Search Climate Insights Directory

The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine has triggered a massive humanitarian and environmental crisis, causing widespread flooding, infrastructure loss, and contamination of the Dnipro River with sewage, chemicals, and fuels. The IISD highlights unprecedented long-term risks to biodiversity in the Kakhovka reservoir, the Dnipro Estuary, and the Black Sea coastal region. Beyond the dam collapse, the document notes the broader impact of Russia's invasion, including a 29.1 percent decline in Ukraine's GDP and threats to global food security, the clean energy transition, and multilateralism.

The report analyzes the impact of a massive fire at the Doral incinerator, which burned from February 12 to March 2, 2023. It finds that air quality frequently reached unhealthy or hazardous levels for particulate matter (PM2.5) and exceeded action levels for chlorine, VOCs, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide, contradicting early official claims. Water testing in onsite retention ponds showed exceedances of sanitary sewer and groundwater standards for copper, lead, zinc, sulfates, and boron. The document also details the emergency demolition of asbestos-containing structures and a history of five fires at the facility in recent years, using these findings to advocate for a transition to a Zero Waste system in Miami-Dade County.

The report details a massive fire at the Doral waste incinerator that occurred from February 12 to March 2, 2023, causing significant air and water pollution. Despite initial official claims that air quality was not concerning, monitoring data showed levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) and other toxins that were unhealthy or dangerous for residents. The document also highlights water contamination in on-site retention ponds, the presence of asbestos in demolished structures, and a history of previous fires and regulatory violations at the facility. It concludes by advocating for a transition to a 'Zero Waste' model to protect marginalized communities.

The document analyzes India's complex textile value chain, highlighting significant environmental pollution from water-intensive cotton production and toxic dyeing processes. It identifies a fragmented supply chain, high competition, and outdated technology as primary barriers to sustainability, while suggesting that increased stakeholder collaboration, government incentives, and a shift toward 'slow fashion' could drive a sustainable transition.

The proposed Donlin Gold Mine in Southwest Alaska, described as the world's largest pure gold mine, faces significant opposition from Indigenous Tribes and legal challenges from Earthjustice. The project involves a massive open-pit mine and a 316-mile gas pipeline, which opponents argue threatens critical subsistence resources, including salmon and rainbow smelt, and risks tailings dam failure. Legal actions are currently targeting state permits and a federal environmental impact statement to potentially vacate authorizations and force a project redesign.

The document presents an 'integrated' or 'extended' CBA model designed for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to value 'betterment' road projects—investments that build infrastructure to a higher resilience standard than original specifications. Unlike traditional CBAs that focus on direct avoided reconstruction costs, this model incorporates 15 non-road indicators, including mental health impacts, market access for agriculture, and environmental externalities. Through case studies, such as the Aurukun Access Road, the report demonstrates that including these indirect and induced benefits can significantly alter the perceived economic viability of a project, potentially justifying investments that would otherwise appear financially non-viable.

A December 2022 survey of 1,085 American adults reveals that a majority believe global warming is happening and mostly human-caused. While 64% express worry and some report psychological distress, most reject fatalism and feel a personal responsibility to help. Americans identify a wide range of local risks, particularly water pollution and power outages, and generally believe global warming is affecting U.S. weather and environmental problems.

The document details the legal and environmental challenges facing the Bull Mountains Underground Coal Mine in Montana, highlighting a history of corruption, health and safety violations, and water contamination. It criticizes the Office of Surface Mining for failing to properly assess the climate impacts of a proposed 170-million-ton expansion and calls on the Department of the Interior to halt operations and shift focus to mine reclamation.

A coalition of environmental and tribal organizations argues that current U.S. mining laws are deficient and have led to widespread pollution, specifically citing the legacy of uranium mining in the Navajo Nation. The authors advocate for transitioning to a leasing system for hardrock minerals, as proposed in the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act of 2022, and the utilization of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve environmental reviews and tribal consultations.

