Search Climate Insights Directory
2,280 results
Nature Based Solutions: A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) rejects Nature Based Solutions (NBS), characterizing it as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' that instrumentalizes nature to serve corporate profits and 'net-zero' offsetting schemes. The document contends that NBS promotes monoculture plantations, enables the financialization of nature, and threatens the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. FOEI argues that NBS distracts from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels and instead advocates for systemic changes such as agroecology and Community Forest Management (CFM).
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Document type: Statement
Soluciones Basadas en la Naturaleza: UN LOBO CON PIEL DE CORDERO
Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) rejects Nature-based Solutions (NbS), characterizing the term as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" that masks neocolonialism and corporate greenwashing. The document contends that NbS promotes industrial monoculture plantations and the financialization of nature, which threatens the land rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly in the Global South. FoEI argues that NbS serves as a distraction from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels and instead advocates for systemic changes through agroecology and community forest management.
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Document type: Statement
South African Renewable Energy Masterplan Policy Brief
The Institute for Economic Justice argues that current South African renewable energy procurement, primarily through the REIPPP, has led to privatisation and temporary employment. It critiques the initial SAREM research for lacking analysis on trade dynamics and public ownership. The brief recommends a 'Green New Deal' approach featuring import tariffs, state-backed cheap debt, a formal technology transfer system, and the establishment of a municipal-based solar PV recycling industry to ensure a 'Just Transition'.
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Document type: Policy brief
RECIPROCAL DYNAMICS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA’S POLITICAL FRINGES ON TWITTER
The analysis of 404,375 tweets from 151 far-left and 75 far-right accounts reveals that both groups are primarily driven by oppositional narratives, where activity by one fringe inspires counter-mobilisation by the other. While the far right frequently engaged in hateful content targeting minorities and promoted conspiratorial views on COVID-19, the far left focused on social and economic justice, with only a small fraction of content meeting specific definitions of antisemitism. The report concludes that the far left does not pose a security threat equivalent to the far right and suggests that moderating far-right extremism could reduce overall counter-mobilisation.
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Document type: Research paper
What does it take to achieve net zero?
The report examines four high-emitting sectors—steel, cement, agriculture, and oil and gas—concluding that none have seriously initiated the disruptive changes required to align with the Paris Agreement. It emphasizes that while long-term transitions will take decades due to investment cycles and systemic complexity, immediate action is required to avoid locking in polluting assets. The authors argue that investors can drive impact through active engagement with value chains and by pressuring companies to commit to fundamental business model shifts rather than simple portfolio reallocation.
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Document type: Report
Why a public engagement strategy on climate change is so important
The briefing emphasizes that reaching net zero ambitions and maintaining a 1.5°C world requires significant individual behavioral changes, which in turn require public buy-in and government-led structural support. It highlights that the UK lacks a centrally-led public engagement strategy despite commitments under the UN's Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) protocol. The document recommends a strategy that is broad-based, utilizes trusted and diverse spokespeople, emphasizes two-way communication over top-down messaging, and focuses on internalizing reasons for change rather than relying on behavioral 'nudges'. It suggests the UK use COP26 to lead internationally on public engagement and invigorate the ACE protocol, noting that few nations, such as Italy, Costa Rica, and Scotland, currently have considered public engagement policies.
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Document type: Briefing
CoastalDEM v2.1 A New, High-Accuracy and High-Resolution Global Coastal Elevation Model Trained on ICESat-2 Satellite Lidar
CoastalDEM v2.1 is a near-global digital elevation model (DEM) developed by Climate Central to provide more accurate land elevation data for coastal flood risk assessments. By utilizing a sophisticated convolutional neural network trained on NASA's ICESat-2 satellite lidar data, the model corrects the positive vertical bias common in satellite radar-derived DEMs, which often mistake building rooftops for ground level. Testing shows that CoastalDEM v2.1 virtually eliminates global median bias in the critical 0 to 5 m elevation band, significantly outperforming other publicly available global DEMs such as NASADEM, TanDEM-X, MERIT, and AW3D30, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
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Document type: Research paper
CoastalDEM v2.1: A high-accuracy and high-resolution global coastal elevation model trained on ICESat-2 satellite lidar
CoastalDEM v2.1 is a high-resolution global digital elevation model (DEM) designed to improve the accuracy of coastal flood and sea level rise assessments. By employing a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on NASA's ICESat-2 satellite lidar data and using NASADEM as a base, it significantly reduces the positive vertical bias common in satellite radar DEMs, particularly in densely populated urban areas where buildings often distort elevation readings. Validation against ICESat-2 and airborne lidar data from the US and Australia indicates that CoastalDEM v2.1 outperforms other leading global models like TanDEM-X and MERIT, especially in the critical elevation band below 5 meters.
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Document type: Research paper
Brambles’ story of action
Brambles has reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 47% since 2010 and is pursuing a 1.5ºC aligned science-based target for its global supply chain. The company's sustainability goals include achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2025, implementing a 'two-for-one' tree planting commitment to increase carbon sequestration, and transitioning to 100% recycled or upcycled plastic waste by 2030. Additionally, Brambles advocates for policy incentives to decarbonize the commercial vehicle sector through electrification and hydrogen technology.
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Document type: Case study
Cegasa – 200 kWh system in a private house within a community with limited access to the grid (Australia)
A residential project in Eagle Bay, Western Australia, integrated a 40 kWp solar PV system with a 207 kWh Cegasa battery bank to mitigate frequent grid blackouts. Deployed in May 2020, the system uses Selectronic inverters to manage high power consumption peaks and operates primarily as an off-grid solution while maintaining a grid connection.
