Journal Issue: Cambridge Journal of Climate Research - Volume 2, Issue 1
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Volume
2
Number
1
Issue Date
2025-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
3050-2020
Journal Volume
Articles
Foreword
(2025-05) Hulme, Mike
Presidents' Letter
(2025-05) Patel, Shreya; Radice, Benedetta
To What Extent Does Being Colonised Influence Climate Vulnerability?
(2025-05) Osorio, Chad Patrick; Manuel, Amihan; Irwin, Ciaran
The legacy of colonisation intertwines historical injustices with contemporary geosocial vulnerabilities, affecting climate change impacts. However, quantitative evidence for this link is very limited. We examine the premise that former colonies, particularly in the Global South, bear a disproportionate burden of climate change effects due to historical patterns of exploitation and neglect by colonising countries. Using the Country Index of the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative and University of Zurich’s Colonial Transformation Dataset, we find that colonised countries are more climate vulnerable than non-colonised countries. However, we find no significant relationship between the duration of colonisation, period of independence, and intensity of political domination on heightened climate vulnerability. These results indicate that regardless of the characteristics of the period of colonisation, being colonised is an important factor related to the vulnerability of countries to climate change.
Green Infrastructure Investment: Mobilising Private-Sector Participation in Climate-Friendly Projects
(2025-05) Jobst, Andreas
Investing in sustainable infrastructure is crucial for effective climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, relying solely on current public investment plans may not be enough to finance climate-friendly infrastructure, as private sector involvement is limited. Creating an enabling regulatory environment can attract long-term investors like insurers who offer life insurance and annuity products. These investors can match the steady revenue streams from infrastructure projects with their long-term liabilities. However, many insurance solvency regimes do not adequately treat infrastructure as a distinct asset class. The credit risk of infrastructure debt – based on a global sample of project loans originated over nearly four decades – suggests that current capital requirements could be lowered, especially for projects that would meet the use-of-proceeds eligibility criteria for green bonds. Such “green” infrastructure projects have lower default rates than “non-green” projects, particularly in developed economies. Therefore, insurance solvency regimes that are tailored to the specific and unique features of infrastructure could lower regulatory capital cost for long-term regulated investors. Acknowledging the diminishing downgrade risk of infrastructure debt over time could release capital to support more climate-friendly infrastructure projects and enable the transition to more sustainable economies.
Navigating the Polar Frontier: Exploring the Effects of Sea-Ice Decline on Shipping and Sea Routes in the Arctic
(2025-05) Thompson, Lily
The Arctic is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate warming. Arctic amplification has triggered unprecedented environmental shift, affecting a critical component of the ecosystem: sea ice. In recent decades, sea-ice loss has extended seasonal cycle decline by 40%, and the Arctic has experienced two record-breaking minimum extents since 2006. Key shipping routes across the Arctic operate according to this sea ice. This article uses satellite records and shipping reports to examine changes in sea-ice extent and shipping activity from 1979 to 2019. Analysis reveals that Arctic minimum sea-ice extent has reduced by 38.0%, with accelerated trends post-2000. Migration of sea ice away from coastlines has enabled establishment of Arctic sea routes; a Kendall Rank Correlation test reveals statistical significance. Extrapolation of sea-ice trends reveals that continued decline could provoke an ice-free Arctic (1 million km2 ice) by 2060. Arctic sea routes will expand northwards in response; however, they remain vulnerable to geopolitical challenges. This article thus establishes an evident correlation between Arctic sea-ice retreat and rapid shipping growth. It is also concluded that Arctic sea routes will become critical in addressing rising demands of global trade, yet uncertainty remains about their capacity and reliability given required Arctic ecosystem change.