Search Climate Insights Directory

The text asserts that the climate imperative requires a new system of governance and production, positioning political ecology as the framework to achieve this. It calls for Green parties to move beyond electoral niches and the middle class to build an inclusive narrative of social justice and non-material freedom. The author critiques 'green growth' and the European Green Deal as insufficient, advocating instead for a comprehensive industrial and geo-economic response rooted in European cooperation but distinct from current institutional agendas.

The text calls for political ecology parties to move beyond niche politics and 'green growth' to lead a systemic overhaul of production and consumption. It identifies three primary challenges for progressive green parties: avoiding dilution while leaving opposition roles, building a broad popular base to counter far-right narratives, and creating an inclusive narrative of progress based on non-material abundance. The author critiques the European Green Deal as 'greenwashing' and advocates for Europe as the primary framework for implementing a project of reconciliation and cooperation, provided it moves beyond current institutional agendas.

The report synthesizes the work of UN human rights treaty bodies (HRTBs), including the CEDAW, CESCR, and CRC, on climate change. It details how these bodies use state reporting, communications procedures, and general comments to hold States accountable for human rights violations caused by climate change and insufficient mitigation efforts. Key findings emphasize the need for highest-ambition emissions cuts, the phasing out of fossil fuels, and the protection of vulnerable groups, including women, children, and Indigenous Peoples.

The report finds that while global coal capacity saw a net increase of 34.1 GW in 2019 due to Chinese additions, overall indicators for new projects have declined for four consecutive years. It highlights a significant shift in the OECD, where closures in the US and EU are outpacing new builds, and notes that Japan has become the most active OECD nation in new coal development. The document also details the increasing role of public finance from China, Japan, and South Korea in funding overseas coal projects as commercial banks withdraw support. In China, capacity continues to grow despite low average utilization rates of around 50% and government efforts to limit new permits.

The report finds that while the global coal fleet grew by 34.1 GW in 2019, this was primarily driven by China, as the rest of the world saw a net decrease in capacity. It highlights a continuing decline in new project starts and a significant increase in retirements in the US and EU, though it warns that current trends are insufficient to meet the IPCC's 1.5°C goal, which requires an 80% reduction in coal-fired power by 2030.

The report finds that while global coal capacity saw a net increase of 34.1 GW in 2019, this was driven almost entirely by China. Excluding China, the global coal industry declined for the second consecutive year. The report highlights a significant shift in financing, with Western commercial banks withdrawing direct funding for new coal, while Chinese and Indian state-backed institutions continue to provide critical capital. Regional analysis shows sharp declines in pre-construction capacity in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, though some countries like Japan and Turkey continue to pursue coal development despite international pressure.

The document analyzes the increasing trend of states terminating old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs) due to perceived imbalances in the investment regime. It details the legal mechanisms for termination under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, compares 'tacit renewal' and 'fixed-term' termination clauses, and discusses the impact of 'survival clauses' (sunset clauses). The guide outlines three primary paths for termination: mutual consent (with or without renegotiation), multilateral instruments, and unilateral denunciation. It provides strategic advice on neutralizing survival clauses and recommends that states actively track key treaty dates to avoid missing narrow termination windows.

The document explores the challenges of maintaining a free and independent media in a datafied society, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyzes the rise of state surveillance in Latin America, the failure of health communication in India, and the struggle for media sustainability. It also advocates for linguistic rights and a new 'digital social contract' to reclaim data ownership from global corporations.

WWF-Australia has implemented a two-wave response to the 2019/20 bushfires. Wave 1 focuses on immediate wildlife response, including a $30 million budget for rescue operations, species assessments, and reporting animal fatalities. Wave 2 focuses on future-proofing through habitat protection, legal reviews of nature laws, and transitioning Australia toward renewable energy. The framework emphasizes the link between climate change and fire intensity, advocating for a 'New Deal for people and wildlife' and increased indigenous ranger capacity.

The document examines the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in developing infrastructure in the SADC region, distinguishing them from privatisation and highlighting their potential to overcome budget constraints and technical inefficiencies. It identifies key barriers to PPP uptake in SADC, including political interference, lack of administrative maturity, and the risks of hidden debt through government guarantees. The briefing recommends the establishment of independent PPP units, improved public engagement protocols, and rigorous due diligence on partners to ensure sustainable project delivery.

