Search Climate Insights Directory

The author argues that climate policy is inherently contested because it creates winners and losers, necessitating a strategic approach to communication and implementation. The proposed plan includes simplifying the climate narrative through personal and emotional storytelling, framing action as a transformational economic opportunity (green growth), designing policy packages that compensate those negatively impacted, building cross-party long-term consensus to avoid policy reversals, and focusing on rigorous implementation. The text highlights various international examples, such as Rwanda's green growth strategy and Bolivia's payments for ecosystem services, to illustrate how climate action can be integrated with development goals.

The report analyzes the systemic power imbalances in compensation processes for extractive industries, where benefits often accrue at the state level while costs are borne by local communities. It evaluates several mechanisms for improving outcomes: Community Development Agreements (CDAs) in mining, strategic human rights litigation, and Biocultural Community Protocols. A specific case study of the Chad-Cameroon Oil & Pipeline Project illustrates the failures of individual-based monetary compensation and argues for a paradigm shift toward livelihood restoration and 'land for land' replacement.

The Green Economy Coalition outlines a vision for a global economic transition that prioritizes ecological limits and social equity over traditional GDP growth. It emphasizes that economics is the 'language of power' and must be used to influence treasuries and boardrooms. The briefing identifies five critical action areas—natural systems, people, economic sectors, financial flows, and governance/measurement—and discusses the role of Rio+20 as a stepping stone toward this transition. It also addresses the tension between the need for economic growth in developing nations and the imperative for resource contraction in developed nations, proposing concepts like the circular economy and 'beyond GDP' metrics to resolve the impasse.

The author proposes a two-track approach for President Obama's second term: immediate regulatory action via the EPA to reduce carbon dioxide from power plants and methane from the oil and gas industry, and a long-term strategy to revamp energy technology innovation. To achieve a target of 80 percent carbon dioxide reduction by 2050, the document suggests developing a portfolio of zero-carbon technologies, including carbon capture and storage, advanced nuclear energy, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, supported by more effective innovation policies and increased R&D funding.

The document proposes a 'parts approach' to overcome barriers to the adoption of automotive carbon fiber composites. Rather than attempting whole-vehicle integration, it suggests targeting specific parts (such as rear hatches or door inners) for mainstream volumes of 50,000 to 100,000 units per year by model year 2018. This strategy aims to create a viable business case, drive scale, and identify technology and funding gaps through a collaborative supply chain team including OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and material producers.

The guidebook outlines a holistic approach to fossil-fuel subsidy reform in Southeast Asia, emphasizing a gradual transition to market-based pricing. It details methods for projecting economic and social impacts, designing mitigation measures such as targeted cash transfers, and building political support through internal coordination and external communication. The guide highlights that while subsidies are often intended to protect the poor, they frequently benefit wealthier populations and create fiscal burdens and environmental damage.

The report outlines the progress of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, highlighting over 100 commitments from governments and businesses, including more than USD $50 billion from the private sector. It details a four-step country-action process adopted by 55 developing countries and identifies 50 high-impact opportunities across 11 action areas. The document also proposes a distributed global network for future implementation and a baseline report to track progress toward 2030 goals.

The document describes the need for a transformational change in how CARICOM countries approach climate resilience, advocating for the integration of risk management into national planning and policy. It highlights the failures of previous guidelines and proposes a new process involving pilot projects in up to five countries, the 'three ones' principle for coordination, and the use of 'stress-tests' for budget approvals to ensure climate resilience is built into sustainable development.

The report examines how the growth of distributed energy resources (DERs), particularly rooftop solar PV, disrupts traditional utility business models in California. It argues that existing volumetric rate structures and net energy metering (NEM) create economic misalignments and cost shifts from solar adopters to non-adopters. To resolve this, the authors propose three building blocks: improving the measurement of DER costs and benefits, implementing pricing models that reflect the actual value of energy based on time and location, and adapting utility business models toward either an 'incentive regulation' or 'network utility' approach.

The document highlights the inefficiency of the United States' building stock, which consumes 42 percent of the nation's total energy, and promotes five strategic solutions—technology adoption, integrative design, policy updates, low-cost financing, and valuing non-energy benefits—to achieve deep energy retrofits and support a cleaner electricity grid.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) is a global federation of 76 autonomous environmental groups with over 2 million members. Founded in 1971, the organization has evolved from a small group of activists into a decentralized network that prioritizes environmental and social justice. FoEI's current strategy, 'mobilise, resist, transform', focuses on challenging the neoliberal economic model, which it identifies as the driver of climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. The federation advocates for key concepts such as 'environmental space', 'ecological debt', and 'food sovereignty' to create sustainable societies. Its work spans several core areas, including climate and energy justice, forest protection, food sovereignty, and resisting extractive industries like mining, oil, and gas.

