Search Climate Insights Directory

The document highlights how women environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, and rural communities in the Philippines combat disaster vulnerability by mobilizing against environmental destruction and structural inequalities. It identifies these actors as essential for 'transformative DRR'—an approach that moves beyond traditional hazard mitigation to address the root causes of risk, such as land tenure insecurity and gender inequality. The brief provides recommendations for decision-makers and stakeholders to support these defenders through human rights compliance, accountability for resource extraction, and expanded educational opportunities.

The report examines the expansion of transnational corporations (TNCs) in Latin America and the Caribbean, specifically within the agro-industrial and energy sectors. It argues that neoliberal state reforms, free trade agreements, and investment treaties since the 1990s have facilitated the concentration of power, leading to the displacement of small-scale farmers, environmental degradation, and systemic violence. The document highlights a gendered dimension to these impacts, noting that women face severe restrictions on land ownership and increased vulnerability to violence. It concludes by proposing strategies for resistance, including the promotion of food sovereignty, agroecology, and the pursuit of a legally binding UN treaty to end corporate impunity.

Six NGOs sued TotalEnergies, alleging the company failed to adequately assess human rights and environmental impacts of its Tilenga oil project in Uganda and Tanzania, in violation of France's 2017 Duty of Vigilance Law. The project involves drilling 400 boreholes—some in Murchinson Falls National Park—and is expected to displace approximately 100,000 people. After lower courts ruled the case belonged in a commercial court, the Court of Cassation overturned those decisions on December 15, 2021, ruling that the NGOs, as non-commercial claimants, have the right to choose between a commercial or civil court. The court reasoned that the duty of vigilance is not a commercial act, meaning the case can be heard by a judicial court, which is viewed as less sympathetic to corporate interests than a commercial court.

The authors contend that circular economy solutions are indispensable for decarbonization, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. They highlight the growth of the USD 315 billion global waste trade and the energy efficiency of secondary materials, which can require up to 90% less energy than primary resources. The paper advocates for government incentives to value waste, the adoption of product longevity strategies to reduce carbon footprints—particularly in electronics—and the use of bilateral and regional free trade agreements to establish standards for circular products. The authors call for the WTO to create climate-friendly rules to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers that currently restrain the trade of circular goods and services.

Friends of the Earth International critiques the COP26 pledge by the UK, US, and 18 other nations to end public funding for overseas fossil fuel projects by late 2022. While welcoming the inclusion of oil and gas, the organization highlights the hypocrisy of countries like the UK and US continuing domestic extraction. It further demands a transition to community-owned renewable energy in the Global South, the cessation of 'net zero' loopholes and geoengineering, and specifically calls for the UK to stop financing gas extraction in Mozambique.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 deforestation pledge as a rebranding of failed initiatives like REDD+, asserting that it facilitates corporate greenwashing through carbon credits and offsets. The statement highlights the hypocrisy of signatory nations, citing the EU-Mercosur agreement's impact on the Amazon and the lack of binding regulations to protect Indigenous Peoples' rights and stop industrial agriculture and extractive industries.

The document critiques the current global energy system as a driver of climate change and systemic oppression, particularly affecting women in the Global South. It warns against 'false solutions'—such as greenwashing and 'purplewashing'—where corporations adopt environmental or feminist rhetoric without challenging underlying power structures. The report advocates for a 'Feminist Just Energy Transition' based on energy democracy, public ownership, and the centrality of care work and life sustainability over profit accumulation.

The report by Friends of the Earth International contends that the current energy system is built on systemic oppression, including patriarchy and neocolonialism, which disproportionately affects women, indigenous peoples, and the Global South. It warns against 'false solutions' such as greenwashing and 'purplewashing' (superficial feminism), where corporations use renewable energy or gender equality rhetoric to mask continued exploitation. The authors advocate for a feminist energy transition centered on the 'sustainability of life,' public ownership, degrowth, and the recognition of care work, rather than market-led technical fixes.

The document critiques the current global energy system as a product of patriarchal extractivism and capitalism that disproportionately harms women, particularly in the Global South. It warns against 'greenwashing' (maquillaje verde) and 'purplewashing' (maquillaje violeta), where corporations use environmental and gender-equality narratives to mask continued exploitation. The authors advocate for a 'just and feminist energy transition' centered on the sustainability of life, public ownership, and the recognition of care work, rather than market-driven technological fixes.

The document examines how tax treaties can lead to significant revenue losses for resource-rich developing countries through indirect asset transfers, subcontractor tax avoidance, and the erosion of the tax base via technical service fees. It analyzes 86 sample treaties and provides specific drafting recommendations, such as adopting standalone extractive industry articles, expanding the definition of 'immovable property' in domestic law, and implementing lower time thresholds for permanent establishments to ensure mining revenues are captured effectively.

