Search Climate Insights Directory

The report exposes how 'Big Ag' employs a playbook of distraction, delay, and obstruction—similar to tactics used by the tobacco and oil industries—to prevent the regulation of agricultural emissions and the transition to plant-based diets. Through the analysis of 22 major companies, the authors find that these corporations use greenwashing, industry-funded science to downplay methane's impact, and aggressive lobbying to maintain a 'carrot without a stick' policy environment where changes remain voluntary and subsidized.

The report details how 'Big Meat and Dairy' companies employ tactics similar to those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries to avoid environmental regulation. These strategies include 'greenwashing' through weak net-zero targets, funding industry-biased research to minimize the impact of methane emissions, and aggressive lobbying to prevent binding legislation. The document highlights a pattern of 'carrot-only' approaches where companies promote voluntary technological fixes while spending more on advertising than on actual R&D for low-carbon solutions. A detailed case study on Italy reveals the use of transnational far-right narratives and online disinformation to frame cultivated meat as a threat to tradition and health, thereby supporting legislative bans.

The report argues that 'Big Meat and Dairy' corporations employ strategies similar to those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries to avoid environmental accountability. It identifies three primary tactics: distraction through greenwashing and targeting Gen Z; delaying action by promoting voluntary technical solutions over systemic dietary changes; and derailing legislation through political lobbying and 'revolving doors' between industry and government. The analysis covers 22 major corporations across four continents, finding that none meet UN integrity standards for climate goals. Specific case studies highlight how these tactics have weakened the EU's Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy, influenced the US Inflation Reduction Act, and blocked agricultural emission regulations in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and Italy.

The report reveals a 'corporate playbook' used by 'Big Meat and Dairy' to avoid environmental regulation through greenwashing, industry-funded science, and aggressive political lobbying. It argues that these companies use 'distract, delay and derail' tactics—similar to those used by the tobacco and fossil fuel industries—to maintain the status quo and prevent dietary shifts toward plant-based proteins. The investigation highlights how the industry promotes voluntary technological fixes over mandatory emissions cuts and leverages political influence to secure 'all-carrots-and-no-sticks' regulatory approaches.

The report exposes how 'Big Meat and Dairy' corporations employ strategies similar to those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries to avoid environmental regulation. It identifies three primary tactics: distracting the public through greenwashing and targeting Gen Z via social media; delaying action by promoting voluntary targets and industry-funded science (such as GWP* metrics and 'regenerative agriculture'); and derailing legislation through political lobbying and 'revolving door' appointments. The analysis covers 22 major corporations across four continents, highlighting a systemic lack of scientific integrity in their climate goals and a preference for spending on advertising over low-carbon research and development. Specific case studies in the US, EU, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and Great Britain illustrate how these tactics have successfully weakened policies like the EU Green Deal and the Global Methane Pledge.

The report argues that for China's power sector to meet its 2030 peak emissions and 2060 carbon neutrality targets, electrical utilities must develop credible, science-based transition plans. These plans serve as the foundation for transition finance instruments, such as Use of Proceeds (UoP) bonds and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs). While China is a major global issuer of SLBs, the report notes a lack of alignment with rigorous standards, as many domestic issuers focus on renewable energy capacity rather than comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. The document provides a framework for utilities to develop transition plans and select appropriate financial tools to support low-carbon development, including the retirement of coal assets and grid optimisation.

The report highlights that steel and cement are the largest industrial emitters, accounting for over 7% and 6% of global CO2 emissions in 2022. It argues that credible corporate transition plans are essential for unlocking private capital, particularly through sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs). An analysis of 20 companies reveals that while 90% have published transition plans, there is a significant lack of consistency in financing disclosure and a critical gap in concrete 'just transition' objectives. The document emphasizes that emerging markets will lead demand growth and hold the majority of coal-based blast furnace capacity requiring reinvestment by 2030, making international coordination and supportive public procurement policies vital for a credible transition.

The briefing analyzes the European Commission's 'essential use' criteria for most harmful substances (MHS), which define a use as essential if it is necessary for health, safety, or critical for society and lacks acceptable alternatives. ClientEarth argues that while the Communication fulfills Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) commitments, it lacks direct legal effect and may be undermined by existing technical and economic feasibility assessments. The document proposes a three-stage approach to implement essential use in REACH: immediate adoption in restriction and authorisation procedures, the creation of implementing legislation for legal clarity, and a full REACH reform where essential use replaces socio-economic analysis (SEA).

The report examines how the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) uses financial regulation to curb deforestation, particularly in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. It details the BCB's 'Agenda BC# Sustainability', which integrates social, environmental, and climate risks into the national financial system. A central pillar of this strategy is the reform of rural credit, where the BCB has implemented restrictions on financing for properties with illegal deforestation, lack of environmental registration (CAR), or those located in protected areas. The document also highlights the role of the 'Bureau de Crédito Rural' and the 'Sicor' system in monitoring compliance in real-time.