The report reveals that a significant portion of second-hand clothing exported to Kenya consists of low-quality synthetic textiles that function as plastic waste. It estimates that up to 307 million synthetic textile items are shipped to Kenya annually, many of which end up in landfills, the Nairobi River, or are burned as fuel. The document argues that the 'fast fashion' business model relies on this irresponsible disposal and calls for comprehensive EU legislation, including Extended Producer Responsibility and plastic taxes, to hold brands accountable.

The community audit documents widespread violations of environmental, land, and human rights resulting from Société Minière de Boké (SMB) operations in Guinea. Key findings include severe air and water pollution, illegal land dispossession, inadequate compensation, and negative health outcomes for local populations. The report concludes with specific community demands for restoration, fair compensation, and the abandonment of a proposed coal-fired power plant.

The report documents widespread environmental degradation and human rights violations resulting from SMB's bauxite mining in Guinea. Key findings include severe air and water pollution, illegal land dispossession, inadequate compensation, and negative health outcomes for local communities. The audit concludes that SMB has violated multiple Guinean laws and international standards, leading to a loss of livelihoods and food security. The affected communities demand a restoration plan for livelihoods, rehabilitation of water sources, and the abandonment of a proposed coal-fired power plant for an alumina refinery.

The report details extensive violations of human and environmental rights caused by the Société Minière de Boké (SMB) in Guinea's Boké region. Key findings include severe air, soil, and water pollution leading to respiratory diseases and agricultural decline, illegal land dispossession with inadequate compensation, and a lack of community participation in environmental impact assessments. The document concludes with demands for SMB to implement resettlement and livelihood recovery plans and for the Guinean state to conduct independent impact studies.

The document details how bauxite mining by the Société Minière de Boké (SMB) has led to severe environmental degradation, health crises, and systemic human rights violations across 24 villages in the Boké region. Key findings include widespread air and water pollution, the illegal dispossession of customary lands with inadequate compensation, and a lack of community participation in environmental and social impact assessments. The report concludes with demands for the SMB to implement resettlement and livelihood restoration plans and for the Guinean state to conduct independent impact studies and finalize regulatory frameworks.

The report details a survey of 1,011 US adults, finding that 74% believe global warming is happening and 61% attribute it primarily to human activity. While 66% express worry and 62% feel a personal responsibility to help, social engagement remains low, with 66% rarely or never discussing the issue with family and friends. A majority of respondents perceive global warming as already affecting US weather and various environmental problems, such as extreme heat and rising sea levels, though only 20% recognize the high level of scientific consensus (over 90%) on human-caused warming.

A survey of 1,033 American adults in October 2023 reveals that 72% believe global warming is happening, with 58% attributing it primarily to human activities. While 65% of respondents express worry about global warming and many perceive risks to their local communities—particularly from extreme heat and power outages—social engagement remains low, with 65% rarely or never discussing the topic with family and friends. Approximately 10% of respondents report psychological distress, such as anxiety or depression, linked to global warming.

The Spring 2023 survey of 1,011 American adults reveals that a strong majority believe global warming is happening and is mostly human-caused. While worry and perceived risks are high—with many reporting personal experience of its effects—social engagement remains low, as most respondents rarely discuss the issue with family and friends. Despite this, a majority feel a personal responsibility to help and reject fatalism, disagreeing that it is too late to take action.

The report argues that the agrocommodities model is a patriarchal system of production that drives deforestation, water pollution, and land grabbing, disproportionately harming women by increasing their care workloads and exposing them to violence. It documents specific abuses in sectors like oil palm and pineapple plantations across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and advocates for a transition toward food sovereignty, agroecology, and a feminist care economy.

The document analyzes how the industrial agrocommodity system, driven by transnational corporations and patriarchal logic, causes territorial dispossession, environmental degradation, and systemic violence against women. It details impacts on land access, water quality, health, and food sovereignty, while advocating for a feminist economy of care and agroecology as transformative alternatives.

The December 2022 survey finds that 70% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 58% attributing it primarily to human activity. While 64% express worry and 63% feel a personal responsibility to help, social engagement remains low, as 63% rarely or never discuss the issue with family and friends. A majority of respondents perceive global warming as already affecting U.S. weather and various environmental problems, though only 14% believe it is too late to take action.