A coalition of 76 organizations urges UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee to hold state parties accountable for their contributions to climate change. The authors argue that the World Heritage Convention requires states to align their national policies, including fossil fuel exports, with the 1.5°C warming limit to protect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of heritage sites. The statement provides examples of other UN treaty bodies making similar mitigation recommendations to countries such as Australia, Argentina, and Germany.

The document reviews the state of adaptation finance as of early 2020, highlighting the Adaptation Committee's projections of rising costs and the Adaptation Fund's operational milestones. It addresses the difficulty of tracking adaptation flows, noting that while finance increased by 35% in 2017-2018, it represents only 5% of tracked climate finance. The brief also contrasts the massive business opportunities in adaptation solutions with the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, arguing that adaptation requires a rethinking of production and equity.

The Colombian Supreme Court ruled on April 5, 2018, that the Colombian Amazon possesses rights equivalent to those of a human being, necessitating its protection and restoration. The case was brought by 25 youth plaintiffs who argued that government failure to meet net-zero deforestation targets under the Paris Agreement threatened future generations. Despite the court ordering the government to implement action plans to reach net-zero deforestation by 2020 and create an Intergenerational Pact, the document notes that deforestation continued to increase and municipalities failed to update land management plans, leading plaintiffs to return to court in April 2019.

The case of Urgenda Foundation v The State of the Netherlands resulted in a Supreme Court ruling on 20 December 2019, upholding a lower court's order for the Dutch government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% relative to 1990 levels by the end of 2020. The courts determined that the State has a positive obligation under Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to take concrete actions against climate change to prevent risks to the right to life and family life. The ruling established that such mandates do not violate the separation of powers, as the government retains discretion over the methods used to achieve the target. This judgment has since influenced climate litigation in other jurisdictions, including Ireland and Australia.

The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture provides a comprehensive roadmap for the South African state to address the systemic impacts of corruption. The submission focuses on five critical areas: strengthening criminal justice agencies, holding private-sector enablers accountable, reforming political party funding, protecting state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups. It emphasizes that state capture has caused severe human costs, including the erosion of basic rights to healthcare, education, and social security, and calls for urgent prosecutions and asset recovery to restore public trust.

This report provides a detailed inventory of fossil fuel-related assets held by major private equity firms. It categorizes investments into upstream (exploration and production), midstream (pipelines and storage), downstream (refineries and retail), and power generation (coal and gas plants). The data covers diversified managers like Blackstone and KKR, infrastructure specialists like Macquarie and Brookfield, and energy-focused firms such as Riverstone and EnCap, detailing specific company acquisitions, their functions, and geographic locations.

The paper finds that while green bonds can finance adaptation, they do so to a very limited extent, with mitigation receiving approximately 95% of current funding. Between March 2010 and April 2019, only 5% of all green bonds issued included adaptation as an eligible project category. The study identifies significant mismatches in geography, project scale, and the types of activities funded, noting that adaptation needs are often too small-scale or lack the revenue streams required for traditional bond issuance. Furthermore, a low level of corporate understanding of physical climate risk limits the adoption of these instruments. The author concludes that green bonds alone will be too slow to close the adaptation finance gap but can serve as awareness-raising tools to encourage broader risk management and investment.

The Global Futures project uses a new integrated environment-economy model to quantify the economic risks of biodiversity loss. Under a 'Business-as-Usual' scenario, the loss of six key ecosystem services is projected to reduce annual global GDP by 0.67% by 2050, totaling a cumulative loss of US$ 9.87 trillion. Conversely, a 'Global Conservation' scenario could result in a net annual gain of US$ 490 billion compared to the BAU scenario. The report highlights that low-income countries and coastal infrastructure in high-income nations are most vulnerable, and recommends a 'New Deal for Nature and People' including the protection of 30% of land and oceans.

The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) and Global Health and Climate Alliance (GCHA) argue that the Australian bushfires demonstrate the critical link between climate change and public health emergencies. They urge the Australian government to recognize a climate emergency, integrate public health into national carbon budgets, and phase out fossil fuels to prevent more intense bushfire seasons.

Climate Outreach identifies 2020 as a critical year for climate action, noting a rise in public concern driven by the IPCC and activists like Greta Thunberg. The organization aims to move beyond 'environmentalists' to reach marginalized communities, shift social norms, and ensure people-centred policy through tools like citizens' assemblies. Key priorities for 2020 include driving climate conversations, updating visual imagery, urging governments to fulfill public engagement commitments, and accelerating behavioral change.