Search Climate Insights Directory

Friends of the Earth International issued a statement condemning the murder of indigenous leader Jehry Rivera Rivera in Costa Rica, highlighting a pattern of violence and government inaction regarding indigenous territorial rights.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the outcomes of the COP25 climate negotiations held in December 2019 in Madrid, focusing on the integration of human rights into climate policies. It highlights a disconnect between the urgency demanded by global activists and the lack of ambition shown by negotiating Parties, while detailing specific developments regarding carbon markets, loss and damage, and gender action plans.

This report details the history and current state of e-commerce negotiations at the WTO, focusing on the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI). It examines how existing WTO rules apply to digital trade, the growth of the JSI membership to 83 countries, and the critical divides between developed and developing nations regarding data flows, customs duties, and technical capacity.

Ecosolutions issued a USD 3.5 million green bond private placement on August 20, 2019, to refinance two biomass boilers in Costa Rica (Hotel Intercontinental and Bridgestone). The issuance is noted as the first private placement from Central America (excluding the Caribbean) and the first in the Central America & Caribbean region to exclusively fund energy efficiency. The bond features third-party annual reporting on GHG emissions avoided.

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 examines the potential impacts of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on fishing subsidies, specifically focusing on shrimp fisheries in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. It analyzes how prohibitions on subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overcapacity, and overexploited populations could affect industrial and artisanal fleets in Latin American countries.

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 briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues for the integration of procedural rights—specifically access to information, public participation, and access to justice—into climate governance and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. It highlights the roles of the Aarhus Convention and the Escazú Agreement in promoting environmental democracy and provides specific recommendations for the COP-25 agenda to ensure climate policies are inclusive, rights-based, and gender-responsive.

This report, produced by Transforma as part of the STEP project, outlines best practices for the financial and environmental sustainability of scientific stations, using the Organization for Tropical Studies (OET) in Costa Rica as a primary case study. It argues that scientific stations cannot be 100% self-sustainable through research alone and must strategically integrate 'Amateur Scientific Tourism' to fund 'Investigative Scientific Tourism'.

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.

This technical annex assesses progress toward the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Goal 2, which aims to eliminate deforestation from agricultural commodity production (palm oil, soy, paper, and beef) by 2020. The report finds that current efforts by governments and companies are insufficient to meet this target, noting a stagnation in new corporate commitments and significant gaps in reporting, transparency, and the inclusion of indirect suppliers.

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.

This report by the Forest Declaration Assessment (UNDP) evaluates the progress of signatories of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its 2014 launch. Based on consultations with 84 signatories—including governments, companies, NGOs, and indigenous organizations—the document identifies critical barriers to ending natural forest loss by 2030 and outlines eight key lessons to accelerate implementation. It emphasizes that while high-level commitments are numerous, measurable action is lagging, with tropical primary forest loss increasing by 44% between 2002-13 and the reporting period.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the June 2019 Climate Negotiations (SB-50) in Bonn, focusing on the integration of human rights into climate policies, the development of Article 6 mechanisms of the Paris Agreement, and the work of various UNFCCC constituted bodies.

This written submission by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) analyzes the 'Zero Draft' of a proposed UN legally binding instrument to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises in regarding human rights. FoEI argues that the Zero Draft is too weak, lacks direct obligations for corporations, and fails to provide effective mechanisms to end corporate impunity, calling for a revised version that prioritizes human rights over commercial interests.

The Report of the IAI Directorate Science-Policy details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) in bridging the gap between scientific research and public policy. It outlines the establishment of rules for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), collaborations with multilateral environmental agreements, and the policy impacts of the third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3) across the Americas.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities to bridge the gap between science and policy. It outlines the establishment of procedural rules for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), efforts to strengthen capacity within member states, and the policy impacts of the third round of Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3).

This report provides an overview of the financial status of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the fiscal year 2018-2019, detailing Party contributions, budget performance, and administrative updates as of April 30, 2019.