Search Climate Insights Directory

The report finds that officially reported coal mine methane emissions in Queensland and New South Wales are significantly under-reported. In Queensland, TROPOMI-based satellite estimates for 2020 showed emissions 11% higher than the state's total reported fugitives, despite only modelling four sub-regions. In New South Wales, satellite estimates for 2020 and 2021 identified methane levels nearly double the official reports, despite covering only approximately 61-64% of the state's coal production. Specific site analysis of the Hail Creek mine via satellite and aircraft measurements showed emissions 2.4 to 12.9 times higher than reported values.

A satellite analysis using TROPOMI data reveals that Australia's coal mine methane emissions are significantly under-reported. For the 2020 financial year, satellite estimates for six mining clusters—representing 79% of black coal production—were 40% higher than the national total reported by the National Greenhouse Accounts. The discrepancy is most pronounced in New South Wales, where fugitive emissions were found to be approximately twice as high as official reports in both 2020 and 2021. The report attributes some of this variability to the adoption of 'Method 2', a site-specific company-led estimation approach for open-cut mines that often results in lower reported emissions compared to state-based averages (Method 1).

The GCHA submission argues that Chile's climate action should be framed through a public health lens to maximize health co-benefits, increase public support, and reduce the disease burden on the healthcare sector. The document recommends aligning emissions targets with a 1.5°C limit, accelerating health-related climate risk assessments, and implementing specific mitigation actions within the healthcare sector, which currently accounts for 6.7% of national emissions. It further suggests phasing out diesel subsidies, accelerating the coal phase-out date to 2030, and deprivatizing water to protect public health. The GCHA emphasizes the need for disaggregated epidemiological data to protect vulnerable groups and suggests using WHO tools to quantify the economic returns of health-promoting climate actions.

The document analyzes how climate change disrupts agricultural yields and trade flows, particularly in developing regions, while contributing significantly to global GHG emissions. It highlights the risks of food insecurity and the potential for trade-related climate measures to marginalize vulnerable economies. The author argues for a comprehensive international cooperation agenda focused on reducing trade tensions, reforming harmful subsidies, facilitating technology transfer, and securing global food stocks to ensure a fair transition to sustainable agriculture.

In 2024, the oil and gas industry showed a marked preference for offshore development, with all twelve projects reaching a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) being offshore. New discoveries were heavily concentrated, with 85% of the volume found in just ten offshore fields, including the Nokhatha field in Kuwait and the Mopane field in Namibia. Startups were also dominated by offshore activity, which accounted for 71% of the total volume of field startups, including six projects in China. The report highlights significant environmental risks across the project lifecycle, from seismic noise pollution during exploration to the long-term danger of leaky wells during decommissioning. It further argues that the industry's focus on 'low emissions intensity' ignores scope three emissions, which constitute 80% to 85% of lifecycle emissions, and warns that these investments conflict with the scientific consensus on climate goals.

Australia's coal industry has seen a rapid expansion of open-cut mining, which grew by 224% between 1990 and 2022 and now accounts for over 85% of total production. This shift has led to a decrease in reported emissions intensity because open-cut mines rely on gas models from 1991 for estimates rather than direct measurement. Consequently, reported fugitive emissions from surface mines have grown at a significantly slower rate than production; for example, since 2005, production increased by 45% while fugitive emissions only rose by 13%.

Underground coal mine closures have been the primary driver of fugitive emissions reductions in Australia's coal sector, as a small number of 'super-emitting' mines contribute a disproportionate share of total emissions. While strategic investments in methane capture have helped, most reductions resulted from the closure of older mines or safety-related shutdowns. However, the document warns that 27 proposed projects and recent license extensions, such as for the Narrabri mine, threaten to undermine national and state climate targets.

Australia's coal production grew by 170% between 1990 and 2022, yet fugitive emissions increased by only 0.17%. This trend is driven by the closure of high-emitting underground mines and a transition toward open-cut mining, which relies on estimated rather than measured emissions. The report highlights a concerning shift toward site-specific emissions reporting (Method 2), which has significantly lowered reported emissions in New South Wales compared to state-based averages. While underground mine closures have provided historic emissions wins, new project expansions and extensions threaten to reverse these gains.

RMI and TERI convened waste management officials from Uttar Pradesh, India, for a 'waste clinic' designed to facilitate peer-to-peer exchange and expert guidance. The clinic focused on four priority areas: data collection, source segregation and collection of organic waste, organic waste treatment, and disposal. For each area, the clinic identified systemic challenges—such as resource constraints, lack of standardized data, and inadequate infrastructure—and proposed specific 'treatments' including the adoption of standardized KPI templates, graded user fees, and the use of biomining for dumpsite remediation. The goal is to provide a replicable model to help Indian cities meet national 'Garbage Free Cities' goals and reduce landfill gas emissions.

The report identifies peatland protection as an 'emergency brake' climate solution due to the high carbon density of these ecosystems, which store approximately 600 Gt of carbon. It estimates that protecting one hectare of peatland avoids between 0.92 and 13.47 t CO‚-eq/ha/yr, with the highest impact in tropical and subtropical regions. The net cost is estimated at US$1.5/ha/yr, or $0.25/t CO‚-eq avoided. While approximately 22% of global peatlands are in protected areas (PAs), the report suggests an achievable protection range of 70–90% of remaining undrained peatlands, which could reduce emissions by 1.3–1.7 Gt CO‚-eq/yr. The analysis emphasizes the critical role of Indigenous peoples' lands, which contain an additional 186 Mha of peatlands, and advocates for secure land tenure and community-led governance to ensure permanence and avoid leakage.

