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The report challenges the claims of the biotechnology industry, specifically the ISAAA, regarding the success and benefits of GM crops. It argues that GM plants are primarily used for animal feed and biofuels rather than human nutrition and that they lead to increased pesticide use, soil degradation, and the displacement of indigenous peoples. The document specifically critiques the 'climate scam'—the claim that GM crops can mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration or drought resistance—and proposes agroecology as a sustainable alternative.

The document critiques the World Bank Group's draft palm oil strategy, highlighting systemic failures in protecting indigenous land rights and biodiversity. It specifically warns against a 'loophole' regarding Financial Intermediaries (FIs) and Advisory Services, which the authors claim could be used to bypass environmental and social safeguards. The authors argue that investment should only occur after a strict sequencing of policy and regulatory capacity building, and they call for the continuation of the sector-wide moratorium on palm oil lending until these issues are resolved.

The document argues that the World Bank is defending HFC-23 incineration projects in China that manipulate production to maximize the generation of 'fake' carbon credits. It highlights evidence that manufacturers increase HFC-23 waste production specifically to earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and criticizes the World Bank for ignoring findings from the CDM Methodologies Panel and the Montreal Protocol's TEAP. It notes that the UN CDM Executive Board has launched investigations into six such projects, including the delay of over 3 million CERs for the Changshu Zonghao project.

The Institute for Policy Integrity argues that the EPA's analysis of the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill is incomplete because it only addresses costs and ignores the potential economic benefits. The author notes that a previous independent analysis of the Waxman-Markey bill found a benefit-to-cost ratio of approximately 9:1, estimating benefits between $750 billion and $1 trillion from 2012 to 2050, and suggests that a similar benefit analysis is necessary for the Kerry-Lieberman bill before the Senate votes.

The report examines the surge in land acquisitions across Africa for agrofuel production, driven largely by EU mandatory targets for renewable transport fuels. It finds that approximately 5 million hectares of land have been acquired for fuel crops, often without community consent. The document argues that these 'land grabs' threaten food security by competing with food crops for fertile land and water, while providing minimal local employment. Environmental impacts include deforestation in the Congo Basin and habitat loss in Ethiopia's Babile Elephant Sanctuary. The report concludes that agrofuels are often exported for international profit rather than providing local energy security, leaving African nations with depleted natural resources.

Earthjustice asserts that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) was corrupted by its proximity to the oil industry, leading to lax oversight and the approval of inadequate spill response plans for BP in the Gulf of Mexico. The organization warns that similar failures threaten the Arctic Ocean, where Shell Oil is poised to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Earthjustice argues that an Arctic spill would be harder to contain than the Gulf spill due to icy waters and a lack of infrastructure. The document calls for the Obama administration to stop Arctic drilling until better response plans and scientific data are available, and advocates for a transition toward clean renewable energy and conservation.

Friends of the Earth criticizes the American Power Act of 2010, a cap and trade bill proposed by Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman. The organization asserts that the bill would roll back Clean Air Act protections, allow for expanded offshore drilling, and provide financial giveaways to industrial polluters. It advocates for the Obama administration to utilize existing Clean Air Act protections while pursuing a stronger climate bill focused on clean energy investment and rapid emission cuts.

CDM Watch opposes the validation of the 'Grid connected super-critical technology based power generation in Tirora, India' project, asserting that approval would lead to the annual issuance of approximately 1.1 million Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) that do not represent actual emissions reductions.

The report critiques the Obama Administration's interagency working group for endorsing a 'central' social cost of carbon (SCC) of $21 per ton of CO2, arguing this value is too low to drive meaningful emissions reductions. The authors contend that the reliance on three specific models (DICE, FUND, and PAGE) introduces bias, as these models often underestimate damages or make morally questionable assumptions, such as valuing lives in poor countries less than those in rich ones. Furthermore, the report argues that using discount rates of 2.5% to 5% unfairly diminishes the value of future climate damages and that the failure to account for worst-case catastrophic scenarios leads to ineffectual policy. The authors recommend moving toward a cost-effectiveness framework based on science-based safety standards, citing the United Kingdom's higher carbon price range of $41–$124 per ton as a more appropriate benchmark.

