Search Climate Insights Directory

The document examines the efforts of the UN General Assembly and the Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) to create a legally binding instrument under UNCLOS for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). It highlights significant divergences between developed and developing states regarding access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of marine genetic resources, the application of the 'common heritage of mankind' principle, and the design of institutional structures. While Prepcom 4 produced an outcome document identifying areas of convergence and divergence, the brief emphasizes the need for a focus on non-monetary benefits—such as capacity building and technology transfer—to address the technical and economic disparities between nations without disincentivizing marine scientific research.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that the Trump administration has waged a "war on science" by sidelining independent advice, appointing conflicted leaders, and rolling back science-based environmental and health protections. The report documents a pattern of political interference, including the removal of climate change data from federal websites and the creation of a hostile work environment for federal scientists, which the authors claim endangers vulnerable populations and erodes public trust in government.

The 2016 assessment reveals a significant decline in elephant ivory availability in historical physical markets like New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, potentially due to state-level bans. However, the market appears to be pivoting toward online platforms and states without strict regulations, such as Washington, DC and Oregon. The report documents 1,589 items in physical retail and 2,056 items across six online platforms, noting widespread confusion among vendors regarding legal exemptions and a trend of mislabeling ivory as 'bone' or 'mammoth' to evade detection.

The 2017 Allianz Climate and Energy Monitor finds that while emerging markets like China and India are seeing a boom in renewable energy installations driven by falling costs, OECD countries—specifically Germany, the UK, and France—remain the most attractive investment destinations due to stable policy frameworks. The report highlights a significant investment gap, stating that G20 countries must roughly double annual investments to meet Paris Agreement goals, with absolute needs reaching USD 709 billion per year (2012 prices) between 2014 and 2035. It notes a global shift from feed-in tariffs to auction-based support systems and warns that governments must now transition from focusing on generation to holistic power system design to integrate variable renewables and avoid curtailment.

The document argues that natural gas must be phased out alongside coal to limit global warming to 1.5˚C, warning that current investments in gas infrastructure risk creating stranded assets as the power sector transitions to carbon-free energy by 2050.

The European Parliament voted on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which covers approximately 60% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions across transport, buildings, agriculture, and waste sectors. While the Parliament's position improves the emission baseline to better reflect actual levels—potentially leading to 280 million tonnes of additional emission cuts compared to the Commission's proposal—it maintains a 280Mt limit on land use and forestry offsets for agriculture. Additionally, the document notes the introduction of an 'early action reserve' of up to 90 Mt CO2e in carbon permits, which the author suggests may reward past emission savings and risk widening per capita emission divergences in Europe.

The document evaluates the impact of NAFTA's environmental side agreement and the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), highlighting successes in data sharing and pollution mitigation alongside failures in the citizen submission process. It concludes by proposing seven options for the NAFTA renegotiations, ranging from maintaining the status quo to integrating modern sustainability standards from agreements like CETA or TPP.

The assessment finds that Mongolia has a medium level of implementation of the IGF Mining Policy Framework. Key strengths include a high level of transparency in tax and royalty flows through the EITI and a legal framework for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). However, significant gaps exist in the management of high-risk mine wastes, the lack of a comprehensive system for mine closure and financial assurance, and limited government capacity to audit complex tax returns and address transfer pricing. The report recommends prioritizing capacity building in mine closure, financial benefit optimization, and socioeconomic benefit optimization to ensure the mining sector contributes to long-term sustainable development.

The document examines the governance of Africa's extractive sectors, arguing that while the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) provides a valuable multi-stakeholder framework for revenue transparency, it must be complemented by national laws and regional cooperation to ensure true accountability. It highlights the gap between revenue disclosure and social spending, the challenges of beneficial ownership transparency, and the impact of political will on implementation. Case studies of Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia illustrate the varied success of institutionalising transparency and the persistent issues of reporting delays and exclusionary governance.

The report finds that while Estonia's building sector is relatively well-controlled due to existing regulations, a 19% further reduction in energy consumption is needed to meet 2030 EU targets. In contrast, the transport sector's energy demand is projected to grow by 18% by 2030 under business-as-usual conditions, failing both national and EU targets. The most effective interventions identified are large-scale building shell renovations and the adoption of fuel-efficient, electric, and hybrid vehicles.

