Search Climate Insights Directory

Friends of the Earth International highlights a global rise in authoritarianism and neoliberal economic expansion that has increased violence against environmental defenders, citing 227 deadly attacks in 2020 alone. The organization details its support for specific struggles, including the Garifuna people in Honduras facing land grabbing, social movements in Colombia resisting neoliberalism, Palestinians fighting for food sovereignty under Israeli occupation, and fishing communities in Mozambique affected by Total's LNG project. The document advocates for national protections for defenders and a binding UN treaty to hold multinational corporations accountable for human rights and environmental violations.

The report analyzes how right-wing actors, particularly the AfD, leveraged the 2021 German federal election to spread climate disinformation. Based on monitoring of Facebook and Twitter from August 8 to October 3, 2021, the study found that the AfD's climate-related posts achieved significantly higher engagement than its other content and those of opposing parties. The analysis identifies a strategy of framing climate protection as a 'culture war' and a threat to lifestyles, utilizing 'denial and delay' narratives that were shared over 135,000 times. It also notes a platform divide, with positive climate messages dominating Twitter while negative narratives prevailed on Facebook.

The document outlines the role of international financing institutions (IFIs) in directing resources toward sustainable agricultural water management. It emphasizes that IFIs should adhere to responsible investment principles—particularly those focusing on farmer empowerment and inclusion—to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and protect ecological and cultural interests. The findings are derived from a study of IFI investments in irrigation and drainage infrastructure between 2010 and 2019.

The WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health reports on its 2021 efforts to mobilize the health sector for climate action. Key achievements include conducting regional consultations across six WHO regions involving over 135 countries, launching the 'Healthy Climate Prescription' open letter signed by organizations representing 46 million health workers, and publishing a report on climate and health research gaps. The group also supported the Global Climate and Health Conference and the WHO Health Pavilion at COP26 to increase the visibility of health in climate negotiations.

Climate Central's analysis indicates that five historic sites in St. Augustine, Florida—Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas, Fort Mose, the Lightner Museum, and the Lincolnville District—are all projected to face chronic flood risk by the end of the century. Using the RCP 8.5 emissions scenario, the report finds that several sites already face substantial threats, with some experiencing frequent or chronic risk currently.

The report finds overwhelming public and organizational support for priority climate legislation in Connecticut, yet a significant gap exists between this support and legislative outcomes. While 91.7% of testimony positions supported priority bills, most legislation died in committee. The study highlights a stark imbalance in lobbying resources, with electric and gas utilities spending over $24 million—far exceeding the spending of environmental groups and renewable energy firms. Opposition to climate action has shifted from denying climate science to employing 'climate delay' discourses, such as arguing that Connecticut is too small to matter or that policies would disproportionately harm low-income residents.

The report identifies the fossil fuel industry as the most litigious sector in the ISDS system, accounting for nearly 20% of all known cases. It highlights a significant lack of transparency, with 54% of concluded cases remaining confidential. Findings show that investors frequently win on the merits (72% of disclosed cases) and receive substantially higher awards than non-fossil fuel investors, averaging over USD 600 million. The analysis emphasizes the role of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and contract-based arbitrations, particularly in low-income countries. The report concludes that the ISDS system can create a 'regulatory chill,' deterring states from implementing urgent climate policies and phasing out fossil fuels to meet Paris Agreement objectives.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected a constitutional challenge by the D.G. Khan Cement Company against a Punjab government notification barring cement plant construction or expansion in "Negative Areas". The court ruled that the ban was a proper climate resilient measure based on a consultant report warning of groundwater depletion and other environmental harms. The decision integrated the precautionary principle, the rights of nature, and the concept of "climate democracy" into the interpretation of fundamental rights under Pakistan's Constitution, emphasizing intergenerational justice and the need to protect water resources from climate change.

The 'Klimaatsaksie Handboek' is a practical guide designed to empower South African communities to combat climate change using legal tools. It explains the science of climate change, identifies specific vulnerabilities and potential impacts—such as water scarcity and food insecurity—and outlines a framework for 'climate action.' The document details South Africa's constitutional rights, relevant environmental legislation, and international commitments. It provides a step-by-step toolkit for community organizing, including methods for gathering evidence, accessing government information via PAIA, participating in Environmental Impact Assessments, lobbying, and taking legal action as a last resort.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that Ryanair Ltd's claims of having "low CO2 emissions" and being the "lowest emissions airline" were misleading. While the ASA accepted the CO2 per passenger-kilometre metric, it found that the advertisements lacked sufficient information for consumers to verify emission reductions compared to other carriers and noted that the airline's data calculations omitted well-known competitors. The case is cited as an example of "greenwashing," where companies falsely brand services as climate-friendly to mislead consumers.

