Search Climate Insights Directory

A statement by Friends of the Earth International regarding the COP16.2 negotiations in Rome, arguing that current biodiversity financing mechanisms are unjust and that a fundamental systemic change in the global financial system is required to effectively combat biodiversity loss.

Friends of the Earth International issues a statement calling for a fundamental systemic change in biodiversity financing ahead of the COP16.2 meeting in Rome. The organization argues that current financial mechanisms are unjust, driven by destructive industries, and fail to support the most effective conservation actors, such as Indigenous peoples and local communities.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International argues that the biodiversity crisis is driven by systemic financial failures and calls for a fundamental reform of the financial system ahead of the COP16.2 negotiations in Rome. It criticizes the current reliance on private finance, biodiversity offsets, and the failure of developed nations to meet funding pledges, while advocating for direct financial support for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).

Natural Justice submitted a response to the South African government's 2024 proposed amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, advocating for thorough assessments of high-impact activities, enhanced public participation, and alignment with climate and conservation goals.

This concept note proposes the creation of a first-of-its-kind national database in Mozambique to document and protect traditional knowledge (TK) related to biodiversity. The initiative aims to prevent the loss or misappropriation of cultural and scientific resources by establishing a secure, community-governed digital repository that bridges the gap between traditional knowledge systems and modern scientific research.

This research paper proposes using the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) framework as an organizing principle for transboundary conservation policy to address the fact that political borders rarely align with ecological boundaries.

The document discusses the necessity of evaluating ecological services provided by global biomes to inform conservation policies and assess vulnerability to land-use changes, noting that these values are not currently reflected in market prices.

This research paper chapter examines the relationship between land-use changes (LUC) and land tenure conflicts in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, between 2001 and 2010, within the broader context of deforestation in the Gran Chaco region.

This research paper evaluates the effectiveness and social equity of 60 market-based economic instruments for nature conservation (MBEINC) projects in Latin America, finding that a minority of projects achieved their environmental and social goals and that no single institutional arrangement consistently ensures positive outcomes.

This research paper examines the historical extractive economy of the Espinhaço Mountains and the ecological value of its rupestrian grasslands, proposing conservation and land use management strategies to balance mining wealth with biodiversity preservation.

A study in a Brazilian tropical dry forest (TDF) found that herbivorous insects employ spatial and temporal escape strategies to survive the dry season, showing higher diversity, richness, and abundance on evergreen trees and increased nocturnal activity during the dry period.

This white paper, based on a 2024 scientific diplomacy workshop in Panama, outlines the critical role of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection, while providing policy recommendations for their conservation and restoration.

This briefing by the African Food Systems Transformation Collective explores the use of 'agroecological territories' and integrated landscape approaches to transition African food systems toward sustainability. It argues for a holistic framework that connects agricultural practices, biodiversity conservation, and embedded food systems to address systemic environmental degradation and food insecurity.

This action brief by the Climate Policy Initiative outlines opportunities for development finance institutions (DFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to integrate a dual gender-nature lens into their investment processes to support biodiversity goals and gender equality.

This report assesses the role of voluntary sustainability initiatives (VSIs) in mitigating the impacts of mining on global forests. It finds that while mining affects up to one-third of forest ecosystems—with direct deforestation concentrated in tropical rainforests—current VSIs often lack the specificity, governance representation, and lifecycle coverage (missing the design phase) necessary to be effective. The report highlights a growing threat from the energy transition's mineral demand and argues that VSIs alone are insufficient without supportive public policies and more robust, biome-specific standards.

This case study collection, published by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), documents seven transdisciplinary research projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. It serves as a training resource for the IAI's TD Academy, focusing on integrating scientific knowledge with local and indigenous systems to address global environmental change (GEC). The document emphasizes 'epistemic justice' and the shift from 'ecosystem services' to 'nature's contributions to people' (NCP) to better reflect non-monetary values of nature.

This report by Transforma provides a comprehensive guide for the financial sector to integrate nature-related risks and opportunities into business models. It identifies four primary barriers—undervaluation of nature, regulatory gaps, challenges in nature-based financing, and a knowledge gap—and proposes strategies to overcome them. A significant portion of the document is dedicated to detailing the 'Locate' phase of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) LEAP approach, offering a roadmap for financial institutions to identify the geographical and sectoral intersections of their portfolios with the natural environment.

The "One Food: A Toolkit for Farmers" is a guide published by WWF South Africa that introduces the One Food concept, a holistic approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health to create sustainable, climate-resilient food systems. The toolkit provides practical advice for livestock and crop farmers to protect biodiversity, manage resources like water and soil, and mitigate the impacts of climate change through agroecology and rangeland management.

Friends of the Earth U.S. analyzes the Biden-Harris administration's 6-point policy framework aimed at reducing U.S. imports of products linked to deforestation. While commending the framework's direction, the organization advocates for a holistic approach to illegal deforestation, the establishment of a public due diligence system independent of third-party certifications, and the passage of the federal FOREST Act.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) issued on Human Rights Day (December 10, 2024), calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and highlighting the intersection between climate justice and the liberation of Palestine.