Search Climate Insights Directory
641 results
CIVIL SOCIETY LETTER TO THE CDM POLICY DIALOGUE PANEL
The document argues that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has failed its dual goals of reducing emissions and promoting sustainable development. It highlights that 40-70% of projects are non-additional, meaning they would have occurred without CDM registration, and that many projects cause social and environmental harm. The signatories call for the exclusion of fossil fuel and large hydro projects, the implementation of 'do no harm' assessments, and the creation of meaningful public participation and grievance mechanisms.
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Document type: Statement
Political and Economic Drivers of Regional Integration in Africa: A Case Study of the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) maintains membership in four Regional Economic Communities (RECs)—COMESA, SADC, ECCAS, and CEPGL—but plays a negligible role in all of them. Despite data showing the DRC is more economically integrated with southern and eastern Africa (SADC and COMESA), the government has shown a preference for integration within the central African region (ECCAS-CEMAC). This contradiction is attributed to political drivers, such as regime survival and external pressure from the EU and Belgium, rather than economic logic. The DRC's integration is further hampered by overlapping memberships, political instability, a lack of industrial diversification, and poor internal transport infrastructure that leaves its provinces more integrated with neighbors than with the national economy.
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Document type: Research paper
Samtidshistoria, internationella relationer och källproblematiken
The author contends that official archives and contemporary reports often serve as political legitimization rather than factual records. Using examples such as secret Swedish-US military cooperation, the 1980s submarine incursions in Sweden, and Cold War-era terrorism in Europe, the paper demonstrates how 'formative events' are frequently misinterpreted due to classification. The author advocates for a 'triangulation' method—combining archive material, technical evidence, and oral history—to uncover truths that states intentionally keep off the record.
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Document type: Research paper
River Floods
The document analyzes river flood risks in the EU27, finding that combined climate and socio-economic changes could increase expected annual damages (EAD) from €5.5 billion in the baseline period to €97.9 billion by the 2080s under a medium-high emission scenario (A1B). It emphasizes that socio-economic growth is as significant a driver of damage as climate change. Adaptation to maintain 1-in-100-year protection levels is projected to provide substantial benefits, reducing EAD by up to €50 billion per year by the 2080s, with estimated annual adaptation costs rising to €7.9 billion in the same period. The report highlights significant uncertainty across different climate models, which can project opposite directions of risk change at local levels, necessitating flexible and robust adaptation strategies.
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Document type: Policy brief
Sea-Level Rise The Impacts and Economic Costs of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Zones in the EU and the Costs and Benefits of Adaptation
The document uses the Dynamic Interactive Vulnerability Assessment (DIVA) Model to project that under a medium-to-high emissions scenario (A1B(I)), annual damage costs in the EU could reach €25 billion by the 2080s, with 250,000 people flooded annually. It argues that a combination of mitigation (to limit long-term rise) and adaptation (such as dikes and beach nourishment) is the most effective response, noting that adaptation can reduce annual damage costs by up to 90% with a high benefit-to-cost ratio.
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Document type: Policy brief
Climate Change, Investment and Carbon Markets and Prices – Evidence from Manager Interviews
The study analyzes how EU ETS carbon pricing and allowance allocations influence the strategic decisions of manufacturing firms. Key findings indicate that while many firms implement basic energy-saving measures, a significant portion of EU ETS participants engage passively with the market. Crucially, the research identifies a causal link between the stringency of emissions caps and 'clean' product innovation, suggesting that generous free allowance allocations may actually hinder innovation by reducing the signaling effect for senior management.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Change, Investment and Carbon Markets and Prices – Evidence from Manager Interviews
Based on interviews with approximately 800 manufacturing firms in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the UK, the study examines how carbon pricing influences corporate behavior. It finds that while many firms implement energy-saving measures and process innovation, product innovation is more strongly driven by the expected stringency of emissions caps. The research highlights a 'trading threshold' where firms with small excess allowances avoid the market and suggests that generous free allocation of allowances may hinder innovation by reducing the signaling effect of tight carbon budgets to senior management.
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Document type: Research paper
Congestion Management in European Power Networks
The paper identifies five criteria for effective congestion management in Europe: integrated national and international approaches, joint allocation of transmission rights, and integration with day-ahead, intraday, and balancing markets, alongside transparency. It argues that current European systems suffer from inefficiencies in domestic redispatch, international capacity allocation, and dynamic management. While zonal pricing is used in some regions, the authors contend that locational marginal pricing (nodal pricing)—already implemented in six US ISO markets—is the superior candidate for addressing these weaknesses. To mitigate political opposition and financial risks associated with nodal pricing, the document suggests using Financial Transmission Rights (FTRs) to compensate affected stakeholders and hedge price volatility.
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Document type: Research paper
movilizar, resistir, transformar de luchas y éxitos 40 años
The document outlines four decades of activism by Friends of the Earth International, highlighting specific successes in banning commercial whaling in Spain, prohibiting open-pit mining in Costa Rica, and establishing the first climate change law in the UK. It details diverse campaigns against coal power in Germany, oil pollution in Nigeria, and genetically modified organisms in Europe, while emphasizing the role of grassroots mobilization and legal action in achieving environmental protections and human rights.
