Search Climate Insights Directory

The World Resources Institute (WRI) challenges a timeline produced by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), asserting that the EPA is pursuing a realistic regulatory schedule for the electric power sector. WRI contends that many items on the EEI timeline are procedural or existing obligations rather than new requirements. The document highlights significant 'regulatory lag time,' noting that the industry has had years or decades of notice for most pollutants. It emphasizes that finalizing these rules under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is essential for public health and provides the investment certainty needed for a 21st-century power fleet.

The document examines the barriers to clean energy investment in South Africa, highlighting the dominant role of the state-owned utility Eskom and a heavy reliance on coal. It analyzes the national policy framework, including the 2003 White Paper on Renewable Energy and the 2008 National Energy Act, while evaluating incentives such as the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) and Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (TRECs). The report concludes that while macroeconomic stability is favorable, institutional barriers and a lack of political will are the primary hurdles to scaling renewable energy.

The report analyzes the Chilean electricity sector's transition toward clean energies, specifically Non-Conventional Renewable Energies (NCRE). It details the current dominance of fossil fuels and large hydro, the impact of the 2008 Law 20.257 establishing renewable quotas, and the role of CORFO in providing pre-investment incentives. While noting a positive investment climate and growing interest from foreign investors, the document identifies significant barriers, including high economic risk due to the lack of stable long-term pricing, high market concentration, and limited access to financing for small developers. It concludes by recommending a more comprehensive national strategy that internalizes environmental externalities and enhances technical and human capital.

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs acknowledges a proposal for collaboration from the Centre for Environmental Rights but declines a meeting until interdepartmental disputes between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Mineral Resources are resolved. The document details the failed attempt to create a single environmental management system via the 2008 amendments to NEMA and the MPRDA, noting that the Minister of Mineral Resources has not yet brought the MPRDA Amendment Act into effect. An interdepartmental task team is currently reviewing whether to implement the 2008 agreement as is, amend it to transfer functions to environmental authorities, or pursue alternative alignment. The Minister indicates that future opportunities for civil society contribution may arise following the finalisation of Delivery Agreements by September 2010 to identify areas where mineral development could be restricted under Section 49 of the MPRDA.

The document analyzes the landscape of emissions trading schemes (ETS) in North America, noting that while regional initiatives like the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are advanced, national efforts in the US and Canada face coordination challenges. It argues that linking is logical due to economic ties, but current designs—particularly Canada's intensity-based targets—create barriers to bilateral links with absolute-cap schemes. The author concludes that a US federal scheme would likely preempt most state schemes, while Canada may use equivalency agreements to allow provincial schemes to persist.

The document argues that post-combustion carbon capture is a mature technology capable of achieving capture rates of 90% to 99% for coal and natural gas power plants. It provides evidence from existing operational plants, ongoing FEED studies, and techno-economic modeling to demonstrate that CCS is economically viable, particularly when supported by the U.S. 45Q tax credit. The report also details the availability of vast geologic storage capacity in saline aquifers and the existing regulatory framework for safe CO2 injection. Additionally, it examines co-benefits such as the reduction of SO2 and NOx emissions, the impact of different cooling technologies on water consumption, and the operational flexibility of CCS-equipped plants.

The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) expresses strong opposition to the proposed Yzermyn Underground coal mine in the Mpumalanga Region, citing critical risks to wetlands, water quality, and protected environments. The DWA identifies the project's location within a National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area as a "fatal flaw" and notes that the mine could cause significant groundwater contamination and the drying up of wetlands.

The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DAFF) issued a formal objection on 18 October 2018 to the proposed extension of the Tormin Mine and its infrastructure expansion. The Department cites the applicant's history of unlawful expansions and non-compliance with existing environmental authorisations as primary reasons for adopting a 'risk-averse and cautious approach' and objecting to the development.

The report examines over 400 products from Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott, finding that the proliferation of 'premium' formulas is based on market research into consumer purchasing power rather than nutritional science. It highlights significant price disparities between countries for the same products and the high financial burden on families in Asian markets, while noting a lack of government oversight regarding nutritional quality and compliance with WHO marketing regulations.

The report finds that infant formula manufacturers use product differentiation and 'premium' branding to increase profit margins rather than following scientific evidence, particularly in high-growth Asian markets.

