Search Climate Insights Directory

This executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines seven 'green conditions' that the Canadian government should apply to its economic recovery efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure alignment with climate goals and a transition to a low-carbon economy.

The 'ORIENTATION STRATÉGIQUE DE L’IISD POUR 2020-2025' outlines the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) strategic framework, known as CREATE, for the five-year period starting in 2020. The document defines the organization's vision of a world where humanity and the planet prosper, and its mission to find urgent solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resources, and just economies.

This commentary by the World Resources Institute argues that climate action is only politically viable if it is 'people-centered,' meaning it purposefully unlocks social and economic benefits, targets them to enhance equity, and ensures a just transition for workers and vulnerable communities. The document provides evidence that bold climate action can deliver significant global economic gains, job creation, and public health improvements while mitigating the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the poor.

This report by the NewClimate Institute assesses the potential for seven specific countries to increase their greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to align with the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing 1.5°C.

This policy brief by the NewClimate Institute presents national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 aligned with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. It compares two distinct methodologies for distributing these targets: fairness-based approaches, derived from Climate Action Tracker evaluations, and cost-effectiveness approaches, based on marginal abatement cost curves.

Health professionals in Canada are calling on federal political parties to treat climate change as a public health emergency. They argue that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is essential to avoid catastrophic health impacts and that climate solutions—such as reducing fossil fuel reliance and promoting active transport—would provide immediate health benefits and reduce healthcare costs.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the status of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the role of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). It details the two primary cooperation avenues (Article 6.2 and 6.4), the challenges of establishing a rulebook—including debates over additionality and double counting—and provides examples of pilot projects and national strategies, particularly focusing on Canada's preparations.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines government support for fuel consumption in the fisheries sector, analyzing data from the OECD and WTO. It highlights the prevalence of fuel tax concessions and direct price support across both OECD and non-OECD economies, while noting significant gaps in transparency and notification within WTO frameworks.

This report describes the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) work in the Lake Winnipeg watershed to harvest sustainable wetland biomass, such as cattails, to reduce nutrient loading, improve habitats, and generate carbon offsets through the circular bioeconomy.

This fact sheet details a USD 650 million green bond issued by PNC Financial Services Group on November 1, 2019, with a five-year tenor. The proceeds are allocated to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green buildings, with the Climate Bonds Initiative noting PNC as the first of its kind to dedicate a share of proceeds to waste projects.

This fact sheet describes a CAD 751 million green bond issuance by the Mobilinx Hurontario General Partnership to finance the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Ontario, Canada.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute examines the relationship between Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTSs) under the Paris Agreement. It argues that aligning these two planning tools—one focused on short-to-medium term commitments (typically 10-15 years) and the other on mid-century visions (approximately 30 years)—is essential to avoid locking in carbon-intensive infrastructure and to ensure efficient use of government resources.

The 2019 report by the NewClimate Institute analyzes the impact of climate mitigation commitments from cities, regions, and businesses, specifically focusing on ten major emitting economies and 17 international cooperative initiatives (ICIs). It finds that while individual actor commitments provide modest reductions, ICIs offer the most significant potential to close the global emissions gap to 2°C by 2030.

A fact sheet by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) detailing the physical and mental health risks posed by climate change in Canada and globally, while urging health professionals and the public to advocate for a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030.

This patient fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines the various ways climate change negatively impacts human health, specifically focusing on risks to Canadians including heat-related illnesses, air pollution, mental health, vector-borne diseases, and threats to food and water security.

This fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines the various ways climate change negatively impacts human health, specifically focusing on the Canadian context. It details risks ranging from extreme heat and air pollution to mental health struggles, vector-borne diseases, and threats to food and water security.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative compares the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy with two Chinese frameworks: the NDRC Green Industry Guiding Catalogue and the PBC Green Bond Endorsed Project Catalogue. It details the EU Taxonomy's structure, its six environmental objectives, and its rigorous screening principles, while highlighting key differences in scope, carbon thresholds, and the treatment of fossil fuels compared to the Chinese catalogues.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Endorser Perspectives Report evaluates progress five years after the 2014 launch of the NYDF. Based on consultations with 84 endorsers, the report finds that while many commitments have been made, global deforestation has accelerated by 44% since 2014, and the world is not on track to meet its collective forest goals. The report identifies critical barriers—including weak governance, insufficient finance, and insecure land tenure—and outlines eight key lessons to transition from high-level commitments to measurable implementation.

This report presents the perspectives of signatories of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its 2014 inception. It evaluates progress toward ten global goals to end natural forest loss by 2030, identifying systemic barriers such as weak governance, insufficient financing, and land tenure insecurity, while highlighting successful multi-stakeholder partnerships and nature-based solutions.

This report evaluates the progress of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its inception. It finds that despite increased awareness and technological monitoring, global deforestation has accelerated, and most 2020 targets will be missed. The document highlights a critical gap in funding, where investments driving deforestation vastly outweigh those for conservation. It emphasizes that indigenous land rights and strong political will are essential prerequisites for success, while corporate progress is stalled by supply chain complexity. The report calls for a paradigm shift toward 'green finance' and nature-based solutions to align forest protection with global climate and sustainable development goals.