Explainers

We can’t make progress on sustainable development if we don’t understand it. Research papers and textbooks don’t always speak in plain language, which makes it hard to learn about the nuances of environmental negotiations or get clarity on what counts as a fossil fuel subsidy. IISD experts are here to help with accessible explainers on tricky topics. 

Highlights

Climate Adaptation and Peacebuilding Keep Missing Each Other

Alignment between peace and climate adaptation efforts can more effectively strengthen resilience, legitimacy, and long-term stability.

Explainer

April 22, 2026

International Public Finance Explained

Public finance institutions play an outsized role in shaping the energy system by providing government-backed, low-risk finance. This analysis explains how much international public finance is provided by G20 countries and how it has shifted over time.

Explainer

April 16, 2026

Capital Expenditures From State-Owned Enterprises Explained

G20 energy state-owned enterprises are major players in the energy sector. Explore what these national companies are, where their capital expenditure flows, and how this impacts the energy landscape.

Explainer

April 16, 2026

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How an Intersectional Approach Can Help Us Address Vulnerability to Climate Change

The relationship between overlapping inequities and the conditions that increase people’s vulnerability to climate change is often overlooked or oversimplified. International Institute for Sustainable Development experts Julie Dekens, Angie Dazé, and Cameron Hunter explain why we must deepen our understanding of—and actively confront—these powerful systems to ensure that climate change adaptation actions are effective for those who need them most.
Explainer February 6, 2026

What Happened at COP 30 on Climate and Health?

Experts from the Friends of Climate and Health explain why human health is relevant to climate policy, and what progress was made at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30).
Explainer December 11, 2025