The report concludes that breastmilk substitute (BMS) manufacturers use product differentiation and 'premium' branding to increase profits rather than to improve nutritional outcomes. Analysis of over 400 products from Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott across 14 markets reveals that formulation variations are often based on market research and consumer willingness to pay rather than scientific rationale. This is particularly evident in high-growth Asian markets, where 'super-premium' formulas can cost a significant portion of a family's monthly salary.

The report evaluates the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, highlighting key internal proposals such as the 'generic risk management approach' and the definition of 'essential uses' to achieve a toxic-free environment. It critically examines the EU's international commitments, arguing that the EU must eliminate legal loopholes, such as exemptions for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the export of hazardous chemicals, to genuinely serve as a global model. The document emphasizes the need for mandatory corporate due diligence, sustainable financing for chemical management in third countries, and the alignment of EU standards with international conventions like Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam, and Minamata.

The report evaluates the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, emphasizing the need to translate high-level promises into binding legislation. It details specific technical goals—such as the 'generic approach to risk management' and the restriction of PFAS—while arguing that the EU must align its international trade and diplomatic positions with its internal environmental ambitions to avoid 'double standards' in chemical exports.

The document outlines how forest carbon is monetised through compliance and voluntary markets, detailing Ghana's role as an early adopter of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It describes Ghana's regulatory pathway for carbon projects, highlights key transactions like the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme and the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project, and identifies risks such as double counting and bargaining power asymmetries. The briefing concludes with recommendations to codify regulations, standardise transaction documents, and target high-integrity market segments.

The paper analyzes the diverse structures of Canadian provincial electricity markets, noting that a lack of coordination creates economic inefficiencies and hinders the integration of renewable energy. It identifies six primary challenges to integration, including constitutional jurisdictions and vested interests in price differentials. To address these, the author proposes four strategies: enhancing bilateral projects, adopting a bottom-up Nordic-style collaborative model, utilizing the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, or implementing a federal healthcare-type framework of shared principles.

The report argues that achieving a cost-optimal net-zero building sector in Canada requires a significant shift toward electrification and a reduction in gas use. It warns that current regulatory inertia and the continued expansion of gas networks risk increasing costs for taxpayers and jeopardizing climate goals. The document recommends that provincial governments legislate net-zero targets, move away from gas as the default heating option for new buildings, and provide regulators with the tools to manage a phased contraction of gas infrastructure while ensuring affordability and equity.

The report examines the historical and current state of Indigenous participation in Canada's resource regulatory frameworks. It argues that while the transition to clean energy requires increased extraction of critical minerals on Indigenous lands, current regulatory processes—including the Impact Assessment Act—are often too complex, costly, and slow, failing to fully recognize Indigenous sovereignty. Through various case studies, the document highlights that successful projects are those based on genuine collaboration, modern treaties, and the recognition of Indigenous laws, rather than mere consultation. It recommends a shift toward Indigenous-led assessment and monitoring processes to ensure economic prosperity and environmental protection.

Coal-fired power plants are identified as the largest source of toxic water pollution in the United States, discharging billions of pounds of heavy metals into waterways annually. A review of 386 plants reveals that nearly 70% of those discharging coal ash and scrubber wastewater have no effluent limits on key toxins like arsenic and mercury, often operating under expired permits. The report highlights severe ecological damage, including massive fish kills in North Carolina and groundwater contamination in Missouri and Illinois, and notes that these plants are frequently located in marginalized communities. While the EPA proposed updated standards, the report argues that political interference from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) weakened these options. It advocates for 'Option 5,' a zero-discharge standard utilizing dry ash handling and vapor compression evaporation, asserting that such controls are cost-effective and would significantly reduce pollution.

The report assesses the alignment of Kenyan legislation and regulations with international ESG standards, specifically GRI and FTSE Russell. It identifies significant gaps in environmental areas such as protected area conservation and water footprint analysis, and in social areas including data protection and specific gender-sensitive training. While Kenyan law broadly aligns with international labour and human rights conventions, the report notes discrepancies in maternity leave duration and minimum employment age. In governance, it highlights a lack of mandatory requirements for board-level ESG risk training and detailed executive compensation ratios, recommending that companies adopt international best practices to attract investment.

The report examines the 'New Copperbelt' in Zambia's Northwestern Province, highlighting a significant gap between the country's strong formal mining laws and their practical implementation. While large-scale investments from companies like First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold drive economic growth, they have also caused heavy metal contamination in rivers and exacerbated social inequalities. The document finds that community engagement often lacks meaningful consent, and the benefits of mining are unevenly distributed, with women and girls facing disproportionate burdens including increased unpaid labour and gender-based violence.