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The report finds that Hispanics, African Americans, and other minority groups are often as supportive of, or more supportive of, national climate and energy policies than white Americans, challenging the perception that climate change is primarily a concern of the white upper-middle class.

The document examines six CCS case studies, finding that successful projects typically employ two-way consultation and transparency, while failures often stem from one-way information delivery, perceived lack of community influence, or the unilateral removal of promised local benefits.

A coalition of environmental and health organizations argues that the EPA's 2008 rule exempting recycled hazardous waste from RCRA regulation creates significant public health risks, particularly for minority and low-income communities, and allows for the unsafe incorporation of toxins into commercial products, including those for children.

The document details the aftermath of the 2008 Kingston disaster, where over 1 billion gallons of coal ash slurry were released. It tracks TVA's legal battles, the health impacts on local communities and cleanup workers, the disposal of ash in Perry County, Alabama, and the prolonged struggle to compel the EPA to finalize federal coal ash disposal regulations by 2014.

The document examines the intersection of the Niger Delta insurgency and Nigeria's 2007 general elections. It argues that the region's instability is driven by ecological damage, poverty, and a lack of political autonomy for ethnic minorities, exacerbated by the failure of the 13 percent oil revenue award and the activities of oil companies. The author warns that if the elections are perceived as fraudulent, armed groups like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) may use the chaos to advance their goals through violence, potentially disrupting global oil markets. The briefing outlines several scenarios for the election aftermath, ranging from chaotic inconclusive polls to potential impeachment or military intervention, and recommends a sovereign national conference to renegotiate the federation's political and economic foundations.

The document examines the failures of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the subsequent emergence of state-level regulations in the U.S. to manage industrial chemicals. It highlights how state actions, such as bans on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are influenced by international frameworks like the EU's REACH regulation and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The author argues that these 'twin levers' of state and international progress are essential for driving the U.S. toward a more sustainable national chemical policy by 2020.

The document outlines a timeline of milestones in sustainable development, beginning with the 1962 publication of Silent Spring. It tracks the emergence of environmental NGOs like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, the establishment of international frameworks such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol, and major UN summits including the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The timeline also highlights critical environmental crises, such as the Bhopal chemical leak and the Exxon Valdez oil spill, alongside the development of global goals like the Millennium Development Goals.

The document outlines a series of policy recommendations from North American civil society to UNEP, emphasizing the region's responsibility as a major producer of chemicals and emitter of greenhouse gases. It calls for the achievement of the 2020 chemicals safety goal, a transition to sustainable energy services, and the integration of sustainability into all forms of tourism.

The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment. Participants discussed the role of civil society in engaging with UNEP and worked in parallel groups to draft recommendations for a North American Regional Civil Society Statement. The meeting also served to elect representatives for a global drafting session in Bahrain and the Global Civil Society Forum in Dubai.

Diesel-powered transportation sources in the US are responsible for over 60 percent of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and more than 70 percent of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. The World Health Organization classifies diesel exhaust as carcinogenic, with components like PM2.5 and NOx causing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, premature death, and reduced lung function. These health impacts disproportionately affect communities of color and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. While over 100 models of electric trucks and buses are currently available, the document argues that public policy is necessary to accelerate the market and address the climate crisis and health disparities.

The report analyzes 15 key principles for the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), including integrated chemicals management, precaution, and the polluter pays principle. It provides descriptions, legal origins, and recommendations for integrating these concepts into the SAICM Overarching Policy Strategy and concrete implementation measures.

The report examines the link between environmental degradation and rural poverty, asserting that neoliberal policies—such as trade liberalization, privatization, and industrial agriculture—exacerbate poverty by stripping communities of their natural resources. It provides global case studies where community-led initiatives in forestry, fisheries, and renewable energy have successfully improved livelihoods. The document advocates for the unconditional cancellation of external debt, the recognition of an 'ecological debt' owed by the North to the South, and the promotion of food sovereignty and environmental justice.

The report quantifies the health damages caused by diesel particulate matter (PM2.5) and other emissions across the U.S., highlighting significant risks of premature death, lung cancer, and respiratory illness. It estimates that 21,000 people die prematurely each year in the U.S. due to mobile diesel sources. The document proposes a three-phase retrofit strategy to reduce diesel PM by 85% by 2020, which could avoid approximately 91,000 premature deaths by 2030. It identifies urban areas and 'hotspots'—such as near bus depots and highways—as having significantly higher risks than rural areas. The report also details the effectiveness of retrofit technologies, such as diesel particulate filters (DPF) and closed crankcase filtration, particularly for improving air quality inside school buses.

The report estimates that diesel fine particle pollution causes approximately 21,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S., with significant risks of lung cancer, heart attacks, and asthma. It argues that while EPA regulations for new engines starting in 2007 are positive, the long lifespan of existing diesel vehicles (nearly 30 years) necessitates immediate retrofit actions. The document proposes a reduction target of 50% by 2010, 75% by 2015, and 85% by 2020, which could save nearly 100,000 lives by 2030. Recommended solutions include diesel particulate filters (DPF), Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), and anti-idling ordinances.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the consequences of shifting the management of natural resources from public to private control. It focuses on the privatization of water and biodiversity, highlighting how neoliberal policies promoted by international financial institutions (IFIs) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) often lead to increased costs for the poor, environmental degradation, and the appropriation of indigenous knowledge. Through 34 case studies, the document illustrates the negative outcomes of these policies and advocates for community-led management and the recognition of water as a human right.

This report by Friends of the Earth International asserts that environmental rights—including the right to a sustainable lifestyle, a healthy environment, water access, and food security—are integral to human rights. It details specific conflicts, such as the Ava Guarani's struggle for ancestral lands in Argentina, the impact of Shell's pollution in Curaçao, and the fight against GMO contamination in Mexico. The text criticizes neoliberal economic globalization for enabling multinational corporations to operate with impunity, often displacing indigenous populations and degrading ecosystems. It calls for a new ethics of environmental justice and the implementation of legally binding international conventions to protect marginalized communities from environmental aggression.

The report by Friends of the Earth International examines the intersection of human and environmental rights, detailing case studies of corporate and state abuses. It advocates for a framework of environmental justice that includes the right to sustainable livelihoods, clean environments, water, and food security, while emphasizing the need for transparency, collective rights, and legal redress for climate refugees and ecological debt.

The document records a multi-sector call for a U.S. transition to clean energy, arguing that government investment and regulation can simultaneously drive economic growth, reduce oil dependence, and address climate change.

The Pangue/Ralco hydroelectric projects in Chile's Alto BíoBío caused severe disruptions to the Mapuche/Pehuenche people's semi-nomadic lifestyle and cultural ecosystem. The project sponsor, Endesa, and the Chilean government are accused of violating indigenous land rights and environmental laws, while the IFC faced criticism for failing to oversee social and environmental standards. After a decade of struggle and legal battles in Chilean courts and before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR), a 'friendly settlement' was reached in 2003, providing reparations to affected families and commitments from the Chilean government to strengthen indigenous rights and environmental protections in the region.

The report details how Hispanic Americans are disproportionately exposed to air pollution, with 71 percent living in counties violating federal air quality standards as of 2002. It identifies specific health risks including asthma, stunted lung growth, and low birth weight, exacerbated by poverty and lack of health insurance. The document also notes risks from mercury contamination in fish and the potential for global warming to induce crop failures and famines. Finally, it argues that the EPA has failed to implement Executive Order 12898 because it has not identified impacted populations or developed criteria for determining disproportionate risk.