Search Climate Insights Directory

The report finds that US farmers apply 3.5 to 5.8 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizer in excess of what crops can absorb, contributing to significant greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. It highlights that nitrogen fertilizer use in 2023 was responsible for approximately 120 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The authors argue that voluntary USDA programs like EQIP and CSP are underfunded and that the next Farm Bill should prioritize soil health and agroecology to reduce chemical dependency and climate risks.

The author contends that American steel producers, such as U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs, are falling behind Asian competitors by abandoning decarbonization plans in favor of coal-intensive production. This failure to adapt to demands for greener steel, exemplified by the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, threatens U.S. market access and causes billions in annual health damages. The text highlights that while a Korean company, Hyundai, is investing $6 billion in low-carbon steel in Louisiana, major U.S. firms continue to rely on polluting methods despite minimal cost increases for end-products like vehicles.

The report finds that a majority of Americans believe global warming is happening and is primarily human-caused, though many underestimate the level of public concern. While most perceive global warming as affecting U.S. weather and extreme events, few discuss the topic frequently with others.

A joint submission by multiple NGOs and experts to the UN Special Rapporteur detailing systemic human rights violations in the U.S. linked to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The authors argue that the U.S. government has failed to regulate PFAS as a class, allowed military and industrial contamination of drinking water, and permitted corporate structures to shield polluters from accountability. The report highlights disproportionate impacts on Arctic Indigenous Peoples and Black and Latino communities, while noting the global transboundary movement of PFAS waste and pollution originating from the U.S.

The document examines the application of the Polluter-Pays Principle (PPP) to the PFAS pollution crisis, noting that clean-up costs in Europe could exceed €100 billion per year. It argues that the PPP must be expanded to cover legacy, present, and future pollution, regardless of whether it was legal at the time, and should target both producers and users. The authors recommend combining taxes, fees, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes with strict phase-out measures and criminal penalties to ensure that the financial burden of direct and indirect societal costs is shifted from citizens to polluters.

The document examines the systemic failure to apply the Polluter-Pays Principle (PPP) to PFAS pollution, noting that clean-up costs in Europe could exceed €100 billion annually. It proposes a framework where the PPP covers legacy, present, and future pollution—regardless of legality—and targets both producers and users. The authors advocate for a combination of taxes, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and risk-pooling funds to prevent public funds from bearing the cost of remediation, while emphasizing that the PPP must be paired with a total phase-out of PFAS.

The assessment identifies 349 migratory, transboundary freshwater fish species that potentially meet CMS Appendix criteria, with 325 not yet listed. These species are facing rapid declines due to connectivity loss, habitat degradation, and overexploitation. The report emphasizes the need for basin-scale cooperation in priority areas such as the Amazon, Mekong, and Danube, proposing a 'toolbox' of CMS instruments—including Appendix listings, Action Plans, and MOUs—to restore 'swimways' and ensure the survival of these ecologically and economically vital species.

The document examines the health and economic impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," and advocates for a categorical regulatory approach. It highlights that current U.S. efforts, such as EPA drinking water limits, are insufficient because manufacturers can replace banned individual PFAS with other similar chemicals. The brief notes that annual health damages in the U.S. are estimated between $920.91 million and $62.6 billion across different studies, though these are likely underestimates. While cleanup technologies for water exist, those for soil and air remain undeveloped, making restrictions and bans the most cost-effective way to address ongoing contamination.

The document details a proposed expansion of at least 45 ammonia facilities in the US, primarily in Texas and Louisiana, which could quadruple production. It critiques the 'blue ammonia' label as greenwashing, noting that carbon capture systems often fail and that ammonia is a highly toxic substance. The text highlights the dangers of ammonia leaks to human health and aquatic ecosystems, citing specific recent disasters in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Illinois, and argues against creating speculative markets for ammonia as a shipping fuel or energy carrier.

The author argues that food production is the primary driver of habitat loss, freshwater use, and a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, the document proposes 'Codex Planetarius', a global baseline of minimum environmental performance standards for food exports focusing on six key impacts: habitat loss, biodiversity loss, soil health, water withdrawals, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. To fund the transition for the least efficient producers—who are identified as the bottom 10-20% responsible for 60-80% of negative impacts—the author proposes a '1% Fund'. This would be a 1% insurance premium on key food commodity exports, which in Brazil's case could generate approximately $750 million annually from beef, hides, soy, maize, and cotton to help producers improve practices and secure land titles.

