Search Climate Insights Directory

The briefing challenges the narrative that natural gas is a clean energy alternative, detailing the high methane potency and life-cycle emissions of LNG. It highlights that Bangladesh has over US $16 billion in gas infrastructure in development despite existing power overcapacity. The document argues that gas 'lock-in' impedes renewable energy adoption and notes that coal-to-gas conversions offer limited greenhouse gas reductions. It concludes by advocating for a total phase-out of fossil fuels in favor of utility-scale renewables to meet 2050 climate goals.

The report contends that Europe's rapid expansion of LNG import capacity in response to the Russian gas crisis is disproportionate and environmentally damaging. It argues that new terminals will not address short-term energy needs due to long construction timelines, will create carbon lock-in, and increase methane emissions, particularly from US shale gas. The author asserts that existing capacity is sufficient to meet demand under net-zero scenarios and that funds should instead be diverted to renewable energy and energy efficiency to avoid worsening energy poverty and impacting the Global South.

Earthjustice and several partner organizations request that the BLM defer approval of oil and gas drilling permits in Kern County, California. They argue the BLM has violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other laws by failing to provide public comment periods on Environmental Assessments (EAs). The statement highlights severe public health risks to environmental justice communities in Kern County, including high rates of asthma and cancer, and argues that the BLM's air emissions estimates are unrealistically low and violate the Clean Air Act. It further demands a 'hard look' at water scarcity, groundwater contamination from unlined waste pits, and the climate impacts of carbon-intensive California crude. Finally, it asserts that new drilling threatens the critically imperiled Temblor legless lizard.

The report argues that krill fishing is inherently unsustainable as it threatens a fragile ecosystem already stressed by climate change. It highlights the dominance of Aker BioMarine in the market and identifies numerous European retailers and aquaculture companies that use krill-based feed or sell krill oil supplements. The document criticizes the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for failing to account for climate change and predator impacts, and calls for an immediate moratorium on krill fishing.

The report details how krill fishing, dominated by Aker BioMarine, exacerbates climate-driven threats to the Antarctic ecosystem by competing with key predators for food. It exposes a lack of transparency in supply chains, where krill meal is used in aquaculture feeds sold by major European retailers, and krill oil is widely sold as dietary supplements. The document criticizes the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for ignoring climate change and predator impacts, and calls for an immediate moratorium on krill fishing.

The report argues that Antarctic krill fishing is unsustainable, threatening a fragile ecosystem already stressed by climate change. It highlights how the industry, dominated by Aker BioMarine, uses greenwashing and problematic certifications like the MSC to justify its operations. An investigation reveals that krill-oil supplements are widely sold by the world's largest retailers and krill meal is extensively used in European salmon aquaculture, often without consumer-facing labels or retailer policies to exclude it.

The document argues that as China tightened regulations on domestic heavy rare earth mining, production shifted to Myanmar, specifically Kachin Special Region 1. This illicit industry is controlled by armed militias and Chinese interests, leading to severe environmental degradation, human rights abuses, and labor violations. Because China controls the vast majority of global processing, these minerals enter the supply chains of major international companies producing electric vehicles and wind turbines. The report recommends that companies and governments implement strict due diligence and import restrictions to prevent the green transition from fueling harms in Myanmar.

The document argues that proof-of-work digital currencies, specifically Bitcoin, cause significant environmental harm through soaring electricity demand, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and the generation of substantial electronic waste. It highlights the negative impacts on local communities, such as increased electricity prices and thermal pollution in water bodies, and notes that these operations can strain critical semiconductor supply chains. The authors propose several mitigation strategies, including stringent EPA permit reviews, the creation of a mining operation registry by the OMB, energy efficiency standards from the DOE, and transparency requirements from financial regulators like the SEC and CFTC.

The document examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically those imported into the EU. It highlights that while high-risk deforestation commodities often rely on precipitation (green water), other commodities cause significant water scarcity through irrigation (blue water). The authors warn that focusing solely on deforestation may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions and identify critical data gaps regarding water use for beef and wood products.

The document analyzes the resource requirements and potential externalities of direct air capture (DAC) at both a single-plant (1 MtCO2/year) and a system-wide (0.5 GtCO2/year) scale. It finds that while on-site emissions are low, significant impacts arise from energy demand, land use, and the materials supply chain. The authors argue that responsible scaling requires project-specific social and environmental impact assessments, robust community engagement, and the use of legal agreements like Community Benefits Agreements to ensure equitable distribution of benefits, such as job creation.

