Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines how border carbon adjustment (BCA) schemes affect Brazil, noting that while the EU's CBAM has limited impact due to the small share of covered exports, other jurisdictions like the United States could pose greater risks. Stakeholders highlight challenges including compliance costs, administrative burdens, and the need for production transformation investments. The document emphasizes that a lack of awareness regarding these measures is a primary obstacle and calls for international collaboration to ensure fair BCA design.

The letter, sent by ClientEarth, Fossielvrij NL, and Reclame Fossielvrij to airlines at Amsterdam Schiphol, details the legal boundaries for climate-related advertising following a court ruling that KLM's claims about 'sustainable' flying and CO2 compensation were misleading. It argues that aviation growth is incompatible with the Paris Agreement and warns that the industry's 'licence to grow' communication strategy likely violates the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD).

The author contends that recent US Supreme Court decisions, specifically those regarding the Chevron doctrine and the 'major questions doctrine', have crippled the government's ability to enforce environmental protections. To counter this regulatory paralysis, the author advocates for 'campaigns to change the private sector' by leveraging the needs of companies for customers, financing, and a social license to operate. The text cites the phase-out of CFCs by the Dupont Corporation and industry support for the EU Deforestation Regulation as examples of how private sector action can lead to broader environmental successes and a level playing field for competitors.

The report reveals how 'Big Meat and Dairy' companies employ a 'corporate playbook' of distraction, delay, and derailment to maintain the status quo and avoid environmental regulation. The industry uses greenwashing, industry-funded science to downplay methane emissions, and aggressive lobbying to secure 'agricultural exceptionalism,' ensuring that climate actions remain voluntary and supported by public subsidies rather than mandatory regulations. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between the industry's public PR regarding 'techno-fixes' and its actual investment in low-carbon solutions, while documenting the systematic weakening of climate policies like the EU's Farm to Fork strategy.

The Children's Wellbeing Guide outlines a framework for advertisers to mitigate risks to children—categorised as content, contact, conduct, and contract—through six essential steps. These steps include embedding safety-by-design, complying with global legal frameworks like the GDPR and the UK's Online Safety Act, and avoiding exploitative practices such as microtargeting and behavioural advertising for those under 18. The guide emphasizes that child safety should be a brand priority and recommends defining a child as anyone under 18, in alignment with the UNCRC.

The policy brief examines the risk of an all-out war between Israel and Lebanon, highlighting the potential for regional escalation involving Iran and its allies, and the subsequent impact on the EU. It criticizes the EU's current approach to Lebanon, which it claims prioritizes migration control over structural stability, and calls for a shift toward comprehensive economic support, targeted sanctions against corrupt elites, and active diplomacy to avoid a humanitarian and energy catastrophe.

The document examines how fossil fuel price volatility contributes to inflation in Canada, noting that energy prices accounted for 33% of overall inflation between February 2021 and June 2022. It argues that transitioning to net-zero electricity grids by 2050 could save Canada up to CAD 15 billion annually in total energy costs. The brief suggests that policies such as carbon pricing and incentives for heat pumps and electric vehicles can improve affordability by reducing reliance on volatile global oil and gas markets.

Following the 2024 elections, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority, leading to the formation of a 'government of national unity' (GNU) comprising 10 parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA). While the ANC retains key portfolios like the presidency and foreign affairs, the coalition faces significant internal ideological tensions regarding economic policy and international relations, particularly concerning BRICS, Russia, and Israel. The document highlights a critical disconnect between South Africa's economic reliance on the EU and its political leanings toward the West's adversaries, suggesting that foreign policy will be the primary test of the coalition's stability.

The EU must reform its climate diplomacy strategy for the 2024-2029 cycle to address geopolitical tensions and competition from China and the US in cleantech. The brief advocates for treating climate considerations as a cross-cutting issue across all foreign policy domains and proposes reforms focused on strategy, governance, coordination, and resources to bolster the external dimension of the Green Deal.

The document argues that while current US export controls focus on the physical synthesis of pathogens, the rise of AI-enabled Biological Design Tools (BDTs) and Large Language Models (LLMs) creates a gap in the 'design' phase of pathogen creation. It recommends that the US Department of Commerce amend the Commerce Control List to restrict software capable of designing controlled biological agents and de novo pathogens with equivalent virulence. The author suggests narrowing the 'publicly available' carve-out to prevent the open-sourcing of high-risk BDTs and calls for international harmonization through the Australia Group. The brief also identifies challenges in current Export Administration Regulations (EAR), such as the 'specially designed' terminology and the Fundamental Research Exclusion, which could create loopholes for dual-use AI software developed in academic settings.

