Search Climate Insights Directory

The June roundup highlights a decline in oil production investment and a surge in clean energy spending, with solar investment nearly equaling oil production spending. It analyzes the resilience of oil markets despite conflict in the Middle East, the acceleration of peak oil demand due to electric vehicle adoption in China, and various national policy shifts in the UK, Canada, and the US. Additionally, it reports on 'world first' projects in hydrogen blending and carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the US and Norway.

The report examines the impact of eco-certification on Manitoba's commercial fisheries, which export 80% of their catch to international markets, primarily the U.S. and Europe. It highlights that eco-certification can protect market value, with avoided losses estimated at CAD 250 per CAD 1 invested for large lakes and CAD 16 per CAD 1 for small lakes. The document recommends prioritizing buyer relationships in northwestern Europe and increasing communication between fishers and federal decision-makers.

The document highlights the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Canada, emphasizing that current support systems are strained. It calls for the full implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy, modernization of infrastructure, and a change in financial aid to prioritize preparation over intervention. The author notes that adaptation is critical for economic security, citing that every dollar invested in adaptation can save up to 15 dollars in avoided costs.

The Canadian Climate Institute calls for the urgent implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy and a whole-of-society approach to disaster preparedness. It highlights that municipal and Indigenous governments face disproportionate impacts and capacity constraints, while vulnerable public infrastructure increases economic risks. The document asserts that proactive investment in adaptation can yield significant economic benefits, with a potential 15-to-1 return on investment.

Dr Basani Baloyi argues that unpaid care work is an invisible economic powerhouse that sustains global systems but remains excluded from GDP calculations. The address highlights Brazil's National Caregiving Policy and South Africa's G20 priorities as models for transformation. It asserts that investing in care infrastructure—guided by the ILO's 5R framework—would generate significant GDP returns, create millions of jobs, and address the looming demographic crisis of an aging global population.

The Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2025 finds that none of the 20 assessed companies demonstrate a climate strategy of 'reasonable' or 'high' integrity. The report highlights that 2030 emission reduction targets are increasingly 'unfit for purpose' due to structural obstacles, including incomplete emissions disclosures and sector-specific accounting malpractices. In the tech sector, soaring energy demand from AI and a reliance on outdated market-based accounting for electricity undermine target credibility. The automotive sector shows inadequate progress in phasing out internal combustion engines, while the fashion sector lacks commitments to reduce overproduction. The agrifood sector is criticised for relying on undefined land-based carbon removals to obscure a lack of structural emission reductions. The report argues for the adoption of transition-specific alignment targets to complement general GHG targets.

The report finds that the five largest incumbent light-duty vehicle manufacturers are making inadequate progress in transitioning to electric mobility. Most assessed companies have 2030 emission reduction targets that are critically insufficient and long-term net-zero pledges that lack concrete substantiation. While some companies have committed to procuring near-zero emission steel and aluminium, other critical transitions, such as reducing battery production emissions and improving electric vehicle efficiency, are largely neglected. The analysis highlights a significant gap between corporate pledges and the 1.5°C-compatible pathways required for the passenger transport sector.

The briefing reports that while new coal mine capacity additions declined by 46% in 2024, approximately 2,270 Mtpa of new capacity remains under development globally. This pipeline is heavily concentrated in China, India, Australia, and Russia, which together account for nearly 90% of proposed developments. The document highlights that if fully realized, these projects could emit 15.7 million tonnes of methane annually, significantly hindering the achievement of the Paris Agreement and IEA Net Zero scenarios. It emphasizes the prevalence of 'greenfield' projects and the high methane intensity of underground and metallurgical coal mines.

The policy brief examines the barriers to phasing out oil and gas within G20 nations, noting that while renewable capacity has grown, fossil fuel subsidies and deep industrial integration persist. It advocates for measurable phase-out targets, subsidy reform, and increased concessional financing for the Global South to ensure a just energy transition.

This report presents guidelines for designing Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) mechanisms, based on global stakeholder dialogues. It offers specific recommendations on measuring embodied GHG emissions, determining sectoral coverage, managing revenues, and crediting foreign carbon prices. The guidance emphasizes 'parallel treatment' between domestic and foreign producers and suggests mechanisms to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing countries in their low-carbon transition, while cautioning against blanket country exemptions to maintain the effectiveness of leakage prevention.

