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The 2016 Goal 2 Assessment Report evaluates progress toward eliminating deforestation from agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically palm oil, soy, cattle, and wood products. While corporate pledges are increasing, the report finds a significant gap between high-level commitments and operational implementation, particularly in the cattle and soy sectors. It emphasizes that while downstream companies in Europe and North America lead in pledging, the most critical impact comes from upstream producers in deforestation hotspots like Brazil and Indonesia. The report concludes that global data linking these corporate efforts to actual reductions in deforestation is currently unavailable.

CIEL criticizes the European Commission's June 15th draft criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in Plant Protection Products and Biocidal Products Regulations, arguing the proposals fail to provide mandated protections for human health and the environment.

This fact sheet provides a quantitative overview of the South African beef industry, detailing production distribution, supply chain integration, and international trade patterns including key import and export partners.

This research paper examines the concept of 'cascading' woody biomass, focusing on the principle that material use of wood should be prioritized over energy use, particularly within the European Union. It analyzes the terminology, policy implementation, and potential risks to international bioenergy markets, concluding that without harmonized rules, such policies may lead to regulatory loopholes and legislative complexity.

This fact sheet details the negative impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides on honeybees and biodiversity, highlighting significant colony losses in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. It cites scientific reviews linking these chemicals to arthropod toxicity and potential human health risks, while noting that their agricultural benefits are often negligible. The document warns that the loss of pollinators could lead to substantial decreases in global fruit and vegetable production and increased mortality from nutritional deficiencies.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the role of private-to-private finance mechanisms in supporting the transition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) toward a green economy, specifically focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation in Europe.

The 2016 Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report details a global operating capacity of 13.3 GW across 24 countries, with a forecast to reach 18.4 GW by 2021. While the U.S. maintains a significant presence with 3.7 GW of nameplate capacity, the report highlights vast untapped global potential (only 6-7% utilized) and growth in regions like East Africa and Central/South America. It emphasizes the role of geothermal energy in meeting COP21 climate commitments and outlines the GEA's project tracking methodology.

This briefing by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines the evolving landscape of climate change as of February 2016, focusing on global temperature targets, the transition to renewable energy, falling technology costs, and the specific emissions profile and targets of Canada.

The report reviews the European power sector in 2015, noting a record increase in renewables generation that was largely offset by increased electricity demand and a decline in nuclear and hydro output. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions fell by only an estimated 0.5% in 2015, following a much larger 7.5% drop in 2014. The author maintains a forecast that EU ETS emissions will fall 21% from 2014 to 2020, potentially leading to 30% economy-wide CO2 cuts by 2020.

This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of the global offshore wind energy sector as of early 2016, contrasting the established European market with the emerging industry in the United States. It details the technical advantages of offshore wind over onshore wind, current installation capacities, key market players, and the economic and environmental impacts of the transition.

As of 2016, Europe dominated the global offshore wind market, with the UK, Germany, and Denmark leading in installed capacity. The United States, while possessing vast potential (over 4,000 GW), was in the early stages of deployment with its first commercial project at Block Island. The document highlights the technical advantages of offshore wind—such as stronger winds and proximity to coastal population centers—and notes the significant job creation potential in the EU sector.

A statement by Thomas C. Heller, Executive Director of Climate Policy Initiative, arguing that the Paris Agreement's success is underpinned by a global shift in perception where climate action and economic growth are seen as mutually reinforcing rather than contradictory.

This briefing by RMI argues that concerns regarding the economic limitations of wind and solar growth—specifically the 'merit order effect' where variable renewables depress wholesale prices—are based on static models that ignore supply-side evolution, demand flexibility, and storage technologies.

This fact sheet provides an overview of fuel cell technology, detailing its operational mechanisms, various types, and its comparative advantages over internal combustion engines and batteries. It examines the technical and economic barriers to widespread adoption—specifically cost, hydrogen production, and infrastructure—while outlining current applications in portable, stationary, and transportation sectors. The document also analyzes the role of U.S. federal and state policies, including Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives and state-level incentives, in driving the commercialization and deployment of fuel cells.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) calling for global solidarity with refugees, specifically addressing the crisis in Europe and the conflict in Syria, while outlining systemic root causes such as resource extraction and climate change.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for global solidarity with refugees, specifically those fleeing the conflict in Syria, and outlining systemic changes needed to prevent future displacement, including climate justice and resource management.

This research paper evaluates ozone dry deposition fluxes across an ensemble of 15 global-scale chemistry-climate models, comparing model outputs to observations in Europe and North America to identify discrepancies driven by land cover.

This research paper establishes new ozone flux-based dose-response relationships for European forest tree species and plant functional types. It finds that while climate region-specific parameterisation is often superior, simplified models are effective for most non-Mediterranean species, and that short-term soil water stress does not substantially reduce phytotoxic O3 doses.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.

A statement from a coalition of civil society organizations to the World Bank requesting a meeting to discuss recommendations for the third and final consultation phase of the Safeguards Review for the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).