Search Climate Insights Directory

The Montana District Court ruled in favor of sixteen youth claimants, finding that the 'Climate Change Exception' in the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) is unconstitutional because it violates the claimants' fundamental right to a clean and healthful environment. The court determined that Montana's greenhouse gas emissions, linked to the MEPA limitation, are a substantial factor in causing climate impacts in the state. While the court granted declaratory relief, it dismissed claims for injunctive relief, such as a remedial climate plan, citing the political question doctrine.

The IAI Executive Direction reports progress across science, capacity building, and strategic implementation between 2022 and 2023. Key achievements include the establishment of a Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) committee, the launch of the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC), and the expansion of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program to 64 fellows from 13 countries. The IAI also advanced regional initiatives on the climate-health nexus, drought information systems in South America, and collaborative research through the Belmont Forum. Strategic partnerships were strengthened with organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to enhance climate risk assessment and science-policy interfaces in the Americas.

The document argues that climate coverage must expand beyond problem-focused reporting to include solutions to empower audiences and policymakers. It defines solutions journalism as rigorous, evidence-based reporting that investigates the effectiveness and limitations of responses to the climate crisis. The guide emphasizes equity and justice, noting that marginalized communities—including indigenous peoples, who manage lands containing "approximately the 80% of the biodiversity that remains in the world"—are often the most impacted yet least responsible for the crisis. It categorizes potential story leads into five areas: policy and government (e.g., carbon pricing and subsidies), economy and business (e.g., scrutinizing "greenwash" and "net zero" claims), technologies and practices (distinguishing between mitigation and adaptation), civil society (evaluating the "theory of change" behind activism), and culture (the role of arts and celebrities). The guide concludes that while not all reporting should be solutions-oriented, integrating this mindset is essential to providing a complete picture of the climate emergency.

The briefing evaluates MP nº 1.150/2022, which proposes shifting the PRA adherence process from producer-led initiative to a government-led summons. While the first report is deemed acceptable as it aligns with state realities, the second report is criticized for introducing legal uncertainty through the use of the term 'validation'. Additionally, the document warns that extending CAR registration deadlines for medium and large properties may further delay the implementation of the 2012 Forest Code.

The report identifies a network of Spanish-speaking accounts, primarily right-wing and based in Spain, that disseminate misinformation about renewable energy. Key narratives include claims that wildfires are intentionally set to clear land for wind farms and that renewable technologies harm wildlife or pollute the environment. The analysis reveals that these narratives often originate in other languages, are amplified by influential right-wing figures, and correlate with extreme weather events or policy changes.

The research examines soy farmers in the Matopiba region of Brazil, finding that land-use decisions are driven by economic rationale and a sense of entitlement to clear land. The authors argue that voluntary behavioral changes are unlikely to succeed and that strict regulatory enforcement and supply-chain requirements for conversion-free soy are necessary to prevent the total loss of the Cerrado.

A group of New York State legislators wrote to the U.S. Attorney General and Solicitor General requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) support the adjudication of climate-related state claims in state courts. The letter argues that the DOJ should reject the Trump Administration's previous positions and align with President Biden's executive order to hold polluters accountable. The authors highlight that the fossil fuel industry has consistently attempted to move these cases to federal court, despite multiple Circuit courts rejecting such arguments.

This report, prepared by the IAI Directorate for the Executive Council's fifty-fourth meeting, outlines the primary achievements and activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research from 1 July 2022 to 11 October 2022. It details progress in science communication, capacity building, and strategic partnerships aimed at addressing global environmental change in the Americas.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports progress on science and capacity building between July and October 2022. Key activities include the 'Climate and Health Responder Course for Latin America', the publication of a compendium on climate impacts in LAC, and the expansion of the STeP fellowship program to 45 fellows across 8 countries. The IAI also coordinated participation in the UNGA77 Science Summit and the SRI2022 congress, while establishing a Steering Committee for a Center for Science Diplomacy.

