Search Climate Insights Directory

This document records the decisions and actions taken during the 25th Conference of the Parties (CoP-XXV) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 13-14, 2017.

This briefing outlines the decisions and actions taken during the 43rd Executive Council (CE) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 12, 2017, in Bogotá, Colombia.

This executive summary from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines the significant financial burdens pollution places on Canadian families, businesses, and governments, synthesizing existing studies to provide a comprehensive assessment of these costs.

This report establishes a framework to enhance the resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal against climate change. It identifies that while long-term climate threats include erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, short-term pressures are driven by non-climatic factors such as riverbed mining and rural migration. The study recommends a shift toward risk-based design, integrated groundwater and surface water management, and strengthened river basin governance to ensure water security.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) presents its core budget request for the 2017/2018 fiscal year and preliminary projections for 2018-2020. The document outlines the financial requirements to maintain the Directorate's operations, including scientific program monitoring, UN convention participation, and administrative transitions to Montevideo.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in June 2017, synthesizes existing studies to estimate the economic and health costs of pollution in Canada. It highlights that while some pollutants like urban smog are well-documented, significant data gaps exist for others, such as persistent organic pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the total annual costs likely reach tens of billions of dollars.

A statement by CIEL Senior Attorney Melissa Blue Sky regarding the #BeyondNAFTA summit in Mexico City, where a diverse coalition of social and environmental groups called for a new North American trade agreement that prioritizes human rights, environmental protection, and climate obligations over corporate profits.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) wrote to federal ministers in May 2017 urging the integration of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) into all federal Environmental Assessment (EA) processes. The organization argues that human health is fundamentally underpinned by the environment and that resource and energy development projects must explicitly evaluate health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations and Indigenous Peoples.

This executive summary synthesizes the Arctic Resilience Report to provide policy-relevant insights for leaders at the local, regional, and national levels, as well as the Arctic Council. It emphasizes the need for integrated understanding of social and environmental systems to maintain core functions amidst rapid change, while highlighting that while resilience-building occurs within the Arctic, slowing the pace of change requires external action.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizing the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its continued financing of coal projects despite the risks of climate change and local environmental destruction.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizing the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its continued financing of coal-based projects despite acknowledging the threats of climate change to poverty mitigation in the Asia-Pacific region.

This report, developed by FHI 360 and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides an inventory and summary of digital technologies used to enhance resilience, primarily in Asia. It details a wide array of tools—ranging from mobile apps and IoT sensors to big data analytics and geospatial mapping—designed to support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term livelihood stability for vulnerable populations.

This research paper examines the causes and resolution of land-use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the Pawaga division. It argues that these conflicts are driven by historical evictions, 'green grabbing' for conservation, large-scale agricultural investments, and a formal land dispute settlement system that is biased against pastoralists. The author proposes a community-based coalition model, piloted by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF), as a more effective alternative to formal judicial and administrative mechanisms.

A statement by World Resources Institute (WRI) President and CEO Andrew Steer explaining the motivations behind the People's Climate March, contrasting the despair caused by climate damage and political inertia with the hope provided by sustainable urban, agricultural, and economic transitions.

This research paper introduces a conceptual framework designed to support green and blue growth by addressing the fragmented governance and limited ecosystem understanding in source-to-sea systems.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) expressing support for the March for Science on April 22, 2017, and highlighting the importance of science-based criteria for regulating endocrine disruptors chemicals (EDCs), particularly within the European Union.

This policy brief explores the application of the Planetary Boundaries framework to EU policy-making, proposing an equal-per-capita allocation method to translate global limits into EU-scale benchmarks. It finds that the EU exceeds its fair share of the global safe operating space in several key areas and suggests that while EU policy instruments offer entry points for mainstreaming these boundaries, they currently fail to address process interactions or the EU's international environmental footprint.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is challenging the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs' decision to authorize a 600MW coal-fired power plant for KiPower (Pty) Limited near Delmas, Mpumalanga. Citing the 'Thabametsi judgment', the CER argues that the law requires a comprehensive climate change impact assessment—covering GHG emissions, water scarcity, and social costs—before such authorization is granted. The CER has proposed a legal settlement to require this assessment and set aside the previous decision.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica responded to reports that State Department undersecretary Tom Shannon is expected to sign a cross-border permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, stating that the decision will increase resistance to the Trump administration's policies and that the organization will pursue legal and state-level actions to stop the project.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International arguing that the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) model is fundamentally flawed and should not be revived, calling instead for a complete reset of trade policy to prioritize public good over corporate interests.