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The document analyzes the inverse correlation between the size of pasture areas and livestock productivity in Brazil. It argues that low productivity is driven by land-use inefficiencies and economic incentives, such as low land costs relative to capital. The authors suggest that combating illegal deforestation, reducing agricultural modernization bottlenecks, and improving credit access can incentivize the transition to more intensive livestock production or high-productivity agriculture, thereby reducing pressure on the Amazon and Cerrado biomes.

The 2019 Global Landscape of Climate Finance report finds that annual climate finance reached an average of USD 579 billion in 2017/2018, a 25% increase over 2015/2016. While renewable energy remains the dominant sector, there is significant growth in low-carbon transport and public adaptation finance. However, the report emphasizes that current investment levels are grossly insufficient to meet 1.5 °C goals, and that finance for fossil fuel supply infrastructure continues to far outweigh clean energy investment.

The report presents a business case for crossbreeding dairy cows (Holstein and Jersey) with beef bulls (such as Angus and Limousin). It highlights that crossbred calves command higher market prices ($128-$330) compared to dairy calves ($35-$100) and offer better carcass quality and feed efficiency. For a 1,500-head dairy, the report estimates feed cost savings of $77,102 and an overall value increase of nearly $300,000 across the value chain. Additionally, crossbreeding can improve cow conception rates by up to 55%, reducing insemination and veterinary costs. Environmentally, the practice is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption per pound of beef because crossbred calves require less feed to reach marketable size.

The document explains that Law 13.887/2019 transformed the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) into a permanent instrument with an indeterminate registration deadline. However, it establishes a critical deadline of December 31, 2020, for registration to maintain the right to join the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) and benefit from flexible rules for regularizing consolidated rural areas. Failure to register in the CAR prevents access to rural credit and environmental licensing, while failure to join the PRA exposes producers to stricter Forest Code rules, civil and criminal lawsuits, and market sanctions.

The research analyzes the relationship between satellite-based law enforcement (DETER) and the growth of secondary vegetation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2004 to 2014. It finds that increased enforcement in a cell's neighborhood significantly increases the probability and area of forest regeneration, supporting a 'deterrence channel' where illegal land use is abandoned. The study suggests that improving monitoring systems to detect secondary vegetation could further increase forest cover.

A quantitative study indicates substantial public support for wind, solar photovoltaic, and geothermal energy in Kenya, which could help the country meet its Paris Agreement commitments. While overall assessments are positive, public opinion is shaped by price, infrastructure, and land-use requirements, suggesting that authorities must anticipate and mitigate specific drawbacks to ensure large-scale adoption.

The 2019 executive summary reports that the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is unlikely to meet its 2020 targets, as tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate. While political will for restoration has increased, implementation is slow and often occurs outside natural forests. The report highlights that agricultural expansion remains the primary driver of forest loss, and that current financial and policy interventions are insufficient to catalyze systemic change.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that the 2020 goals to halve tropical deforestation and restore millions of hectares of forest are likely unattainable. Despite political will and some private sector commitments, tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate, driven primarily by agricultural expansion. The report highlights a critical gap in 'green' financing, noting that investments in forests are dwarfed by those in renewable energy. It emphasizes that while some progress has been made in specific regions like Indonesia, systemic changes in land use, governance, and the recognition of indigenous land rights are necessary to meet 2030 targets and limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that achieving the 2020 goals of halving tropical deforestation and restoring 150 million hectares of degraded landscapes is likely impossible. Despite political commitments, tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate, driven primarily by agricultural commodity expansion. While some progress is noted in Indonesia, significant losses persist in Latin America and the Brazilian Amazon. Restoration efforts have largely occurred outside natural forests, and financial investments in forest protection remain critically low compared to other climate mitigation efforts. The report emphasizes that systemic change requires coordinated action across supply chains, increased 'green' financing, stronger governance, and the recognition of indigenous land rights.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that the 2020 goals for reducing tropical deforestation and restoring landscapes are likely unattainable. Despite high political will, tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate, driven primarily by agricultural commodity expansion. Restoration efforts have been slow and largely occur outside natural forests. The report highlights a critical lack of 'green' financing, inadequate corporate commitment implementation, and the need for stronger governance and recognition of indigenous land rights to achieve the 2030 targets.

