Search Climate Insights Directory

The guide argues that public understanding of net-zero is currently limited and that governments must adopt evidence-based, tangible, and inclusive communication strategies to mobilize society. It recommends avoiding technical jargon, using positive imagery, and focusing on local realities and immediate actions to build public confidence and support for climate targets.

The report analyzes 2019 emissions data for U.S. onshore oil and gas production, finding that emissions are highly concentrated among a small number of producers and basins. It highlights significant variance in emissions intensity across companies and identifies pneumatic controllers and fuel combustion equipment as primary sources of methane and CO2 emissions, respectively. The analysis also notes that official reported data likely underestimate actual emissions due to the omission of high-emitting abnormal process conditions and facilities below reporting thresholds.

The Brazilian sustainable debt market has grown to a cumulative USD 10.8bn, with green bonds dominating at 84% of the market. Land use is a primary driver of this growth, representing 67% of total volume across green, sustainability, sustainability-linked, and transition labels. Forestry is the leading agriculture-related theme with USD 6.4bn in funding, followed by agriculture (USD 848m) and bioenergy (USD 832m). While non-financial corporates lead issuances, financial institutions and government-backed entities are increasingly entering the market. The document highlights the emergence of performance-linked instruments like Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) and transition bonds, though it notes concerns regarding transparency and the need for science-based transition pathways to avoid greenwashing.

The Brazilian sustainable debt market has grown to USD 10.8 billion, with green bonds dominating at 84% of the market. Land use is a primary driver, accounting for 67% of emissions across green, sustainable, sustainability-linked, and transition labels. The forestry sector is the most significant theme, led by pulp and paper companies like Suzano and Klabin. Bioenergy and agriculture are emerging sectors, while livestock remains a challenge but shows potential through transition bonds. The document highlights a significant investment potential of USD 163 billion for green agriculture in Brazil by 2030.

ClientEarth is supporting five Polish citizens in lawsuits against the Polish government, claiming that the state's failure to address climate change violates personal rights under the Polish Civil Code and human rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. The claimants seek a legally enforceable right to a healthy environment and a commitment from Poland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 61% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2043 to align with the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degree goal. The document highlights Poland's heavy reliance on coal, with 70% of electricity coming from coal and significant public subsidies for fossil fuels, as well as the specific climate-related impacts—such as droughts, floods, and wildfires—experienced by the claimants.

ClientEarth contends that the German government's compensation for closing lignite plants is unlawful State aid. The organization argues that the plants would have closed sooner under market conditions, making the aid unnecessary and disproportionate. Furthermore, it asserts that using public funds to cover mine rehabilitation costs breaches the 'polluter pays' principle and EU environmental law. ClientEarth warns that the measure distorts competition and fails to provide significant environmental benefits, especially in light of a German Constitutional Court ruling requiring more ambitious climate targets.

The document argues that the European Union can legally eliminate fuel tax exemptions for vessels, including fishing boats, even in international waters. It refutes claims that such a move violates UNCLOS Article 89 by asserting that EU-flagged vessels remain under flag-state jurisdiction and non-EU vessels can be linked to the EU via the port where they refuel. Furthermore, it concludes that UNCLOS lacks the 'direct effect' necessary for individuals or companies to legally challenge these tax changes in court. The briefing also notes that while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is slow to implement global levies, strong EU regulation often accelerates international consensus.

The report establishes a conceptual framework for urban climate finance, emphasizing that mobilization depends on the alignment of country-specific, city-specific, and climate-specific enabling conditions. It details the five roles city governments play—consumer, provider, fundraiser, regulator, and champion—and argues that a lack of administrative capacity, fragmented authority, and limited revenue sources in developing countries create significant barriers. The document recommends integrating climate considerations into all levels of city planning (strategic, spatial, capital investment, and budgetary) and suggests using carbon pricing, land-value capture, and conditional intergovernmental transfers to close the urban financing gap.

The report finds that 2,277 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of new coal mining capacity is under development globally, with 614 mtpa already under construction. This expansion is heavily concentrated in China, Australia, India, and Russia, which together represent 77% of global development. The authors argue that this trajectory is incompatible with the Paris Agreement, as coal production would need to decline 11% annually through 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. If all proposed capacity is realized, 2030 production would be over four times the 1.5°C-compliant pathway. The report also highlights a potential $91 billion USD in stranded assets and significant greenhouse gas emissions, estimated between 5,000 and 5,800 Mt of CO2-equivalent annually from these projects.

