Mobile money is an innovation that allows financial transactions to be performed via a cell phone. Even in poor regions of Africa, almost everyone has a cell phone; therefore, mobile money could both contribute to the continent’s economic growth and ensure that no Africans are excluded from access to financial services.

However, DIW Berlin data from Uganda show that mobile money is actually used less frequently than the number of mobile money accounts suggests. Nevertheless, demand for financial services has increased by 20 percentage points since the introduction of mobile money.

At the same time, a fourth of the population—the poorest, in particular— remain financially excluded. In addition to high costs, this is mainly due to the insufficient availability of mobile money in rural areas and a lack of financial literacy.

Consequently, to increase the use of mobile money and thus promote economic development in Africa, an appropriate competition policy, requirements for an enhanced network coverage, and financial literacy trainings are necessary.

Mobile money has penetrated the market in rural Africa to a significant extent and financial inclusion is improving. However, one fourth of the population has no access to formal financial services. This seems to be less due to mobile money costs and more to a lack of accessibility and poor
financial literacy.

Mobile money should be emphasized more in financial literacy training. Mobile money usage figures have increased recently due to the coronavirus pandemic

Article 6.4 progress update: work of the Supervisory Body on the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism

The Article 6.4 mechanism, now known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, allows countries to trade reductions in carbon emissions in a manner that goes beyond zero-sum offsetting, to achieve their commitments under the Paris Agreement. This briefing aims to update Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries on the standards and procedures that have been adopted by the supervising body (Article 6.4) to inform the design of projects.

Advisory opinion on "Climate emergency and human rights"

This Amicus Curiae is an advisory opinion requested by the republics of Chile and Colombia on "Climate emergency and human rights". It was presented by Climate Analytics Caribbean to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. It outlines the intricate intersections of climate change, human rights, and state obligations, with a specific emphasis on the unique challenges faced by Caribbean nations.

Uncompensated claims to fair emission space risk putting Paris Agreement goals out of reach

Based on scenarios underlying the IPCC's 6th Assessment Report, in this paper we construct a suite of scenarios that combine the following elements: (a) two quantifications of a moral claim to the remaining carbon space by South Asia, and Africa, (b) a 'highest possible emission reduction' effort by developed regions, and (c) a corresponding range for other developing regions. Our findings raise important questions of perspectives on equity in the context of the Paris Agreement including on the critical importance of climate finance.

Climate justice and loss and damage: Hurricane Dorian, Haitians and human rights

Haitian communities were the locus of the majority of deaths and missing people attributed to the 2019 Hurricane Dorian and faced a series of distributional, procedural and recognition injustices. We investigate the historical factors and contemporary conditions of Haitian communities in The Bahamas that resulted in significant inequities, disproportional impacts and infractions of human rights.

Accounting for socioeconomic constraints in sustainable irrigation expansion assessments

This paper provides five scenarios of sustainable irrigation deployment in the 21st century integrated into the framework of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, which account for biophysical irrigation limits and socioeconomic constraints. We find that the potential for sustainable irrigation expansion implied by biophysical limits alone is considerably reduced when socioeconomic factors are considered.

An assessment of the adequacy of the mitigation measures and targets of the respondent states in Duarte Agostinho v Portugal and 32 other states

This report provides an overview of the best available science and other key concepts of relevance to the achievement of the 1.5°C limit – i.e., the long-term temperature goal (LTTG) of the Paris Agreement – and assesses the adequacy of the mitigation measures and targets of the 33 respondent states in Duarte Agostinho v Portugal and 32 other States against the long-term temperature goal.

About us

Decarbonisation targets and 1.5℃ pathways

Comment

Mobile money is driving financial development in Africa

Publications

Article 6.4 progress update: work of the Supervisory Body on the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism

What does a just transition look like for Caribbean Small Island Developing States?

Climate justice: loss and damage and the right to development

Climate justice and loss and damage: perspectives from the global south

Advisory opinion on "Climate emergency and human rights"

Uncompensated claims to fair emission space risk putting Paris Agreement goals out of reach

Climate justice and loss and damage: Hurricane Dorian, Haitians and human rights

Long term strategies: low carbon growth, resilience and prosperity for Least Developed Countries

Accounting for socioeconomic constraints in sustainable irrigation expansion assessments

An assessment of the adequacy of the mitigation measures and targets of the respondent states in Duarte Agostinho v Portugal and 32 other states

Debt-for-climate swaps for small islands

Intergenerational inequities in exposure to climate extremes