of-global-supply-chains/ Global supply chains are increasingly exposed to climate-related disruptions, redrawing the boundaries of what can be insured and how risk is distributed across the global economy. In recent years insured catastrophe losses have grown by roughly 5–7% per year in real terms. As insurers retreat from high-risk geographies and sectors, the burden of loss increasingly shifts to public budgets, enterprises, and households. Global supply chains are increasingly exposed to climate-related disruptions, redrawing the boundaries of what can be insured and how risk is distributed across the global economy. In recent years insured catastrophe losses have grown by roughly 5–7% per year in real terms. As insurers retreat from high-risk geographies and sectors, the burden of loss increasingly shifts to public budgets, enterprises, and households.

]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:01:00 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/climate-risks-to-insurance-and-reinsurance-of-global-supply-chains/ Press Ivo Krustok: Eesti elanikud väärivad ambitsioonikat energiapoliitikat, mitte sihitut ukerdamist https://www.sei.org/perspectives/ivo-krustok-enmak-2035/ Aasta alguses kinnitas Eesti valitsus energiamajanduse arengukava aastani 2035 (ENMAK 2035). Tegemist on liiga ettevaatliku dokumendiga, milles pole tegelikult Eesti majandust toetavat plaani, kirjutas SEI Tallinna kliimasüsteemide ja energiapoliitika üksuse juht Ivo Krustok Delfis avaldatud arvamusloos. Aasta alguses kinnitas Eesti valitsus energiamajanduse arengukava aastani 2035 (ENMAK 2035). Tegemist on liiga ettevaatliku dokumendiga, milles pole tegelikult Eesti majandust toetavat plaani, kirjutas SEI Tallinna kliimasüsteemide ja energiapoliitika üksuse juht Ivo Krustok Delfis avaldatud arvamusloos.

]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:02:14 +0000 Ivo Krustok https://www.sei.org/perspectives/ivo-krustok-enmak-2035/ Perspective Contested borders of fire and reindeer https://www.sei.org/publications/fire-and-reindeer/ Wildfires, amplified by climate change, emerged in Sweden in the 2010s. These events exposed gaps in Swedish national preparedness and caused public debates. Largely absent from the debates, however, were the effects that the fires had on indigenous Sámi and their reindeer herds. Wildfires, amplified by climate change, emerged in Sweden in the 2010s. These events exposed gaps in Swedish national preparedness and caused public debates. Largely absent from the debates, however, were the effects that the fires had on indigenous Sámi and their reindeer herds.

]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:02:41 +0000 Annette Löf; Carl Österlin https://www.sei.org/publications/fire-and-reindeer/ Publication A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda https://www.sei.org/publications/theory-of-change-post-2030-agenda/ A better approach is needed to assess potential impact and feasibility of proposals. A better approach is needed to assess potential impact and feasibility of proposals.

]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:10:15 +0000 Nina Weitz; Therese Bennich; Måns Nilsson https://www.sei.org/publications/theory-of-change-post-2030-agenda/ Publication Increasing inclusivity in biological recording in the UK: progress to date and future priorities https://www.sei.org/publications/increasing-inclusivity-biological-recording-uk/ Volunteer biological recording is an effective way to gather environmental data and offers benefits to participants as well as the researchers who use the information collected. However, there are demographic biases among participants which can hinder the equitable distribution of arising environmental and social benefits. In this paper, authors from eight UK organizations reflect on activities aimed at tackling these imbalances. Volunteer biological recording is an effective way to gather environmental data and offers benefits to participants as well as the researchers who use the information collected. However, there are demographic biases among participants which can hinder the equitable distribution of arising environmental and social benefits. In this paper, authors from eight UK organizations reflect on activities aimed at tackling these imbalances.

]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:03:42 +0000 Rachel Pateman https://www.sei.org/publications/increasing-inclusivity-biological-recording-uk/ Publication Inside the Atlas mapping oil and gas threats in the Amazon https://www.sei.org/features/fossil-fuel-atlas-oil-gas-threats-amazon/ A new update to the Fossil Fuel Atlas exposes the growing exploitation of the Amazon rain forest, serving as an early warning system for communities whose lands may be targeted for oil and gas drilling. What it shows is that nearly 20% of the Amazon region is designated for leasing for fossil fuel exploration and extraction. This upgrade empowers communities with information to help safeguard their water, land and health in formal impact assessment processes. A new update to the Fossil Fuel Atlas exposes the growing exploitation of the Amazon rain forest, serving as an early warning system for communities whose lands may be targeted for oil and gas drilling. What it shows is that nearly 20% of the Amazon region is designated for leasing for fossil fuel exploration and extraction.

