Search Climate Insights Directory

The Energy Institute has introduced an environmental policy and shifted its governing council toward renewable energy expertise, but it maintains significant financial ties to the fossil fuel industry through memberships and event sponsorships. While it no longer invests in arms companies, its investment transparency remains limited, and it has not committed to a formal policy excluding all fossil fuel investments.

The report argues that EPR should be a core component of the EU's strategy for sustainable textiles to operationalise the 'polluter pays' principle and reduce over-consumption. It recommends a harmonised EU-wide approach to EPR, including a consistent definition of 'producer', a broad scope of in-scope products, and the use of eco-modulation to incentivise better design. Because EPR alone cannot address all environmental, social, and animal welfare impacts, the report proposes a suite of complementary measures, such as banning hazardous chemicals, implementing minimum eco-design requirements for durability and repairability, and introducing recycled content targets. The authors advocate for a single, industry-owned, not-for-profit EPR scheme per Member State to better coordinate strategic infrastructure investment and data reporting.

Earthjustice argues that the Supreme Court may use the 'major questions' doctrine in West Virginia v. EPA to limit the EPA's ability to combat climate change and regulate industrial air pollution, potentially undermining the regulatory authority granted by the Clean Air Act.

The proposal seeks USD 299,999 over 18 months to address severe land degradation in Burundi, where over 75% of agricultural lands are degraded. The project aims to revive the Sectorial Group on Agriculture and Rural Development (GSADR), conduct a study on the linkages between climate change and land degradation, and update the GCF Country Programme to align with current national priorities and GCF guidelines.

The document outlines a 24-month, USD 599,908 project to advance fire management in Guatemala by transitioning from a reactive suppression model to a proactive, traditional fire management (TFM) approach. It aims to create a permanent national coordination mechanism, develop a GCF Project Concept Note for an ER TFM sector, and implement satellite-based Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) tools based on Australian models. The initiative focuses on leveraging indigenous knowledge, particularly from the Maya population, to implement early dry season burning to prevent high-intensity late-season wildfires, thereby reducing GHG emissions in the land-use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector.

The document analyzes the landscape of non-state and subnational climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the role of cities, companies, and international cooperative initiatives in mitigating deforestation in the Amazon.

The policy brief examines the long-standing tension between the World Trade Organization's (WTO) focus on trade liberalization and the need for environmental protection. It highlights the failure of the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) to produce recommendations and the persistence of harmful subsidies in agriculture, fisheries, and fossil fuels. The author argues that the WTO must integrate science-policy interfaces and prioritize sustainable development to support the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting recent member-led initiatives on plastics and climate as potential paths forward.

The proposal outlines a plan to mobilize the private sector in Burundi to address climate vulnerability. It focuses on three main objectives: nominating and preparing two national entities for Green Climate Fund (GCF) accreditation, developing an action plan to implement a private sector engagement framework, and training stakeholders in developing GCF project applications. The project is implemented by the Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE) in collaboration with Burundi's Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock.

A study of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell from 2009 to 2020 reveals a significant gap between the companies' increasing use of climate-related discourse and their actual financial investments, which remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

Heavy-duty vehicles, defined as those weighing over 10,000 pounds, contribute disproportionately to global warming and local air pollution. Despite making up only 10% of vehicles on the road, they generate over 25% of transportation sector emissions. Diesel engines emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), ground-level ozone, and particulate matter (PM), which cause respiratory and heart diseases and increase cancer risks. These pollutants disproportionately affect low-income BIPOC communities located near highways. The document argues that switching to electric heavy-duty vehicles can eliminate tailpipe emissions and reduce operating costs, while emphasizing the need for stricter emissions limits on remaining diesel trucks due to their long operational lifespans.

The brief asserts that gas appliances release harmful pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and carbon monoxide (CO), which lead to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. It highlights that indoor pollution levels can be significantly higher than outdoor levels and that vulnerable populations, particularly children and communities of color, are disproportionately affected. Furthermore, it argues that gas appliances contribute to outdoor air pollution and climate change through the emission of criteria pollutants and methane, with methane leaks from stoves and water heaters potentially reaching 110 Gg per year. The document concludes that building electrification is a critical public health intervention that can provide substantial monetized health benefits, estimated at $3.5 billion annually for California.

The Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2022 finds that most of the 25 major global companies assessed have net-zero pledges that lack integrity, with aggregate emissions targeted for reduction by only 40% at most. While 15 companies report interim targets for 2030, the average reduction commitment for full value chain emissions is only 23%. Scope 3 emissions average 87% of total emissions, yet only 8 companies provide moderate detail on addressing them. The report notes a heavy reliance on unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs) and contentious offsetting plans, particularly nature-based solutions, while suggesting that 'climate contributions' without neutrality claims are an emerging alternative.

A coalition of organizations advocates for Colorado's Air Quality Control Commission to adopt clean truck rules to mitigate the health impacts of diesel pollution in marginalized communities, specifically those along the I-70 corridor.

The briefing outlines critical areas of focus for Africa in 2022, including democratic transitions in eighteen countries, the management of military coups in states like Mali and Sudan, and the fight against terrorism in regions such as the Lake Chad Basin. It highlights Africa's priorities for COP27, specifically the need for climate finance, technology transfer, and a just transition that supports industrialisation. Additionally, it examines the evolution of China-Africa relations following the FOCAC Ministerial Meeting and the potential impact of China's debt on Kenya's elections.

The document argues that climate change is a scientific imperative that should be central to all levels of political reporting, regardless of party affiliation. It encourages journalists to hold candidates accountable for their climate records, explore the implications of the Green New Deal and similar global investment programs, and humanize the crisis by focusing on local impacts and environmental justice. Additionally, it highlights the influence of youth activists and the importance of tracking campaign financing from fossil fuel interests to reveal a candidate's true environmental allegiances.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both victims of climate change (facing sea level rise and extreme storms) and contributors to it through significant greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. It details mitigation strategies such as electrification of machinery, shore powering for berthed ships, and the adoption of renewable energy. It also discusses adaptation measures, contrasting 'gray infrastructure' like seawalls with nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and living shorelines. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, Miami, and others, while noting the role of EPA programs and international certifications in driving sustainability.

In 2021, EU-27 electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels, with renewables reaching a record 1068 TWh and accounting for 37% of production. A critical shift occurred in the second half of 2021 when soaring gas prices made fossil gas more expensive than coal, leading new renewable output to predominantly replace gas rather than coal. While wind and solar output hit record highs (547 TWh), overall power sector emissions fell by an average of 2.5% per year since 2019, which is less than half the 6% annual decline required to align with a 1.5C pathway. Nuclear power continued a long-term structural decline, accounting for 26% of production in 2021.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) and Health and Climate Network (HCN) submit that health is a prerequisite and critical indicator for the Paris Agreement's success. They highlight that mitigation in energy, food, and transport can prevent millions of deaths annually by 2040, yet only 28% of updated NDCs recognize these health co-benefits. While 94% of surveyed countries include health in National Adaptation Plans, funding remains a critical barrier, with only 0.5% of certain multilateral adaptation funds allocated to health-specific projects. The document urges the GST to quantify health impacts as non-economic losses and damages and to monitor the realization of the human right to a healthy environment.

The Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2022 assesses 25 multinational companies, finding that most 'net zero' pledges are ambiguous and lack deep emission reduction commitments. The report highlights a systemic reliance on low-quality carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) that often fail to provide additional climate benefits. While a few companies demonstrate leadership in renewable energy procurement and value chain engagement, the overall integrity of corporate climate strategies remains low, with many targets falling short of the 1.5C Paris Agreement goal.

The EU ETS is a 'cap and trade' system covering power, industry, and aviation across the EU and several other European nations. While it has successfully reduced emissions in the power sector, the document argues that free allocation of permits has led to stagnant industrial emissions and significant windfall profits for companies. The guide details the role of the Market Stability Reserve in managing oversupply and discusses the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as a potential replacement for carbon leakage protections.