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The document argues that the Loss and Damage Fund must be designed with transparency and inclusivity to be perceived as just by both donors and recipients. It emphasizes the need for flexible funding mechanisms, such as grants and programmatic approaches, to address underfunded areas like mental health services and ecosystem restoration. The brief highlights four critical trade-offs in the fund's setup: scope versus coordination, participatory versus delegated governance, inclusive versus rapid decision-making, and accessibility versus strict oversight. It recommends diversifying funding sources beyond public money to include philanthropic and private sectors, and suggests adopting multi-level governance structures to ensure funds reach the most marginalized local communities.

The document argues that the Loss and Damage Fund must be managed equitably and transparently to effectively support vulnerable countries. It recommends a participatory governance structure, flexible funding windows—including small grants for local NGOs—and a preference for grants over loans to avoid increasing debt. The brief highlights four central trade-offs: scope versus coordination, participatory versus decentralized governance, inclusive versus rapid decision-making, and accessibility versus rigorous control.

The document argues that the Loss and Damage Fund must be fair, transparent, and inclusive to effectively support vulnerable countries. It recommends a broad scope based on recipient-led needs assessments, participatory governance involving civil society, and the use of grants over loans. The authors highlight four critical trade-offs: scope versus coordination, participatory versus devolved governance, inclusive versus rapid decision-making, and accessibility versus oversight.

Climate Central analyzed 18,945 census tracts across 44 major U.S. cities, finding that 41 million people (approximately 55% of the analyzed population) live in areas where the urban heat island (UHI) effect increases temperatures by 8°F or more. The study identifies albedo, green space percentage, and population density as the primary drivers of this effect, with New York City exhibiting the highest average UHI index. The analysis categorizes cities by heat patterns—concentrated cores, diffused zones, or sprawling intensity—and highlights that structural inequities often lead to disproportionate heat exposure for people of color and low-income populations.

The report outlines recommendations for operationalizing the Loss and Damage (L&D) fund established at COP27, focusing on the perspectives of vulnerable countries and beneficiaries. Based on focus groups with representatives from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the document identifies on-the-ground needs, financial access bottlenecks, and necessary design features to ensure the fund is fair, inclusive, and effective for those in the Global South.

The text highlights the tension in international climate talks regarding the responsibility of high-income countries (HICs) to fund climate actions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It warns that without a resourced 'rescue plan' addressing mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage, climate negotiations will continue to fail, potentially leading to increased global emissions and deteriorating quality of life.

Climate Central reports that 97% of 240 analyzed U.S. locations saw an increase in annual cooling degree days (CDD) between 1970 and 2022, with the most significant rises in the Southwest, South, and Southeast. Projections suggest U.S. household cooling demand will increase by 71% by 2050, while global demand is expected to more than triple. The document highlights that rising demand can strain power grids, increase greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and HFCs, and exacerbate urban heat islands. It also notes a disproportionate energy burden on low-income and minority households, who may delay cooling use due to cost. Proposed solutions include transitioning to renewable energy, adopting high-efficiency heat pumps, and implementing building retrofits.

The report offers guidance on operationalising the Loss and Damage fund established at COP27, focusing on institutional arrangements, funding sources, and inclusivity. It emphasizes the need for the transitional committee to adopt inclusive and equitable procedures that incorporate perspectives from the most vulnerable populations to determine the fund's scope and design.

The Clean Air Task Force commissioned a national survey of residents in environmental justice communities—defined by race, ethnicity, and income—to assess their awareness of pollution impacts, interest in clean energy jobs, levels of civic engagement, and barriers to energy accessibility.

This policy recommendation by Natural Justice advocates for the creation of a specific legal framework in Kenya to protect Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs), arguing that current protections are only inferable through the interpretation of various existing laws.

A Climate Central analysis of 241 U.S. locations shows that 195 (81%) have experienced an increase in the annual number of extremely hot days since 1970, with an average increase of 11 days. The report highlights that extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the U.S. and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people of color living in urban heat islands. Specific cities like Austin, Texas, and San Angelo, Texas, have seen significant increases of 47 and 39 additional extremely hot days annually, respectively.

