Search Climate Insights Directory

A coalition of NGOs calls on Total shareholders to reject the company's climate strategy and leadership, citing insufficient emission reduction targets, planned increases in hydrocarbon production, and a lack of transparency regarding Scope 3 emissions.

Reclaim Finance criticizes Société Générale for participating in a 1 billion euro loan to the EPH group, alleging that the bank uses semantic loopholes in its exclusion policy to continue financing coal-heavy entities. The document highlights that EPH produces 40 million tonnes of coal annually, far exceeding the bank's 10 million tonne threshold, yet avoids exclusion because the policy targets extraction entities rather than parent companies. The author warns that this approach could also allow the financing of other mining giants like Glencore and notes that other banks in the EPH consortium, such as UniCredit and ING, may be acting inconsistently with their own coal exit schedules.

Reclaim Finance criticizes Enbridge for securing a $1.0 billion "Sustainability Linked" credit facility from five major banks, asserting that the company's ESG goals are insufficient and serve to mask the continued expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. The author contends that Enbridge's net-zero and GHG intensity targets only cover scope 1 and 2 emissions, representing less than 2% of the lifecycle emission intensity of oil sands. Furthermore, the document highlights that the Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota, supported by such funding, increases GHG emissions and violates the treaty rights of the Anishinaabeg.

The report argues that Ecoembes and Ecovidrio, the dominant waste management systems in Spain, use their monopoly power and lobbying to prevent the adoption of a mandatory Deposit Return System (SDDR). It highlights that these organizations benefit financially from increased plastic packaging volume, creating a conflict of interest that hinders EU recycling targets. The document also criticizes major supermarkets like Mercadona for opposing the SDDR and promotes the legislative progress in the Balearic Islands as a model for the rest of the country.

A coalition of climate and accountability organisations argues that Shell's 2021 strategy update is insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C. They claim the company relies on intensity-based targets rather than absolute reductions, continues heavy investment in upstream oil and gas, and depends on unrealistic carbon capture and offset projections. The authors call on investors to support a resolution requiring Shell to set quantitative, Paris-aligned targets for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

The document critiques the concept of 'net zero' and the expansion of carbon markets, distinguishing between 'real zero' (immediate emission cuts) and 'false zero' (reliance on offsets). It asserts that fossil fuel emissions cannot be physically offset by natural ecosystems and warns that the drive for 'nature-based solutions' leads to land grabbing and the financialization of nature. The report calls for a coordinated phase-out of fossil fuels and a transition to a just, community-led energy and food system.

The document critiques the concept of 'net zero deforestation,' arguing that it erroneously equates the protection of indigenous forests with the planting of new forests, which cannot replace the 'unrecoverable carbon' and ecosystem services of natural forests. It further asserts that agricultural certifications for soy, such as RTRS and Proterra, are insufficient because they represent only 1.5% to 3% of global production and often allow large-scale monocultures and pesticides. The author calls on banks, insurers, and investors to pressure soy traders like Cargill to stop purchasing soy from land converted after January 1, 2020.

The document highlights the role of the soya industry in driving deforestation in Brazil's Amazon and Cerrado regions, noting that tropical deforestation accounts for approximately 8% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies the 'ABCD group' (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus) as key traders failing to prevent deforestation due to a lack of cut-off dates, standardized clauses, and traceability. The author urges financial institutions to require traders to implement a cut-off date no later than January 1, 2020, establish full traceability and independent monitoring, and respect indigenous human rights, threatening the suspension of financial services for non-compliance by January 1, 2022.

The document outlines eight key demands from Reclaim Finance and Les Amis de la Terre France addressed to BNP Paribas. It calls for the bank to strictly apply its coal exit policy, cease all support for hydrocarbon development, exit high-risk sectors like the Arctic and unconventional oil and gas by 2030, and vote against Total's climate strategy. Additionally, it urges the bank to withdraw from gas projects in Mozambique, strengthen exclusions on soy-related deforestation in the Cerrado, and formalize a policy to end support for oil drilling in the Amazon.

