Search Climate Insights Directory

The document analyzes the GHG emissions of chicken production, noting that cradle-to-retail meat averages 7–10 kgCO2e/kg edible weight (EW). Feed, particularly land-use change (LUC) from soy and oil palm, is the primary emission driver. The report compares broiler, layer, and backyard systems, highlighting that conventional industrial farming generally has lower emissions than organic systems due to better feed conversion and bird performance. Mitigation focuses on deforestation-free feed, optimized diets, and improved manure management.

A coalition of environmental organizations opposes Venture Global's CP2 Express Pipeline project, arguing that the application is incomplete, fails to assess cumulative environmental impacts, and violates the public trust duties of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

The document highlights that approximately 30% of global food production is lost or wasted, necessitating a shift toward a circular bioeconomy. It argues that technical solutions alone are insufficient and must be paired with behavioral change, institutional capacity building, and incentives. The brief specifically emphasizes the role of urban and peri-urban farming systems in absorbing waste and suggests that a circular bioeconomy approach could yield US$ 2.7 trillion in annual benefits by 2050.

The statement highlights the financial impact of climate-driven natural disasters on European reinsurers and urges SCOR and Munich Re to align with Swiss Re and Hannover Re by ending reinsurance for new oil and gas production projects.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that the Climate Change Bill requires stronger enforcement mechanisms, more ambitious emissions targets, and greater transparency to effectively address the climate crisis in South Africa. The CER emphasizes that climate change is a human rights and gender justice issue, noting that women and girls face disproportionate risks. Key recommendations include the introduction of criminal and administrative penalties for exceeding carbon budgets, the adoption of a 'near zero' emissions target by 2050, and the creation of a public web-based information portal for climate data. The CER also calls for more inclusive public participation, particularly for remote communities, youth, and women, and suggests establishing an inter-departmental body to coordinate the climate response across government.

The First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Maryland has installed four solar arrays—one ground-mounted and three rooftop—totaling 3.2 megawatts of capacity. These projects, developed with Suntrail Energy and IGS Solar, provide over 80 percent of the church's energy usage and have generated nearly $1 million in savings over three years. The installations include a 2.06 MW ground-mounted farm at the Upper Marlboro campus and rooftop arrays at the Family Life Center, Ministry Center, and Empowerment Center.

RMI proposes a shift from corporate-level carbon aggregation to product-level accounting that differentiates the emissions intensity of virgin and recycled materials. This method aims to address the lack of transparency in the supply chains of steel, aluminum, and petrochemicals, which together accounted for 14 percent of global GHG emissions in 2019. While circularity offers immediate emissions cuts and environmental benefits—such as reducing iron ore extraction by 37 percent—recycled inputs are projected to meet only 70 percent of steel demand by 2050, necessitating the simultaneous scaling of zero-carbon technologies for virgin materials. The proposed accounting guidance is intended to help corporations verify supplier progress, allow producers to gain competitive advantages, and assist policymakers in enforcing instruments like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The paper identifies a critical lack of robust climate risk data and analysis in Africa, which may lead to incorrect asset valuations and increased financial stability and sovereign risks. It proposes a six-category framework for climate risk information—data, analysis, disclosure and reporting, targets, risk management, and capacity-building—to help financial decision-makers close these gaps. While all four studied countries have initiatives for disclosure and reporting, South Africa shows the most comprehensive approach, covering five of the six categories. The author recommends that countries integrate financial sector transformation into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and expand climate risk mapping to include public financial institutions.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of Fair Finance Southern Africa (FFSA), is questioning Türkiye İş Bankası A.Ş. (Isbank) about a US$ 140 million loan provided to Karpowership in March 2020. The letter argues that the Karpowership SA projects—consisting of three vessels with a total capacity of 1,220 MW in Coega, Richards Bay, and Saldanha—pose significant environmental and social risks. Specifically, it highlights the refusal of environmental authorisations by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) due to "procedural irregularities" and the potential for the projects to emit "80 to 142 million tonnes CO2e of greenhouse gas" over 20 years. The authors contend that these projects prolong reliance on fossil fuels and may become "stranded assets" as renewable energy becomes cheaper. The letter asks Isbank to clarify if the loan was intended to finance these South African operations and how this aligns with its membership in the Net Zero Banking Alliance.

The report examines the environmental and climate impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides, highlighting their role in greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. It exposes the deep corporate links between the fossil fuel and agrochemical industries and criticizes their joint efforts to use CCS technology to justify continued fossil gas use for ammonia production, which threatens global food security and climate goals.

