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Lancet Countdown Report: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change
The 2018 Lancet Countdown identifies extreme heat as the primary health concern globally, noting that 157 million more vulnerable people were exposed to heat waves in 2017 compared to 2000. In Canada, the report links air pollution from human activity to 7,142 premature deaths in 2015, with health impacts valued at $53.5 billion. The document advocates for carbon pricing, the phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2030, and the integration of climate health into medical curricula.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Who considers global warming a voting issue?
The report finds that while global warming is generally ranked lower than immediate issues like terrorism and healthcare, its importance as a voting priority varies significantly by political affiliation and geography. Liberal Democrats rank it as the fourth most important issue, whereas conservative Republicans rank it as the least important of 28 issues. Regional differences are evident, with high priority in states like New York and Hawaii, and lower priority in states like Alabama and West Virginia. However, the broader issue of environmental protection is a higher priority for about half of registered voters.
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Document type: Report
CIEL Statement on IPCC Special Report on 1.5C
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) emphasizes that the IPCC Special Report on 1.5C confirms the necessity of limiting global warming to 1.5C to avoid irreversible impacts on ecosystems and human communities. CIEL argues that the difference between 1.5C and 2C of warming will be measured in human lives and rights, particularly for marginalized populations. To achieve the 1.5C goal, CIEL highlights the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half by 2030 and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 through a complete economic transformation away from fossil fuels. Furthermore, CIEL rejects 'overshoot and return' scenarios that rely on hypothetical carbon dioxide removal, labeling such strategies as dangerous and immoral.
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Document type: Statement
Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 – Measuring What Matters in the Long Term
The report finds that while Canada's GDP has grown, its comprehensive wealth—comprising produced, natural, human, financial, and social capital—has grown much more slowly and shows signs of fragility. Key concerns include a lack of growth in human capital, the depletion of market natural assets, and an increasing concentration of produced capital in housing and oil and gas infrastructure. The document advocates for the regular measurement of comprehensive wealth by Statistics Canada to better guide long-term policy decisions and address threats like climate change.
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Document type: Executive summary
Le patrimoine global au Canada en 2018 – Mesurer ce qui importe à long terme
The report argues that Canada's long-term prosperity is fragile, as its comprehensive wealth has grown significantly slower than its GDP. While Canada possesses high levels of natural capital, it faces risks from household debt, climate change, and an over-concentration of produced capital in housing and oil and gas infrastructure. The authors advocate for the official adoption of comprehensive wealth measurement to shift policy focus from short-term gains to long-term sustainability.
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Document type: Executive summary
Building Climate Resilience in Southeast Asia
The private sector in Southeast Asia faces significant risks from climate change, including warming temperatures and sea-level rise, which can impact business strategy, finance, and operations. While there is momentum to reduce emissions, there is a lack of equivalent effort to build resilience, necessitating urgent action to increase adaptive capacity.
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Document type: Executive summary
coalition_letter_in_support_of_mitigation_in_disaster_policy_reform_8june2018-e004977c45261fc4.pdf
A coalition of 19 organizations advocates for the adoption of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) and the PREPARE Act in the U.S. Senate's FAA Reauthorization legislation. The letter argues that shifting federal resources toward pre-disaster mitigation and updating building codes will reduce fatalities and long-term federal spending. It specifically promotes the use of green infrastructure, nature-based defenses, and distributed energy resources to protect critical infrastructure from extreme weather events.
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Document type: Statement
The Science Connecting Extreme Weather to Climate Change
The document outlines the quantitative scoring system used to translate qualitative likelihood and confidence levels from the Climate Science Special Report (CSSR) and the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) into a visual guide for extreme weather attribution in the continental United States.
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Document type: Report
Connecting Extreme Weather to Climate Change
The document outlines the development of 'climate attribution' science, which allows researchers to quantify the role of human-caused climate change in extreme weather. It identifies that evidence is strongest for heat waves, coastal flooding, and extreme precipitation, while remaining less conclusive for tornadoes and thunderstorms. The text provides specific examples of US events, such as Hurricane Harvey and the February 2017 heat wave, where climate change significantly increased likelihood or intensity.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Report of the meeting on SCIENCE-POLICY DIALOGUE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP ON DECARBONIZATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENT GOVERNANCE IN MEGACITIES OF THE SOUTH
The meeting, held on 2-3 April 2018, brought together policy makers, scientists, and international organizations to establish a co-designed research program for megacities in the South. The initiative aims to provide scientific guidance for adaptation and mitigation actions, specifically targeting decarbonization in transport, housing, and waste management, as well as addressing climate-related health risks and extreme weather events. The participants outlined a seven-component research plan emphasizing governance, social dimensions of adaptation, and capacity building to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals in Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.
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Document type: Report
Joint Summary of the Amicus Curiae Briefs submitted in support of Petitioners, Greenpeace Southeast Asia et al.
