Search Climate Insights Directory

The Alberta Pesticide Survey Report details a public opinion poll conducted in August 2016. A majority of respondents expressed concern that pesticides used on lawns and gardens pose threats to children (66%), pets (68%), and the general environment (50%). Consequently, 62% of those surveyed supported a law to phase out the use and sale of all but the safest pesticides for lawns and gardens in Alberta, excluding agriculture, forestry, and mosquito control.

The report identifies Tajikistan as one of Central Asia's most vulnerable countries to climate change, specifically highlighting risks to water quality, availability, and the increasing severity of natural disasters. While the government has identified these critical concerns, capacity limitations have hindered the integration of climate change into development policies. Current efforts to address these gaps include the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience and the development of a national adaptation strategy and action plan.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is convening a National Hearing on 13-14 September 2016 to investigate socio-economic challenges in mining-affected communities across South Africa. Following consultations in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, the Commission identified systemic issues including non-compliance with legal and environmental obligations, failures in enforcement, insufficient community consultation, and limited social upliftment. The SAHRC has invited the Centre for Environmental Rights to provide submissions specifically regarding the efficacy of environmental compliance monitoring, the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), and the impact of mining on water resources and ecosystems.

The report analyzes the landscape of cosmetic pesticide bans in Canada, evaluating the effectiveness of various provincial and municipal regulatory frameworks. It argues that the most protective laws utilize 'white lists' of approved low-risk pesticides, maintain a broad scope of coverage across all landscaping elements, and combine legal prohibitions with robust public education and enforcement. The document highlights significant gaps in jurisdictions like Alberta and British Columbia, while praising the comprehensive approaches of Ontario and Nova Scotia.

The review identifies significant contradictions and scientific gaps in the groundwater and wetland assessments for the proposed Yzermyn Colliery. It argues that the mine is likely to decant post-closure and that the dewatering process will affect groundwater-dependent ecosystems and springs. The author criticizes the amended EIAR for making scientifically unproven claims about the limited impact on wetlands and the speed of stabilization, while noting that the EcoPartners report on downstream water usage is poorly motivated and fails to quantify key impacts.

The review identifies significant scientific gaps and contradictions in the groundwater and wetland assessments for the proposed Yzermyn Colliery. Key concerns include the underestimation of drawdown effects on sensitive wetlands, the likelihood of post-closure mine decant with high sulphate levels, and contradictions in wetland sensitivity ratings. The author argues that current models fail to quantify impacts on groundwater-dependent ecosystems and downstream users, recommending further field work and more comprehensive numerical modelling.

The review identifies significant contradictions and scientific gaps in the groundwater and wetland assessments for the proposed Yzermyn Colliery. It argues that the mine is likely to decant acidic water and that the drawdown of the shallow aquifer will negatively impact groundwater-dependent ecosystems and wetlands, contradicting claims in the amended EIAR that such impacts would be limited or mimic drought conditions.

The document examines how US farm subsidies, specifically the Federal Crop Insurance Program, encourage wasteful farming practices that lead to widespread nitrogen pollution. It details the resulting costs to public health, water utilities, and coastal industries, while proposing a transition to integrated prairie strips to reduce runoff and save taxpayers and farmers billions of dollars.

The World Resources Institute developed Global Forest Watch Water (GFW Water) to provide a public database and mapping tool for 230 major global watersheds. The tool assesses watershed health by scoring four primary risks—recent forest loss, historical forest loss, erosion, and fire—within the context of baseline water stress. It aims to support downstream beneficiaries, financing institutions, and researchers in implementing natural infrastructure, such as forest protection and restoration, to enhance water security and quality. The document details the underlying hydrologic science, the specific spatial data sets used (including Landsat imagery and the RUSLE erosion model), and the normalization process used to generate risk scores from 1 to 5.

A coalition of organizations and individuals requested federal civil rights reviews of MDEQ and MDHHS, alleging that the Flint water crisis and pollution in Wayne County demonstrate a pattern of environmental injustice. The signatories argue that MDEQ failed to implement required corrosion control and manipulated lead testing, while MDHHS failed to respond to public health spikes and provided inadequate emergency services to people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency.

The report outlines various in-lake remediation strategies to combat eutrophication in Manitoba's prairie lakes, emphasizing that these treatments should complement efforts to control external nutrient sources. It details three biological methods (biomanipulation, floating treatment wetlands, and macrophyte removal), five physical/engineering methods (hypolimnetic withdrawal, dilution/flushing, hypolimnetic aeration, artificial circulation, and dredging), and three chemical methods (phosphorus inactivation, sediment oxidation, and algicides), providing their benefits, shortfalls, suitable lake conditions, and associated costs.