The document examines the environmental and human rights impacts of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, highlighting their contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. It details the structural links between the fossil fuel and agrochemical industries, specifically the promotion of 'blue' ammonia and hydrogen using CCS as a means to secure long-term demand for natural gas. The text warns that this industrial model undermines food sovereignty and planetary boundaries, advocating for a transition to regenerative agricultural models.

The briefing addresses the lack of standardised definitions for sustainable agriculture, which increases the risk of greenwashing. It examines four representative production systems—regenerative, ecological intensification, sustainable intensification, and organic agriculture—and argues that sustainability should be assessed based on specific management practices rather than broad system labels. The author categorises practices into 'Always', 'Usually', and 'Sometimes' sustainable based on environmental impact, while emphasizing that all must meet 'do no significant harm' (DNSH) social standards. It identifies uncontrolled deforestation and the conversion of high-carbon stocks as permanently unsustainable practices.

The document outlines the legal risks associated with plastic waste management, specifically focusing on incineration, recycling claims, and the illegal trade of plastic waste. It highlights how companies are increasingly exposed to litigation due to the environmental and health impacts of incineration, the perceived failure of recycling to solve the plastics crisis, and breaches of international waste shipment treaties like the Basel Convention.

The report analyzes the financing of low carbon transitions for India's MSME sector, which is highly GHG intensive due to fossil fuel reliance. It identifies a significant credit gap—estimated at USD 240 billion in 2018—and a lack of awareness and technical capacity as primary barriers. While national schemes like RAMP and ZED certification exist, the report finds fragmented implementation and varying levels of alignment between central and state policies, noting that Gujarat partially aligns with national goals while Maharashtra shows significant divergence. Recommendations include scaling incentive-based models, leveraging supply chain pressure from large companies, and mobilizing international climate finance.

The report examines the rapid growth of proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining in the U.S. following China's 2021 ban. It argues that the industry's high energy demands drive the revival of defunct fossil-fuel power plants, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and place financial burdens on electricity ratepayers. The document also details local harms, including noise and water pollution, and debunks industry claims regarding sustainability and grid stability.

The interim evaluation of the LCPB project in Bosnia and Herzegovina indicates that the project is generally on track, having retrofitted 161 public buildings and reduced 462,412 tCO2eq. Key achievements include the adoption of 34 Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) and the registration of 3,944 buildings in the Energy Management Information System (EMIS). However, the evaluation warns that the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have introduced risks, including rising material costs and skilled labor shortages, which may jeopardize the final greenhouse gas emission targets.

The interim evaluation of the I-GFLL/CliPAD IV project in Lao PDR indicates a generally successful implementation, rated as 'Level 2: successful' overall. The project is highly aligned with national policies and the needs of rural populations in Luang Prabang, Sayabouri, and Houaphan provinces. While it has successfully established an enabling environment for REDD+ and integrated women and ethnic groups, effectiveness is rated as 'moderately successful' because many village-level activities only began in 2021, making it too early to quantify total CO2 reductions. Key achievements include the creation of a Climate Change Funding Window within the Environment Protection Fund and the development of 25 Village Forest Management Plans. However, challenges remain regarding high staff turnover in government agencies, bureaucratic delays in fund disbursement, and external risks from mining concessions and infrastructure projects.

Global Energy Monitor reports that 24,166 km of oil pipelines are in development worldwide, with an estimated cost of USD 75.4 billion. This expansion, led by the United States, India, China, and Russia, is projected to add approximately 30.1 million barrels per day of transmission capacity, potentially generating 4.61 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. The report argues that this buildout creates significant stranded asset risks and contradicts the IEA's Net Zero by 2050 scenario, which states that no new oil fields are necessary to meet Paris Agreement goals.

The briefing challenges the narrative that natural gas is a clean energy alternative, detailing the high methane potency and life-cycle emissions of LNG. It highlights that Bangladesh has over US $16 billion in gas infrastructure in development despite existing power overcapacity. The document argues that gas 'lock-in' impedes renewable energy adoption and notes that coal-to-gas conversions offer limited greenhouse gas reductions. It concludes by advocating for a total phase-out of fossil fuels in favor of utility-scale renewables to meet 2050 climate goals.

The document analyzes global oil demand scenarios from the IEA and CER, concluding that structural shifts in road transport and increasing climate policies will lead to a permanent decline in oil demand starting before 2030. It highlights that while road transport is the primary driver, other sectors like plastics, aviation, and shipping will also contribute to demand destruction in the medium term, creating a shrinking market for Canadian oil producers.