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The document defines mass timber as a class of engineered wood materials, such as cross-laminated timber, capable of supporting large structures. It highlights benefits including carbon storage, a potential 13% to 26.5% reduction in building material emissions, and wildfire risk mitigation through the removal of small-diameter trees. The text also details U.S. federal support via the USDA Wood Innovations Program and the 2018 Farm Bill, while addressing concerns regarding fire safety and moisture management.

Embodied carbon, which accounts for 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, refers to the emissions released during the lifecycle of building materials. Reduction strategies include using carbon-storing materials like mass timber, adopting 3D printing and robotic automation, and implementing material efficiency through modular construction. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act provides nearly $10 billion for reducing embodied carbon, while several states have adopted 'Buy Clean' laws. RMI research indicates that low-cost embodied carbon solutions can reduce emissions by 19 to 46 percent with cost premiums under 1 percent.

The Jasiri Gender Bond, launched in February 2022 by NMB Bank with technical support from FSD Africa, mobilised USD 32 million to support women-led enterprises in Tanzania. The bond provided capital to over 200 SMEs and 3,000 MSMEs, offering loans at a competitive 14% interest rate compared to the 19% market average. It was the first Sub-Saharan bond listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange and saw a 197% oversubscription, with 99% of investors being retail investors. The bond's success was supported by the Capital Markets and Securities Authority's adoption of ICMA guidelines, facilitating the use of global standards for local ESG products.

The document describes the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as a natural climate pattern consisting of warm (El Niño), cold (La Niña), and neutral phases driven by sea surface temperatures and pressures in the tropical Pacific. It details how these phases disrupt atmospheric circulation, affecting global precipitation and temperature. Specifically, La Niña is associated with wetter conditions in Australia and Indonesia and warmer, drier winters in the southern U.S., while El Niño is linked to drought in Australia and Indonesia and cooler, wetter winters in the southern U.S. The text emphasizes that while ENSO can nudge global temperatures, it does not mask the long-term warming trend caused by carbon pollution; for instance, 2022 remained the sixth hottest year on record despite a persistent La Niña. Historical data from the 2015-2016 El Niño event highlights severe consequences, including forest fires in Indonesia, flooding in Peru, and an estimated 60 million people impacted by extremes across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region.

This fact sheet explains the formation and types of glaciers, the drivers and consequences of their melting due to global warming, and the importance of legal protections for these freshwater reserves, highlighting Argentina's National Glacier Law.

This fact sheet defines global warming as the excessive accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, explains its causes rooted in human activity, details its environmental consequences, and outlines global political commitments and individual actions to mitigate the phenomenon.

The document critiques soil carbon offset programs, asserting they do not reduce global emissions but instead serve as a mechanism for agribusinesses to maintain industrial models. It highlights risks such as the erosion of traditional agricultural knowledge, the promotion of patented seeds and chemicals, and the unreliability of soil carbon measurement. The text specifically identifies companies like Yara and Boomitra as drivers of these markets, expanding from industrial farms in the US, Australia, and Brazil into small-scale farming in Africa, India, and South America.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times the warming power of CO2 over 20 years, though it breaks down in about 12 years. Approximately 60% of methane emissions result from human activity, primarily agriculture (40%), the energy sector (35%), and waste management (20%). The five largest global emitters are China, the U.S., Russia, India, and Brazil. In the U.S., the energy sector's contribution is estimated by the IEA at 54%, significantly higher than the EPA's 38% due to underreported 'ultra-emitting events'. Reduction strategies include repairing leaks in oil and gas production, capturing biogas from waste and agriculture, and using alternative livestock feed. Measurement is shifting from 'bottom-up' inventories to 'top-down' remote sensing via satellites and aircraft to better identify point sources. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26, aims for a 30% reduction in global methane emissions from 2020 levels by 2030, though several top emitters have not yet joined.

The document explains that fall foliage is driven by temperature, sun exposure, and rainfall, all of which are being altered by climate change. While warming temperatures generally delay leaf fall, drought and heat stress can cause earlier shedding or duller colors. These shifts have economic implications for tourism and ecological implications for forest carbon sequestration.