The document outlines systemic failures in the IFC's environmental and social due diligence, highlighting an overreliance on unverified client data and inadequate project categorization. It calls for the explicit integration of international human rights standards, including the right to free, prior and informed consent for indigenous peoples, and a strategic shift away from fossil fuel investments toward renewable energy. The authors also criticize the 'loophole' created by financial intermediaries and demand greater transparency in extractive industry contracts.

Civil society organizations are calling for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to update its Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy and Performance Standards. They argue that the current framework fails to account for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the urgent need to address climate change, and the lessons of the financial crisis regarding the risks of shifting monitoring responsibilities to private sector clients.

The author argues that while South Africa possesses the political will and capability to react to security threats during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it suffers from a lack of proactivity in counter-terrorism intelligence. This vulnerability is attributed to the politicisation of intelligence services and a sense of complacency following previous successful sporting events. The document identifies two primary security dimensions: high levels of violent criminality, exacerbated by porous borders and unemployment, and the risk of terrorism, noting that sports events are 'magnets' for such attacks. The author calls for an urgent overhaul of intelligence services, the replacement of political appointees with professionals, and improved national and international cooperation to prevent potential outrages.

Friends of the Earth criticizes the Obama administration for stifling global cooperation by encouraging wealthy nations to adopt voluntary rather than mandatory emission commitments ahead of the Copenhagen climate negotiations.

The report finds that GE crops increased overall pesticide use by 318.4 million pounds between 1996 and 2008. While Bt crops reduced insecticide use by 64.2 million pounds, herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops increased herbicide use by 382.6 million pounds, primarily driven by HT soybeans. The author attributes this trend to the emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds and the industry's shift toward 'stacked' traits, which the report argues will further increase pesticide volumes and environmental risks.

Amory Lovins argues that nuclear power is an obsolete and costly technology that retards climate protection by diverting resources from more effective alternatives. He challenges the 'baseload' myth, asserting that grid reliability is a collective attribute of all plants rather than an individual requirement. He further disputes the 'footprint' myth, providing evidence that nuclear power's total land use—including the fuel cycle—is significantly higher than that of wind and solar. Lovins contends that a diverse portfolio of energy efficiency and distributed renewables is more cost-effective and faster to deploy than nuclear power, which he claims is failing in the global marketplace due to a lack of private investment and escalating costs.

Friends of the Earth criticizes the Kerry-Boxer draft climate bill for failing to meet scientific requirements for emissions reductions and for including unreliable offsets and subsidies for 'dirty energy' technologies.

The author contends that while neoliberal policies and foreign direct investment (FDI) fueled growth during the commodity boom, they failed to reduce poverty in resource-rich nations like Angola and Nigeria. The paper suggests that African governments should be granted more autonomy to nurture domestic businesses and mandate social responsibility from investors, arguing that a 'middle road' between privatization and state protection is necessary for a sustainable African economic renaissance.

Friends of the Earth supports a Greenpeace action at Mount Rushmore to highlight the lack of U.S. leadership on the global climate crisis. The organization argues that President Obama's administration has not matched its rhetoric with action, citing weak emissions targets and a failure to provide climate finance to developing nations during international negotiations.

Friends of the Earth criticizes H.R. 2454, stating it fails to mandate actual U.S. emissions reductions until 2030 and weakens the EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act. The organization contends the bill prioritizes polluting industries and Wall Street through free pollution permits and carbon market loopholes, thereby undermining U.S. global leadership and job creation in green industries.

Friends of the Earth opposes a 2009 US climate bill, asserting that it sets pollution reduction targets too low, provides excessive subsidies to corporate polluters, contains offset loopholes, and allows Wall Street traders to manipulate carbon markets.