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Document type: Report
mobiliser, resister, transformer
This report highlights the achievements of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) over four decades, detailing specific campaigns against extractive industries, pollution, and unsustainable development. It documents legal victories, such as the ban on open-pit mining in Costa Rica and the recognition of water as a human right in Uruguay, as well as grassroots successes in reforestation in Belgium and the protection of eucalyptus forests in Australia. The text emphasizes the role of international solidarity and legal action in challenging neoliberal globalization and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
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Document type: Report
mobilise, resist, transform and successes 40 years of struggles
The report documents various environmental and social justice campaigns led by Friends of the Earth (FoE) member groups across the globe. Key achievements include the 2008 UK Climate Change Act, a ban on open-pit metal mining in Costa Rica (2010), and the cessation of commercial whaling in Spain (1985). The document also details ongoing resistance against coal-fired power plants in Germany and Scotland, gas flaring in Nigeria, and the impact of large-scale dams in Mozambique, South Korea, and the Philippines. It emphasizes a strategy of combining grassroots mobilization, legal challenges, and international solidarity to combat corporate globalization and protect indigenous and community rights.
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Document type: Report
Belgium’s Model Bilateral Investment Treaty: A review
The report analyzes Belgium's 2002 Model BIT, finding that it follows a traditional European model that prioritizes extensive investor protection over host-state regulatory autonomy. It highlights significant risks in the treaty's broad definitions of 'investment' and 'investor', the lack of transparency in investor-state dispute settlement, and the aspirational nature of its environmental and labour clauses. The author argues that Belgium needs to modernize its model to safeguard its right to regulate and to ensure that investment treaties support sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
Procuring Green in the Public Sector: A checklist for getting started
The guide outlines a comprehensive checklist for public-sector entities to transition from a 'best value for money' approach to 'best value across the project/product life cycle'. It emphasizes the importance of legal mandates, life-cycle costing (LCC), and e-procurement in integrating environmental and social risks into purchasing decisions. The document argues that the public sector's significant spending power—representing 13-17% of GDP in high-income countries and up to 47% in Brazil—can trigger private sector innovation and the commercialization of green technologies. Key recommendations include using performance-based specifications, negotiating bulk discounts or leasing to offset higher upfront costs, and maintaining dialogue with suppliers to foster green competitiveness.
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Document type: Guide
Rebuilding After Disasters: Why sustainable public procurement can be a practical policy
The report advocates for the adoption of sustainable public procurement (SPP) during post-disaster and post-conflict reconstruction. It highlights that the high volume of public spending during these periods—often ranging from 2% to 15% of annual GDP for recovery—can be used to signal long-term demand for green goods and services, stimulate private sector innovation, and build domestic capacity for sustainable production. The author provides evidence that integrating sustainability into infrastructure rebuilding, such as mangrove conservation in Vietnam or flood-resistant works in China, significantly reduces future disaster losses and improves resilience. However, the report notes that implementation is often hindered by a lack of dedicated SPP laws and political instability in lower-income economies.
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Document type: Report
Recent Developments in International Investment Agreements: Negotiations and disputes
The document analyzes the growth and modification of International Investment Agreements (IIAs), noting a trend toward more precise treaty language to preserve state regulatory space, particularly regarding environmental and labor standards. It also details the rise in investor-State disputes, highlighting that while states and investors have similar win rates in concluded cases, the financial stakes and costs of defense are increasing, with developing countries frequently appearing as respondents.
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Document type: Briefing
Governance of Innovation for Sustainable Transport
The report examines the Swedish hybrid-electric vehicle TIS between 1990 and 2010, finding that while early efforts were driven by urban air quality and concept vehicles, later developments shifted toward fuel efficiency and CO2 reduction. It highlights the role of state-funded R&D programs in maintaining technical knowledge and the significant impact of international dynamics, such as the success of the Toyota Prius and EU emission directives, over national governance in driving commercialization.
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Document type: Report
Reply form for the public consultation on Proposal for a Commission definition of the term "nanomaterial"
The document outlines the positions of a broad coalition of environmental and health NGOs on the European Commission's proposed definition of nanomaterials. While welcoming the initiative to establish a regulatory framework, the signatories argue for a broader size range (0.3 to 300 nm) than the proposed 1-100 nm to ensure that potentially hazardous materials are not excluded from scrutiny. They specifically support basing size distribution on particle numbers and the inclusion of aggregates, agglomerates, and materials smaller than 1 nm, such as fullerenes.
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Document type: Statement
Offshore Wind Energy
The document examines the technology and global status of offshore wind energy, noting that while Europe leads in operational capacity, the United States has significant untapped potential. It details the technical requirements for different water depths, the regulatory frameworks in countries like Denmark, and the specific siting and permitting complexities in the U.S. The text also addresses public concerns regarding tourism, wildlife, and military radar, while highlighting the economic benefits in terms of job creation and greenhouse gas reduction.
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Document type: Fact sheet
The financing of Stora Enso
The report details the financial structure of Stora Enso as of late 2009, noting that shareholders and bondholders are the primary sources of capital. It identifies key institutional investors, banks providing loans, and the company's participation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
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Document type: Research paper
Optimal Abandonment of Coal-Fired Stations in the EU
The study investigates the optimal abandonment of coal-fired power plants in the EU, considering uncertainties in coal, gas, and CO2 emission allowance prices. Using a three-dimensional binomial lattice, the authors find that abandonment is unlikely unless CO2 prices reach very high levels, particularly because plants can operate as peaking units. The decision is heavily influenced by the plant's remaining lifetime, thermal efficiency, and the volatility of carbon prices.
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Document type: Research paper