The report identifies 15 subsidy policies for Indonesia's coal industry, estimating subsidies at US$946 million in 2014 and US$644 million in 2015. In contrast, renewable energy subsidies were US$36 million in 2014 and US$133 million in 2015. While per-unit subsidies are similar, the report argues that coal's true cost is much higher when external costs from air pollution and carbon emissions—estimated at US$6 cents per kWh—are included. It concludes that Indonesia's energy policy should shift toward a larger share of renewables to reduce long-term societal costs.

The report finds that while coal may appear cheaper on a per-unit basis when considering only generation costs and subsidies, its "true cost" is significantly higher than that of renewable energy once environmental and health externalities are included. In 2015, subsidies to coal were estimated at USD 644 million, nearly five times the USD 133 million provided to renewables. The authors argue that Indonesia's energy policy should shift toward increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing coal to lower the long-term cost to society.

The assessment finds that while Suriname's Constitution and Mining Decree provide a general basis for mining governance, the legal framework is outdated, lacking a national environmental authority and specific legislation on indigenous rights and mercury use. Key strengths include the use of comprehensive environmental assessment guidelines by NIMOS and the role of the OGS in managing the small-scale gold sector. However, significant gaps exist in financial benefit optimization, socioeconomic planning, and post-mining transition, particularly regarding financial assurances for mine closure. The report recommends updating the Mining Decree, establishing an environmental ministry, and further formalizing the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector.

The document examines how California's LCFS and Cap-and-Trade Program work together to reduce transportation emissions. The LCFS mandates a reduction in the carbon intensity of fuels, while Cap-and-Trade puts a price on carbon and generates revenue for clean technology investments. The author argues that neither policy is sufficient alone and recommends extending both to 2030 to provide the stability needed for long-term infrastructure and vehicle transitions.

The document argues that urban ecosystems and green infrastructure are economic assets that protect cities against climate shocks and natural disturbances. It suggests that investing in these ecosystems can offer lower-cost solutions to multiple urban challenges compared to traditional infrastructure. The brief emphasizes that healthy ecosystems provide critical environmental, social, and economic services while enhancing a city's adaptive capacity.

The document argues that renewable energy investments in China, India, and the US must increase significantly—doubling in China and the US and tripling in India—to meet Paris Agreement warming limits. While China and India are rapidly expanding renewable capacity and moving away from coal, the US faces worsening federal policy ambition despite strong state-level support for renewables.

The brief explores the application of the Planetary Boundaries framework to EU policy, using an equal-per-capita allocation approach to determine a 'fair share' of the global safe operating space. It finds that the EU significantly exceeds its per capita limits for climate change and biogeochemical flows, and that EU consumption exerts higher pressure on several boundaries than the global average. While existing EU policy instruments offer entry points for integrating these boundaries, they currently fail to address the EU's international environmental footprint or the interactions between different planetary processes.

The report highlights Germany's position as a leading producer of packaging waste in Europe, with 218 kg per person annually. It argues that supermarkets and drugstores hold significant power to reduce this waste by replacing resource-inefficient products—such as single-use plastic bottles and non-concentrated detergents—with sustainable alternatives. The document claims that a 20% reduction in resource consumption is currently possible through product innovation and the adoption of reusable systems. It criticizes the 2017 German Packaging Act for focusing on recycling rather than avoidance and calls for a resource tax, binding reusable quotas, and clearer consumer labeling to drive a transition toward a circular economy.

Canada has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, committing to reduce transboundary pollution and manage domestic emissions. While atmospheric emissions have decreased, Canada remains susceptible to long-range transport, with over 95% of anthropogenic mercury deposition originating outside its borders. The document highlights the role of the IISD-Experimental Lake Area (IISD-ELA) in researching mercury bioaccumulation, particularly in reservoirs, and identifies critical gaps in knowledge regarding climate change impacts and non-point source emissions. Future priorities include the safe disposal of smelter waste, remediation of contaminated sites like Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemong First Nations, and improved land-use management to address methylmercury release from flooded areas.

The report evaluates Mongolia's mining sector governance across six themes: legal and policy environment, financial benefit optimization, socio-economic benefit optimization, environmental management, mine closure transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). While Mongolia demonstrates strengths in transparency (EITI participation) and professional human resources, it faces significant challenges in mine closure planning, waste management, and the formalization of ASM. The assessment concludes that Mongolia's overall implementation level of the IGF framework is 'average', with critical gaps in financial guarantees for mine closure and the lack of a comprehensive system for monitoring environmental impacts on water and biodiversity.