The document outlines the 40-year history and strategic framework of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), a global federation of 76 member groups. It argues that environmental destruction, poverty, and human rights violations are systemic issues rooted in a neoliberal economic model. FoEI's approach focuses on 'mobilizing, resisting, and transforming' through key concepts such as climate justice, ecological debt, and food sovereignty. The report details specific campaigns against extractive industries, GMOs, and deforestation, while highlighting the role of grassroots activism and international solidarity in achieving policy changes and protecting indigenous rights.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) marks 40 years as a global federation of 76 member groups and over 2 million collaborators. The organization advocates for environmental and social justice by opposing neoliberal economic models and 'false solutions' to the climate crisis. Its strategic framework focuses on three pillars: mobilizing public support, resisting the root causes of environmental degradation, and transforming societies through concepts like ecological debt, food sovereignty, and climate justice. FoEI's work spans diverse sectors, including opposing industrial mining and fossil fuels, protecting biodiversity and forests, and promoting sustainable, local food systems.

The document argues that public health professionals have an ethical obligation to communicate the health risks of climate change, as there is a significant disconnect between professional knowledge and public awareness. It recommends framing climate change as a human health problem rather than an environmental one, localizing the issue to make it concrete, and emphasizing 'win-win' health co-benefits of mitigation actions. The guide identifies key target audiences, including journalists, government decision-makers, and vulnerable populations, and suggests specific outreach methods such as using opinion leaders, issuing local scientific reports, and testifying at government hearings.

The document argues that for China to transition into a major global economic player, its businesses must move beyond legal compliance to embrace voluntary sustainability standards. It identifies a current trend of avoidance among CTNCs due to unfamiliarity and perceived Western bias, which risks damaging 'Brand China'. The authors propose a strategic framework—normalization, exceptionalism, and transformation—to help CTNCs and the Chinese government decide whether to ignore, mitigate, leverage, or promote specific standards to move up the global value chain.

The electricity sector in SACU member states is characterised by chronic capacity shortages, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a dominance of state-owned monopolies. While the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) facilitates cross-border trade, the region remains heavily dependent on South Africa's Eskom. The paper argues that the lack of cost-reflective tariffs and political reluctance to allow independent power producers (IPPs) hinder investment. It recommends a harmonised regional regulatory framework and a strategic approach to liberalisation through a mix of SADC, WTO GATS, and bilateral agreements to improve energy security and economic growth.

The report outlines a framework for effective policy advocacy in Africa based on four pillars: strategic planning, functional networks, political sophistication, and the use of evidence and technology. It analyzes successful campaigns, such as the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa and the Anti-Third Term Campaign in Zambia, to demonstrate how CSOs can navigate hostile political environments, leverage legal instruments, and use mobile technology for social mobilisation.

The document analyzes the role of agriculture in global GHG mitigation and adaptation, highlighting that while the sector has a technical mitigation potential of 5.5 to 6 GtCO2e per year by 2030, progress is hindered by accounting complexities and non-permanence of soil carbon. It details Canada's domestic offset experiences, such as Alberta's tillage protocol, and argues for expanding the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or creating new market mechanisms for sustainable development (MMSDs) to engage developing countries, where 70% of agricultural mitigation potential resides.

The report argues that preventing dangerous climate change requires the active participation of major developing economies (MDEs), as developed countries' actions alone are insufficient. It analyzes the current GHG emission trends in MDEs, the impact of the 2008 global economic crisis on climate finance, and the positions of key actors like the U.S., EU, and China. The authors propose a 'Phased Approach to a Safe Climate' that differentiates countries into Developed, Advanced Developing, and Other Developing categories, transitioning MDEs from voluntary nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) to binding targets by 2020, provided developed countries demonstrate leadership and provide adequate financing and technology transfer.

The report advocates for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to move beyond focusing on single ecosystem services toward a systematic approach that considers multiple services in all development operations. It highlights how overlooking regulating services—such as storm protection and water purification—can lead to adverse trade-offs and undermine poverty reduction. The document provides a portfolio of tools for identifying, prioritizing, and valuing ecosystem services, and suggests policy options including payments for ecosystem services, regulation, and community empowerment to sustain natural capital.