The document consists of ten sets of questions and demands addressed to Société Générale, urging the bank to align its financing with the 1.5°C climate goal. The authors criticize the bank's continued support for coal (specifically mentioning Glencore and EPH), unconventional oil and gas, and projects in sensitive areas like the Arctic, the Amazon, and Mozambique. They also call for a zero-deforestation policy regarding imported soy and for the bank to vote against Total's climate strategy.

The report evaluates a wide range of fashion brands on their viscose sourcing, focusing on whether they disclose their suppliers and adopt closed-loop manufacturing systems. While some brands like C&A, M&S, and H&M have signed the Changing Markets Roadmap and disclosed specific factory addresses, many others lack viscose-specific policies, fail to disclose fibre manufacturers, or focus solely on wood pulp sourcing rather than the chemical impacts of fibre manufacturing.

Mighty Earth demands that the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) suspend Korindo and reopen investigations into deliberate land-clearing fires in Papua, Indonesia, citing a BBC investigation and evidence from Forensic Architecture and Greenpeace International.

The 2020 assessment finds that supply chain efforts have failed to eliminate deforestation from agricultural commodities, with tree cover loss in 2018 remaining similar to levels before the New York Declaration on Forests. While palm oil and timber sectors show more advanced commitment and traceability tools, the beef and soy sectors in Latin America lag significantly. Most corporate commitments lack comprehensive scope, and full traceability to the point of production remains rare. The report highlights a gap in reporting, with many influential companies failing to disclose progress, and notes that financial institutions have largely failed to set clear policies to remove deforestation from their investments.

The Changing Markets Foundation's investigation into the ten most plastic-polluting companies reveals a global trend of corporations undermining legislative solutions to the plastic crisis. Specifically, the foundation criticizes Colgate-Palmolive for a lack of leadership, inconsistent reporting on recycled content, and an unambitious focus on light-weighting rather than absolute virgin plastic reduction. The letter demands that the company publicly support progressive legislation, such as global deposit return systems, and provide transparent, independently verified data on its full plastic footprint.

The Changing Markets Foundation's letter to Danone highlights a global trend of corporations undermining plastic legislation and critiques Danone's lack of transparency regarding reuse systems and sustainability criteria for bio-plastics, while acknowledging its support for mandatory collection systems.

The Changing Markets Foundation writes to Mars Incorporated, identifying it as one of the worst plastic polluters and criticizing its failure to meet packaging targets and its reliance on 'climate-unfriendly' chemical recycling. The letter demands that Mars publicly support global deposit return systems, increase transparency regarding its plastic footprint, and commit to meaningful reductions in single-use plastics.

The Changing Markets Foundation identifies Mondelēz International as one of the worst plastic polluters and criticizes its reliance on chemical recycling and low recycled content targets. The letter demands greater transparency regarding the company's plastic footprint and calls for public support of global deposit return systems and a reduction in single-use plastics.

The Changing Markets Foundation criticizes PepsiCo for its lack of support for mandatory plastic legislation, its failure to meet recycled content targets, and its reliance on 'climate-unfriendly' chemical recycling. The letter demands that PepsiCo publicly support deposit return systems, increase transparency regarding its plastic footprint, and commit to meaningful reductions in single-use plastics.

The Changing Markets Foundation criticizes Procter & Gamble (P&G) for its inadequate response to the plastic pollution crisis, citing low recycled content targets and the use of 'greenwash' projects like marine-derived plastic. The letter demands that P&G support mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility and deposit return systems, increase transparency regarding its plastic footprint, and set measurable targets for the reduction of single-use plastics.

The Changing Markets Foundation writes to Unilever regarding its 'Talking Trash' report, which found a global trend of corporations undermining legislative solutions to plastic pollution. While acknowledging Unilever's progress in disclosing its plastic footprint and trialling refill pilots, the foundation criticises the company's low recycled content (1% of total purchased resin in 2018) and its reliance on chemical recycling. The letter demands that Unilever publicly support mandatory deposit return systems globally, increase transparency on its full plastic footprint, and commit to measurable reductions in single-use plastics.