Search Climate Insights Directory

Mighty Earth reports that major US RV manufacturers (Winnebago, Thor, Forest River) source meranti plywood from Mayawana Persada in Borneo, Indonesia. This sourcing is linked to the destruction of 40,000 hectares of carbon-rich peatlands, which have become highly susceptible to wildfires during the 'Godzilla El Niño', resulting in orangutan deaths. The organization is campaigning for the industry to switch to FSC-certified wood or low-footprint composites.

The document outlines a framework for responsible mining of transition minerals, focusing on protecting carbon-rich ecosystems, upholding Indigenous rights through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), and implementing rigorous climate-integrated impact assessments. It advocates for standardized Scope 1-3 emissions reporting, digital traceability, and a shift toward a circular economy to reduce virgin metal demand. Additionally, it proposes equitable benefit-sharing models, such as co-ownership and sovereign wealth funds, to ensure a just energy transition.

The document assesses the socioenvironmental governance of nickel mining in Ontario, Canada, highlighting the lower carbon footprint of sulfide ores compared to laterites and the historical ecological recovery of the Sudbury region. It details the regulatory framework, including the impact of the Ontario Special Economic Zones Act 2025 on permitting timelines and Indigenous rights. Key environmental risks identified include acid mine drainage and the destruction of carbon-rich peatlands in the Ring of Fire, while social analysis focuses on the role of Impact Benefit Agreements and the underrepresentation of Indigenous women in impact assessments.

The document argues that financial institutions (FIs) have a responsibility to stop financing activities that drive biodiversity degradation, particularly fossil fuel activities. It proposes a minimum foundation of scientific frameworks—centered on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and supplemented by marine and carbon-critical ecosystem frameworks—to define 'no-go zones' where fossil fuel projects should be strictly prohibited. The note emphasizes that existing protected area statuses are often insufficient for effective conservation and suggests the implementation of buffer zones (10 km terrestrial, 50 km marine) to mitigate the wider impact radius of fossil fuel activities.

The document highlights the ecological importance of the Hudson Bay and James Bay lowlands as a critical global carbon sink and the threats posed by the 'Ring of Fire' mining projects. It details the advocacy of the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, who argue that respecting treaty rights and obtaining free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) are essential for achieving climate and conservation goals. The study critiques Ontario's mining laws and the lack of provincial implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), recommending the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and a moratorium on mining permits until Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protections are guaranteed.

The document details the ecological significance of the Hudson-James Bay Lowlands as a critical carbon sink and the threats posed by the 'Ring of Fire' mining projects. It highlights the mobilization of the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, who advocate for Indigenous-led conservation, the enforcement of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), and the recognition of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) to safeguard biodiversity and climate stability.

The Hudson Bay Lowlands in northeastern Manitoba, covering over 67,000 square kilometres, provide a minimum of CAD 247.7 million in annual economic value and store an estimated 7 billion tonnes of soil organic carbon valued at CAD 1.2 trillion. The region supports over 250 wildlife species and generates CAD 131 million in tourism revenue. Five Indigenous Nations are working to establish an Indigenous Protected Area to safeguard the region, which would help Canada and Manitoba meet their goal of protecting 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas by 2030.

The report evaluates the Manitoba portion of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, a 67,181 km2 region that is 97.5% intact. It utilizes an ecosystem goods and services (EGS) framework to monetize benefits, finding a minimum annual value of CAD 247.7 million from biodiversity, tourism, and health services, alongside a carbon storage value of CAD 1.28 trillion. The document emphasizes the region's role in climate mitigation and its deep relational value to Indigenous communities, including the Cree, Métis, and Dene. It identifies threats from potential critical mineral mining, hydroelectric diversions, and transportation projects like the NeeStaNan corridor, arguing that Indigenous-led conservation is essential for meeting Canada's 30% by 2030 protection targets.

The document highlights the rapid degradation of wetlands in Myanmar, noting a 25% loss in the Upper Chindwin River basin between 2000 and 2020. It critiques existing government-led initiatives for being tokenistic and limited primarily to Ramsar sites, leaving smaller wetlands vulnerable. Based on a project in the Hkamti region, the authors demonstrate that community leadership—through village working committees and alternative livelihood planning—enhances resource management and monitoring. The brief recommends establishing a community-led management framework, diversifying funding, and integrating wetland conservation across sectoral policies like agriculture and tourism.

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.

The report presents findings from a nationally representative survey of 2,000 Indonesian adults conducted in 2025. While 73% of respondents report knowing little to nothing about climate change, 86% believe it is happening after receiving a definition. There is strong public support for clean energy policies, including a 79% favorability rate for banning new coal plants and an 83% support rate for the government's 2060 net-zero commitment. However, a gap exists between personal concern (88%) and actual engagement, with very few respondents having taken political action to address the issue.

