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The report details how plastic pollution constitutes a global public health crisis, affecting humans at every stage of the plastic life cycle. It examines the toxic emissions from fracking and petrochemical refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors from packaging, and the health risks associated with microplastics and incineration. The document emphasizes that current fragmented regulatory approaches are insufficient and calls for a global reduction in plastic production to protect human rights and health.

The report finds broad bipartisan support for transitioning to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050, with 85% of registered voters supporting such a requirement for utilities. While most Americans view clean energy positively and believe it will boost economic growth, there is a significant gap in awareness and access to purchasing 100% clean electricity. Support for renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles has increased between 2013 and 2018, particularly among conservative Republicans.

The report finds that Estonia's 2005 ecological tax reform was only partially implemented, with success largely limited to fiscal goals rather than behavioral or environmental changes. While excise duties on energy products and electricity were generally increased, transport and pollution taxes saw minimal progress. Consequently, several negative trends persisted or worsened between 2005 and 2017, including a 43% increase in direct material input, a rise in the number of passenger cars, and continued reliance on oil shale for electricity production. Positive developments were noted in the growth of renewable electricity and a reduction in certain air pollutants, though greenhouse gas emissions from transport increased by 10%.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other organizations are calling for an independent review of the PMRA's glyphosate re-evaluation decision (RVD2017-01). They argue that internal Monsanto documents, revealed during California litigation, show the company ghostwrote scientific studies and suppressed evidence of cancer risks—studies that the PMRA relied upon for its determination that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a human cancer risk. The authors also claim the PMRA failed to consider evidence regarding monarch decline, microbiomes, and the inefficiency of buffer zones as risk management strategies.

Three Romanian NGOs—Alburnus Maior, Greenpeace Romania, and the Independent Center for the Development of Environmental Resources (ICDER)—are petitioning the ICSID Tribunal for amicus curiae status in the case of Gabriel Resources Ltd. v. Romania. The petitioners argue that the proposed open-pit gold mine in Roşia Montană poses severe risks to cultural heritage, including 2000-year-old Roman mining galleries, and threatens the environment through the use of cyanide, citing the 2000 Baia Mare spill as a precedent for potential disaster. They assert that their participation is essential to provide the Tribunal with unique factual and legal insights derived from their direct connection to the affected local communities and their history of strategic litigation against the project's permits. The NGOs emphasize that the case involves significant public interest, including the potential forced relocation of over 350 families and the risk of environmental degradation, which justifies transparency and civil society participation under the Romania-Canada BIT and ICSID rules.

The report argues that the Collaboration for Sustainable Development of Viscose (CV) Roadmap lacks the ambition, transparency, and rigor necessary to transform the Chinese viscose industry. It finds that the initiative allows producers to use weak certification standards and fails to mandate the highest production levels, falling short of the European Commission's Best Available Techniques (BAT). The document highlights ongoing pollution at CV member sites and recommends aligning the roadmap with CanopyStyle audits and EU BAT to ensure genuine environmental protection.

Mighty Earth criticizes McDonald’s and Whole Foods for sourcing meat from Cargill and Tyson, companies it identifies as major drivers of rainforest destruction in South America and water pollution in the United States. The organization asserts that industrial meat production contributes approximately 15% of global climate pollution and occupies 80% of global agricultural land. Mighty Earth is campaigning across the United States to pressure these retailers to establish environmental standards for their meat supply chains.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has issued an urgent notice to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) demanding that it direct ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to address ongoing pollution at its Vanderbijlpark site. CER highlights failures in air emission controls, water discharge compliance, and land contamination remediation, while accusing the DEA of delaying action and providing contradictory information regarding the existence of records on land contamination assessments.

The document warns that Hurricane Florence could trigger a public health crisis in the southeastern United States by causing the failure of toxic waste sites, such as coal ash pits, hog manure lagoons, and Superfund sites. It highlights the vulnerability of these sites, citing a recent coal ash collapse at the L.V. Sutton Power Station and previous spills during Hurricane Matthew and in 2008. The author contends that industry prioritizes cheap waste disposal over safety and calls for stronger government regulations to secure hazardous sites and address the increasing frequency and strength of hurricanes driven by climate change.

The report examines the widespread use of glyphosate, noting a nearly 15-fold increase in global use since 1996 due to genetically modified crops. It details the emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds and the contamination of surface and groundwater in Europe and North America. The document highlights scientific disputes over chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity, and criticizes the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for its 2017 re-evaluation decision, which critics argue relied on outdated, non-peer-reviewed industry data.

