Search Climate Insights Directory

The '2050 is Now' consortium calls for the integration of LT-LEDS into national planning to bridge the gap between short-term NDCs and long-term net-zero goals. The communiqué highlights that while global temperature projections have improved from 4°C to 2.7°C, 2024 was the warmest year on record at 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. It recommends that COP30 promote LT-LEDS as catalysts for policy action, just transitions, and the mobilization of finance, urging the UNFCCC to prepare a third LT-LEDS Synthesis Report by COP31.

A coalition of organizations calls on the European Commission to prevent greenwashing in the revised Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) by requiring the exclusion of companies developing new fossil fuel projects from all sustainable finance categories.

CAPE identifies a public health crisis linked to plastics and PFAS, noting that 98.5% of Canadians have detectable PFAS in their blood. The document highlights severe health risks including cancer and endocrine disruption, emphasizes the disproportionate burden on vulnerable populations and communities like Sarnia's Chemical Valley, and urges the Canadian federal government to phase out non-essential PFAS and stop fossil fuel subsidies.

The submission argues that voluntary measures are insufficient for industrial decarbonisation and proposes a phased transition to mandatory embodied emissions reporting by 2029. It recommends a life-cycle assessment (LCA) based methodology, the integration of green procurement into Government Buying Standards, and a 'twin-track' expansion strategy prioritising construction-related sectors for immediate action while developing frameworks for complex sectors like chemicals.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that for FEOC restrictions to achieve their goal of promoting U.S. competitiveness, the U.S. Department of Treasury must provide clear definitions and reporting frameworks. CATF recommends a narrow definition of "effective control" to protect licensing agreements, a clear reporting framework for supplier certifications, the adoption of a "substantial transformation rule" to prevent subcomponents from disqualifying a final product, and limited lookback periods for credit recapture to reduce risk for developers.

The report examines the ecological and human rights risks associated with atmosphere-based, marine, and land-based geoengineering. It argues that these speculative interventions could trigger ecosystem collapse, exacerbate ocean acidification, and violate the rights of millions, particularly Indigenous Peoples and rural communities. The author advocates for the enforcement of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's moratorium on geoengineering and a shift toward proven climate solutions.

The 'Governments 2025' briefing outlines eight priority actions for governments to implement by COP30 in Belém to align climate, trade, and land-use policies with global forest protection goals.

The report outlines national and international strategies for Senegal to manage transboundary climate risks, emphasizing the need for formal recognition in policy documents and the development of regional cooperation frameworks.

Based on workshops in Utah and Colorado, RMI identifies sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as the primary near-term solution for decarbonizing aviation, while hydrogen and electric propulsion require long-term infrastructure planning. The report highlights that airports are structurally limited in leading this transition because they do not control fuel demand or aircraft certification. Key recommendations include investing in pilot programs, developing long-term master plans for new propulsion technologies, and forming regional airport coalitions to share risks. A preliminary analysis suggests that regional routes under 1,000 nautical miles with aircraft under 90 seats are the most viable early candidates for hydrogen transition.

The Canadian Climate Institute calls for urgent federal action to address climate threats to health, security, and economic competitiveness. The organization proposes six policy priorities: modernizing industrial carbon pricing, enacting the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit, maintaining the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, finalizing oil and gas methane regulations, establishing a climate investment taxonomy, and applying resilience criteria for federally supported housing.

The policy brief asserts that G20 nations, responsible for three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions, have stalled progress on phasing out oil and gas due to continued subsidies and economic dependence. It identifies South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency as a critical opportunity to champion subsidy reform and affordable finance for the Global South. The author proposes a framework for progress including clear phase-out targets, the redirection of fossil fuel subsidies toward renewables, and the establishment of a shared definition of a just transition.

