Search Climate Insights Directory

The document critiques the process of 'financialization of nature,' which it describes as the reduction of natural elements into exchangeable financial instruments. It argues that pricing biodiversity is a prerequisite for this process, leading to the creation of 'natural capital' and market-based mechanisms like biodiversity banks and green bonds. The author contends that these tools, particularly those based on 'offsetting,' allow corporations to continue destructive activities by purchasing credits, thereby bypassing genuine conservation and violating the rights of traditional land defenders. The paper advocates for community-based governance and food sovereignty as alternatives to neoliberal market logic.

The document critiques the 'financialization of nature,' where biodiversity is converted into financial assets and commodities. It argues that assigning prices to nature ignores its intrinsic value, marginalizes indigenous and local communities, and allows corporations to continue destructive activities through 'offsetting' mechanisms. The author calls for the protection of biodiversity through strong legislation and community-led governance rather than market-based instruments.

The report argues that conservation initiatives frequently violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, despite an increasing international legal consensus on their protections. It asserts that responsibility for upholding these rights extends beyond states to include international organisations, businesses, and NGOs. The authors analyse a vast array of international instruments and find that while normative trends are moving toward greater recognition of rights, enforcement and redress remain significant challenges. The document concludes by suggesting the creation of core standards, stakeholder guidance, and potentially a dedicated global grievance mechanism or 'Roundtable on Ethical Conservation' to ensure just conservation practices.

The document examines the challenges Indigenous Peoples and local communities face when seeking redress for human rights violations linked to conservation, such as the eviction of the Endorois in Kenya. It categorizes redress mechanisms into state-based (national courts, NHRIs) and non-state-based (UN systems, regional human rights courts, financial institution accountability mechanisms, and corporate mechanisms). While state-based systems can issue binding decisions, they are often inaccessible due to discrimination and lack of recognition of collective rights. Non-state judicial mechanisms often have high procedural hurdles, such as the exhaustion of domestic remedies, while non-judicial mechanisms frequently lack enforcement power. The author suggests exploring a 'Roundtable for Ethical Conservation' as a specialized mechanism to ensure compliance with human rights standards.

The author opposes S. 1966, claiming it would mandate logging in up to 25 percent of designated "logging emphasis areas," leading to the loss of at least 7.5 million acres over 15 years. The text argues the bill eliminates judicial review and environmental safeguards, threatens drinking water supplies in the West, and provides less revenue for rural communities than the Secure Rural Schools Act of 2000.

The document argues that LULUCF should be treated separately in the EU's 2030 climate framework to prevent its carbon sink from being used to reduce mitigation efforts in energy, industry, and transport. It emphasizes that land-use policies must prioritize biodiversity and environmental integrity over simple carbon sequestration, specifically recommending the rewetting of peatlands and the end of subsidies for unsustainable farming. Globally, it calls for the EU to address its role as a major importer of deforestation-embodied products through mandatory standards and a new EU Action Plan on deforestation.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2013/14 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). Key trends include a 12.26% increase in registered EMIs and a significant rise in reported environmental incidents. While industrial sectors like cement and refineries show improved performance due to proactive inspections, biodiversity crimes—particularly rhino poaching—remain a critical concern despite heavy court sentences. The report also highlights legislative updates, judicial precedents regarding the 'polluter pays' principle, and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement and prosecutors.

The document critiques the REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanism, asserting that it prioritizes private finance and corporate interests over indigenous rights and genuine climate mitigation. Through case studies in Indonesia, Mozambique, and Peru, it demonstrates how REDD projects can exacerbate land conflicts, threaten food security, and fail to achieve carbon reduction goals. The report concludes that REDD is a 'false solution' that allows industrial polluters in the Global North to continue emitting via carbon offsets. It proposes an alternative based on community-led forest management, the resolution of land tenure issues, and a systemic reduction in the consumption of resources by rich countries.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) critiques the REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanism, claiming it exacerbates land tenure conflicts, threatens food security, and allows industrial polluters in the Global North to avoid domestic emission cuts. Through case studies in Indonesia, Mozambique, and Peru, the report illustrates failures in carbon accounting, financial instability, and the marginalization of Indigenous peoples. FoEI proposes an alternative model of community forest management, citing Bolivia's proposal to the UNFCCC as a viable path toward climate justice and sustainable forest preservation.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) contends that REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) fails to deliver permanent emissions reductions and often harms Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Through case studies in Indonesia, Mozambique, and Peru, the report illustrates how REDD+ can exacerbate land tenure conflicts, threaten food security, and facilitate continued pollution in industrialised countries via carbon offsets. FoEI proposes replacing these market-based mechanisms with community-led forest management based on traditional knowledge and a global reduction in the demand for forest-derived products.