The report finds that while Sierra Leone ratified the AfCFTA on November 7, 2018, actual implementation has been slow and lacks formal policy frameworks, strategic plans, or dedicated implementation structures. The country's economy remains heavily dependent on the extractive sector, particularly minerals like titanium ore and diamonds, which limits its intra-trade competing capacity. Significant barriers to success include a severe lack of access to finance for SMEs—with 65.1% of SMEs citing it as a major impediment—and a lack of data on business preparedness. The report recommends that the Ministry of Trade and Industry lead the development of a national AfCFTA Policy Framework and establish a steering committee to coordinate implementation.

The document examines the historical tendency of extractive companies in Africa to build exclusive 'island mode' infrastructure, which limits integration with host economies and reinforces the 'resource curse'. It advocates for a transition toward shared-use infrastructure—such as power, rail, and ports—to convert natural resource depletion into broader societal assets. The author suggests that while 70% of resource infrastructure investment could be shared among operators and another 30% with the public, achieving this requires stronger local governance, new internal corporate competencies in socio-economic development, and government incentives like tax offsets to compensate companies for the costs of open access.

The report argues that military operations in Intan Jaya, Papua, are illegal because they lack the required presidential decrees and parliamentary approval. It posits that the deployment of TNI and POLRI forces is not merely for security or counter-terrorism against the TPNPB, but is strategically linked to securing mining concessions for companies like PT ANTAM and PT Madinah Qurrata ‘Ain. The study identifies a 'second leg' of military business where active and retired officers hold leadership roles in these companies. This environment of militarization has led to significant human rights violations, including the deaths of civilians and the displacement of local populations, which the report suggests is a structured effort to facilitate investor access to gold reserves.

The report examines the conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, highlighting that while often framed as a religious war, it is driven by resource exploitation, land grabs, and social injustice. It documents atrocities committed by both insurgents (ASWJ) and government forces (FDS), including the torture of civilians and sexual violence. The document criticises the 'Iraqization' of the region through the deployment of Rwandan and SADC troops to protect LNG infrastructure for companies like Total. It reveals how political elites have profited from mining concessions and oil and gas logistics during the conflict. The report concludes that a purely military approach is insufficient and recommends a political track, increased transparency in land concessions, and urgent humanitarian protections for internally displaced persons, particularly women and girls.

The document examines how developing countries can leverage the electric vehicle (EV) battery boom, specifically regarding lithium and cobalt. It highlights Chile's potential for revenue generation and value addition and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's risk of overinvestment due to its cobalt monopoly. The brief argues that capturing value requires coordinated policy, stakeholder engagement, and the reinvestment of revenues into infrastructure and governance.

The author contends that U.S. foreign policy fails to recognize the complex drivers of forced displacement in Central America, specifically the intersection of extreme weather events and structural poverty. The text highlights how the Central American Dry Corridor is particularly vulnerable to droughts and storms, which destroy subsistence agriculture and drive migration. It further argues that many migrants are misclassified as 'economic migrants' when they are actually fleeing climate-induced food insecurity and systemic oppression, particularly among Indigenous groups. The author calls for a shift from a 'hard security' approach to a humanitarian framework based on 'common but differentiated responsibilities' to address the asylum and refugee needs of this population.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the draft Global Biodiversity Framework for adopting a utilitarian approach to nature, failing to regulate industrial drivers of biodiversity loss, and marginalizing indigenous peoples and Global South nations in virtual negotiations.

The Institute for Economic Justice proposes a suite of financing mechanisms to fund a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) in South Africa, focusing on progressive taxation and the reduction of government waste. Key proposals include a ring-fenced Social Security Tax (SST) with rates between 1.5% and 3%, a Resource Rent Tax on extractive industries, and the selective removal of tax deductions for high-income earners regarding pension funds and medical aid. The brief also suggests implementing a 25% luxury VAT, a wealth tax for the top 1% and 0.1%, and a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) of 0.1%. Additionally, it argues for the cancellation of the Employment Tax Incentive and the reversal of proposed Corporate Income Tax reductions. The document concludes that many UBIG scenarios, particularly those aligned with national poverty lines, are affordable without borrowing if these revenue-generating measures and reductions in irregular government expenditure are adopted.

The report analyzes the security implications of rapid warming in the Arctic, focusing on the destabilizing effects of sea ice loss and permafrost thaw. It argues that these environmental changes, combined with an influx of commercial shipping and resource extraction, exacerbate tensions between major powers like Russia, the US, and China. The document highlights specific risks, including the degradation of military infrastructure in Alaska, the potential release of ancient pathogens, and the increased likelihood of military accidents in a region with limited security-focused diplomatic forums.

The report examines the rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations to combat greenwashing, highlighting the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) as a key driver. It argues that ESG-aligned funds are outperforming non-aligned ones, making ESG compliance essential for accessing global capital. This shift poses a significant risk to fossil fuel-dependent firms, especially in Africa, while benefiting those providing minerals for renewable energy, provided they adhere to genuine sustainability principles.