The Local2030 Coalition is a UN-anchored platform aimed at bridging the gap between global SDG targets and local implementation. Based on a global baseline study, the coalition identifies critical gaps in advocacy, action, and monitoring. Its strategy focuses on empowering local actors, fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships, and leveraging UN expertise to ensure a green and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition is co-chaired by UN-Habitat and other rotating UN entities, with a focus on providing a convening space for knowledge sharing, policy alignment, and improved access to SDG financing.

The 2021 Plan Director de la Cuenca del Río Tupiza (PDCRT) updates the 2018 plan to integrate climate change projections, sustainable sanitation, and robust decision-making tools. The plan identifies critical vulnerabilities in water access, irrigation, and mining impacts, proposing eight strategic lines of action with a total estimated investment of BOB 160,472,859 over a five-year horizon. Key findings include a projected reduction in annual river flow of up to 38% by 2050 under RCP 8.5 and significant gaps in sanitation, where 58% of inhabitants in 20 of the 24 studied communities practice open defecation.

The author contends that the perceived conflict between the economy and the environment is false, asserting that climate inaction is destructive to economic growth. Citing the 2021 floods and mudslides in British Columbia, the text highlights the massive financial losses caused by disrupted supply chains and infrastructure failure. It notes that climate-related catastrophes have cost Canada approximately 5% to 6% of its annual GDP growth since 2010. The document calls for urgent investment in future-proof, carbon-neutral infrastructure and the modernization of outdated climate risk data to protect the national economy.

Analysis of 246 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2021 shows that 98% experienced an increase in average winter temperatures, with the Great Lakes and Northeast regions seeing the most significant warming. Winter is the fastest-warming season for 38 out of 49 states. While extreme cold events still occur, warming winters threaten regional economies through reduced snowpacks in the West, lower fruit yields, and the migration of disease-carrying pests.

The Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) allocates $555 billion toward climate change and clean energy to reduce climate pollution by 50-52% by 2030 from 2005 levels. The White House estimates these measures will reduce emissions by over one billion metric tons in 2030 compared to business as usual. The legislation includes incentives for domestic production of clean energy technologies, protections for workers, and mandates that 40 percent of investment benefits reach low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The September 2021 survey indicates that public understanding of global warming is at record highs in the U.S., with 76% of Americans believing it is happening and 60% attributing it to human causes. While 70% of respondents express worry and 69% feel a personal responsibility to help, there is a gap in understanding the strength of scientific consensus, with only 24% aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming. The report also highlights a high perceived link between global warming and domestic weather impacts, including extreme heat and wildfires, though many Americans rarely discuss the topic with friends or family.

The author highlights the shared history of underestimating the effects of both climate change and nuclear weapons. The text details how nuclear detonations cause immediate blast damage and long-term atmospheric disruptions, such as 'nuclear winter', which mirror the systemic risks of the climate crisis. It warns that current geopolitical instability, exacerbated by climate-driven resource scarcity, increases the risk of nuclear conflict, particularly in South Asia. The author calls for a revival of public discourse on nuclear risks to match the current momentum for climate action.

Climate Central analysis shows that 72% of 246 evaluated U.S. locations have seen an increase in the amount of rain falling on their annual wettest day since 1950, with the most significant increases occurring in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic. The document links these trends to rising temperatures, noting that for every 1°F increase, the atmosphere holds approximately 4% more moisture. It highlights the severe impacts of these events, including $43 billion in flood damages from 2016-2020 and disproportionate risks for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities, particularly in redlined areas where flood risk is 25% higher.

The document examines DARPA's contribution to U.S. national security through high-risk, high-reward research, specifically highlighting its role in enabling COVID-19 vaccine development via earlier mRNA investments. It identifies internal risks—such as leadership gaps in biological expertise and high personnel turnover—and proposes structural reforms. Key recommendations include lengthening Program Manager terms, creating a discretionary 'seedling' budget for innovative ideas, expanding the search for international performers, and renaming the Biological Technologies Office to the Biological Sciences Office to broaden its scope. The authors argue that DARPA must better align its aggressive timelines with the inherent constraints of biological research and improve transitions to commercial or military partners to avoid the 'Valley of Death'.

The Hindu Kush Himalayas, known as the 'Third Pole', are experiencing rapid glacier retreat due to climate change, leading to an increase in the number and volume of glacial lakes. This has heightened the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which often present transboundary threats, as seen in the 2016 Bhote Koshi River flood where a lake breach in Tibet caused $70 million in damages in Nepal. Despite the high risk, early-warning systems are inadequate and cross-border cooperation remains limited, although initiatives like the Hindu Kush Himalaya Glaciers and Mountain Economy Network and the Koshi Basin Initiative aim to improve regional resilience.