The report examines the G7 Climate Club, an intergovernmental forum aimed at achieving global net-zero emissions by mid-century. While acknowledging its goals, the author argues that the Club's structure—particularly its focus on rapid decarbonisation and potential trade restrictions—could undermine African development. Key concerns include the economic reliance of African nations on hydrocarbon exports, the high cost of transitioning to low-carbon industrial processes, and the risk of trade protectionism through mechanisms like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The report highlights a history of unfulfilled G7 financial pledges to Africa and recommends a co-design approach that prioritises technology transfer, climate justice, and financial support over strict carbon accounting and trade sanctions.

The survey reveals high levels of concern regarding air and water quality, particularly among Hispanic and Black communities. While there is strong support for the clean energy transition and interest in related careers, significant barriers exist, including lack of education, financial insecurity, and low awareness of job opportunities. Trust in government is low, while trust in scientists and family is high.

The report analyzes the institutional framework and policies of the Brazilian agricultural sector regarding climate change. It distinguishes between mitigation and adaptation policies and evaluates whether they incorporate 'justice elements'—such as prioritizing family farming, increasing income for vulnerable producers, and promoting gender and racial equity. The mapping identifies the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) as the primary actor, while noting a lack of a dedicated national strategy for a just transition in agriculture.

The briefing critiques the World Bank's Evolution Roadmap, arguing that its reliance on the 'Cascade' approach—which prioritizes private sector investment—perpetuates structural inequalities and debt in the Global South. It calls for a paradigm shift toward 'public sector solutionism,' including the adoption of a human rights policy, the end of fossil fuel financing, and the creation of an independent UN-based debt workout mechanism.

The document provides a comprehensive legal framework for environmental and land rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), detailing the risks they face from extractive industries, agribusiness, and conservation efforts. It outlines fundamental rights guaranteed by the DRC Constitution and international treaties, and lists specific judicial and non-judicial mechanisms for seeking justice, including the role of civil society and international bodies like the UN and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

GreenLatinos argues that affirmative action is a critical tool for addressing historical and systemic inequities in the US higher education system. The organization warns that the Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action threatens the participation of communities of color and risks reversing progress toward a more equitable society. To illustrate the danger of removing these policies, the statement cites California's experience after Proposition 209, noting that while over half of the state's public high school graduates are Hispanic, only 25% of University of California freshmen are from this background, with representation dropping to 15% at UCLA and Berkeley.

CIEL supports the draft declaration on the human right of international solidarity, noting its inclusion of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The organization emphasizes the obligation of developed states to provide resources for climate-related loss and damage and the duty of all states to counter corporate influence and misinformation in environmental policymaking while protecting civic space for civil society and Indigenous Peoples.

The Clean Miles Standard (CMS) is a California regulation requiring transportation network companies (TNCs) and autonomous vehicle (AV) providers with over 5 million annual vehicle miles traveled to transition to zero-emissions vehicles. By 2030, the regulation mandates that emissions from passenger miles traveled must be zero and 90 percent of all vehicle miles traveled must be powered by electric vehicles. To support this transition, the regulation establishes the Drivers Assistance Program (DAP) to provide financial and educational support to low- and moderate-income drivers, ensuring they are not disproportionately burdened by the shift. Compliance is monitored by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), with mechanisms for over-compliance and optional credits for infrastructure investment or public transit integration.

The document details the struggles of Pasang Norchel Tamang, a herder in Rasuwa, Nepal, whose livelihood has been severely impacted since 2015 by decreasing precipitation and rising temperatures. These climate shifts have led to the depletion of water sources, reduced pasture productivity, and livestock health issues, including miscarriages and lower fertility rates. To maintain income, the herder has increased his livestock numbers, leading to higher debt and forcing his children to drop out of school. Additionally, hydropower projects have fragmented pastures and blocked access routes, further compounding the vulnerability of the ethnically marginalized Tamang community.