This upgrade empowers communities with information to help safeguard their water, land and health in formal impact assessment processes.

]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:58:39 +0000 Samantha Kline https://www.sei.org/features/fossil-fuel-atlas-oil-gas-threats-amazon/ Feature Not an easy ride: economic research priorities for pro-environmental trade regulation https://www.sei.org/publications/not-an-easy-ride/ “Clean” supply chains (means) do not necessarily improve environmental outcomes (ends).The theory of change exemplifies the logical impact pathway for the EUDR.The authors derive an interdisciplinary research agenda around constraining and enabling factors of success. “Clean” supply chains (means) do not necessarily improve environmental outcomes (ends).

The theory of change exemplifies the logical impact pathway for the EUDR.

The authors derive an interdisciplinary research agenda around constraining and enabling factors of success.

]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:40:05 +0000 Mairon G. Bastos Lima https://www.sei.org/publications/not-an-easy-ride/ Publication Creando valor local: Subastas de energías renovables en Colombia https://www.sei.org/publications/creando-valor-local-subastas-de-energias-renovables-en-colombia/ Este documento de trabajo examina cómo las subastas de energías renovables en Colombia pueden promover una transición energética justa e inclusiva mediante la integración de objetivos socioeconómicos y orientados por las comunidades Este documento de trabajo examina cómo las subastas de energías renovables en Colombia pueden promover una transición energética justa e inclusiva mediante la integración de objetivos socioeconómicos y orientados por las comunidades

]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:02:22 +0000 José Vega Araújo; Miquel Muñoz Cabré https://www.sei.org/publications/creando-valor-local-subastas-de-energias-renovables-en-colombia/ Publication Tallinna vangerdused mõjutavad kogu riigi keskkonnaeesmärke https://www.sei.org/perspectives/tallinna-vangerdused-mojutavad-kogu-riigi-keskkonnaeesmarke/ Tallinna uus linnavõim on teatanud kärbetest keskkonna- ja kliimavaldkonnas. Keskkonnaprobleemidele tuleb aga lahendused leida varem või hiljem – mida kaugemale lükkame nendega tegelemise, seda kallimaks see elanikele läheb, kirjutab SEI Tallinna kliimasüsteemide ja energiapoliitika üksuse juht Ivo Krustok arvamusloos. Tallinna uus linnavõim on teatanud kärbetest keskkonna- ja kliimavaldkonnas. Keskkonnaprobleemidele tuleb aga lahendused leida varem või hiljem – mida kaugemale lükkame nendega tegelemise, seda kallimaks see elanikele läheb, kirjutab SEI Tallinna kliimasüsteemide ja energiapoliitika üksuse juht Ivo Krustok arvamusloos.

]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:43:46 +0000 Ivo Krustok https://www.sei.org/perspectives/tallinna-vangerdused-mojutavad-kogu-riigi-keskkonnaeesmarke/ Perspective Trase: Traders exposed to water scarcity risks in Brazilian beef and soy supply chains https://www.sei.org/features/traders-exposed-to-water-scarcity-risks-in-brazilian-beef-and-soy-supply-chains/ Trase analysis of water used to produce beef and soy in Brazil shows where commodity traders face the greatest risks of water scarcity. Addressing these supply chain risks requires urgent action by companies, banks and governments to invest in water-stressed areas and support farming practices that are more water efficient, says Water Witness. Trase analysis of water used to produce beef and soy in Brazil shows where commodity traders face the greatest risks of water scarcity. Addressing these supply chain risks requires urgent action by companies, banks and governments to invest in water-stressed areas and support farming practices that are more water efficient, says Water Witness.

]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:54:36 +0000 Michael Lathuillière; Rafaela Flach; Charles Wright https://www.sei.org/features/traders-exposed-to-water-scarcity-risks-in-brazilian-beef-and-soy-supply-chains/ Feature Trase: Water scarcity looms as hidden risk for Brazil’s soy and beef traders https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/trase-water-scarcity-looms-as-hidden-risk-for-brazils-soy-and-beef-traders/ New Trase research quantifies how trader supply chains are exposed to water scarcity risks, alongside exposure to deforestation. New Trase research quantifies how trader supply chains are exposed to water scarcity risks, alongside exposure to deforestation.

