Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines hydropower planning in the Se San and Sre Pok Basins, highlighting a persistent gap between progressive regional policies—such as those of the Mekong River Commission (MRC)—and the actual practice of site selection, which remains driven by national economic interests and technical-economic feasibility. It argues that while the 1995 MRC Agreement provides a legal framework, genuine environmental governance requires a transition from project-based to programme-based approaches that incorporate local perspectives and transboundary impact assessments. The study uses the Yali Falls Dam incident as a critical example of governance failure and a potential catalyst for improved conflict resolution and information sharing.

The document argues that existing poverty-environment initiatives by the World Bank and UNDP-EU treat the environment primarily as a commodity for income generation, neglecting critical life-supporting services. It proposes a new framework for UNEP based on 'elementary functionings' and 'safe minimum standards' (SMS) to protect non-market ecological services like water purification and air quality, which the poor depend on more heavily than the rich. The author introduces the PASIR (Pressure, Activity, State, Impact, Response) methodological framework and a five-stage road map to operationalize these concepts into national policy, emphasizing the need for participatory institutions and stewardship by the poor.

The document argues that the current structure of international environmental management is overly complex and fragmented, with over 300 agreements. It proposes 'clustering'—the coordination of related regimes through shared tools—as a realistic alternative to the 'daunting task' of merging agreements. The author identifies specific tools for clustering, such as the colocation of Conferences of Parties (COPs), joint financial incentives, and shared science assessment mechanisms. The paper categorizes existing agreements into five potential clusters: the Conservation Complex, the Global Atmosphere, the Hazardous Substances Complex, the Marine Environment Complex, and the Extractive Resources Complex, while also suggesting regional clustering for land-use and river basin issues. It concludes that the success of this process depends on the identification of national 'champions' to lead negotiations.

The testimony argues for the reinstatement of 1993 congressional conditions on GEF funding, focusing on transparency, public consultation, and NGO participation. It calls for an independent Secretariat to prevent the GEF from being captured by the World Bank and recommends that the Conference of the Parties for climate and biodiversity conventions set the GEF's policies and priorities. Additionally, it suggests a clear strategy for international waters and the establishment of robust oversight mechanisms, including the use of the Independent Inspection Panel for World Bank-implemented projects.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to implementing deliberative democracy for climate policy, detailing a five-phase process: preparation, learning, reflection, recommendation drafting, and decision-making. It emphasizes the need for independent governance, representative sampling, and inclusive accessibility measures to ensure high-quality, legitimate public policy recommendations.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to deliberative democracy applied to the climate crisis. It details a five-phase process—preparation, learning, reflection, recommendation drafting, and decision-making—supported by independent governance structures. The guide emphasizes inclusivity, accessibility, and the use of both digital and physical tools to ensure a representative sample of citizens can produce legitimate policy recommendations for governments and social actors.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to implementing climate citizens' assemblies as tools for deliberative democracy. It details a five-phase process—preparation, learning, reflection/deliberation, recommendation drafting, and decision-making—while emphasizing the need for independent governance, representative sampling, and inclusive accessibility. The guide provides specific technical tools for virtual and in-person facilitation and uses examples from assemblies in Spain, Barcelona, Mallorca, and Gipuzkoa to illustrate different scales of implementation.

This document consists of negotiating mandates and reports from several South African provincial legislatures—Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, and Western Cape—regarding the Marine Spatial Planning Bill [B 9D-2017]. The provinces generally support the Bill, which aims to establish a framework for marine spatial planning, coordinate ocean use across multiple sectors, and promote a sustainable ocean economy, while proposing various amendments related to governance, definitions, and inclusivity.

The 2007 National Framework for Air Quality Management is a regulatory blueprint established by the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism under Section 7(1) of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (AQA). It provides a medium- to long-term plan to implement the AQA, focusing on pollution prevention at source and impact management to ensure ambient air is not harmful to health or well-being.

The 2012 National Framework for Air Quality Management in the Republic of South Africa is a strategic plan designed to implement the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (AQA). It establishes a comprehensive governance cycle for air quality management, delineating roles across national, provincial, and municipal governments, and sets norms for ambient air quality standards, emission controls, and information management via the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS).