Friends of the Earth International asserts that a lasting peace requires the complete end of the Israeli occupation and full sovereignty for the Palestinian people. The statement reports that despite ceasefire claims, atrocities and humanitarian disasters persist in Gaza, where environmental damage is severe. In the West Bank, the document notes escalating settler and military violence, specifically citing 158 attacks on olive harvesters since October 2025. It rejects the 'Trump plan' as an attack on Palestinian land rights and demands accountability for crimes committed over the last 48 months.

Friends of the Earth International asserts that there can be no peace without a free Palestine, stating that current ceasefires have not stopped killings and bombings. The statement highlights a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including toxic debris and contaminated air and water, and reports intensifying settler and military violence in the West Bank, specifically targeting olive harvests. It rejects the Trump plan as an attack on Palestinian land rights and demands full sovereignty for a Palestinian state and accountability for crimes committed over the last 48 months.

Friends of the Earth International asserts that a sustainable peace is impossible without a free Palestine, highlighting the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental conditions in Gaza and the escalating violence against communities in the West Bank. The statement rejects the Trump peace plan as an attack on Palestinian land rights and demands full sovereignty for a Palestinian state, the end of Israeli occupation, and accountability for war crimes.

China's historical economic growth, driven by a six-fold increase in coal consumption, is now constrained by high import dependence on oil and gas, dwindling coal reserves, and severe environmental costs including carbon emissions that account for one-third of the global total.

The briefing details the 2024 revisions to the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), focusing on expanding access to justice, strengthening non-compliance and suspension mechanisms, increasing penalties, and introducing a new compensation right for health damages. It emphasizes alignment with the Aarhus Convention and provides recommendations for Member States to ensure these provisions are effective and dissuasive in practice.

The Fall 2025 'Climate Change in the American Mind' report finds that 72% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 58% attributing it primarily to human activities. While 64% of adults express worry about global warming, a significant majority (61%) underestimate the prevalence of this concern among the general public. The report highlights a high level of perceived risk, with majorities believing global warming will harm plant and animal species (69%) and future generations (68%). However, personal and social engagement remains relatively low, as 44% of respondents say they never discuss global warming with family and friends. Consumer activism is present but limited, with 31% of Americans reporting they have rewarded companies taking steps to reduce global warming through their purchases in the past year.

The Fall 2025 report on 'Climate Change in the American Mind' reveals that 72% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 58% attributing it primarily to human activity. While 64% express worry about global warming, a significant majority (61%) underestimate the prevalence of this concern among their fellow citizens. The report highlights a strong perception that global warming is currently affecting U.S. weather, particularly extreme heat (74%), wildfires (72%), and droughts (72%). Despite these beliefs, frequent discussion of the topic remains low, with 44% of adults stating they never discuss global warming with family and friends. Personal importance of the issue has declined to 59%, the lowest level in 10 years. Consumer activism is present but limited, with 31% rewarding climate-friendly companies and 26% punishing those opposing climate action over the past year.

The document highlights the environmental and health risks associated with spreading sewage sludge on approximately 70 million acres of U.S. farmland, noting that such sludge often contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It criticizes the EPA for failing to finalize risk assessments for PFOA and PFOS and for underestimating the risks of over 150 other PFAS chemicals detected in sludge. The text cites specific farm failures in Maine and Michigan due to contamination and notes that while some states like Maine have banned the practice, others still encourage it. The author calls for federal regulations, the protection of local government authority to restrict sludge use, and corporate accountability for clean-up.

A coalition of 42 organizations, including Earthjustice and the NRDC, submitted comments on the EPA's Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS. The coalition argues that the EPA's assessment confirms that these 'forever chemicals' in sewage sludge pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment, particularly through land application on farms. They claim the EPA's risk calculations are underestimates because they use low-end concentration models and ignore combined exposure effects. The document calls for the prompt finalization of the assessment, the establishment of numerical limitations and management practices under the Clean Water Act, and the expansion of future risk assessments to include other PFAS, synthetic organic fluorine compounds, and microplastics. Additionally, they advocate for stricter pretreatment standards for industrial dischargers to prevent PFAS from entering publicly-owned treatment works.

Research indicates that while 74% of people in Britain consider climate change important, there is deep distrust in politics and a tendency to avoid the topic due to negative feelings. The report recommends that communicators ditch technical jargon, focus on positive future visions, and avoid overestimating opposition to net zero. For policymakers, it suggests prioritizing local infrastructure that lowers energy bills, accelerating inclusive solar panel roll-out, cracking down on pollution, and investing in genuine local engagement to counter top-down distrust.