Search Climate Insights Directory

Based on a September 2021 survey of 898 registered voters, the report finds broad support for various climate-friendly policies, including energy efficiency incentives and renewable energy research, though levels of support vary significantly by political affiliation. While a majority of voters believe clean energy will boost economic growth and job creation, there is a notable gap between the willingness of voters to support climate actions and their actual engagement in political activism over the preceding year.

The author asserts that the United States' ability to lead globally on climate at COP26 depends on the passage of the Build Back Better Act. The text highlights the Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP) as a key mechanism for accelerating renewable energy deployment and notes that 17 companies and the America is All In coalition have urged Congress to prioritize these climate provisions. The document warns that without legislative progress, the US will remain viewed with skepticism by the international community following its previous withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

The report analyzes the transition to virtual meetings for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that while virtual formats increased participation and reduced costs, they hindered informal networking. Survey results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the organization of CoP-29, though there is a noted need for better introductory materials for new participants and more frequent communication between sessions via Zoom and newsletters.

The report finds that greenhouse gas emissions in 26 major emitting countries and regions are projected to remain above 2005 levels in most cases by 2030 under current policies. While 16 of these entities are on track or close to meeting their original NDC targets, 11 are off-track to meet their updated targets, and five have not yet submitted updates.

The Center for Climate Integrity asserts that the Chamber of Commerce has known about the dangers of fossil fuels since the 1980s but spent decades sowing doubt about climate science. The statement highlights the Chamber's role in the Global Climate Coalition, its lobbying efforts to weaken EPA regulations, and its financial support for politicians who oppose climate action, including funding a study used to justify the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

ClientEarth argues that the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) obstructs climate action and conflicts with EU law, specifically citing the CJEU's Komstroy ruling. The organization claims that the ECT's modernisation process is unlikely to succeed due to unanimity requirements and that companies are using investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) to sue EU states over climate policies. Consequently, ClientEarth calls for a coordinated EU withdrawal from the treaty.

Following the 2021 federal election, all major Canadian political parties have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and carbon reductions by 2030. The document highlights the importance of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which mandates five-year milestones and established the Net-Zero Advisory Body. It emphasizes that achieving the 2030 target requires scaling 'safe bet' solutions—such as energy-efficient buildings and clean electricity—while calling for a comprehensive emissions reduction plan that addresses carbon pricing, emerging technologies, and a just transition for workers.

The document highlights a unique moment of political alignment in Canada where all major parties commit to net-zero by 2050. It emphasizes the importance of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act in providing a legal framework for emissions reductions and calls for a detailed 2030 emissions reduction plan focusing on proven technologies like energy-efficient buildings and clean electricity.

The report argues that methane emissions from livestock are a critical 'blind spot' in climate policies. It finds that neither the 18 largest producing countries nor the 20 largest industry companies have set sufficient targets to reduce methane, often ignoring the necessity of reducing livestock numbers and meat consumption to meet Paris Agreement goals.

The report finds a significant increase in public support for climate action by the US president and Congress across various political affiliations, with record-high priority levels among Democrats and notable increases among Republicans.

The briefing emphasizes that reaching net zero ambitions and maintaining a 1.5°C world requires significant individual behavioral changes, which in turn require public buy-in and government-led structural support. It highlights that the UK lacks a centrally-led public engagement strategy despite commitments under the UN's Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) protocol. The document recommends a strategy that is broad-based, utilizes trusted and diverse spokespeople, emphasizes two-way communication over top-down messaging, and focuses on internalizing reasons for change rather than relying on behavioral 'nudges'. It suggests the UK use COP26 to lead internationally on public engagement and invigorate the ACE protocol, noting that few nations, such as Italy, Costa Rica, and Scotland, currently have considered public engagement policies.

The document defines adaptation and resilience professionals as those integrating future climate conditions into their daily work, noting that such roles span for-profit, academic, government, and nonprofit sectors. It highlights a lack of standardized Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) codes for these roles, which complicates accurate counting, though it notes the U.S. adaptation and resilience industry was valued at $2.4 billion in 2019. The text categorizes the workforce into five roles—practitioner, service or tool provider, funder, policy maker, and advocate—and calls for updated Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) systems to better track this growing workforce.

The We Mean Business Coalition asserts that while many companies are pursuing science-based targets and investing in renewables and electric fleets, voluntary action is insufficient to meet the goal of halving global emissions by 2030. The coalition calls for governments to implement mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, end coal financing and fossil fuel subsidies, and invest in EV infrastructure and smart grids to create the economic certainty required for businesses to accelerate their transition.

The report identifies 90 advertising and PR companies working for the fossil fuel industry, highlighting a conflict between the sustainability pledges of major holding companies and their continued representation of high-polluting clients. It details specific case studies of disinformation and lobbying efforts in the US, Australia, and the EU, while warning that the term 'Net Zero' is being used as a primary tool for greenwashing ahead of the 2021 Glasgow climate talks.

A September 2021 survey of 898 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy policies and the prioritization of global warming by the federal government, though significant ideological divides persist regarding economic impacts and the use of national emergency declarations.

The Clean Air Task Force advocates for the passage of the California Climate Crisis Act (AB-1395), which would codify California's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 and maintaining negative emissions thereafter. The Act would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to update its Scoping Plan to include nature-based and technology-based solutions, specifically carbon capture, removal, and storage. The authors argue that such policy action is essential to address the immediate impacts of drought and wildfire in California and to maintain the state's position as a global climate leader.

The Canadian Climate Institute acknowledges that systemic injustices from colonization and discrimination make certain groups more vulnerable to climate change and policy impacts. To address this, the Institute commits to increasing the representation of underrepresented groups within its organization and research, integrating diverse perspectives into its work, and supporting Indigenous rights and self-determination.

The guide outlines strategies for maximizing productivity at a COP, including how to use different access passes, the importance of daily planning across overlapping agendas, and techniques for professional networking. It emphasizes the value of attending negotiations as an observer to track national delegations and suggests practical tips such as wearing comfortable shoes and using digital business cards.

California is projected to fall 125 million metric tons of CO2 short of its 2045 targets, necessitating the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to address hard-to-abate industrial emissions and achieve net-negative emissions. The state possesses vast geologic storage potential, particularly in Central Valley saline aquifers, estimated at 30-417 gigatonnes of CO2. Beyond emissions, these technologies are presented as means to improve air quality by reducing sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, and to support workforce stability during the clean energy transition.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) welcomed the decision of the Climate Leadership Council (CLC) to separate from Exxon. WRI emphasized that carbon pricing is essential for an effective climate response and called on CLC member companies to ensure their lobbying and political spending align with their public climate commitments. Additionally, WRI urged these companies to support carbon pricing within the upcoming reconciliation package and future legislation due to the urgency of the climate crisis.