This document consists of the practice note, chronology, and heads of argument filed by Arcelormittal South Africa Ltd (AMSA) in the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa. AMSA is appealing a High Court judgment that ordered it to disclose environmental records to the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA). AMSA argues that VEJA failed to meet the 'need to know' threshold required for requests to private bodies and that there is no legal right for a private NGO to act as a regulatory 'watch-dog' to monitor a private company's environmental compliance.

The document details the environmental and socio-economic risks associated with three marine phosphate prospecting rights granted in South Africa. It asserts that bulk marine sediment mining would lead to the permanent destruction of seabed habitats, threatening biodiversity and the fishing industry, which provides significant employment and revenue in the Western Cape. The text further argues that South Africa's legal framework, specifically the MPRDA and NEMA, is insufficient to regulate or monitor such activities, potentially leading to an unregulated industry with irreversible ecological consequences.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) provided joint submissions on 18 July 2012 regarding the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill, 2012. The document offers a detailed critique of proposed amendments to the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the Biodiversity Act, and the Air Quality Act, focusing on environmental governance, criminal liability, and the rights of traditional communities.

The report finds that both public and private bodies in South Africa frequently fail to provide basic environmental information, often using PAIA as a tool to avoid transparency. While provincial and municipal bodies performed better, national departments—particularly the Department of Mineral Resources—demonstrated a culture of secrecy and non-compliance. The report recommends expanding voluntary disclosure and establishing an Information Commissioner to reduce the reliance on expensive court proceedings.

The report finds that South African environmental laws generally lack mandatory disclosure requirements for licences and compliance data, relying instead on the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). This contrasts with jurisdictions like Australia and Canada, where public registries are more common. Analysis of multinational companies shows they typically disclose information only where legally required. The report recommends making disclosure mandatory for all licence holders and establishing central online public registries.

The document identifies systemic failures in the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) internal processes, asserting that a lack of transparency and the exclusion of developing countries from decision-making undermine the organization's claim to be a "rules-based organisation". It details problems across general operations, pre-Ministerial preparations, and the conduct of Ministerial Conferences, specifically citing the "green room" process and "chair driven" negotiations as barriers to democracy. To remedy this, the authors propose a shift toward inclusive meetings, the cessation of "Mini Ministerials", and the establishment of a general committee of all members to serve as the primary decision-making forum during conferences.

The document is a memorandum from a coalition of non-governmental organisations and civil society groups calling for urgent reforms to the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) internal procedures. The authors argue that a lack of transparency and the exclusion of a majority of Members from decision-making processes have worsened over time, despite promises of reform. They assert that these systemic failures negatively impact billions of people and the environment, and that without procedural reforms, existing imbalances in WTO rules cannot be corrected and new detrimental rules may be introduced. The memorandum specifically targets the period leading up to and during the Cancun Ministerial.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) was established in 1990 as a three-year pilot program to address global warming, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, and international water pollution. Operated by the World Bank, UNDP, and UNEP, the GEF provides grant or concessional funding for projects that offer global environmental benefits but lack economic viability without assistance. However, the facility faces significant criticism from NGOs and developing countries regarding its lack of transparency, restricted membership—due to a SDR $4 million contribution requirement—and the potential for 'greenwashing' World Bank projects. As the pilot phase ends in 1993, there are calls for restructuring to ensure universal membership and greater accountability to the climate change and biodiversity conventions.

The document examines the relationship between the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), arguing that WTO negotiations should preserve MEAs as co-equal bodies of law. It suggests that the WTO's focus on 'least trade restrictive' measures may conflict with the core purpose of many MEAs, which is to regulate or restrict trade in hazardous materials or endangered species. To improve compatibility, the text proposes several practical steps, including sustainability assessments of trade rules, the transfer of environmentally sound technologies via the TRIPS Agreement, and increased coordination between national trade and environment officials. Ultimately, it calls for a multilateral process involving government and non-governmental organizations to ensure coherent international economic and environmental law.

This document is a note from the secretariat of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury. It presents a new draft text for the instrument, incorporating views and proposals submitted by parties during the committee's second session in Chiba, Japan, and subsequent written submissions. The draft outlines various options for regulating mercury supply, international trade, mercury-added products, manufacturing processes, artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and emissions and releases to air, water, and land.