The document argues that the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines has the jurisdiction to investigate the 'Carbon Majors'—major fossil fuel companies—for their role in driving climate change and subsequent human rights violations. It asserts that these companies knew of the climate risks associated with their products for decades but promoted misinformation. The briefs argue that climate change threatens fundamental rights in the Philippines, including the rights to life, health, food, and water, and that these companies should be held accountable under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the 'Polluter Pays' principle.
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Document type: Legal commentary
The stormy month of January 2018 over Western Europe
The study concludes that human-induced climate change had no significant influence on the occurrence of Storms Eleanor and Friederike. While observational data from the past 40 years show a decrease in near-surface wind speeds, climate models suggest a marginal increase in the probability of extreme hourly winds (0-20%) by the middle of the century due to greenhouse gases. The observed decline in storminess is attributed to factors other than climate change, such as increased surface roughness, aerosols, and decadal variability.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Change in the American Mind
The March 2018 report 'Climate Change in the American Mind' reveals an upward trend in American concern about global warming. 70% of adults believe global warming is happening, and 58% attribute it primarily to human activities. While 62% express worry and 41% report personally experiencing its effects, only 6% believe humans can and will successfully reduce it. The issue is most commonly conceptualized as an environmental (74%) and scientific (68%) challenge, with the primary motivation for reduction being to provide a better life for future generations.
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Document type: Report
Winter in North America is cold Dec 2017-Jan 2018
The analysis finds that while the December 2017-January 2018 cold wave in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada was not unprecedented in absolute terms, it is now a rare event due to global warming. Cold waves of this intensity have become approximately fifteen times less frequent over the last century, with temperatures of such events increasing by about 4ºF (2ºC). The study finds no evidence that Arctic warming has intensified these cold waves; instead, it suggests that Arctic air moving south is now less cold.
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Document type: Research paper
Message Davos: Put high enough price on pollution to avert climate crisis
The document frames climate change as a form of 'climate debt' where the true cost of pollution is shifted to future generations and society. It highlights the economic impact of extreme weather, noting that the 2017 North Atlantic hurricane season caused $215 billion in losses. To address this, the author advocates for increasing the coverage and level of carbon pricing globally to ensure emitters face the full cost of their pollution, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and funding adaptation for vulnerable communities.
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Document type: Statement
A Tougher Climate in the Eastern Mediterranean
The report analyzes the climate-security nexus in the Eastern Mediterranean, identifying the region as a climate change hotspot where rising temperatures and water scarcity interact with fragile political structures. It highlights risks including domestic resource competition, potential conflicts over the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris rivers, and increased migration toward Europe. The author argues that while conventional security threats currently dominate government agendas, the economic and physical impacts of climate change could trigger social unrest and regional instability. The report recommends increasing the visibility of economic risks to leaders and utilizing 'variable geometry' cooperation—combining inter-governmental frameworks like the Barcelona Convention with city-to-city and civil society networks—to foster regional adaptation.
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Document type: Report
FEEDING THE WORLD IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: AN ADAPTATION ROADMAP FOR AGRICULTURE
The document argues that global agricultural production has declined by 1-5% per decade over the last 30 years due to climate change, necessitating an urgent transition to climate-resilient systems. It identifies critical risks, including heat stress, extreme weather, and pests, which disproportionately affect smallholder farmers and women in the tropics. The authors propose a roadmap based on five pillars: promoting resilient and low-emission technologies, expanding digital climate information, mobilizing innovative finance, strengthening farmer organizations, and delivering enabling policies. The paper highlights successful examples of 'no regret' options, such as stress-tolerant crop varieties and sustainable intensification, and emphasizes the need for context-specific, participatory approaches to scale these solutions.
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Document type: Research paper
COP-out: Why are so many media outlets failing to tell the climate story?
Climate Outreach criticizes the media's reliance on repetitive imagery—specifically negotiators and protesters—during UN climate conferences, arguing that this approach makes the issue seem remote and technocratic. The organization advocates for the adoption of a more diverse visual language that reflects the human impact of climate change to better engage the public.
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Document type: Statement
Built Last
California's aging infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven extreme weather, such as floods, wildfires, and heat waves. The document advocates for "climate-smart" infrastructure—designing systems based on future climate projections rather than past trends—to protect public safety and the economy. It identifies barriers such as outdated design codes and inadequate funding, and recommends updating standards, increasing technical capacity, and prioritizing equitable outcomes for low-income communities and communities of color.
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Document type: Executive summary
Climate Change in the American Mind
The report documents an upward trend in American concern about global warming, with 71% believing it is happening and 47% feeling certain of it. While 54% attribute it to human activity, only 15% are aware of the high scientific consensus. Emotional responses are predominantly negative, with high levels of disgust and helplessness. Perceived risks are increasing, with 44% reporting personal experience of its effects and 42% believing people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now.' Most Americans view global warming as an environmental or scientific issue and believe it is affecting U.S. weather, though confidence in the human ability to successfully reduce it remains very low at 5%.
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Document type: Report