The report assesses Myanmar's natural capital, focusing on four key ecosystem services: sediment retention for water quality, dry-season water availability, flood risk reduction, and coastal protection. Using InVEST models and climate projections, it identifies critical areas where natural ecosystems support human populations and infrastructure. The findings indicate that while the volume of services (such as sediment retention) will likely change due to increased rainfall under climate change, the geographic 'hotspots' of these services are expected to remain stable. The report emphasizes the overlap between these service-providing areas and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), arguing that protecting these synergies is vital for both human resilience and wildlife conservation. It specifically highlights the Tanintharyi region as an example of where infrastructure projects, like the Dawei road, could threaten critical natural capital.

The document provides an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for a project aimed at conserving freshwater, marine, and coastal resources in the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR). It defines the institutional roles of the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) and partner NGOs, establishes a project classification system (Categories A, B, and C) based on risk, and outlines procedures for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). The framework identifies priority river basins—including the Hondo, Motagua, Belice, Chamelecón, and Ulúa—and details the threats facing the reef, such as agricultural runoff, deforestation, and urban waste. It also sets strict safeguards for indigenous peoples, involuntary resettlement, and the use of hazardous pesticides, while proposing various 'ridge-to-reef' interventions like agroforestry and habitat restoration.

The Breede Water Stewardship Programme, implemented by WWF-SA in partnership with retailers and agencies, focused on transitioning from on-farm actions to collective catchment-scale stewardship. Key initiatives included the formation of the 'Witzenberg Water Savers' to address urban water pollution in Prince Alfred Hamlet and Nduli, and a collective invasive alien plant clearing project near Wolseley funded by Woolworths. The project also tested the AWS Standard with volunteer farmers, finding that while the 2015–2016 drought drove significant improvements in water-use efficiency, farmers struggled with catchment-scale data and information disclosure. The report advocates for a collaborative extension model and the harmonisation of the AWS Standard with existing agricultural certifications to scale water stewardship across South Africa.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa's water crisis, highlighting the critical role of 'ecological infrastructure' and the need to transition from a reliance on ageing surface-water dams to sustainable groundwater management and water-sensitive urban design. It details the threats to freshwater biodiversity, the systemic failures in wastewater treatment and sanitation, and the necessity of public-private partnerships in water stewardship to mitigate risks to the economy and public health.

The document outlines the health risks associated with cosmetic pesticides and advocates for the City of Calgary to adopt restrictive policies similar to those in other Canadian jurisdictions. It highlights failures in federal oversight by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and cites multiple systematic reviews linking pesticides to cancers, neurological deficits, and reproductive issues, particularly in children. CAPE notes that seven provinces and 180 municipalities have already implemented such bans, with evidence from Toronto and Ontario showing significant reductions in pesticide use and water contamination. An Alberta-specific poll indicated that 62% of residents support phasing out all but the safest pesticides for lawns and gardens.

The brochure describes 'Smart-Sourced Fuel Products' as eco-friendly biomass blends created from agricultural residues, wetland plants, grassland plants, and forestry residues. These materials can be processed into pellets, briquettes, cubes, biochar, biogas, and fuel logs for residential, industrial, and commercial heating. The document highlights environmental benefits, such as the capture of phosphorus and nitrogen from cattails to protect Lake Winnipeg, and economic advantages for landowners and municipalities. It notes that Manitoba has an estimated 3 to 5 million tonnes of available biomass annually, plus 3 million tonnes of cattail. Replacing all coal use in Manitoba with biomass is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 200,000 tonnes.

The document describes 'smart-sourced fuels' as ecological heating products made from local agricultural residues, wetland plants, and forestry waste. It highlights the environmental and economic benefits of these fuels in Manitoba, specifically noting the potential of cattails (quenouilles) as a sustainable biomass source. The text provides data on biomass availability around Winnipeg and Brandon and argues that replacing coal with biomass could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province.

The report examines 13 watershed investment programs in the U.S., focusing on how natural infrastructure—specifically forests—can be used to protect drinking water quality and quantity. It provides a framework for program development across three phases: building momentum, designing the program, and implementing the action plan. Key findings emphasize the importance of collaborative partnerships, scientifically informed planning, and diverse financing mechanisms, such as municipal bonds and water rate surcharges, to overcome barriers like insufficient funding and lack of outcome data.

The 2016 Orinoco Basin Health Report evaluates the Colombian section of the Orinoco River basin, assigning an overall health score of 3.2 (moderately good) based on 11 indicators. The analysis reveals a clear west-to-east gradient: western sub-basins like Alto Meta (1.9) suffer from high degradation due to agro-industrial expansion and oil and gas extraction, while eastern sub-basins like Matavén (4.4) remain more intact. Key threats across the region include deforestation, illegal mining, and unsustainable land-use changes. The report emphasizes critical data gaps in water quality monitoring and biodiversity inventories and aligns its findings with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.