Search Climate Insights Directory

The Willis Transportation Outlook examines how transport infrastructure serves as a primary driver of global economic development and wealth creation. It highlights a shift in aviation and trade growth toward Asia and the Middle East, while developed nations like the UK struggle with political instability and aging infrastructure. The document emphasizes the transition toward 'intelligent mobility'—using smart data and connectivity to reduce congestion—and the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather. It also explores innovative funding models like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the role of China's investment in African transport networks.

The report identifies significant gaps in expertise, funding, and priority within the U.S. public health system regarding climate change. While most local health directors recognize climate change as a threat, few prioritize it in their departmental planning. The authors recommend a three-pronged approach: protecting public health through system efficacy, preventing dangers by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing health through 'win-win' policy alignment.

The document argues that adopting the ACT rule is essential for New York to meet its climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and to address severe public health disparities caused by diesel emissions. It highlights that medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) are a primary source of greenhouse gases and toxic air pollutants, particularly in communities of color. The authors assert that zero-emission MHDVs are technically viable and cost-effective, projecting that the rule would add over 228,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2050 and generate $1.9 billion in net societal benefits. The statement recommends strengthening the rule by limiting early crediting to one year and lowering the fleet reporting threshold to five vehicles to better identify pollution hot spots and address labor misclassification.

The Hearing Examiner denied a consolidated appeal by the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and 350 Tacoma, ruling that the City of Tacoma did not commit clear error in its environmental review of a proposed 2.5 million square foot industrial development. The decision affirms that the project's impacts on transportation, air quality, noise, and water were sufficiently analyzed and mitigated under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and local codes.

The document highlights how the lack of specific zoning definitions for last-mile warehouses in New York City allows developers to build facilities "as-of-right" in manufacturing and C8 districts without public input or environmental review. This has led to a concentration of warehouses in low-income, predominantly Black and Hispanic/Latinx neighborhoods, exacerbating air pollution from diesel trucks and increasing asthma rates. The Last Mile Coalition proposes a city-wide text amendment to require special permits, ensure setbacks from sensitive sites like schools and public housing, and mandate mitigation measures such as the use of electric vehicles or waterways.

The fact sheet contends that S.3512 is a threat to public health and safety because it lacks firm deadlines for state permit programs, fails to mandate engineering standards for coal ash ponds, and strips the EPA of its authority to regulate the nation's second largest industrial waste. The author asserts that the bill ignores the 2008 Kingston disaster and discourages recycling by permitting the continued use of water-based ash ponds. Furthermore, the document highlights a lack of public participation guarantees and the potential for utilities to withhold groundwater monitoring data as 'Confidential Business Information'.

The report documents a systemic 'environment of fear' in South Africa's mining regions, where activists facing environmental and social harms from mining are targeted with physical violence, death threats, and legal harassment. It highlights the failure of the South African government to protect these defenders and the role of municipalities in imposing extra-legal restrictions on peaceful assembly. The document also details the use of SLAPP suits and social media attacks by mining companies to silence opposition, while noting the severe environmental and health costs of mining, including water pollution and respiratory diseases.

The report finds that achieving an 80% non-fossil electricity share by 2035 is technically feasible and would lower wholesale electricity costs compared to current policy trajectories. This transition would be driven by the declining costs of wind, solar, and battery storage, which the authors argue are now more cost-effective than new coal generation. The 'Clean Energy' scenario would significantly reduce CO2 emissions and premature deaths from air pollution, while resulting in a net increase in employment, despite losses in the coal mining sector. Reliability analysis suggests the system can maintain a 10% operating reserve margin even with high variable renewable penetration and the retirement of 250 to 300 GW of coal capacity.

The report finds that while Uganda's medium-term planning (NDPIII) is responsive to natural capital, actual budgetary allocations have declined, with only 28% of the 2021/22 recovery budget supporting natural capital management compared to 40% in 2020/21. It highlights significant degradation of forests and wetlands and warns that industrialization goals may further threaten biodiversity without dedicated monitoring and offset plans.

The research paper examines how urban forests influence air quality and public health. It highlights that trees improve air quality by directly removing gaseous pollutants and particulate matter, and indirectly by reducing urban heat island effects and building energy demand. However, it notes that trees can also emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pollen, and may trap pollutants near emission sources like roadways if not designed correctly. The paper concludes that while the overall effect is positive, local forest design is critical to maximize health benefits.