The report argues that only durable CDR, which stores carbon for millennia, can effectively neutralise residual fossil fuel emissions, yet private sector uptake remains low and concentrated among a few tech companies. It warns that some firms use CDR to avoid deep emission reductions and notes a lack of transparency regarding the social and environmental impacts of supported projects. The document recommends that governments regulate CDR and that voluntary standards require companies to set separate targets for emission reductions and durable CDR support.

The document argues that the climate emergency requires broad public participation in daily life and positions the upcoming 2025 public participation strategy from the Department for Security, Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ) as a critical mechanism to harness existing projects and networks. It aims to guide DESNZ in integrating established work and insights to ensure people are central to achieving a sustainable and fair future.

Carbon Market Watch argues that indirect cost compensation under the EU ETS should be phased out rather than expanded to new sectors. The organization identifies several flaws in the current State aid guidelines, including the use of fossil-fuel-only generation capacity to determine CO2 emission factors and a lack of transparency regarding which companies receive aid. It specifically warns that including primary plastics and organic chemicals in the compensation scheme would subsidize fossil-fuel-reliant production and undermine circular economy efforts.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a unanimous advisory opinion on 23 July 2025, establishing that states have customary international legal obligations to prevent significant environmental harm and cooperate to protect the environment. The author contends that these obligations apply to the restructuring of African sovereign debt, as debt distress often forces states to choose between creditor payments and financing essential services like renewable energy and health. The document suggests three avenues for relief: using the ruling to bolster negotiations on the social and environmental costs of debt, reminding stakeholders of international norms such as the UNCTAD Principles on Promoting Responsible Sovereign Borrowing and Lending, and enabling activists to hold states and financial institutions accountable through mechanisms like National Contact Points or multilateral development bank accountability systems.

ClientEarth argues that CSOs in the EU, particularly those focused on environment and climate, face a deteriorating environment characterized by shrinking civic space, legal harassment (SLAPPs), and financial insecurity. The document criticizes the European Commission for restricting public access to documents and prioritizing corporate interests in 'strategic dialogues' over civil society. It calls for a binding framework for civil dialogue, systemic consultation at all legislative stages, and increased funding for protection mechanisms like the Aarhus Rapid Response Mechanism. Specific national examples of repression are cited in Poland, France, Italy, Germany, and Hungary, while Finland and Denmark are noted for positive engagement models.

The document examines Nigeria's vulnerability to global energy transitions due to its heavy reliance on oil and gas exports, high production costs, and limited economic diversification. It highlights the risks of reduced government revenue and job losses while identifying opportunities in critical minerals, natural gas as a transition fuel, and non-oil sector growth.

The report finds that while durable CDR (storage >1,000 years) is essential for neutralizing fossil emissions, corporate uptake is low and concentrated among a few companies, notably Microsoft. Many companies instead rely on non-durable CDR, which the authors argue is unsuitable for neutralizing long-cycle emissions. The report highlights risks of double counting between companies and governments and a systemic lack of transparency regarding the environmental and social impacts of CDR projects. It recommends that voluntary initiatives like SBTi require companies to set separate monetary and removal targets based on ability to pay, rather than merging them into net-zero goals.

The report evaluates 17 types of natural infrastructure across four functional families (cover, basins, watercourses, and groundwater) to support water management in the Canadian Prairies. It argues that while natural assets like grasslands and wetlands are essential, constructed analogues such as bioretention and green roofs are necessary in urban areas to bridge the infrastructure gap. The document provides performance rankings and technical data to help decision-makers build a more robust business case for nature-based solutions over traditional grey infrastructure.

The report advocates for the transition of California's agricultural landscapes from resource-intensive practices to nature-based solutions (NbS). It details specific strategies such as multibenefit managed aquifer recharge, floodplain restoration, and agrivoltaics to tackle groundwater depletion, flooding, and energy insecurity. Through case studies in Okieville, Dos Rios, Fairmead, and Allensworth, the document demonstrates how these interventions can simultaneously improve water security, restore biodiversity, and provide economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities. It further provides implementation guidance on community engagement, permitting, and funding sources to support the state's climate and water goals.