The assessment finds that the Dominican Republic has a medium level of preparedness in legal environment, financial benefit optimization, environmental management, and post-mining transition, but a low level of preparedness in socioeconomic benefit optimization and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). While environmental laws are comprehensive, the primary mining law (Law No. 146) is outdated, and there is a significant lack of transparency in revenue distribution and a need to formalize the ASM sector.

The evaluation finds that the Dominican Republic has a strong environmental management framework but suffers from an outdated primary mining law (Law No. 146 from 1971) and significant gaps in socio-economic benefit optimization and the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). While the government demonstrates political will and professional capacity, the report highlights a lack of transparency in the distribution of mining revenues to municipalities and insufficient integration of mining into national development strategies.

The paper advocates for the use of strategic foresight and integrated policy analysis to help African governments navigate complex development trade-offs and set realistic targets. It highlights the International Futures (IFs) model as a tool for scenario analysis and evidence-based planning, using it to critique the feasibility of certain Agenda 2063 goals, such as the eradication of extreme poverty by 2030 and the 'silencing the guns' initiative by 2020. The author emphasizes that such foresight is dependent on improving the quality and availability of reliable data across the continent.

The fact sheet critiques the 'financialization of nature,' where natural elements are segregated and assigned property titles to be traded as financial assets. It argues that this process enables corporations to profit from speculation while stripping local communities of decision-making power. The author advocates for food sovereignty, community-based governance of forests, and the use of public funds and taxes for conservation rather than market-based 'false solutions' or offsetting mechanisms.

The IAI Executive Committee has established an ad hoc committee to draft terms of reference for a new Advisory Committee on Science-Policy Liaison, aimed at integrating global change science into decision-making. The EC is also exploring strategies to increase member country involvement and funding, including reviewing the IAI Strategic Plan. Additionally, the IAI participated in the ENSOCIO-LA consortium to foster EU-Latin American cooperation on climate change and resource efficiency, and co-organized a World Climate Research Program (WCRP) conference in Montevideo to define a regional research agenda for climate services.

The paper examines the legal obligations of conservation actors regarding the rights of indigenous peoples, tribal peoples, and local communities. It argues that while states are the primary duty-bearers, international organizations, corporations, and NGOs also have responsibilities to respect human rights based on international customary law and 'social licenses'. The text specifically links these obligations to the implementation of Aichi Target 11 for biodiversity.

The study assesses 62 mining applications in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal to determine if EAPs are following the six core principles of the Mining and Biodiversity Guidelines (MBG). It finds significant gaps in adherence, particularly regarding the use of biodiversity information and best practice environmental impact assessments. The report highlights a performance gap between larger and smaller EAP consultancies and argues for the urgent formal registration and regulation of EAPs under a professional body like EAPASA to ensure sustainable development and protect water and food security in South Africa's grasslands.

The document introduces a study that combines a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model with a spatially explicit land use model to analyze the interconnectedness of socio-economic development, land use, climate change, and food security in Vietnam from 2010 to 2030. It aims to provide decision-makers with insights into the spatial patterns of land use change and the resulting implications for greenhouse gas emissions and food security under three different scenarios.

A coalition of conservation organizations petitioned the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to ban second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), arguing that these chemicals bioaccumulate in the environment and cause widespread mortality among non-target wildlife, pets, and children. The petitioners provide evidence of over 225 lethal poisoning incidents across 31 wildlife species in New York and highlight the disproportionate impact of rodenticide exposure on minority and disadvantaged communities in New York City. The petition asserts that SGARs violate state and federal wildlife protection laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and argues that safer, effective alternatives such as first-generation anticoagulants, non-anticoagulant chemicals, and mechanical trapping are available.

A briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and other NGOs criticizing the decision by CITES to remove Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from the Review of Significant Trade. The document argues that the DRC has failed to implement sustainable management practices, continues to engage in widespread illegal logging, and has provided an insufficient non-detriment finding (NDF) to justify its export quotas.