]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:00:03 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/trase-water-scarcity-looms-as-hidden-risk-for-brazils-soy-and-beef-traders/ Press Appropriate technologies: for regenerative practices and ecological citizenship, yielding planet-centred design https://www.sei.org/publications/technologies-regenerative-practice-ecological-citizenship/ The authors review extant literature from design, philosophy, cultural criticism and science, and examine technologies as entangled agents that can facilitate ecological citizenship. They then develop the Ecological Citizenship Technologies (ECT) Framework, a conceptual tool for the analysis, design and distribution of technologies in an ecologically interdependent planetary context. The authors review extant literature from design, philosophy, cultural criticism and science, and examine technologies as entangled agents that can facilitate ecological citizenship. They then develop the Ecological Citizenship Technologies (ECT) Framework, a conceptual tool for the analysis, design and distribution of technologies in an ecologically interdependent planetary context.

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:38:13 +0000 Luke Gooding https://www.sei.org/publications/technologies-regenerative-practice-ecological-citizenship/ Publication Nigeria, South Africa on course to break climate pledges with fossil fuel production plans https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/nigeria-south-africa-fossil-fuel-production-plans/ The 2025 Production Gap Report found that most of the world’s top 20 fossil-fuel-producing countries plan to increase coal, oil and gas extraction, despite their commitments under the Paris Agreement. The report’s co-leads, Emily Ghosh and Derik Broekhoff, highlight in The Conversation how the fossil fuel plans of Nigeria and South Africa – two of the countries profiled in the report – collide with their stated climate pledges. The 2025 Production Gap Report found that most of the world’s top 20 fossil-fuel-producing countries plan to increase coal, oil and gas extraction, despite their commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The report’s co-leads, Emily Ghosh and Derik Broekhoff, highlight in The Conversation how the fossil fuel plans of Nigeria and South Africa – two of the countries profiled in the report – collide with their stated climate pledges.

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:14:22 +0000 https://www.sei.org/about-sei/press-room/nigeria-south-africa-fossil-fuel-production-plans/ Press City Nature Challenged: reflections on the experience of UK City Nature Challenge Organizers https://www.sei.org/publications/reflections-uk-city-nature-challenge-organizers/ In this paper, the authors address a knowledge gap around the experience of citizen science organizers. Though the data gathered through citizen science work is of clear use to organizers, far less is known about other dimensions of citizen science work from an organizer’s perspective. In this paper, the authors address a knowledge gap around the experience of citizen science organizers. Though the data gathered through citizen science work is of clear use to organizers, far less is known about other dimensions of citizen science work from an organizer’s perspective.

]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:34:13 +0000 Smriti Safaya https://www.sei.org/publications/reflections-uk-city-nature-challenge-organizers/ Publication Examining the role of risk mitigation and transfer for renewable energy investments: case studies in East Africa https://www.sei.org/publications/risk-mitigation-transfer-renewable-energy-investments-east-africa/ This report examines how risk mitigation and transfer instruments support utility-scale renewable energy investment in East Africa, drawing on six case studies of wind and solar projects in Burundi, Djibouti, Uganda and Kenya. This report examines how risk mitigation and transfer instruments support utility-scale renewable energy investment in East Africa, drawing on six case studies of wind and solar projects in Burundi, Djibouti, Uganda and Kenya.

]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:08:12 +0000 Daniel Duma; Miquel Muñoz Cabré; Andrew Adwera; Maja Otterstedt https://www.sei.org/publications/risk-mitigation-transfer-renewable-energy-investments-east-africa/ Publication Bridging science and climate justice: perspectives from Latin America https://www.sei.org/features/science-climate-justice-latin-america/ Drawing on a report prepared by experts from SEI and the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), we analyse how science is transforming climate litigation, the challenges faced by Latin America and other low-income regions in accessing scientific evidence, as well as the opportunities that arise for using this knowledge in the future of climate litigation. Drawing on a report prepared by experts from SEI and the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), we analyse how science is transforming climate litigation, the challenges faced by Latin America and other low-income regions in accessing scientific evidence, as well as the opportunities that arise for using this knowledge in the future of climate litigation.

]]> Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:57:36 +0000 Juanita Gómez González; Florencia Ortúzar; Gisselle García; Claudia Strambo; Elisa Arond https://www.sei.org/features/science-climate-justice-latin-america/ Feature Why language matters in climate negotiations: disentangling cross-border impacts and transboundary climate risks https://www.sei.org/perspectives/why-language-matters-in-climate-negotiations/ Similar-sounding terms in climate talks can mask very different realities, with real consequences for policy coherence and negotiated outcomes. Similar-sounding terms in climate talks can mask very different realities, with real consequences for policy coherence and negotiated outcomes.

]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:18:23 +0000 Nicole Kempis; Richard J.T. Klein https://www.sei.org/perspectives/why-language-matters-in-climate-negotiations/ Perspective