Search Climate Insights Directory

The document identifies food systems as a primary threat to biodiversity and proposes a tailored approach to transformation through the Great Food Puzzle series, which clusters countries with similar socioeconomic factors. For the United States, the author recommends redirecting agri-food subsidies via the Farm Bill, halving food loss and waste by 2030, establishing deforestation-free supply chains, and leveraging AI and machine learning for regenerative production. It highlights the Food Waste Warrior program as a successful model for reducing school food waste and empowering students to advocate for composting legislation.

The briefing links the increased frequency and intensity of US extreme weather events, such as the July 2023 heatwave and August 2024 California wildfires, to climate change driven by fossil fuels. It highlights that US oil and gas production emissions rose roughly 42% between 2011 and 2022 and notes that 88 large fossil fuel and cement companies are responsible for 48% of the rise in fire-danger conditions in the region. The document argues for corporate accountability, citing a Climate Analytics estimate that the 12 most polluting companies are responsible for USD 15 trillion in economic damages from 1985 to 2018. While the US has seen significant growth in solar and wind capacity and electric vehicle sales, primary energy consumption remains dominated by petroleum (38%), natural gas (36%), and coal (9%) as of 2023.

The Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) is a peer-reviewed, open-source System Dynamics model created in Vensim that allows users to simulate the effects of various energy and climate policies. It utilizes an economy-wide approach with annual time steps, typically running to 2050, and incorporates a profit-maximizing least-cost optimized electricity model. The EPS can model a wide range of policies, such as renewable portfolio standards and fuel economy standards, and includes embedded modules to translate these changes into economic outcomes (GDP, jobs) and health outcomes based on U.S. EPA estimates. The tool's methodologies have been reviewed by experts from institutions such as MIT, Stanford, and various national laboratories.

The document is a letter expressing concern over Energy Capital Partners' (ECP) pending acquisition of Lightstone Holdco LLC, which owns the General James M. Gavin Power Plant. The authors highlight the plant's high emissions and public health risks, contrasting this acquisition with Bridgepoint's public commitments to decarbonisation and sustainability. They request a commitment to retire the plant by 2028.

The document explains how climate change—specifically warmer winters, hotter summers, and altered precipitation—is expanding the range and survival of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks. It highlights specific threats in the US, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis in New England and Lyme disease in the Northwest, while noting that over 8 billion people could be at risk of malaria and dengue by the end of the 21st century if emissions continue to rise. The guide advises reporters to examine weather patterns, social determinants of health, and to consult vector biologists.

The document highlights the tension between global trade and agricultural sustainability, noting that while trade is essential for food security, it can exacerbate deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that while individual governments can implement sustainable trade tools, collective action through the WTO would increase effectiveness. The author suggests several avenues for this cooperation, including reinvigorating existing committees, utilizing the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), or adopting a dedicated dialogue proposed by Brazil.

The document serves as a summary of the methane reduction landscape in Nigeria's oil and gas industry, drawing on a broader landscape mapping report to highlight policy and regulation frameworks aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Net Zero Stocktake 2024 reveals a consolidation of net zero targets across countries, cities, and companies, but highlights a critical gap in integrity. While national targets now cover 87% of global GHG emissions, fewer than 5% of non-state entities meet all minimum procedural and substantive integrity criteria. The report emphasizes that national targets often act as a 'ceiling' for subnational ambition, though some regions in countries like Australia and Japan have historically pushed national goals forward. It also notes that members of the Race to Zero campaign generally outperform non-members on integrity measures, although absolute performance remains low.

The report examines the push for natural gas as a 'transition fuel' in South Africa, contrasting government plans with the environmental and financial risks of stranded assets. It details the activities and financing of Kinetiko Energy's Mpumalanga Gas Project and Renergen's Virginia gas field, highlighting significant concerns regarding groundwater contamination, methane leakage, and a lack of transparency in governance.

The memorandum argues that while South African law does not yet have a specific statute requiring directors to prepare for climate change, existing fiduciary duties, the duty of care and diligence, and emerging legislation like the Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 create a legal basis for accountability. It highlights that South African courts are increasingly relying on non-binding governance standards, such as the King IV Report, and international obligations to interpret directors' duties. The document outlines several avenues for liability, including derivative actions under section 165 of the Companies Act, piercing the corporate veil under section 20(9), and criminal liability under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). It concludes that directors should proactively manage climate risk to avoid potential litigation as legal frameworks evolve.

The report finds that the fashion industry is increasing its dependency on fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibres, with 69% of all textiles currently being synthetic. It highlights a significant lack of transparency, with 60% of surveyed brands providing incomplete or no data on synthetic volumes. The document criticizes the industry's reliance on recycled polyester from PET bottles as a 'false solution' that does not address microplastic shedding or the overproduction inherent in fast fashion. Most brands are categorized as 'trailing behind' or in the 'red zone' for their lack of meaningful microfibre release policies, often relying on weak voluntary initiatives like The Microfibre Consortium (TMC). The report also notes tepid industry support for upcoming EU legislation and the global plastics treaty, suggesting a preference for the status quo.