The report evaluates the impact of expanding the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to cover more European aviation flights compared to the European Commission's (EC) proposal, which retains the EU ETS for intra-EEA flights and uses CORSIA for flights between the EEA and other participating states. Using the AERO-MS model, the study finds that expanding the EU ETS to include all outgoing flights (Scenario 1) or all outgoing and incoming flights (Scenario 2) would significantly increase emission reductions and auctioning revenues, though at a higher cost to airlines. Specifically, Scenario 2 would result in a 113% higher emission reduction than the EC proposal. The report also highlights uncertainties in CORSIA's effectiveness, noting that changes in the baseline or non-participation of major aviation countries could reduce its emission reductions by up to 77%.

The report documents the expansion of phosphate mining by Industries Chimiques du Sénégal (ICS) from 1960 to 2022, noting that the exploited area grew from 2,821 hectares to 8,888 hectares. This expansion led to the displacement of 23 villages and the loss of approximately 30,500 hectares of agricultural land across the Ndomor Diop, Keur Mor Fall, and Tobène quarries. The study highlights severe environmental degradation, including air and water pollution, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss, alongside socio-economic tensions primarily centered on inadequate compensation for displaced populations. While ICS has implemented Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in education, health, and water access, the report argues these are superficial and fail to address the root causes of conflict, such as land expropriation and toxic emissions. It recommends a shift toward 'local content' policies, strict adherence to the Mining and Environment Codes for land rehabilitation, and fair compensation based on production loss rather than simple investment costs.

The document highlights the environmental risks posed by proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining in New York State, specifically citing the Greenidge Generating Station's role in increasing CO2 emissions and discharging hot water into Seneca Lake. It contends that the high energy demands of this industry conflict with the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and calls for a moratorium on such mining operations.

On 8 February 2022, Indonesian police and military personnel conducted a violent operation in Wadas village, Central Java, resulting in at least 63 arrests, including 13 children. The operation was intended to facilitate land measurement by the Purworejo Land Agency (BPN Purworejo) for a proposed andesite mine. The Wadas community has opposed the mine since 2018, citing the loss of productive agricultural land and risks to water springs and landslide prevention. Friends of the Earth International links this to a broader pattern of criminalisation in Indonesia, noting similar police violence against mining protests in Bengkulu and Central Sulawesi between December 2021 and February 2022.

The report examines 21 proposed US LNG export terminals, finding that none reached a final investment decision (FID) in 2021 due to a lack of offtake contracts and project financing. It highlights that only three projects secured direct project finance totaling US$1.6 billion against an estimated total cost of US$244 billion. The document argues that these projects face stiff competition from lower-cost producers like Qatar, regulatory hurdles regarding environmental justice, and a global shift toward renewables. Furthermore, it notes that the combined lifecycle emissions of 19 proposed terminals would be 1 gigatonne of CO2 equivalent per year, contradicting the IEA's Net Zero by 2050 Scenario.

The report profiles 12 private equity firms—including Blackstone, Carlyle, and KKR—detailing their substantial portfolios of oil, gas, and coal assets. It argues that these firms fuel the climate crisis and environmental injustice while their executives accumulate immense wealth and social prestige. The document provides specific examples of environmental violations, such as oil spills and methane leaks, and highlights the firms' tendency to avoid global climate pledges like those made at COP26.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submits a formal objection to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's draft Gas Master Plan Basecase Report. The submission argues that the plan is 'reckless and unnecessary', contradicting South Africa's constitutional obligations to protect citizens from climate change and ignoring energy modelling that suggests gas-to-power is not required for energy security.

Earthjustice denounces AES Puerto Rico for two decades of coal ash pollution in Guayama, citing contaminated groundwater, increased chronic disease rates, and an ineffective remediation plan. The statement highlights the failure of the EPA and local authorities to enforce the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule and calls for the immediate removal of toxic waste and restoration of the South Coast Aquifer.

The document details the environmental and public health crisis in Guayama, Puerto Rico, caused by Applied Energy Services (AES) and its mismanagement of coal ash since 2002. It highlights the contamination of the South Coast Aquifer and the failure of both the EPA and local authorities to enforce the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule. The text criticizes AES's proposed remediation plan as a 'sham' and reports on efforts by Earthjustice and the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee to hold the company accountable.

The report details a rapid threat identification methodology and the accompanying Fossil Fuel Atlas web platform, which allows stakeholders to overlay fossil fuel infrastructure data with environmental and social datasets. It argues that fossil fuel production drives ecological degradation through land conversion, pollution, and biodiversity loss, while also causing social harms such as the dispossession of Indigenous lands and health risks. The document provides a comprehensive taxonomy of these threats and demonstrates the tool's application through case studies in Western Africa, Egypt, Mozambique, South Africa, and the Philippines.