Search Climate Insights Directory

The Landbanking Group (TLG) is introducing Nature Equity Assets (NEAs), a new asset class that uses real-time Measuring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) technology to value the ecological uplift of High Integrity Forests (HIFs) and regenerative agriculture. The instrument employs a blended finance approach, providing discounted loans to land stewards—primarily Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)—who repay the capital through commodity sales and outcome-based payments from corporate or government funders. Initial pilot projects are targeting the soy and cacao value chains in Brazil, with future expansions planned for Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Quantitative modeling suggests that regenerative agriculture is more profitable for land stewards than conventional methods, though standalone conservation projects currently require concessional grants to be viable.

The author asserts that the 'Yes to Yasuní' victory in Ecuador demonstrates the power of civil society to pressure governments to end fossil fuel extraction. The document links this local success to the broader goals of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, emphasizing the need for an international legal framework that replaces the 'extractivist economic matrix' with global cooperation and financial compensation from the Global North to support a just energy transition.

The report assesses gender inequalities and diversity challenges in the Amazon Basin, highlighting disparities in land tenure, political representation, and access to water and sanitation. It emphasizes the critical role of indigenous women in biodiversity conservation and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.

The document argues that decisive action on climate change, specifically regulating the oil and gas industry and its financial backers, is necessary to prevent the worsening of wildfires, heat domes, and floods in Canada. It highlights the disproportionate impact of these events on Indigenous peoples and criticizes the Canadian government for prioritizing fossil fuel infrastructure, such as the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, over emissions reductions.

The document highlights the increasing frequency of record-breaking global temperatures and extreme weather events, urging a shift toward scalable renewable energy, science-based net zero targets for subnational entities, and the fulfillment of climate finance commitments for developing countries.

The document condemns the violent repression of protests in Argentina on June 12, which resulted in over 600 injuries and 35 arbitrary detentions. It criticizes the 'anti-protest protocol' and the government of Javier Milei for increasing poverty rates, attacking labor rights, and attempting to liberalize extractive industries. The statement highlights the use of torture and false accusations of terrorism against detainees and calls for the immediate release of prisoners and an end to state violence.

The document analyzes the electrification needs of Manitoba, comparing Hydro-Manitoba's Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) with Navius Research modeling. It concludes that while electricity demand is expected to nearly double by 2050, the pace and method of electrification—particularly in heating—will determine the grid's cost and carbon intensity. The authors recommend a coordinated governance approach, including a permanent decision-level task force and a comprehensive carbon-neutral energy roadmap, to ensure the transition is affordable and inclusive of Indigenous peoples.

The evaluation finds that while the GCF has a prominent position in climate finance and a diverse set of instruments, its energy sector approach lacks a clearly articulated strategy and suffers from a mismatch between its stated and actual risk appetite. The portfolio is heavily skewed toward international accredited entities (IAEs) and focuses primarily on renewable energy generation, while underfinancing energy efficiency and emerging technologies like green hydrogen and large-scale storage. Results management is described as underdeveloped, with inconsistent metrics for measuring paradigm shifts and a lack of specific emissions reduction targets for the energy sector. The report recommends that the GCF clarify its role in the global energy transition, increase support for enabling environments and regulatory frameworks, and better align its risk appetite with transformational innovation.

The IEU's 2024 activity report details the completion of evaluations on the energy sector and investment framework, the launch of new evaluations regarding whistleblowers, Indigenous Peoples, and health/food security, and the progress of the LORTA impact evaluation portfolio. A significant portion of the document is dedicated to a synthesis on GCF access, which argues that access has become synonymous with accreditation, creating biases toward countries with strong governance and existing multilateral development bank (MDB) relationships. The report recommends shifting the focus of access from procedural accreditation to country-led needs and exploring alternative models such as National Climate Funds (NCFs).

The 2024 update study by Perspectives Climate Group finds that while CAR, Verra, and ACR have improved their grievance processes since 2023, significant shortcomings persist across all analysed VCM programmes. Key issues include limited accessibility, lack of independent review guardrails, and a general absence of detailed potential remedies. The report specifically highlights the case of the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) in Guyana under the ART mechanism, which was dismissed on formal grounds, illustrating the risks of ad hoc procedural changes and biased reviewer appointments. The study concludes that most VCM mechanisms remain insufficient in providing a fair, predictable, and independent path to redress for affected stakeholders.