Reclaim Finance critiques the Dutch bank ING for implementing a 'double standard' in its climate policy. While ING is the first major international bank to announce an end to direct project financing for new LNG export terminals starting in 2026, it continues to provide corporate financial services to the companies developing these projects. Between 2021 and 2023, ING provided over $5 billion to LNG expansion, ranking it as the second-largest European financier of the sector. The document highlights that corporate financing, which remains permitted under ING's new policy, accounts for 96% of financing allocated to the fossil fuel industry. Specific examples of continued support include $3 billion provided to Venture Global and the bank's role in the company's January 2025 IPO, as well as bond issuances for Cheniere Energy in early 2024.

Reclaim Finance criticizes ING for a 'double standard' in its climate policy: while the bank is the first major international bank to announce an end to direct project financing for new LNG export terminals starting in 2026, it continues to provide corporate financing to major LNG developers. Between 2021 and 2023, ING provided over US$5 billion to LNG expansion, making it the second-largest European financier in this sector. The document highlights ING's significant financial ties to Venture Global, including US$3 billion allocated between 2021 and 2023 and participation in its January 2025 initial public offering, as well as its role in issuing bonds for Cheniere Energy in early 2024.

The Free State Environmental Justice Network (FSEJN) has filed an appeal to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to set aside an environmental authorisation (EA) granted on 23 June 2025 to Afro Energy (Pty) Ltd. The EA allows for the exploration of conventional natural gas across approximately 240,000 hectares in the Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. FSEJN argues that the decision by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) was unlawful, irrational, and failed to adequately assess climate, air quality, geohydrological, and socio-economic impacts, while also neglecting meaningful public participation.

The document outlines seven criteria for 'health-inclusive' NDCs, including alignment with 1.5°C warming limits, healthcare sector adaptation, and the reduction of super-pollutants. It provides a roadmap for civil society to engage governments, suggests interministerial coordination strategies, and identifies common barriers—such as ministerial silos and lack of data—alongside corresponding solutions to ensure health is prioritised in national climate plans.

Mighty Earth's 2024 review highlights significant private sector shifts, including JBS dropping 705 suppliers linked to deforestation and the postponement of JBS's IPO due to climate concerns. The organization also focused on expanding plant-based protein offerings among major retailers, challenging biomass policies in Japan, and launching a rewilding initiative for mountain lions in the Eastern United States.

The analysis finds that climate change has increased the number of winter days with minimum temperatures above 0°C across the United Kingdom, with a national average of 11 additional days per year. England experienced the highest increase with 12 additional days, followed by Scotland and Wales with 10, and Northern Ireland with 8.

The 2024 Scorecard by Insure Our Future argues that the global insurance industry is in a 'vicious cycle,' where it continues to underwrite fossil fuel expansion while simultaneously withdrawing coverage from communities facing the resulting climate risks. Using climate attribution science, the report estimates that over one-third of weather-related insured losses between 2002 and 2022—approximately $600 billion—are attributable to human-caused climate change. The analysis reveals a stark mismatch in underwriting, with renewable energy premiums representing less than 30% of the size of the fossil fuel insurance market in 2023. For 15 of the 28 major property and casualty insurers analyzed, estimated climate-attributable losses exceeded the premiums they collected from fossil fuel clients. While Generali is noted as the first insurer to restrict oil and gas expansion across the entire value chain, the report concludes that voluntary corporate leadership has stalled, necessitating urgent regulatory intervention to mandate 1.5°C-aligned transition plans and higher capital requirements for fossil fuel exposure.

Non-CO2 emissions account for approximately 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are frequently overlooked in NDCs, which often lack gas-specific quantitative targets. While some countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Japan provide good practice examples of quantitative targets, major emitters including China, Russia, India, and Brazil generally only include non-CO2 gases as part of overall GHG targets. China, whose current NDC covers only CO2 despite non-CO2 gases making up 18% of its national emissions, has indicated it will include these gases in its updated NDC. The brief argues that the 2025 NDC update cycle is a critical opportunity for major emitters, particularly China, to adopt sector-specific targets and align with international initiatives like the Global Methane Pledge and the Kigali Amendment to maintain the 1.5°C warming limit.

The GCF Water Project Design Guidelines Part 3 outlines a framework for creating climate-resilient sanitation (CRS) projects. It defines CRS as systems that can survive and function despite climate shocks while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. The guide provides a detailed methodology for conducting climate risk assessments (analyzing hazards, exposure, and vulnerability) and identifies specific technical and management interventions for the sanitation service chain, including containment, conveyance, and treatment. It emphasizes a 'paradigm shift' toward circular economy principles—such as nutrient recovery and wastewater reuse—and provides a step-by-step process for aligning proposals with GCF investment criteria, including impact potential and country ownership.

The SEI strategy 2025–29 focuses on accelerating the implementation of climate and environmental goals through three primary impact areas: climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing. The institute aims to move beyond goal-setting to action by boosting research on implementation, exploring emerging topics like critical raw materials and AI, and strengthening research-to-policy networks. Operationally, SEI seeks to enhance its 'One SEI' approach to integrate its distributed regional centres and diversify its funding to ensure financial resilience.