Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines how fossil fuel companies use misleading advertising to appear more sustainable than they are. It specifically critiques claims regarding the sustainability of natural gas, the viability of carbon capture and storage (CCS), the effectiveness of carbon offsets and nature-based solutions, and the carbon neutrality of wood biomass energy.

The document describes COP Pavilions as spaces for Parties and observer organisations to host events, showcase research, and network. It details the types of activities held there, how attendees find events, and the application process for COP26.

The document explains that COP26 is divided into a UN-managed Blue Zone for accredited experts and decision-makers and a host-nation-managed Green Zone for the public. It outlines various methods of attendance, including official accreditation, volunteering, obtaining passes from partner entities, participating in city-wide events in Glasgow, and engaging via online broadcasts and social media.

The guide argues that water and food security decisions must be accompanied by social analyses to identify and protect vulnerable groups based on sex, ethnicity, income, and race. It outlines the core objectives of social analysis, such as ensuring inclusivity in decision-making and protecting customary rights to land and water. The text illustrates potential negative impacts through scenarios, including the increased burden on women in Malawi and the marginalization of pastoralists in the Sahel. It further warns that irrigation projects in Bangladesh and Pakistan can divert domestic water to farms, and that large-scale infrastructure, such as India's UKP dam, can cause mass displacement. To support these analyses, the document lists resources from organizations like the World Bank, FAO, and UNDP, and provides a framework of critical questions regarding who benefits from and who is adversely impacted by development projects.

The handbook outlines a 'Smart and Sustainable Island Development Model' based on experiences from Aegna and Vasikkasaari. It details a three-stage strategic planning process: setting a shared vision, conducting a sustainability assessment across environmental, economic, social, and cultural dimensions, and establishing goals and action plans. The guide emphasizes the use of 'smart solutions'—including IoT sensors for weather and air quality, Bluetooth and infrared visitor tracking, satellite imagery for vegetation decay, and drone-based bird nest counting—to reduce the need for physical maintenance visits and improve data collection. It also advocates for citizen science, such as using the iNaturalist app for biodiversity monitoring and student-led marine litter research, to engage the public and gather extensive datasets. Practical examples include the implementation of a centralized waste management station on Aegna and the development of nature trails and resting areas on Vasikkasaari.

The document outlines a strategic framework for transforming small islands near urban centers into sustainable tourism destinations. It emphasizes a four-dimensional sustainability model (environmental, economic, social, and cultural) and details the use of 'smart solutions'—such as IoT sensors, satellite imagery, and citizen science—to monitor ecosystems and manage visitor flows. The guide is based on experiences from Aegna and Vasikkasaari islands, providing a step-by-step process for visioning, sustainability assessment, and the implementation of infrastructure and waste management systems.

The document outlines the technical requirements and operational steps for using a set of 16 'golden questions' and associated Excel calculators to segment audiences into seven specific value-based categories in Britain. It specifies that all 16 questions must be answered in a precise order to ensure accuracy and provides guidance on using both 'single response' and 'bulk' classification tools.

The document examines the intersection of climate change and human rights, detailing how environmental degradation threatens rights to life, food, health, water, and housing. It outlines the obligations of states to respect, protect, and fulfil these rights, and the responsibilities of businesses to reduce emissions and provide remedies. The handbook specifically focuses on the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), presenting case studies of their work in monitoring impacts, handling complaints, providing policy advice, and engaging in international mechanisms like the UNFCCC and the Universal Periodic Review. It highlights that nearly half of Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs have engaged in climate change work, using tools ranging from digital mapping to formal inquiries into 'carbon majors'.

The document argues that large-scale investment in natural infrastructure lags because research often focuses on broad valuations rather than specific business cases. It proposes a five-step approach for project champions—starting with a driver, identifying a lead beneficiary, developing a pitch, establishing partnerships, and securing catalyst funding—to bridge the gap between feasibility and finance. For funders, it recommends supporting targeted research, convening beneficiaries, helping projects achieve scale, and providing dedicated predevelopment support.

The document advocates for a shift toward 'planet-based diets' to reduce the environmental footprint of the global food system, which is identified as a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions and habitat loss. It outlines five strategies for individuals: choosing sustainable ingredients, balancing animal protein intake with plant-based foods, diversifying crop and nutrient intake, prioritizing minimally processed foods, and reducing food waste. The guide emphasizes that these dietary shifts should be flexible to accommodate local cultures, budgets, and nutritional needs.