The report argues that PL No. 2374/2020 would harm the implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code by granting unjustified amnesty to a small group of medium and large landowners. It highlights that such a change would necessitate the re-analysis of approximately 378,000 rural property registrations (CAR), delaying environmental regularization and setting a dangerous precedent for renegotiating the legal timeframes of consolidated rural areas.

The report finds that European supermarkets generally perform poorly in addressing the plastic crisis, with an average score of 13.1% across transparency, commitments, and policy support. While some UK and Irish chains score higher, most companies lack basic data on their plastic footprints and fail to implement systemic changes like reusable packaging. The analysis highlights a preference for voluntary commitments over binding regulations and warns against greenwashing practices, such as exporting flexible plastics to third countries like Turkey.

SGR identifies several governance failures at the American Chemical Society (ACS), including a lack of environmental policy and transparency regarding investments. The organization demands that the ACS phase out financial ties to companies not aligned with the Paris Agreement's 2 goal, adopt fossil fuel-free indexes, and report its investment portfolio's carbon footprint. SGR cites a growing trend of divestment among other professional bodies, universities, and scientific organizations as a benchmark for these demands.

SGR has called on the American Statistical Association (ASA) to address a lack of transparency regarding its investments and potential financial ties to the arms and fossil fuel industries. The organization demands that the ASA phase out investments in companies not aligned with the 2C Paris Agreement goal, adopt a formal environmental policy, and report the carbon footprint of its investment portfolio. SGR cites examples of other professional bodies and universities in the US and UK that have already divested from fossil fuels as a benchmark for responsible governance.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) has written to Engineers Australia (EA) expressing concerns over its lack of transparency regarding investments and potential financial ties to the fossil fuel and arms sectors. SGR calls for EA to disclose investments over $5,000, phase out ties to companies not aligned with the 2°C Paris Agreement goal, and adopt a formal environmental policy. The letter highlights a broader trend of divestment among professional bodies and universities in the UK and US, such as the American Geophysical Union and Harvard University, as evidence of shifting expectations for climate governance.

A case study on the legal challenge 'Friends of the Earth v. Haaland', where plaintiffs alleged that the Biden administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by reinstating a lease sale for oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico based on outdated environmental analysis.

This policy guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development advocates for the integration of health and environmental sectors to address the "triple planetary crisis" of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It aims to bridge the gap between health professionals and global environmental policy negotiations to support planetary health and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The document outlines a systemic, context-specific approach to addressing corruption in biodiversity conservation, emphasizing political economy analysis and risk management over simple technical fixes.

The text analyzes the Swiss system of direct democracy, detailing the processes for constitutional amendments through popular initiatives and optional referendums. It highlights the historical milestone of granting women federal voting rights in 1971 and discusses the influence of non-parliamentary forces and financial opacity in modern campaigns. The author concludes by questioning whether the Swiss model of creating citizenship through direct democracy could serve as a model for strengthening European citizenship.

Between 2013 and 2020, approximately 42% of fire hotspots in the Brazilian Amazon occurred in previously undisturbed forests, affecting an estimated 18,000 square kilometers annually. While only 11% of fire-affected forest areas transitioned to clear-cut deforestation within three years, fire serves as a strong regional indicator of risk, with high rates of subsequent deforestation occurring in the surrounding areas. This association is particularly strong in rural settlements and public land holdings, where fire may facilitate land grabbing. Regional analysis shows an intensification of this fire-deforestation link in states such as Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, and Roraima, especially around 2017.

The report analyzes the spatial and temporal links between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020. Using INPE's DETER and PRODES systems, it finds that while direct local conversion of degraded areas into deforested land is low (10%), a significant portion of deforestation (30%) occurs within 1 km of previously degraded areas. The study highlights that degradation is more prevalent in medium and large private properties than deforestation is, suggesting that degradation can serve as a regional risk indicator for future deforestation and that policy efforts should be targeted based on land tenure categories.