The report evaluates the global viscose industry's transition to sustainable production, highlighting a divide between 'front-runner' brands adopting closed-loop standards and 'laggards'—including several luxury and low-cost retailers—who lack transparency. It specifically analyzes the commitments of major producers Lenzing and Aditya Birla Group, and the emerging Collaboration for Sustainable Development of Viscose in China, while arguing that current certifications like the EU Ecolabel and OEKO-TEX STeP are insufficient compared to EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) standards.

The report argues that the proliferation of certification labels creates consumer confusion and allows companies to greenwash their operations without achieving substantive environmental improvements. In fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea (FOS) are criticized for certifying overfished areas and lacking transparency. In the palm oil sector, programs like RSPO, ISCC, and ISPO are found to have failed in slowing deforestation or peatland drainage. In textiles, the Higg Index and Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) are highlighted for weaknesses such as reliance on self-assessment and allowing GMO seeds. The authors call for a shift toward mandatory government regulations and a reform of certifications based on transparency, independence, holistic life-cycle approaches, and scientific standards.

The report assesses voluntary sustainability certifications in fisheries, palm oil, and textiles, concluding that many schemes act as 'greenwash' and fail to prevent deforestation, overfishing, or pollution. It argues that the proliferation of labels creates consumer confusion and a 'race to the bottom' in standards. The authors call for the abolition of ineffective schemes and a transition toward science-based, transparent, and holistic regulations that cover the entire product life-cycle.

The report examines voluntary sustainability certifications in the palm oil, fisheries, and textile industries, concluding that these schemes often lack transparency, lower their standards to increase volume, and fail to prevent deforestation or overfishing. It argues that certifications are being used as 'greenwashing' tools by corporations and governments and calls for a shift toward strict, independent, and comprehensive standards that cover the entire product life cycle, while emphasizing that voluntary initiatives cannot replace government regulation.

The document argues that the proliferation of voluntary certifications in the palm oil, fisheries, and textile sectors has created consumer confusion and a 'race to the bottom' in standards. It finds that these schemes often fail to stop deforestation, overfishing, or pollution, and are sometimes used by companies to mask unsustainable operations. The report calls for the abolition of most current schemes in favor of a few high-ambition, transparent, and science-based standards that complement, rather than replace, government regulation.

The report investigates voluntary certification in three high-impact sectors: fisheries, palm oil, and textiles. It concludes that a proliferation of low-ambition schemes creates consumer confusion and allows companies to 'greenwash' unsustainable practices. In fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friend of the Sea (FOS) are criticized for certifying fisheries with high bycatch and destructive methods. In palm oil, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and government-led schemes like ISPO are found ineffective at stopping deforestation and peatland drainage. In textiles, the report highlights the lack of transparency in the Higg Index and the low standards of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) compared to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The authors call for the abolition of the least ambitious schemes and a shift toward mandatory due diligence, transparency, and science-based regulations.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submits that South Africa must urgently transition from coal to renewable energy due to the declining competitiveness of coal, severe health and environmental impacts, and extreme vulnerability to climate change. The CER argues against new coal and nuclear infrastructure, recommends the decommissioning of non-compliant coal plants, and calls for a transformation of Eskom into an organ of state promoting clean energy. It further emphasizes the need for meaningful public consultation in energy planning and warns against the continued operation of high-emission facilities like Sasol's Secunda complex.

The document details how transnational corporations and agribusinesses in Central America disproportionately affect women through the looting of natural resources and environmental degradation. In El Salvador, Coca Cola's water extraction in Nejapa has depleted aquifers and polluted water sources, increasing the domestic burden on women. In Honduras, hydroelectric dams in La Paz have caused water scarcity and led to the murder of environmental activists, including Berta Cáceres. In Costa Rica, pineapple monocultures have contaminated water with agrotoxics, impacting women's health and care work. In Guatemala, sugarcane plantations on the Southern Coast have caused land grabbing, water shortages, and health issues due to aerial spraying and burning. Across all cases, women have emerged as key leaders in community resistance, organizing to defend their rights to water, land, and a healthy environment.

The report details severe pollution and health crises linked to Aditya Birla Group's viscose plants in India and Indonesia, highlighting discrepancies between the company's public sustainability image and the actual conditions on the ground.

The roadmap urges brands to drive a transition to closed-loop viscose and modal manufacturing by 2023-25 to mitigate air and water pollution. It outlines a framework for responsible sourcing, including supply chain mapping, third-party monitoring, and the adoption of EU Best Available Technique (BAT) standards for chemical recovery and emission limits. The document emphasizes the need for brands to set hard deadlines for suppliers, ensure worker safety, and remediate historical environmental damage, particularly in high-volume production areas like China.