The report finds that global fashion brands are increasing their use of synthetic fibres, with synthetic materials accounting for 69% of textile production and projected to reach 73% by 2030. It highlights a significant lack of transparency, with 54% of surveyed companies failing to respond fully. Most brands rely on recycled polyester from PET bottles, which the report describes as a false solution that disrupts bottle-to-bottle recycling and fails to address microplastic shedding. Only two brands, Reformation and Hugo Boss, have committed to phasing out synthetics by 2030. The report also notes weak industry support for EU legislation and the global plastics treaty, with many brands citing a need for further research to delay meaningful action on microplastic release.

The report analyzes the CS3D, highlighting gaps in its scope of companies, value chain coverage, and the definition of environmental impacts compared to international standards like the OECD Guidelines and the CSRD. It argues that the current framework is too narrow, particularly regarding downstream activities and the financial sector. The authors provide 20 specific recommendations for Member States to strengthen the directive during transposition, focusing on expanding the scope of impacts, enhancing the effectiveness of climate transition plans, empowering supervisory authorities with proactive investigative powers, and broadening civil liability to better protect victims and the environment.

The analysis finds that complying with revised Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) is technically achievable for SaskPower without jeopardizing grid reliability. While the Saskatchewan government previously claimed rates would double by 2035, this modelling indicates that residential electricity rates would only increase by 6–9% relative to a baseline scenario. The CER would significantly reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 2025 and 2050 by accelerating the adoption of carbon capture and storage and increasing imports of clean electricity from Manitoba.

The report concludes that Saskatchewan can comply with a revised version of the federal Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) without compromising grid reliability and with only a marginal increase in residential electricity rates (6% to 9% by 2035) compared to SaskPower's reference scenario. Using the COPPER model, the analysis shows that while the CER would require additional capital investments of $4 billion to $6.5 billion by 2035, it would significantly reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 2025 and 2050 compared to the province's current plans. The report emphasizes the central role of wind power and the importance of federal investment tax credits in maintaining affordability during the transition to net-zero electricity by 2050.

The study finds that the ABC Recuperação credit line has had modest effects on pasture recovery in the Cerrado, with most severely degraded areas remaining unchanged. While some pasture was converted to crops, the program's contribution to the ABC Plan's 2020 target of recovering 15 million hectares of degraded pasture was estimated at only 0.9% to 2.5%. The report highlights that technical assistance is a critical factor for success and recommends improved monitoring and the integration of credit with risk management instruments.

The Growth Next-Generation Agriculture (GAN) is a proposed BRL 250 million (USD 44.4 million) blended finance debt fund designed to support the transition to regenerative agriculture in Brazil. By providing working capital to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that produce biological inputs (bio-inputs), GAN enables these SMEs to offer credit to farmers, reducing the sector's reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The instrument utilizes a Brazilian financial structure involving Fundo de Investimento em Direitos Creditórios (FIDC) investing in Agricultural Receivables Certificates (CRAs), supported by a proprietary AI credit assessment tool from Traive Finance. The fund includes a technical assistance facility managed by Folio Institute to train farmers and SMEs in regenerative practices. GAN targets environmental outcomes including the transition of 2 million hectares to regenerative practices and the annual avoidance of 2,312 tons of CO2e.

The Resilient Municipal Market Fund (ReMark) is a proposed blended finance facility designed to address the lack of investment in African urban food markets, which are critical to food security but vulnerable to climate risks. The instrument combines a revolving debt facility for capital expenditure loans (USD 0.5-10 million) and a technical assistance (TA) facility managed by ICLEI Africa to prepare markets for investment. The pilot phase targets six municipalities in East and Southern Africa with a total budget of approximately USD 35 million, including USD 30 million in debt and repayable grants and USD 5 million in TA grants. ReMark categorizes markets into three types (A, B, and C) based on financial maturity, proposing different pathways to bankability, including a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) structure for the most challenged markets. Planned retrofits include cold storage, off-grid solar PV, and improved drainage to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Sustana Cooling India Fund is a USD 100 million blended capital equity fund designed to support early-growth companies in India's cooling sector. By utilizing a first-loss cushion and combining senior and subordinated equity, the fund aims to de-risk investments in energy-efficient space cooling and cold supply chains. The instrument targets the 'missing middle' of funding (pre-Series A/B stages) to drive both climate mitigation and adaptation, with a projected return of 18.04% in USD terms for limited partners.

The Amazon Food&Forest Bioeconomy Financing Initiative addresses financial barriers facing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in the Brazilian Amazon through a proprietary fintech platform and a blended finance structure. The initiative combines private debentures (senior and subordinated tranches) with a philanthropic fund to provide growth capital and discounted invoices to regenerative businesses. Currently in a pilot phase with 17 projects and USD 2.7 million deployed, the initiative aims to raise USD 23.12 million in its market phase to scale activities across value chains such as non-timber forest products (NTFPs), community-based tourism, and agroforestry. The goal is to mitigate land-use emissions, protect biodiversity, and improve local livelihoods while attracting commercial private capital to the region's socio-bioeconomy.