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) requires companies in power, heavy industry, aviation, and shipping to purchase emission allowances via auctions, with revenues distributed to 30 covered countries. While the 2023 reform mandates that revenues be spent on climate-related activities, historical data from 2013-2021 shows €25 billion was not spent on climate action and €12 billion went to projects that were not climate-sensible or could have increased emissions. The system utilizes a mix of auctioning and free allocations to prevent carbon leakage, though free allocations for aviation will end in 2026 and for heavy industry by 2034. Key funding mechanisms supported by these revenues include the Innovation Fund, expected to raise over €57 billion by 2030, and the Modernisation Fund, expected to invest €69.5 billion in 13 lower-income member states between 2021 and 2030.

The report argues that while military R&D alone cannot solve the climate challenge due to long equipment lifecycles, a comprehensive approach combining innovation, policy changes, and procurement can significantly reduce emissions. It highlights the transition to low-carbon technologies in operations (such as sustainable aviation fuels and hybrid vehicles), the decarbonization of fixed infrastructure through microgrids and small modular reactors, and the need to address Scope 3 emissions within the defense industrial supply chain. The authors emphasize that procurement is the most powerful tool for militaries to catalyze clean energy markets and steer the defense industry toward net-zero goals.

The policy brief argues that current EU biodiversity financing is insufficient and inefficient, with funding needs estimated at EUR 48.15 billion per year. It proposes the creation of a dedicated biodiversity conservation and restoration fund, the strengthening of biodiversity mainstreaming through legally binding spending targets and reduced administrative barriers for small projects, and the implementation of a mandatory methodology to identify and phase out environmentally harmful subsidies. The brief emphasizes that the EU's current 'mainstreaming' approach often deprioritizes nature in favor of short-term infrastructure projects and calls for a revised tracking methodology to prevent greenwashing.

The briefing reports an uptick in election-related disinformation during the European Parliament elections, featuring claims of voter fraud and global conspiracy theories. While no substantial interference occurred and no party significantly benefited, the persistence of these narratives despite Digital Services Act (DSA) guidelines suggests a need for binding measures. The document highlights the role of foreign state actors, specifically Russian channels, in attempting to weaken public support for EU institutions and policies like aid to Ukraine.

The document argues that while green taxonomies are not a standalone solution for financing the energy transition, they serve as a critical 'building block' for establishing credibility and standardising green definitions to attract international investment. It highlights the tension between 'interoperability'—the ability for taxonomies to work across borders—and 'usability'—the practical application within local contexts where data may be limited. The brief recommends a phased approach, starting with climate mitigation and incorporating adaptation and resilience objectives using international guidance to avoid fragmentation. It emphasizes that taxonomies must be integrated into broader policy frameworks, including de-risking tools and currency hedging, to effectively steer capital toward sustainable activities in emerging economies.

Carbon Market Watch supports the draft Delegated Act on permanent carbon capture and usage (CCU) within the EU ETS, praising its strict permanence criteria and 'white-list' approach for products. However, it warns that the 'end of life' criteria must account for CO2 release via deterioration and calls for greater transparency in how products are added to or removed from the approved list.

The European Climate Neutrality Observatory's (ECNO) second annual assessment finds that while the EU is moving toward climate neutrality in terms of policies and indicators, the pace of progress is currently too slow. To accelerate the transition, the report recommends improving the implementation of policies at the Member State level, unlocking enabling conditions, closing the investment gap by aligning finance, and adopting a people-centred approach to ensure a socially just transition.

The Social Climate Fund (SCF) is an EU initiative designed to alleviate energy and transport poverty resulting from the introduction of the ETS2 carbon pricing system for buildings and road transport. Operating from 2026 to 2032, the fund will provide approximately €86.7 billion in targeted support to EU member states, primarily for lower-income groups and micro-enterprises. Funding is allocated based on need, with Poland, France, Italy, Spain, and Romania receiving the largest shares. To access funds, member states must submit Social Climate Plans (SCPs) by June 2025, which must include impact assessments and decarbonisation strategies. While the SCF supports green investments and limited temporary income support, it is not intended to solve the root causes of existing energy and transport poverty.

The document argues that the FAO has been captured by the 'Big Livestock' sector, leading to the systematic downplaying of the environmental impacts of animal farming. It traces this shift from the 2006 'Livestock's Long Shadow' report, which highlighted livestock as a major climate driver, to more recent publications like 'Pathways towards Lower Emissions' and the 'Global Roadmap'. The author claims these later documents use flawed methodologies to lower emission estimates and prioritise industry-friendly technological fixes over necessary reductions in livestock numbers and meat consumption. The report details how industry lobbyists influence the FAO through national delegations and partnerships, resulting in a narrative that preserves the status quo of intensive livestock production.

The report identifies a strategy of 'agricultural exceptionalism' employed by the meat and dairy industry to avoid environmental regulation. It details three primary tactics: distracting the public via greenwashing and targeting youth on social media; delaying action by promoting voluntary technical solutions over systemic dietary changes; and derailing legislation through extensive political lobbying and funding in the US and EU. The document highlights the industry's use of specific scientific narratives, such as the GWP* metric and 'regenerative agriculture', to minimize the perceived impact of methane emissions.