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Royal DSM is driving the market for the world’s most sustainable fuels
Royal DSM is developing patented bioconversion technologies, such as yeast and enzymes, to optimize biofuel production and maximize yields. In partnership with POET, the company established the first commercial-scale cellulosic biofuel plant in the United States, which converts corn crop residue into fuel. As a founding member of the below50 campaign, DSM advocates for a multi-stakeholder approach to overcome legislative and financial barriers to low-carbon fuels. The company argues that sustainable biofuels are essential for decarbonizing aviation, maritime, and road transport, particularly for existing combustion engine vehicles. DSM emphasizes that consistent and proactive government policies, such as the US Renewable Fuel Standard, are critical to providing the investment certainty needed to scale these technologies globally.
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Document type: Case study
Stop the ETS funding coal, Start a meaningful carbon price
A coalition of NGOs calls on the European Parliament, Council, and European Commission to ensure the post-2020 EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) supports the Paris Agreement. The statement argues that the ETS must stop subsidizing coal plants and instead tighten the carbon cap to drive decarbonization and a socially just transition, noting that unabated coal in Europe must reach zero by 2030 to meet climate targets.
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Document type: Statement
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL COAL TRANSITIONS TO RAISE CLIMATE AMBITION
The briefing identifies critical policy gaps in national coal transitions, emphasizing that a 'just transition' requires more than carbon pricing. It highlights the need to protect workers, build local economic resilience, avoid stranded assets, coordinate international trade flows, and secure financing. The document frames these managed transitions as a credible way for countries to increase their climate ambition within the UNFCCC framework.
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Document type: Briefing
Transitioning beyond coal: Lessons from the structural renewal of Europe’s old industrial regions
The research examines the capacity of 'old industrial regions' (OIRs) to transition from declining mature industries to new growth paths. It utilizes the Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) framework to analyze 'lock-in'—functional, cognitive, and political—that hinders diversification. Using examples like Germany's Ruhr region, the paper argues that successful renewal requires 'regional branching' based on existing capabilities and a shift from top-down mandates to inclusive, bottom-up 'regional development coalitions'. It provides a typology of innovation support and warns against the 'regional resource curse' where renewable energy transitions may fail to create localized value.
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Document type: Research paper
Knowing your audience
The document emphasizes that trust in both the messenger and the message determines how the public engages with scientific evidence and its policy implications. It notes that while trust in scientists is generally high in Europe, it varies by political ideology; specifically, politically conservative groups are more skeptical of 'impact scientists' (such as climate scientists) compared to 'production scientists' like engineers or chemists.
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Document type: Guide
Feeding our peoples and building the movement to change the world
Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) declares its alliance with La Via Campesina (LVC) following the VII International Conference. The document highlights a shared commitment to food sovereignty, agroecology, and climate justice, while opposing corporate control of the commons and 'false solutions' to climate change. It presents declarations from the main conference, a women's assembly, and a youth assembly, all emphasizing the need for grassroots mobilization against patriarchy, imperialism, and financial capital to ensure the survival of 'Mother Earth'.
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Document type: Statement
Why we need to stand as one globally to combat climate change
The statement by Friends of the Earth International characterizes the current climate situation as a 'planetary emergency' and criticizes the Paris Agreement for lacking legal enforcement and science-based cuts. It calls for the immediate end of fossil fuels—noting that over 1600 new coal plants are planned in 62 countries—and warns against 'false solutions' such as nuclear power and large-scale hydroelectric projects. The document advocates for a just transition where developed countries, whose 10% population is responsible for 50% of emissions, lead deep cuts and fund sustainable development in the global South. It promotes decentralized, people-centered community energy, agroecology, and community forest management as the only viable future.
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Document type: Statement
Review of Screening Tools to Assess Sustainability and Climate Resilience of Infrastructure Development
The report evaluates 16 financial institutions and infrastructure standards to determine how sustainability and climate resilience are screened during infrastructure development. It finds that while environmental and social (E&S) assessments are standard, climate risk integration varies significantly. Most financial institution tools focus on the financing phase, whereas infrastructure standards like BREEAM and Envision target the design and planning phases. The review highlights a general lack of public availability for specific screening tools and a need for better integration of natural capital and regional-scale planning.
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Document type: Report
A Food Policy for Europe
The author contends that the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is insufficient for building sustainable food systems because it is too narrow in scope and focused on outdated productivist goals. The text proposes a 'Common Food Policy' to align disparate policies across health, environment, and trade, bridge the gap between EU-level governance and local experimentation, and shift from short-term economic priorities to long-term ecological and public health goals. It further suggests that such a policy could revive 'food democracy' by involving citizens and reducing the influence of agribusiness lobbies, thereby rebuilding the legitimacy of the European Union.