The research paper proposes a strategic partnership between South Africa and the EU in the critical minerals sector as an alternative to the unpredictable diplomacy of the US administration. It highlights the complementary nature of their interests, noting that South Africa is a top producer of platinum group metals, manganese, and chromite, while the EU seeks to diversify its supply chains via the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The author identifies key challenges to implementation, including tensions over local value addition, private sector engagement, and the transparency of mineral agreements. The paper recommends that South Africa address structural infrastructure issues and that the EU provide targeted support for in-country beneficiation and ESG implementation to move from negotiation to tangible projects.

The document reports on the Internet Governance Forum 2025, highlighting a conflict between the United States' preference for deregulated, company-led AI development and calls from other participants for a rights-based, inclusive approach that addresses the digital divide and biases affecting the Global South.

The report finds that a significant portion of future capital investments in Canadian oil and gas (2025–2040) are at risk of becoming stranded, particularly under a 1.5°C climate scenario where up to 66% of investments could be lost. It argues that restricting oil and gas development would mitigate economic risks for investors and government, suggesting that Canada should limit expansion and redirect revenues toward clean industries.

The report argues that the UK must implement mandatory methane regulations to maintain international leadership and comply with EU import requirements. It recommends a layered approach combining prescriptive measures (such as quarterly leak detection and repair), a phased transition to OGMP 2.0 Level 5 measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV), and the establishment of an emissions intensity standard for both domestic and imported fossil fuels.

The report outlines a framework of 18 indicators designed to monitor the implementation of the 2024 Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. These indicators are categorized into risk and readiness, response capacity, and results, focusing on economic exposure to fossil fuels, governance inclusivity—particularly with Indigenous peoples and workers—and the quality and equity of new low-carbon employment.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) opposes uranium mining in Nova Scotia, citing risks of radon gas release, groundwater contamination, and the creation of long-term radioactive waste. The document disputes industry claims that mining is necessary for medical isotopes or climate goals, arguing that Nova Scotia's high population density and precipitation make it unsuitable for mining compared to Saskatchewan.

The document outlines the severe health risks associated with uranium exploration and mining, emphasizing that uranium is both chemically toxic and radioactive. It highlights the dangers of radon gas, which causes over 100 deaths annually in Nova Scotia and is the primary cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. The text details a wide range of adverse health effects, including kidney failure, DNA damage, and various cancers, noting that women and children are disproportionately susceptible to radiation. It further warns of environmental contamination affecting water, wildlife, and Indigenous communities, specifically mentioning the 'caribou connection' where radionuclides concentrate in lichens. The document concludes that the long-term health and environmental costs of mining, including the need for perpetual monitoring of tailings, would likely outweigh any economic benefits.

The Canadian Climate Institute responds to claims that its 'Close to Home' report relies on 'guesswork,' asserting that its risk modelling uses data from The Co-operators and SwissRe and focuses on near-term risks. The Institute argues that failing to account for flood and wildfire exposure in housing development could increase private and public costs by $3 billion annually. It emphasizes that better land-use planning and risk information empower market participants to make informed decisions, addressing a market failure where insurance and property values misprice risk. The document notes that 2024 saw record insured losses of over $8.9 billion in Canada due to severe weather, including events in Quebec, Toronto, and Jasper, and maintains that climate change is increasing the area burned by wildfires.

The Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) expresses deep concern that Bill C-5, the Act to Enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, would remove critical safeguards for public health and the environment. The organization specifically warns that designating conventional energy production as “projects of national interest” could allow fossil fuel projects to proceed without adequate health and environmental assessments, contradicting Canada's climate objectives and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. CPCHE further argues that the bill lacks requirements for public consultation and does not ensure the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples. The letter urges the Canadian government to prioritize science-based decision-making and intergenerational equity over the expedited approval of projects that increase climate pollution.

The document describes how a global automaker used Climate TRACE and TASA Analytics data to move beyond coarse 'spend-based' emissions factors to granular, facility-level intelligence for steel and aluminium. By integrating Scope 1 and 2 emissions factors with rapid IO-LCA (rLCA) models, the project revealed significant emissions intensity variations across production methods and countries. Key findings highlight the potential for emissions reductions through increased scrap use in both steel and aluminium production and the inaccuracy of standard EEIO data in certain regions.