Search Climate Insights Directory
1,273 results
Material Flows in the United States
The report examines material flow trends in the United States across the metal and minerals, nonrenewable organic materials (including fossil fuels), agriculture, and forestry sectors. It argues that while the U.S. possesses high-quality economic data on productivity and employment, conventional economic accounts fail to provide sufficient information regarding the long-term societal costs of environmental degradation. Consequently, the document proposes policy alternatives for the U.S. government to better integrate material flow accounts into decision-making.
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Document type: Report
Macroeconomic Impacts of Long-Term Decarbonization in India: Implications for a Just Transition
The analysis indicates that India can achieve its 2070 net-zero target without compromising economic development, though the transition will create uneven regional and sectoral impacts. Key challenges include the need for economic diversification in fossil fuel-dependent regions, increased demand for skilled workers in specialized manufacturing, and the risk of exacerbating vulnerabilities in sectors like construction. Additionally, the decline in fossil fuel tax revenues will necessitate new public revenue mobilization strategies.
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Document type: Briefing
Bottom Line on Carbon Taxes
The document defines a carbon tax as a fee on fossil fuels and primary products based on greenhouse gas emissions, providing a financial incentive for reduction. It distinguishes carbon taxes from cap-and-trade programs by noting that taxes set a price without an emissions limit, whereas cap-and-trade sets a limit with a market-determined price. The text details how these taxes are typically applied upstream and passed to downstream consumers, noting that the economic impact on businesses and lower-income individuals depends on whether revenues are 'recycled' through rebates or tax cuts to maintain revenue neutrality. It mentions international implementations in Europe, Japan, and British Columbia, and notes the political difficulty of establishing a national carbon tax in the United States.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Submission to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
The World Resources Institute argues that while biofuels can serve as a domestic substitute for petroleum and offer lower emissions than fossil fuels, their actual impact on emissions and the environment depends on the specific feedstocks and conversion processes used. Consequently, the WRI emphasizes that US policies promoting the biofuels industry must be carefully designed to minimize negative environmental and economic impacts.
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Document type: Statement
Corporate GPM Guide 2
The Corporate GPM Guide 2 introduces landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) as a financially and environmentally viable alternative to fossil fuels for corporations. Based on the experience of the Green Power Market Development Group, the guide aims to provide corporate energy managers with a basic understanding of the technical and economic issues involved in LFGTE projects and identify policy actions to facilitate their development.
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Document type: Guide
CLIMATE CHANGE INVESTMENT STATEMENT FOR WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE (“WRI”)
WRI's Climate Change Investment Statement establishes a framework to transition its endowment portfolio to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, aiming for alignment with a 1.5°C future. The strategy is built on five objectives: identifying material climate issues, reducing risk exposure, investing in low-carbon and just transition solutions, engaging with companies and managers, and disclosing progress. Key quantitative targets include the total divestment of thermal coal, oil, and gas reserves by April 2020 and increasing private market commitments to sustainable-development-aligned investments to 15% of the portfolio by 2022.
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Document type: Statement
What’s the difference between climate change mitigation and adaptation?
The document distinguishes between climate change mitigation, which focuses on avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent extreme warming, and climate change adaptation, which involves adjusting behaviors and systems to protect people and the environment from existing and future climate impacts. It emphasizes that while mitigation takes decades to affect temperatures, adaptation is required immediately for changes already occurring. Key mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewable energy and stopping deforestation to reach net-zero emissions, while adaptation involves diversifying crops, strengthening infrastructure, and managing natural resources. The text asserts that both approaches are equally important and time-sensitive.
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Document type: Guide
A brief history of carbon in our atmosphere
The document outlines the history of Earth's atmosphere from its volcanic origins to the development of oxygen-emitting photosynthesis. It describes the carbon cycle as a balancing process between reservoirs—including the atmosphere, oceans, and plants—that maintains planetary stability. However, industrial activity over the last century has released carbon from the ground into the atmosphere at a rate 100 times faster than previous natural increases, raising average temperatures by 1.8°F (1.0°C) since the late 1800s. This disruption has led to increased storms, flooding, wildfires, and heatwaves, necessitating urgent emission reductions and the restoration of the carbon cycle.
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Document type: Guide
8xmq9zvpsz_reducing_waste_guide_1.25.22-48c563899808d365.pdf
The document outlines the environmental impact of product life cycles, with a heavy emphasis on the crisis of plastic pollution. It provides actionable tips for consumers and offices to reduce waste through better shopping choices, recycling, and composting. It also highlights WWF's systemic initiatives, such as the ReSource hub and the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, to transform the plastic value chain and shift away from fossil-fuel-based plastics.
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Document type: Guide
Climate extremes underscore why South Africa must act now
South Africa faces increasing vulnerability to climate extremes, including droughts in the west and intense rainfall in the east, with economic costs reaching billions of rand. Despite the Climate Change Act of 2024 mandating a national adaptation plan, implementation is lagging. The energy sector, responsible for nearly 80% of national emissions, is identified as the most critical area for mitigation through the upcoming Integrated Energy Plan (IEP). WWF proposes a 'People's Energy Plan' as a feasible path to net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century that supports developmental growth and employment.
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Document type: Statement
CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING MANUAL
The document outlines a training program for smallholder livestock farmers in South Africa, focusing on the distinction between weather and climate, the drivers of climate change, and practical adaptation strategies. It provides a structured approach for two workshops designed to help farmers identify climate indicators—such as heat stress in livestock and shifting rainfall patterns—and adopt management practices for water, feed, animal health, and herd size to protect their livelihoods.
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Document type: Guide
UMLIBO LESSON PLANS
The document is an educational resource developed by WWF South Africa to teach learners about climate impacts and environmental hazards. It uses a tapestry created by 43 artists from Hamburg, Eastern Cape, to illustrate the vulnerabilities of coastal communities. The four lessons cover topics including litter and pollution, biodiversity loss and poaching, food systems and fossil fuels, and the role of art in spreading climate awareness. The guide includes teacher tips, learner worksheets, and a series of short stories from local residents detailing their experiences with unseasonal weather, declining fish stocks, and climate anxiety.
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Document type: Guide
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY QUESTION FRAMEWORK
The Environmental Sustainability Question Framework is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate corporate environmental impact. It collects data on governance, water management, supply chain traceability, waste and pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the adoption of renewable energy. It includes a specialized section for mining and energy companies to track fossil fuel revenue and mine decommissioning plans.
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Document type: Guide