The document serves as a '101' guide for journalists to report on climate change, explaining the difference between weather and climate, the primary causes of global warming, and the impacts of extreme weather. It offers specific phrasing to help reporters connect current events to climate change and distinguishes between mitigation and adaptation strategies. Additionally, it provides professional guidance on avoiding greenwashing, handling climate deniers, and centering climate justice in reporting, while emphasizing that climate coverage is based on scientific consensus rather than activism.

The document provides a comprehensive historical record of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) governance from 1997 to 2024. Key institutional developments include the adoption of the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan, the creation of the Science Diplomacy Center, and the implementation of Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies. The records track the evolution of the IAI's scientific focus, including the establishment of research programs on the nexus of climate, environment, and health, as well as oceans and coastal systems. Administratively, the document details the transition of the IAI headquarters from Uruguay to Panama, the approval of annual core budgets, and the expansion of the institute's network through the invitation of various academic and research institutions as Associates.

The 32nd Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) approved the 2024-2025 core budget and adopted a new Strategic Plan for 2024-2030. The meeting expanded the institute's network by inviting the Center for Climate and Resilience Research of the University of Chile, the Santa Catarina Research and Innovation Foundation (FAPESC), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) to become Associates. Additionally, the Conference initiated the process of transitioning the IAI Headquarters from Uruguay to Panama and instructed the Directorate to develop advisory committees for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Carbon Market Watch urges the UN Article 6.4 Supervisory Body to reject current drafts of the appeal and grievance processes and the sustainable development tool, arguing they contain insufficient human rights safeguards and create barriers to redress for affected communities.

The ARCA project is a GEF-8 initiative focused on the Caatinga biome in Brazil, with a total GEF financing of $9,771,000. The project seeks to create approximately 100,000 hectares of new protected areas (PAs) and improve the management effectiveness of 4.58 million hectares across seven confirmed PAs. Key components include the implementation of National Action Plans for Endangered Species Conservation (PANs), combating illegal wildlife poaching and trafficking, and providing $732,155 for capacity building and sub-grants to Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Peoples, and Local Communities (IP/TP&LC). The project also aims to mitigate an estimated 48.8 million tons of CO2e over a 20-year period as a co-benefit of improved PA management.

Carbon Market Watch argues that the draft Article 6.4 sustainable development tool prioritizes national legal requirements over international standards, which undermines the mandate for robust social and environmental safeguards. The organization calls for a structured consultation of at least one month with rights-holders, including Indigenous Peoples, and recommends that the tool mandate the application of safeguard criteria rather than making them optional. Key concerns include the artificial time boundary of monitoring impacts only during the crediting period and the limitation of recognizing Indigenous legal systems only when they are consistent with national legislation.

Carbon Market Watch argues that the draft appeal and grievance processes for the Article 6.4 mechanism are insufficient and not ready for adoption. The organization recommends a structured consultation period of at least one month and suggests using the Green Climate Fund's Independent Redress Mechanism as a model for accessibility, legitimacy, and rights compatibility. Key criticisms include the imposition of appeal and grievance fees, restrictive eligibility criteria for appellants and grievants, limited language options (English only), and a lack of retaliation safeguards.

Carbon Market Watch (CMW) argues for increased stringency in the Article 6.4 mechanism, specifically regarding the permanence of carbon removals and the accountability of project participants. CMW proposes a minimum 100-year monitoring period for removals, the removal of options to cease monitoring based on vague evidence, and the implementation of a reversal risk assessment tool grounded in peer-reviewed science. The response also suggests a fee-based system to fund long-term monitoring and the ability to permanently ban participants who violate human rights or repeatedly cause avoidable reversals.

The document outlines the technical requirements for agri-food entities to be certified as deforestation and conversion free (DCF). It establishes a cut-off date of 31 December 2020, mandates geolocation traceability for high-risk origins and specific commodities, and requires rigorous due diligence and annual verification. The criteria align with the EU Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR) and the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFi), extending protections to all natural ecosystems beyond forests.

Natural Justice critiques the South African government's National Biodiversity Economy Strategy, specifically targeting the establishment of 'Mega Living Conservation Landscapes' and the expansion of the game meat and marine fisheries industries. The organization argues that 'fortress conservation' models lead to human rights violations and forced displacement. It advocates for the adoption of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and the implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). The document recommends co-management frameworks, secure land tenure, and the removal of harmful subsidies that disadvantage small-scale fishers, aligning national policy with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the African Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.