The guide outlines a framework for land restoration consisting of understanding the land's state through social and physical mapping, setting inclusive goals, and establishing tracking systems. It emphasizes that restoration must integrate local expertise and marginalized voices to avoid pitfalls such as planting trees in incorrect locations or violating land rights. Case studies from Kenya, India, Ethiopia, and El Salvador illustrate how data-driven planning and community engagement can maximize carbon sequestration, water quality, and economic benefits.

The document argues that Wikipedia is a critical tool for communicating climate change information to a wider audience than academic journals, noting that it is often the first port of call for the general public and policymakers. It highlights a 'systemic bias' in Wikipedia's contributor base, which tends to be male and from developed countries, resulting in a lack of content from the Global South, particularly Africa. To address this, the guide provides detailed technical instructions on creating accounts, adding citations, using the Visual and Source editors, and navigating Talk pages. It also outlines the 'five pillars' of Wikipedia editing, emphasizing a neutral point of view and the necessity of verifiable sources. Furthermore, the guide explains how to join WikiProjects, such as WikiProject Climate Change, and provides a step-by-step framework for organizing 'edit-a-thons' to collaboratively improve specific topic areas.

The document explains how trade-based money laundering (TBML) is used to disguise the proceeds of environmental crimes, often through misinvoicing or complex global schemes. It highlights why natural resources are particularly susceptible to TBML due to their need for licit supply chains and the ability to co-mingle illicit goods with legal ones. The guide provides 'red flags' for identifying suspicious trade and financial activity and lists inter-governmental, private sector, and NGO resources available to help practitioners combat these financial crimes.

The document describes how the 'urban heat island' effect causes cities to be hotter than rural areas, noting that this heat is disproportionately felt in formerly 'redlined' neighborhoods. It highlights the role of tree canopies and green spaces in mitigating heat and suggests resources and methods for journalists to report on urban heat inequality.

The Union of Concerned Scientists provides a resource for experts facing harassment, outlining how to differentiate between good-faith inquiries and disinformation tactics. It offers specific protocols for responding to attacks on social media, via email, through blogs, and in mainstream media, while emphasizing the importance of documentation, institutional support, and legal counsel.

The guide outlines three primary passive strategies for maintaining cool indoor temperatures: preventing heat gain through shading and reflective materials, utilizing natural ventilation like 'night flushes', and improving interior comfort with air movement and thermal mass. For active cooling, it recommends high-efficiency options such as ductless heat pumps and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs). The document illustrates these principles through two case studies in Colorado, demonstrating how super insulation, solar PV, and passive design can maintain comfortable indoor temperatures without traditional air conditioning during extreme heat.

The document explains the fundamental differences between emissions trading systems and offsetting mechanisms, evaluates the failures of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation, and details the challenges facing the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It specifically addresses risks such as 'hot air' trading, double counting, and the lack of environmental integrity in forest-based offsets (REDD+), while also examining the CORSIA aviation offsetting scheme and the voluntary carbon market.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Proposal Toolkit 2020 serves as a technical manual for entities seeking climate finance for developing countries. It outlines the essential roles of National Designated Authorities (NDAs), Accredited Entities (AEs), and Executing Entities (EEs), and provides a ten-step methodology for proposal development. Key design requirements include a strong climate rationale, a Theory of Change, and a logical framework aligned with GCF's investment criteria. The guide emphasizes the integration of environmental and social safeguards, gender action plans, and indigenous peoples' policies. It also details the financial instruments available—grants, concessional loans, equity, and guarantees—and explains the approval pathways, including the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) for smaller, low-risk projects.

The guide advises utility regulators to avoid postponing key climate and energy proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting virtual engagement tools and prioritizing high-impact projects. It emphasizes that maintaining momentum on emissions reductions and utility business model reforms is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and stimulating economic recovery through the clean energy sector.

The document argues that COVID-19 lockdowns have provided a cover for governments and private entities to suppress environmental and land defenders through harassment, arrests, and the enactment of restrictive laws. It highlights specific instances of repression in the DRC, Uganda, and South Africa, noting that the suspension of normal administrative and judicial functions has limited access to justice and transparency. To counter these threats, the guide recommends that defenders shift toward online engagement, creative protest methods, and encrypted communication, while leveraging regional movements and emergency funds like the African Environmental Defenders’ Fund.