The policy brief outlines a framework for a production tax credit (PTC) to decarbonize industrial heat. It argues that the credit should target 'useful heat' used in manufacturing processes, be refundable to maximize investment efficiency, and utilize a rate based on heat temperature and power to account for varying technology costs. The author recommends excluding biomass and byproducts while focusing on scope 1 emissions to avoid complexity and ensure the policy targets industrial facilities rather than the electricity grid.

The policy brief proposes a technology-neutral emissions standard for industrial heat, focusing on a declining limit of CO2 and other pollutants per unit of useful heat. It recommends applying the standard to both new and existing equipment, using a long-term legislative schedule to reach zero emissions, and focusing exclusively on direct (scope 1) emissions to encourage electrification without penalizing efficient technologies like heat pumps.

The research note advocates for "strong 45V rules" based on three pillars: incremental, deliverable, and hourly-matched clean electricity. The author contends that weakening these rules would allow dirty hydrogen production to qualify for subsidies, potentially increasing net CO2 emissions by 100-200 MMT per year and raising wholesale electricity prices by 10%. Conversely, strong rules are presented as a way to drive domestic manufacturing of flexible electrolyzers, align U.S. standards with the European Union, and ensure the long-term viability of the hydrogen industry beyond the tax credit's expiration.

The report evaluates how nature-related risks impact business profits and credit losses in five African banking systems. It finds that an 'orderly transition' aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) minimizes financial risks, whereas a 'disorderly transition' can lead to significant profit losses and increased credit losses, particularly in agriculture and mining. The analysis highlights that nature-related risks in these sectors are comparable in scale to climate-related risks in emissions-intensive sectors.

The report analyzes the economic exposure of Brazil to the EU's CBAM, noting that while current impacts are limited to specific sectors like iron and steel, the diffusion of BCAs to other major markets like the US and Japan poses a significant risk. It details the responses of the Brazilian government and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), highlighting concerns over non-discrimination, administrative burdens, and the need for developed countries to finance technological adaptation in developing nations. The document also notes a general lack of broad public and financial sector engagement with the BCA debate in Brazil.

The report analyzes how border carbon adjustments (BCAs), such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), affect Trinidad and Tobago's hydrocarbon-dependent economy. It identifies significant risks to the competitiveness of key exports like ammonia and fertilizers, while highlighting opportunities for the country to accelerate its transition to a green hydrogen economy and implement domestic carbon pricing.

The report analyzes 21 policy measures from 14 WTO members that triggered trade concerns, categorizing these frictions into six types: timing and implementation, transparency, absence of stakeholder engagement, proportionality, justification, and discrimination. It provides specific regulatory recommendations to ensure that environmental measures targeting plastics do not create unnecessary trade barriers.

The United Kingdom plans to introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2027 to prevent carbon leakage as free allowances under its Emissions Trading System (ETS) are phased out. While similar to the EU CBAM, the UK version will cover ceramics and glass but exclude electricity, and it will lack a transition period. The report highlights risks including potential trade diversion, administrative burdens for exporters, and diplomatic tensions with developing nations who view such measures as 'environmental colonialism'. It suggests that the UK would benefit from mirroring the EU's reporting systems and exploring the linkage of their respective ETSs to reduce bureaucratic friction and economic risk.

The document examines how fossil fuel price volatility contributes to overall inflation in Canada, noting that energy prices accounted for 33% of Canada's overall inflation from February 2021 to June 2022. It argues that transitioning to a net-zero electricity grid by 2050 could save Canadian households an average of CAD 1,500 annually and reduce total energy costs by CAD 15 billion per year. The brief highlights the 'spillover effect' where energy price hikes increase costs for non-energy items, such as food, and can lead to central bank interest rate hikes that further squeeze affordability. It recommends policies that encourage fuel switching to electric vehicles and heat pumps, as well as investments in renewable energy infrastructure to ensure long-term price stability.

The document outlines a methodology for governments to identify 'critical' or 'strategic' minerals based on technical, economic, and geopolitical risks. It emphasizes that criticality is dynamic and varies depending on whether a country is a producer or a consumer. The guide proposes a four-step process: understanding criticality, conducting a risk inventory and mapping, making strategic decisions, and performing regular reviews. It provides detailed indicators across geological, economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical dimensions to help countries maximize the benefits of the energy and digital transitions.

The document examines the synergy between the Kenya Flower Council's (KFC) voluntary Flower and Ornamental Sustainability Standard (FOSS) and the government's mandatory Kenya Standard 1758 (KS 1758). It highlights how this public-private collaboration reduces compliance costs for producers, improves market access to the EU and other global markets, and enhances worker welfare and environmental management. The authors argue that this model of benchmarking standards can be replicated in other Kenyan agricultural value chains, such as grains, to address safety and quality issues.