The African continent faces a multifaceted challenge regarding its energy policy. To bolster economic industrialization and improve livelihoods, leaders seek energy solutions with low carbon emissions while endeavoring to bring electricity to an estimated 600 million people who lack access. Emerging as a pivotal capital provider for global energy finance, China has committed $49 billion […]
By Tim Hirschel-Burns and Rishikesh Ram Bhandary A $4 trillion financing gap to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 85 percent of which are off track. A need to rapidly scale up climate action and energy access. Weak global growth. Instability-fueled migration. A reversal in a decades-long trend of reducing global poverty. The […]
By Naomi Frim-Abrams On November 20, 2024, the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) hosted Jon Denton-Schneider, Assistant Professor of Economics at Clark University, for the final installment of the 2024 Fall HCI Research Seminar Series. He presented his joint work with Eduardo Montero at the University of Chicago titled, “Disease, Disparities, and Development: Evidence from Chagas […]
By Praveena Bandara On November 7, 2024, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted Marina Zucker-Marques, Senior Academic Researcher at the GDP Center, and Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), to discuss their new book, “Feminism in Public Debt: A Human Rights Approach,” as part of […]
By Kamal Malhotra The United Nations (UN) is arguably the world’s most enduring and all-encompassing “global public good.” In fact, the recent UN Summit for the Future, where 193 UN Member States co-signed a Pact for the Future, reaffirmed that the UN’s original mandates of peace and security, sustainable development and human rights remain relevant […]
By Ishana Ratan Low- and middle-income countries face the dual goals of decarbonization and development. It might be expected that among these countries, those with a higher share of foreign direct investment (FDI) in renewable energy will lead in the energy transition. In renewable energy, foreign companies can bring skills, technology and capital to markets […]
Foreign direct investment is often cited as critical for renewable energy growth in low- and middle-income countries. However, despite the promise of foreign investment, countries like Colombia capable of quickly scaling up solar are still facing an energy crisis. Why has solar installation slowed in countries with experienced foreign investors, but continues to steadily grow […]
By Tim Hirschel-Burns The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), taking place from November 11-29, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, has been dubbed the “Finance COP” and is expected to deliver a new climate finance goal, known in COP jargon as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). This NCQG will succeed the climate finance goal […]
By Yuan Liu On October 21, 2024, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) and BU Institute for Global Sustainability co-hosted Brett Christophers, Professor of Human Geography at the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Uppsala University to discuss his new book, “The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won’t Save the Planet,” […]
A global transition toward sustainable trade and supply chains is essential in the age of climate change and energy decarbonization. Low-carbon technologies (LCTs) and the related minerals are at the forefront of this transition, playing a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development. The international trade of LCTs is pivotal in […]