The report identifies opportunities to reduce direct emissions from the food, agriculture, and land use (FALU) sector in Southeast Asia by 1.9 billion tons of CO2-eq per year. It highlights that FALU is responsible for 54% of the region's total greenhouse gas emissions, with deforestation and peatland degradation acting as the primary drivers. The analysis emphasizes 'hotspots' where targeted interventions—such as protecting 20% of carbon-dense forests or improving rice cultivation on 20% of farms—can yield disproportionately high emissions savings. Key solutions include legal forest protection, non-continuous flooding in rice paddies, and improved nitrogen fertilizer management. The report also discusses indirect solutions like shifting diets toward the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet and reducing food loss and waste, while detailing co-benefits such as improved air quality, water security, and enhanced farmer incomes.

The document analyzes the environmental impact of Indonesia's palm oil sector, noting a general decline in deforestation over the last decade despite continued production growth. It highlights that while zero-deforestation commitments are widespread, they have not significantly lowered deforestation intensity compared to non-committed exporters. The analysis also emphasizes the critical role of peatlands in driving the sector's greenhouse gas emissions and the shift in export markets toward China and domestic use.

Mighty Earth's monitoring of the PT Mayawana Persada concession in West Kalimantan reveals approximately 96 hectares of forest clearance and infrastructure development since a March 2024 government stop work order. While some areas showed activity ending in April and May, clearance in Area 1 appeared ongoing as of May 27, 2024. The report highlights the destruction of orangutan habitat and peatland, noting that nearly 20,000 hectares were cleared in 2023 alone.

The 'Resilient Puna' project is a 6-year initiative in the Southern High Andes of Peru (SHAP) designed to restore and conserve 23,914 hectares of Puna ecosystems (peatlands, wetlands, and grasslands). The project focuses on enhancing the resilience of 60,715 direct beneficiaries, primarily Quechua Indigenous Peoples, by integrating ancestral knowledge with modern science to implement EbA measures and develop Climate Resilient Value Chains (CRVC). A central feature is the 'Puna Facility,' a financial mechanism managed by Profonanpe that provides non-repayable and repayable grants to local initiatives. The project also aims to mainstream EbA into national and regional governance, improve water security for over 2 million indirect beneficiaries, and achieve a mitigation co-benefit of 407,657 tCO2eq.

The proposal aims to address the lack of coordination between climate, biodiversity, and development strategies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It proposes a 24-month project to create a 30x30 investment strategy that integrates biodiversity conservation with climate mitigation and adaptation, specifically focusing on the rights and engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPs and LCs). Key activities include spatial modelling to identify priority conservation areas, policy alignment analysis, the development of a business plan for 30x30 implementation, and the submission of a technically sound GCF project concept note.

Between 2013 and 2023, scientists described at least 742 new species in the Congo Basin, including 430 plants, 140 invertebrates, 96 fish, 42 reptiles, 22 amphibians, 10 mammals, and 2 birds. The report emphasizes that the region is a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot, but faces severe threats from illegal logging, poaching, mining, and infrastructure development. WWF is implementing conservation strategies including biomonitoring, FSC-certified forestry, and human-wildlife conflict insurance to protect these ecosystems.

The report estimates the total quantifiable economic use value of water and freshwater ecosystems at US$58 trillion in 2021, representing 60% of global GDP. It argues that the world suffers from 'water blindness,' where direct use values (US$7.5 trillion) are prioritized over far more valuable indirect ecosystem services (US$50 trillion), such as water purification, flood regulation, and carbon sequestration. This undervaluation leads to overextraction, pollution, and habitat loss, with one-third of wetlands lost since 1970 and freshwater species populations declining by 83% on average. The document calls for a shift toward Nature-based Solutions, the implementation of the 'Freshwater Challenge' to restore 30% of degraded rivers and wetlands by 2030, and a fundamental change in how governments, businesses, and financial institutions value and manage water resources to build climate resilience.

The report examines the global palm oil sector, highlighting the growth of VSS-compliant production and the challenges faced by smallholders. It analyzes how climate change and geopolitical conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, affect supply and pricing. The document argues that while VSSs can reduce deforestation and improve yields, the lack of consistent price premiums and high certification costs hinder their adoption by smallholders. It concludes with recommendations for better price transparency, living wage benchmarks, and stronger government support to build a more sustainable value chain.

The authors challenge a 2021 Natural England update to the 'Carbon Storage and Sequestration by Habitat' review, arguing that it lacks transparency in its review protocols and misrepresents evidence regarding prescribed fire in blanket bog ecosystems.