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Document type: Statement
European governments must decide whether environmental democracy is a key value for the twenty-first century
The document highlights the critical state of environmental democracy, urging the 47 state parties of the Aarhus Convention to uphold the authority of its compliance committee, prioritize public welfare over corporate profit, and promote environmental rights globally.
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Document type: Statement
Strengthening the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other partners advocate for updating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to better address pollution and toxic chemical exposure. They highlight the severe health impacts of pollution, including 7,700 premature deaths annually from poor air quality, and emphasize the disproportionate burden on vulnerable populations such as children and Indigenous communities. The statement supports legislative changes to recognize the right to a healthy environment, implement binding air and water quality standards, and increase transparency in product labelling.
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Document type: Statement
Are some cities too big to be saved? Hurricane Harvey and lessons from South Texas
The author examines the logistical impossibility of evacuating a city the size of Houston (2.3 million people) during Hurricane Harvey and warns that European cities of similar or larger scales face comparable risks. The text highlights how a lack of zoning and the destruction of marsh lands increased Houston's vulnerability to flooding. To mitigate such risks, the author proposes that European governments use financial incentives to reduce urban density by encouraging companies and residents to relocate to smaller areas, while investing in sustainable public transportation to facilitate rapid evacuations.
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Document type: Statement
Plug-in electric vehicles
The document examines the state of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), detailing the differences between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It highlights the U.S. market's heavy reliance on California due to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program and specific state incentives. The text analyzes the economic benefits of PEVs, noting lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, and discusses the critical role of charging infrastructure and falling battery prices. Globally, it notes the leadership of China and Europe in PEV sales and the aspirational phase-out targets for gasoline cars in countries like Norway and India.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Plug-in Electric Vehicles
The document details the differences between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), noting that BEVs produce less than half the carbon dioxide of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. It highlights the U.S. market's heavy reliance on California for sales due to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program and discusses the economic benefits of PEVs, such as lower fuel and maintenance costs. The text also outlines the current state of charging infrastructure, the downward trend in battery costs, and various federal and state incentives designed to accelerate adoption.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Sensowne kroki na drodze do europejskiego bezpieczeństwa
The author contends that European security requires a shift from simple integration to a multifaceted approach combining 'soft, hard, and smart power'. Key priorities include meeting the 2% GDP defense spending target through joint capabilities, securing external EU borders, supporting state-building in fragile neighboring countries, and investing in green technology and development in Sub-Saharan Africa to mitigate migration and instability caused by climate change.
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Document type: Statement
Arcs of Habitat Loss
The document argues that the environmental impact of food production is far broader than tropical deforestation, affecting a wide array of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It introduces the concept of "arcs" of habitat loss to categorize these impacts. Key areas of concern include the degradation of soils, the unsustainable depletion of groundwater aquifers, the pollution and loss of freshwater ecosystems, the conversion of carbon-rich grasslands, the disappearance of endangered tropical dry forests, and the physical destruction of the ocean floor through bottom trawling. The authors emphasize that sustainable food production requires optimizing performance across these diverse ecological systems rather than focusing solely on productivity.
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Document type: Research paper
China Green Bond Market Mid Year Report 2017
The report details the expansion of China's green bond market in H1 2017, highlighting a 33.6% year-on-year growth in issuance and a shift toward more diverse issuers. It examines the alignment of these bonds with international standards, the impact of new domestic policies, and the potential for green municipal bonds to drive local low-carbon transitions.
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Document type: Report
Opportunities for value addition to selected Western Cape organic waste streams
The report identifies five primary lignocellulosic waste streams in the Western Cape: invasive alien vegetation (IAV), industrial composite wood materials, pallets, paper sludge, and green waste. It evaluates the current utilisation of these resources, the barriers to unlocking their value—such as high logistics costs for IAV and chemical toxicity in composites—and identifies potential business partners and stakeholders. The analysis concludes that while some streams like paper sludge and green waste have established markets, others like IAV and composite woods offer opportunities for higher-value products and energy recovery if technical and logistical challenges are addressed.
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Document type: Report
European heat June 2017
The study concludes that anthropogenic climate change significantly increased the likelihood of the June 2017 heat event across Western Europe. Using observational data and multiple climate model ensembles, researchers found that such extreme heat is now more frequent, occurring every 10 to 30 years depending on the country. The risk ratio was highest in Portugal and Spain, where the probability of such heat increased by more than ten times due to global warming. The report also notes that under high-emission scenarios (RCP8.5), temperatures similar to June 2017 could become normal by the end of the century.
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Document type: Research paper
Notice of Objection to Re-evaluation Decision RVD2017-01, Glyphosate, April 28 2017
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and partner organizations argue that the PMRA's re-evaluation of glyphosate is flawed due to the dismissal of critical evidence regarding biodiversity loss, human health risks, and the inefficiency of current risk mitigation strategies.
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Document type: Statement