Emerging market and developed countries must meet their shared climate and development goals to avoid the catastrophic costs of inaction. Yet, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that 26 low-income countries are in debt distress or default, and new academic research estimates say this number will double if countries mobilize the level of investment needed […]
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 […]
By Daniel Bradlow, Marina Zucker-Marques and Kevin P. Gallagher Many developing countries are experiencing what the World Bank has termed the “silent” sovereign debt crisis. It is silent because the international community has seemingly been hoping the creeping crisis will resolve itself on its own without ambitious intervention. Fifty-four countries are spending more than 10 […]
The clean transition toward net zero is often constrained by inadequate finance and access to affordable climate technologies, especially for developing countries. While the Group of 20 (G20) has been at the forefront of efforts to take steps to address the financial challenges, the generation and diffusion of climate technologies must also receive due attention. […]
By Angie Ye The Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted the inaugural Global China Fellows Summit from July 11-13 in Hong Kong. The Summit brought together over 30 former, current and incoming Global China Fellows, GDP Center staff and researchers and other key stakeholders to collectively discuss a policy-oriented research agenda that […]
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has one of the highest solar irradiation and great wind energy potential in sub-Saharan Africa. The falling costs of both solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy technologies and the discovery of transition minerals essential for the shift to low carbon economies in several SADC countries makes the region a […]
Overlapping global shocks faced by African countries have caused severe liquidity challenges in recent years. Many countries are currently experiencing low real gross domestic product (GDP) growth, higher inflation, exchange rate instability, balance of payments crisis and a high risk of debt distress. The most critical is the increasing disruption that climate change risks pose […]
By Angie Ye During the week of March 25, members of the Global China Initiative (GCI) at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) traveled to China to present their policy-oriented research to policymakers, engage in academic exchange with partner institutions, and connect with Boston University alumni based in China. Team members including […]
China’s full integration into the Bretton Woods System (BWS) since it joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2001 raised questions about exactly how China relates to the BW institutions and the international economic order that they support. Existing studies debate whether China is supporting the BWS institutions and the order as a ‘responsible’ […]
The year 2023 is coming to a close as emerging market and developing economies continue to experience economic headwinds in the form of higher-for-longer interest rates, the ongoing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine and accelerating climate change. In reflecting on the end of the year and the start of another, […]