The document examines how human-caused climate change and warming sea surface temperatures are increasing the proportion of intense tropical cyclones and the frequency of rapid intensification events. It highlights that tropical cyclones are the costliest weather disasters in the U.S., with 73% of billion-dollar storms since 1980 having undergone rapid intensification. The text notes that while landfalling hurricane frequency in the continental U.S. remained stable from 1900-2017, economic losses have risen due to increased population and wealth along the Gulf and East Coasts.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by cyanobacteria are increasing globally due to warming temperatures, heavier rainfall, and nutrient pollution. These blooms produce toxins that cause acute illnesses in humans, long-term organ damage, and death in wildlife. Mitigation requires reducing carbon emissions and nutrient runoff from agricultural and urban sources.

Global Shipping Watch is a data platform that matches cargo records with AIS vessel movements to attribute maritime emissions to specific companies, products, and routes. It aims to overcome barriers to decarbonization by providing transparency for scope 3 emissions reporting and sustainable supply chain management. The initial 2019 data release covers US imports and exports, as well as exports from Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Indonesia.

The document contends that global and European food insecurity is a problem of distribution, access, and utilization rather than production. It highlights that the EU is a net exporter of agri-food products and that a significant portion of its cereal production is used for animal feed and biofuels rather than human consumption. The text argues that industrial agricultural practices drive the climate and biodiversity crises, which in turn threaten food yields through pollinator loss and extreme weather. It advocates for a transition to agro-ecological practices and the adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Law with ambitious, enforceable targets to capture carbon and protect ecosystem services.

The document outlines how climate change impacts mental health through direct, indirect, and vicarious risks. It provides data on depression and PTSD following disasters like hurricanes, highlights widespread climate anxiety among Americans and global youth, and discusses strategies for building individual and community resilience.

The document asserts that electric trucks can effectively replace up to half of the trucks currently on the road, as many medium- and heavy-duty routes are short enough for existing battery technology. While electric trucks are heavier, the text notes that most trucks reach cargo volume limits before weight limits, and federal and state exemptions help mitigate weight concerns. Driver preference is high due to reduced noise and vibration. Economically, the document highlights California's use of subsidies, fuel standards, and infrastructure rebates as a model. To scale adoption, the document emphasizes the need for broader policy frameworks—such as the Advanced Clean Truck regulation—and significant upgrades to the electric grid.

The document asserts that EVs in the US already produce 60–68 percent fewer emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles. It highlights that 'smart charging'—specifically Automated Emissions Reduction (AER) technology—can further lower emissions by aligning charging with periods of cleaner energy. The text claims that if 70 million EVs are on the road, emissions-optimized charging would be equivalent to removing an additional 5.73 million internal combustion engine vehicles from the road.

The document catalogues endorsements of the term 'climate emergency' across different sectors. It notes that nearly 14,000 scientists from 156 countries have signed a warning stating 'planet Earth is facing a climate emergency'. In the media, The Guardian updated its style guide to recommend terms like 'climate emergency, crisis or breakdown', and Noticias Telemundo adopted 'climate emergency' over 'climate change' in 2019. Politically, 23 national governments, including Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the European Union, have declared a climate emergency, alongside 2,060 towns, cities, and counties globally. Additionally, the UN Secretary General and Pope Francis have called for emergency declarations, and a 2021 poll indicated that two-thirds of the global population views climate change as a 'global emergency'.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy technologies and a low-carbon future. It explains that 'criticality' is context-dependent, defined either by supply security (import dependence) or strategic valuation (leveraging abundance). The text highlights the specific role of rare earth elements (REEs), the massive increase in mineral demand for electric vehicles and decarbonization, and the growing importance of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) alongside emerging sources like deep-sea mining and phytomining. It concludes by weighing the economic opportunities of value chain development against risks such as production concentration, price volatility, and the 'Dutch disease'.

The WACC and WCC are launching a coalition to transform the media environment into one that is more equitable and inclusive for women and girls. The strategy focuses on three pillars: capacity strengthening for communicators and journalists, the creation of an Ecumenical Gender & Media Observatory for participatory monitoring, and evidence-based advocacy to hold media and digital platforms accountable. The initiative responds to high rates of online violence against women journalists and the systemic underrepresentation of women as experts and subjects in news coverage.

The document describes a partnership between WWF South Africa, Conservation South Africa, and other partners to transition communal sheep farming in the north Eastern Cape to regenerative practices. The project aims to regenerate 11,000 hectares of land and support 380 people across nine grazing associations. By using conservation agreements, the project incentivizes farmers to adopt planned rotational grazing to prevent soil erosion and biodiversity loss in exchange for benefits such as vaccinations, training, and fair market access for wool. The initiative is supported by the Regenerative Fund for Nature, launched by Kering and Conservation International.