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Document type: Case study
Cegasa – PV System with Energy Storage for the Rangers HQ Fraser Island, Queensland (Australia)
A case study on an off-grid hybrid solar power plant at the Rangers Headquarters on Fraser Island, Australia, featuring 81.34 kWp PV and 464 kWh of Cegasa lithium LFP battery storage, aiming for an 80% reduction in diesel use.
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Document type: Case study
THE F-LIST 2021: 90 AD AND PR COMPANIES WORKING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY
The report identifies 90 advertising and PR companies working for the fossil fuel industry, highlighting a conflict between the sustainability pledges of major holding companies and their continued representation of high-polluting clients. It details specific case studies of disinformation and lobbying efforts in the US, Australia, and the EU, while warning that the term 'Net Zero' is being used as a primary tool for greenwashing ahead of the 2021 Glasgow climate talks.
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Document type: Report
10 Landmark Cases for Biodiversity
The document details ten significant court cases across ten different countries—China, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Belgium, Finland, Australia, Tanzania, the Philippines, and India—where legal action successfully protected habitats or species. These cases highlight the application of the precautionary principle, the recognition of the 'rights of nature', and the use of public interest litigation to challenge government inaction or illegal industrial activities. Key outcomes include the halting of a hydroelectric dam in China, the liability of landowners for illegal deforestation in Brazil, and the reintroduction of Asiatic lions in India.
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Document type: Report
全球十大生物多样性案例集
The document details ten significant legal cases across various countries—including China, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Belgium, Finland, Australia, Tanzania, the Philippines, and India—where courts intervened to protect biodiversity. Key legal strategies highlighted include the application of the precautionary principle, the recognition of nature as a legal subject (rights of nature), the use of public interest litigation, and the enforcement of international treaties like CITES and the EU Habitats Directive. These cases range from stopping hydroelectric projects to protect the green peacock in China and banning neonicotinoid pesticides to save bees in Costa Rica, to mandating the reintroduction of Asiatic lions in India.
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Document type: Case study
РОССИЙСКИЙ УГОЛЬНЫЙ СЕКТОР В НИЗКОУГЛЕРОДНОМ МИРЕ: Перспективы отказа от угля
The Russian coal sector provides a low economic contribution to the national GDP but maintains high social and political significance, particularly in regions like Kuzbass. Despite this, the sector is heavily reliant on indirect state subsidies and faces a deteriorating infrastructure, with the average age of coal power plants reaching 53 years. The report highlights a disconnect between the Russian government's expectations of export growth and the reality of decarbonization trends in key markets such as the EU, China, and India. It argues that Russia lacks an official decarbonization scenario and that conservative views currently dominate policy, ignoring the risks of stranded assets and the impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The authors propose a 'just transition' framework consisting of social programs for workers, regional economic diversification, and the introduction of an internal carbon price.
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Document type: Report
The Russian coal sector in a low-carbon world: Prospects for a Coal Transition?
The Russian coal sector provides a negligible contribution to the national GDP but remains politically significant due to regional employment and historical stability concerns. While the Russian government continues to anticipate growth in coal exports, particularly to Asia, the report argues that this is unrealistic given the global low-carbon transition, the obsolescence of Russia's coal-fired power fleet, and the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy. The document highlights that the sector is heavily reliant on indirect government subsidies, such as reduced rail tariffs. It proposes a three-part just transition framework consisting of social re-employment programmes, regional economic diversification (especially in the Kuzbass region), and the implementation of a domestic carbon price to internalize environmental costs.
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Document type: Report
Global update
The September 2021 Global Update by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) finds that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant, estimated at 20 to 23 GtCO2e. The report introduces a new rating system that integrates targets, policies, and climate finance, revealing that only The Gambia is overall 1.5°C Paris Agreement compatible. Most net zero targets are rated as poor or incomplete, and developed countries are failing to provide sufficient international climate finance or implement policies that align with their fair share of global mitigation efforts.
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Document type: Briefing
Siete principios para una transición justa hacia una economía baja en carbono
The policy brief outlines a framework of seven principles to manage the socio-economic disruptions caused by decarbonization. It argues that a transition perceived as fair is essential for effective global cooperation and the success of climate goals. The framework emphasizes that decarbonization must be accelerated while simultaneously implementing support for affected workers, diversifying regional economies, remedying environmental damage, and ensuring inclusive planning. Drawing on historical cases of industrial decline, the document warns against government inaction and the risk of 'carbon lock-in,' suggesting that international financial and technical support should prioritize regions with low capacity or high carbon dependency.
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Document type: Policy brief
Q&A Frequently Asked Questions about Community-Level and Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage
The document provides a comprehensive Q&A on battery energy storage, distinguishing between behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter systems. It highlights how storage enhances grid flexibility, supports renewable energy integration, and improves community resilience during extreme weather. While noting the environmental and health benefits of displacing fossil fuel plants, it addresses safety risks like thermal runaway and the ethical concerns surrounding the mining of lithium and cobalt. It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement and strong policy design to ensure equitable deployment and sustainable supply chains.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Closing the gap
The G20, responsible for 75% of global GHG emissions, currently has commitments that put the world on a trajectory for 2.4°C of warming. While announced but non-formalized pledges could lower this to 2.1°C, only a comprehensive shift where all G20 members align with 1.5°C pathways and mid-century net zero targets could limit warming to 1.7°C. The report identifies a 23 GtCO2e emissions gap for 2030 and warns that many net zero pledges are unrealistic without significantly stronger near-term (2030) targets. Achieving the 1.5°C goal will require G20 leadership, action from non-G20 countries, and the fulfillment of climate finance commitments to developing nations.
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Document type: Research paper