Search Climate Insights Directory

This executive summary details a project conducted between October 2002 and December 2004 by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Climate Change and Development Consultants (CC&D), and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP). The project explored the use of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Chile's transportation sector, specifically focusing on three case studies in Santiago: bicycle infrastructure, bus technology, and location efficiency.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) argues that environmental rights are fundamental human rights. It details various global struggles where communities resist the impacts of neoliberal economic globalization, corporate impunity, and state negligence. The document outlines a framework for environmental justice, emphasizing the right to a sustainable lifestyle, a healthy environment, access to water, and food security, while documenting specific legal and social battles against multinational corporations and governments.

This 2004 report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues that environmental rights are fundamental human rights, essential for survival, health, and dignity. It documents numerous global case studies where neoliberal economic globalization and corporate activities have led to the violation of these rights, including the displacement of indigenous peoples, toxic pollution, and the privatization of water. The document advocates for a framework of environmental justice, the recognition of new rights for climate refugees, and the enforcement of corporate accountability through legal mechanisms and international norms.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law chronicles the decade-long struggle of the Mapuche/Pehuenche people against the Pangue and Ralco hydroelectric projects in Chile's Alto BíoBío region. It details the environmental and cultural destruction caused by the dams, the failure of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to oversee social and environmental standards, and the legal battles fought in Chilean and international courts, culminating in a 2003 friendly settlement mediated by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR).

This report reviews Phase One (December 2001 – December 2003) of a project by IUCN, IISD, SEI-B, and Intercooperation aimed at reducing the vulnerability of poor communities to climate change. The project advocates for an integrated approach to adaptation that combines disaster risk reduction, environmental management, and poverty reduction, specifically emphasizing sustainable livelihoods (SL) and ecosystem management and restoration (EM&R). Phase One focused on establishing a theoretical basis, collecting evidence through case studies and desk-based assessments, and communicating this approach to policy audiences to prepare for the operationalization of adaptation in Phase Two.

This case study examines the legal ruling in RICHTERSVELD COMMUNITY v ALEXKOR LTD & ANOTHER [2004], which establishes that the Land Claims Court of South Africa has the competence to order the repair of environmental damage or the payment of compensation for such damage as part of land restitution claims.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines strategies for securing water resources and adapting to climate change in dryland communities. It highlights the vulnerability of these regions to desertification and climate change, and provides two case studies from India and Sudan that demonstrate how community-led ecosystem management and restoration can build resilience against drought and environmental degradation.

This fact sheet describes the vulnerability of tropical hillside communities to environmental degradation and climate change, focusing on the PASOLAC program in Central America. PASOLAC implements Sustainable Soil and Water Management (SSWM) techniques to increase agricultural productivity and resilience against droughts and floods in Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.

This December 2003 report by Friends of the Earth International argues that International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including multilateral development banks and bilateral export credit agencies, should phase out funding for the extractive industries. The document contends that IFI-supported oil, gas, and mining projects frequently lead to environmental disasters, human rights abuses, and the marginalization of indigenous peoples, while failing to alleviate poverty in resource-rich developing nations.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that international financial institutions (IFIs) should cease funding extractive industries—specifically oil, gas, and mining—due to their devastating impacts on local communities, human rights, and the global environment. Through multiple case studies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the document illustrates how public funding for these projects often exacerbates poverty, fuels corruption, and contributes to climate change, while providing minimal economic benefit to host countries.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the complexities of trade-related subsidies, focusing on the divide between developed and developing nations. It argues that current WTO indicators for measuring subsidies are inadequate for resolving trade disputes and proposes the use of 'terms-of-trade' as a more effective metric. The document provides detailed case studies on the subsidy regimes and trade impacts in India, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and Brazil, highlighting how subsidies in OECD countries often harm the economies of developing nations, particularly in agriculture.

This report by Friends of the Earth International and Corporate Europe Observatory argues that the World Trade Organization (WTO) is systematically influenced by transnational corporations to create trade and investment rules that prioritize corporate profit over public health, environmental protection, and community rights.

This executive summary of a Pakistan case study examines the economic and social impacts of complying with international environmental standards in the leather and textile sectors. It argues that while environmental regulations can act as trade barriers, they also provide opportunities for efficiency gains and new market niches, concluding that developing countries must comply to maintain export shares.

This report by Friends of the Earth International describes the role of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in Latin America in protecting and restoring biodiversity. It highlights specific local projects in Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay while critiquing the impact of industrial monocultures, the 'Green Revolution', and neoliberal trade policies on global biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the global trend of water privatization and the role of international financial institutions and corporations in commodifying water resources. It argues that water should be treated as a fundamental human right and a social good rather than a commodity, detailing various local and international resistance movements against corporate control of water.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the global trend toward the privatization and commercialization of water resources. It argues that water should be treated as a social and cultural right rather than an economic commodity, highlighting how international financial institutions and multinational corporations marginalize poor populations and damage ecosystems through profit-driven management.

This teaching note, published by the World Resources Institute, provides a case study on the adoption of environmental management practices by Epson (China) Co., Ltd. and its parent company, Seiko Epson Corporation. It focuses on the implementation of ISO 14001 certification in office environments and the challenges of designing a cartridge take-back system in China.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the conflict between corporate-led economic models and the conservation of forest biodiversity. Through case studies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, it argues that neoliberal policies, transnational investments, and flawed international definitions of 'forests' drive deforestation and displace indigenous and local communities, who act as the primary defenders of biodiversity.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) documents 22 campaigns against multinational corporations whose activities cause biodiversity loss and harm local communities. It argues that corporate globalization, driven by industrial agriculture, mining, and logging, prioritizes shareholder profit over ecological stability and human rights. The document calls for binding international laws to hold companies legally and economically accountable for environmental damage and advocates for the recognition of 'ecological debt' owed by Northern industrial nations to the Global South.

This research paper examines the early implementation of decentralization laws in Indonesia, specifically Law No. 22/1999 and Law 25/1999, and their impact on the forestry sector. It analyzes how the shift of power from the central government to districts has led to the emergence of 'district timber regimes' focused on revenue generation, often at the expense of forest conservation and sustainable management.