The document analyzes how human land use drives climate change and how climate change, in turn, degrades land. It highlights that while land currently acts as a net carbon sink, it could become a source of emissions. The brief emphasizes the role of agriculture and deforestation in land degradation and warns that current policy trajectories could significantly expand drylands and threaten global food security. It argues that sustainable land management, incorporating indigenous knowledge and gender-sensitive policies, is essential for limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.

The document analyzes how MPV 884/2019, by removing the deadline for CAR registration, risks undermining the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) and creating legal insecurity. It examines 35 parliamentary amendments, some of which propose drastic changes to the PRA's operational logic, and discusses a pending Supreme Court challenge (ADI 6.157/DF) regarding the measure's constitutionality.

The report analyzes the economic fragility of Berau, East Kalimantan, caused by its heavy reliance on coal mining, which contributes over 60% of its GRDP. While the district is shifting toward palm oil, the study warns that mono-cropping palm oil risks replicating the same commodity-dependency trap. It recommends a transition plan based on increasing productivity and efficiency over land expansion, diversifying into high-value crops like pepper and cocoa, and developing downstream processing refineries to capture added value. Additionally, the report suggests optimizing government revenue through 'Own-Source Revenue' and implementing innovative ecological fiscal transfer mechanisms to reward sustainable land management.

The report finds that Brazil can significantly increase agricultural and livestock production without further deforestation by eliminating productivity inefficiencies. Achieving these gains would require substantial increases in operational costs and capital investment in equipment. The analysis suggests that converting low-productivity pasture to high-productivity cropland could further boost agricultural output by 26 percentage points.

The report analyzes the economic fragility of Berau Regency due to its heavy reliance on coal mining and the risks of replacing it with a palm oil monoculture. It argues for a multi-dimensional transition focusing on palm oil productivity efficiency over expansion, diversification into high-value crops like pepper and cocoa, and the development of downstream processing industries. The document also proposes optimizing local government revenue and implementing innovative ecological fiscal transfer mechanisms to incentivize sustainable land management.

The report evaluates the Taïba N’Diaye wind farm in Senegal, comparing it to coal and heavy fuel oil (HFO) power generation. Using the SAVi methodology, it finds that while coal appears cheaper in conventional financial analyses, the wind farm is the most beneficial option when accounting for climate risks and external effects. The wind farm minimizes environmental impacts, maximizes socio-economic benefits such as job creation, and achieves a lower integrated Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) than the fossil fuel alternatives.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis reveals that Asian American, African American, and Latino residents in Massachusetts face significantly higher exposure to PM2.5 from cars, trucks, and buses than white residents. This disparity is attributed to historical decisions regarding transportation, housing, and land use. The document advocates for prioritizing clean transportation technologies—such as electric vehicles and buses—and infrastructure improvements in the most burdened communities to reduce health inequities.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that Asian American, Latino, and African American residents in New York State are exposed to significantly higher levels of vehicle-derived PM2.5 pollution than white residents. The highest concentrations are found in New York City, particularly in the West Bronx, where pollution is linked to severe health risks including cardiovascular disease and asthma. The document argues that these inequities result from historical land-use and transportation decisions and recommends prioritizing electric vehicle infrastructure, cleaner fuels, and expanded public transit in the most burdened communities.

A collaborative project between Svemin and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) used exploratory scenarios to develop a sustainability roadmap for the Swedish mining sector, identifying 31 key action points to navigate the sector toward a sustainable future by 2050.

The report examines how a proposed copper mine in Laver would affect the Semisjaur Njarg Sami community, specifically regarding the loss of winter pastures and the threat to reindeer herding as a cultural practice. It argues that Boliden's proposed mitigation strategies, such as supplementary feeding and offering mining jobs to herders, are insufficient to compensate for the loss of traditional livelihoods. The document concludes that the mine would likely result in significant breaches of the community's property rights and individual rights to culture, necessitating a full human rights impact assessment.