Mighty Earth alleges a significant gap between Sumitomo Corporation's public commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 and its actual business practices. The report highlights Sumitomo's role in importing wood pellets from the US and Canada, which it claims destroys old-growth forests and increases CO2 levels. It also criticizes the company's ongoing development of coal-fired power plants in Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, noting that these projects cause severe local pollution and human rights issues. Financially, the report notes that Sumitomo has suffered substantial losses from coal-related assets, arguing that the company must accelerate its transition to renewable energy to avoid further stranded assets and environmental destruction.

The document examines the transition of the mining sector from diesel and grid power to renewable energy (RE), primarily solar PV and wind. It argues that while RE has high initial capital expenditure, it offers lower long-term operating costs and provides a hedge against volatile fuel prices. The paper highlights the role of hybrid systems and energy storage in overcoming the intermittency of RE to meet the constant baseload demands of mines. It also explores the potential for portable RE systems for exploration sites and the use of rehabilitated mine land for utility-scale RE generation.

The document outlines a comprehensive modeling framework designed to assess the impact of three policy scenarios—the California Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) Rule, the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario—on the U.S. medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet. The framework integrates five analyses: fuel use and emissions, health impacts, economic and jobs effects, utility impacts, and infrastructure gaps. It utilizes tools such as the STate Emission Pathways (STEP) Tool, EPA's MOVES3 and COBRA, and IMPLAN software to quantify changes in greenhouse gases, criteria pollutants (NOx and PM), and macroeconomic metrics like GDP and employment. The report details specific assumptions regarding battery cost trajectories, charging infrastructure requirements, and the social cost of greenhouse gases to ensure a standardized approach for subsequent state-specific reports.

The document outlines how low- and zero-emissions zones can improve air quality and achieve climate goals while addressing racial and economic equity. It highlights critical equity concerns, such as the risk of financial burdens on low-income residents and the need for community-led enforcement mechanisms. The text provides policy recommendations for California states and cities to ensure public oversight and technical support for pilot projects, particularly in under-resourced communities.

The report estimates that 1.2 billion tonnes of food are wasted on farms annually, representing 15.3% of global production. This waste contributes 2.2 gigatonnes of CO2 eq, approximately 4% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis reveals that high- and middle-income regions contribute a disproportionate share of harvest waste per capita. The document argues that farm-stage waste is driven not only by direct biological or technical factors but by indirect systemic drivers, including market power imbalances, rigid retail specifications, and the diversion of edible food to animal feed. It calls for a 50% reduction target from 'farm to fork' by 2030 and a shift toward holistic interventions involving governments, retailers, and citizens.

The document outlines the environmental and economic benefits of bicycle infrastructure, noting that federal investment rose from $22.9 million in 1992 to over $970 million in 2017. It describes various infrastructure types, such as protected lanes and bike-sharing systems, and highlights a significant increase in cycling and e-bike sales during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data indicates that bicycle commute shares rose in many major U.S. cities between 1990 and 2015, and research suggests that replacing car lanes with bike lanes often has positive effects on local retail and food service businesses.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges the European Commission to integrate hydrogen and low-carbon fuel infrastructure into the TEN-T Regulation revision. CATF recommends binding targets for Member States to deploy recharging and refuelling infrastructure across both core and comprehensive networks, ensuring alignment with TEN-E, AFID, and FuelEU Maritime to decarbonise a transport sector that accounts for nearly 25% of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions.

The document argues that transport is a critical driver of development but a major source of emissions, accounting for 23% of energy-related CO2. It defines sustainable transport as safe, affordable, and efficient mobility that minimizes environmental impacts. The report details the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides examples of successful interventions, such as Jakarta's BRT system and various cities' shifts toward active mobility (cycling and walking). It specifically notes the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for structural changes in urban transit, though it warns that 30 major economies continue to provide significant subsidies to fossil fuels over clean energy.

The authors apply a collective action theory framework to Amazon conservation, identifying six variables—information, accountability, harmony of interests, horizontal trust, knowledge about consequences, and sense of responsibility—that act as either stressors or facilitators. Their analysis indicates that while increased transparency has improved information availability, the effort to halt deforestation is hindered by a lack of accountability, distrust among actors, and a low sense of responsibility.

Following a 2010 tragedy, Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec) launched DistritoTec in 2014, a district-scale regeneration project in Monterrey, Mexico. The initiative focused on co-creating a shared vision with local residents and business owners to reverse decades of urban sprawl and population decline. By implementing mixed-use development, affordable housing, and 'complete streets'—including over three kilometers of improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure—the project increased the district's population by 56% and reduced uninhabited homes by 27% between 2010 and 2020. The model, which emphasizes low-carbon mobility and community-led governance through the Neighborhood Council of DistritoTec, is now being replicated in three other districts within the city.

The report identifies significant energy and emission reduction potentials through the adoption of 'Green ACs' in public buildings, while highlighting financial, political, and technical barriers that hinder the implementation of Green Public Procurement.