The toolkit offers sample messaging and talking points to highlight how urban trees mitigate extreme heat, improve air quality, and enhance public health. It specifically promotes the #FundingUrbanForestry campaign and the use of Inflation Reduction Act funds to expand urban canopies and create green jobs in underserved communities.

The document provides a series of social media templates for Urban Forestry Grant awardees to promote the environmental, health, and economic benefits of urban tree planting. It highlights the role of urban forestry in mitigating extreme heat, improving air quality, and creating livable wage jobs, specifically targeting communities of color and low-income areas to promote tree equity.

The MAP-FIRE project focuses on the 'MAP region' (Madre de Dios in Peru, Acre in Brazil, and Pando in Bolivia) to address increasing vulnerability to droughts and wildfires. The project found that drought-induced fire emissions are often excluded from national carbon inventories and that gross emissions from wildfires can exceed 50% of primary forest deforestation during drought years. In Acre, Brazil, economic losses from forest fires between 2008 and 2012 were estimated at US$ 307.46 ± 85.41 million, representing 9.07 ± 2.46% of the state's GDP. To mitigate these risks, the project co-developed monitoring platforms for fire occurrence and air quality, which have since influenced the installation of air quality sensor networks across all Brazilian Amazonian states and informed a new project in the Pantanal region. The initiative also produced 10 technical reports and 34 collaborative events to integrate fire risk knowledge into school curricula and decision-making processes.

The MAP-FIRE project focuses on the 'MAP region' (Madre de Dios, Acre, and Pando) to address the increasing risk of extensive forest fires in the Amazon. The project has quantified the socio-environmental impacts of fire, developed near-real-time monitoring platforms for fire and air quality, and produced technical reports to assist decision-makers. Key findings highlight that drought-induced fire emissions are often omitted from national carbon inventories and that forest fires caused significant economic losses in Acre, Brazil, between 2008 and 2012.

The report establishes a multi-stakeholder process to identify quality of life indicators for Winnipeg, categorizing them into Urban Environment, Urban Economy, Community Assets, Individual Well-being, and Community Leadership and Pride. It assesses the availability of data from sources like Statistics Canada and city departments, identifying significant gaps in areas such as equity and citizenship. The document concludes with a three-stage implementation plan to institutionalize measurement and reporting every 2-4 years.

The National Environment Tribunal (NET) revoked the EIA licence for Amu Power Company Limited's proposed 1050MW coal plant in Kwasasi, Lamu County. The tribunal found that public participation was "non-existent" during the ESIA study phase and that the process was "procedurally unfair." Key failures included the lack of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the LAPSSET corridor, the omission of critical infrastructure designs (such as a 2,000-acre limestone quarry and conveyor belt), and a failure to account for Kenya's Climate Change Act, 2016. While some air quality and ecological mitigation measures were deemed adequate, the tribunal found the ash-handling plans risky due to tidal flooding and climate change. Consequently, the licence was revoked, requiring the proponent to either restart the ESIA process in accordance with the law or appeal the decision.

This document is a series of annexes from an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for the proposed Nairobi Expressway project. It includes technical specifications of the road's alignment, biodiversity data, minutes from public consultation meetings held in November and December 2019, and detailed plans for the relocation of water, sewer, and power utilities.

The document details the analytical approach used to estimate up to $91 billion in savings for Minnesota by comparing 'business-as-usual' transportation scenarios against targets for VMT reduction and net-zero emissions. It describes the monetization of avoided crash fatalities, air quality improvements, fuel and operating costs, and the social cost of carbon.

The report argues that energy and mobility sectors must move from silos to synergies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies 19 priority countries and 260 cities, categorizing them into four types: Efficiency Opportunists, Digital Disruptors, Electric Vehicle Leapfroggers, and Renewable Drivers. The document proposes three primary solutions: integrated energy, land-use, and mobility planning; demand-side targeting and management using digital tools; and the deployment of electric mobility (specifically buses and two-wheelers). It highlights a significant financing gap for sustainable transport in small cities and recommends cross-sector alliances and improved spatial data to attract investment.

The Effects screen in LEAP allows users to view, edit, and add data for 258 default environmental effects, including greenhouse gases and local air pollutants. The software integrates GWP values from IPCC Assessment Reports (AR1 through AR6), enabling users to calculate emissions in physical tonnes or CO2 equivalents. While the main system focuses on effects directly associated with energy use, the Impact Benefits Calculator (IBC) module can be used for indirect health and air quality impacts at a national scale.