Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines a framework for institutional learning to address the climate crisis, emphasizing that traditional reports are insufficient to drive change. It presents findings from the ICF Learning for Change Dialogues, including the tension between monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learning, the need for institutional incentives, and the challenge of aggregating micro-level project learning to the portfolio level. The guide proposes ten emerging principles for effective learning—such as framing learning as a strategic path to impact and 'failing fast'—and provides a set of dimensions (e.g., supply vs. demand, top-down vs. bottom-up) to help organisations design and evaluate their learning interventions.

A group of 53 Illinois scientists, engineers, economists, and health professionals argues that the state's clean energy progress has stalled due to policy flaws. They advocate for increasing the renewable energy target to 35% of electricity and energy efficiency investments capable of reducing demand by 20%, while calling for a market-based approach from the Illinois EPA to reduce carbon emissions.

The briefing outlines the anticipated US climate commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. It emphasizes that for the US proposal to be effective and transparent, it should clarify implementation pathways, address the fairness and ambition of its contribution relative to global goals, and provide clear data on base years and market mechanisms.

A group of international organisations calls on the EU to ensure that all external climate actions respect and promote human rights, aligning the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy with international obligations and the goals of the UNFCCC.

A 2014 survey of American adults reveals that Catholics are more likely than other Christians to believe global warming is occurring, express concern about it, and support policy interventions. Specifically, 70% of Catholics believe global warming is happening, compared to 57% of non-Catholic Christians. Catholics also show higher support for renewable energy mandates and incentives, including a 69% support rate for requiring utilities to produce 20% of electricity from renewables, even with a $100 annual household cost increase.

A 2014 survey of American adults reveals that Catholics are more likely than other Christians to believe global warming is occurring, express worry about it, and support policy interventions. Specifically, 70% of Catholics believe global warming is happening, compared to 57% of other Christians. Catholics also show higher support for renewable energy funding and mandates, including a 69% support rate for requiring utilities to produce 20% of electricity from renewables despite potential cost increases, compared to 53% of other Christians.

The document argues that most global decarbonization scenarios require energy intensity improvements that far exceed historical rates, while noting that policy makers have limited influence over the mechanisms driving these trends.

The document defines a Green foreign policy as a holistic approach that prioritizes human rights, democracy, and environmental sustainability over narrow economic interests. It advocates for the reform of international organizations like the UN and the Bretton Woods Institutions to increase transparency and representation for the Global South. The framework emphasizes the strengthening of international law, specifically the International Criminal Court, and supports restrictive weapons export policies and UN-mandated military interventions. It also calls for a development agenda that links environmental sustainability with social inclusion and conflict prevention through the 'Responsibilities to Protect' (R2P) framework.

The report analyzes how different denominations of American Christians perceive climate change, finding that Catholics are generally the most concerned and supportive of climate policies, while evangelicals are the most split on the reality of global warming and more likely to prioritize religious beliefs over scientific explanations. It also assesses the trust placed in religious leaders, specifically Pope Francis, and the support for specific climate mitigation policies.

The March 2015 survey 'Climate Change in the American Mind' reveals that while a majority of Americans (63%) believe global warming is happening and support various mitigation and adaptation policies, there is a significant gap in understanding the scientific consensus. Only 10% of respondents are aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree that global warming is human-caused. Public worry remains stable but low, with only 11% being 'very worried.' Trust in information sources is highest for climate scientists (70%) and family and friends (67%), while trust in political leaders is fragmented. Most Americans view global warming as a major environmental, scientific, or agricultural issue, and a majority believe it is humankind's responsibility to care for the Earth.

The document analyzes three Chinese national pilot programs for industrial parks: Eco-industrial Parks (EIP), Circular Transformation of Industrial Parks (CTIP), and Low-carbon Industrial Parks. It compares their administrative processes, performance indicators, and contributions to carbon reduction, noting that while these programs are voluntary, they provide significant financial and capacity-building incentives for parks to transition from growth-oriented to environment-balanced models.

The document details a leaked 1998 memo from the American Petroleum Institute (API) outlining a 'Global Climate Science Communications Plan' designed to make scientific uncertainties in climate change part of 'conventional wisdom'. It contrasts this industry strategy with the 1995 IPCC findings that indicated a 'discernible human influence on global climate'. The text notes that API, representing companies like ExxonMobil and Shell, has continued to challenge the science of climate change, including a 2011 legal challenge against the EPA's endangerment finding.

The document exposes a 1998 leaked memo from the American Petroleum Institute (API) detailing a strategic plan to promote scientific uncertainty regarding climate change. It contrasts API's claims of uncertainty with findings from the IPCC's 1990 and 1995 reports, which established human influence on global warming. The text further notes API's ongoing efforts to block U.S. federal regulations, including a 2011 lawsuit challenging the EPA's endangerment finding.

The document contrasts ConocoPhillips' claims of uncertainty regarding climate change's effects on public health with findings from the IPCC and the U.S. National Climate Assessment. It further highlights contradictions between the company's public acknowledgments of human-induced warming and its support for climate-denying trade groups and opposition to U.S. climate legislation.

The research demonstrates that perceived scientific agreement acts as a gateway belief, where increasing public awareness of the scientific consensus causally leads to higher beliefs that climate change is occurring, human-caused, and a threat, which subsequently increases support for public action.

The study reveals a divided Republican electorate, where moderate and liberal Republicans are significantly more likely to believe global warming is occurring and support carbon dioxide regulation than conservative and Tea Party Republicans. Despite these divisions, a majority of all Republicans support tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles and solar panels, including a majority of conservatives.

The study reveals a divided Republican electorate, where moderate and liberal Republicans are significantly more likely to acknowledge global warming and support carbon dioxide regulations and energy-efficient tax rebates than conservative or Tea Party Republicans.

The report finds that while Democrats are more likely than Republicans to believe in human-caused global warming and support climate action, liberal and moderate Republicans often align with the mainstream public. Conservative Republicans remain the primary group opposed to climate action and skeptical of global warming. There is broad cross-party support for renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient products, though significant divisions persist regarding carbon taxes and emission limits on coal plants.

We Mean Business calls for direct engagement between government ministers and business leaders at COP in Lima to align on a high-ambition climate pathway. The statement argues that bold climate action is an economic opportunity, citing significant growth in clean energy investments and job creation. It proposes three areas for cooperation: committing to a long-term decarbonization pathway to reduce uncertainty, scaling up public and private climate finance, and collaborating on short-term ambition to close the emissions gap by 2020.

A survey by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication reveals that 67% of Americans support strict CO2 emission limits on existing coal-fired power plants, even with potential electricity cost increases. The data also shows strong public support for infrastructure resilience (83%), renewable energy research (77%), energy-efficient vehicle/solar tax rebates (77%), and the regulation of carbon dioxide as a pollutant (75%). Additionally, 66% of respondents believe global warming is occurring, reflecting a slight increase from November 2013.