Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that climate adaptation is critically under-financed because markets struggle to price 'continuity' (avoided damages). It suggests moving from fragmented projects to integrated, nationally led 'Country Platforms' that coordinate public, private, and concessional finance. The author highlights African innovations such as parametric insurance (ARC) and the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, and provides an 8-step playbook for operationalizing resilience investments through diagnosis, tagging, layered finance, devolution, regulation, insurance reform, outcome-based payments, and transparent communication.

The report finds widespread public support for clean energy in the UK, with high levels of acceptance for wind turbines and solar panels across the political spectrum. It notes that in Scotland and Wales, renewable energy projects generate national pride comparable to or exceeding that of the fossil fuel industry. The analysis suggests that 'stories of progress' are more compelling to the public than narratives of failure or radical change. While support for renewables is high, the document emphasizes that fossil fuel industries remain tied to national identity and history, and that the transition must account for job losses and the perceived value of the industrial past.

The document finds that while deep distrust in politicians and institutions affects how climate action is perceived, there remains enduring support among Brits for ambitious climate leadership. People value leaders who are credible, passionate, and empathetic, and who prioritize tangible local benefits and global collective action over a reliance on statistics. The report suggests that climate leadership should be grounded in local contexts and delivered by authentic messengers to overcome disillusionment.

Climate Outreach argues that public support for net zero remains high and that the UK government should address cost-of-living concerns through a transparent public engagement strategy and visionary communication rather than by backtracking on climate policies.

The document analyzes adaptation planning across 136 large coastal cities, finding that over 50% lack formal plans and most existing policies fail to align with actual climate risks. It introduces the ARPA and APC frameworks to measure policy alignment and credibility, noting a significant gap between planning and implementation. Furthermore, it highlights a critical lack of outcome-based monitoring and evaluation, with 95% of indicators focusing on outputs. The brief argues for the integration of 'subaltern' knowledge to improve the social legitimacy and effectiveness of urban adaptation.

The document critiques the reliance on 'net zero' frameworks, carbon offsets, and technological fixes, asserting that these mechanisms allow polluters to continue emissions while risking land grabbing and violating indigenous rights. It specifically analyzes the implications of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the promotion of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and geoengineering, calling instead for a systemic shift toward energy sovereignty and the phased elimination of fossil fuels.

ClientEarth calls on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to uphold the UK's climate ambitions, specifically requesting a review of the Retained EU Law Bill and a reconsideration of environmental deregulation in investment zones. The organization advocates for accelerating the transition to renewables and insulating buildings to address the energy and climate crises simultaneously, while urging the UK to remain a reliable international partner on climate action following its COP26 Presidency.

ClientEarth warns that the UK Government's move toward rapid deregulation, particularly via the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, risks a 'perfect storm' of environmental degradation and reduced business investment. The organization argues that the Bill could lead to the overnight disappearance of critical legislative frameworks protecting air, water, and biodiversity by December 31, 2023, while bypassing parliamentary scrutiny through secondary legislation. This shift is viewed as a contradiction of the Government's own manifesto commitments and legal obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance asserts that the health of people is inextricably linked to the planet's climate, calling for an accelerated transition to renewable energy to avoid a catastrophic 2.7°C temperature increase. The statement highlights that reducing fossil fuel emissions would save millions of lives annually through cleaner air and healthier cities, while emphasizing that climate justice is essential for health equity.

The Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) report details its activities from September 2021 to February 2022, focusing on investigations, policy implementation, risk assessment, capacity building, and awareness raising. Key achievements include the implementation of a Case Management System, the approval of Investigation Standards, and the launch of a thematic brief on avoiding maladaptation at COP26. The IIU also reported on case statistics, including the dismissal of a senior manager for misconduct, and the development of an integrity risk rating tool for projects.

The report analyzes COP26 outcomes, noting that while some progress was made in referencing human rights within Article 6 rules and the CTCN Advisory Board, overall results were marred by exclusionary participation modalities and a failure to effectively confront the fossil fuel industry. It highlights significant gaps in loss and damage finance, the removal of human rights language from the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) work program, and superficial progress on gender-responsive climate action. The document concludes by outlining critical 2022 milestones, including the first Global Stocktake and the revision of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as key opportunities to embed human rights and climate justice.

The document outlines the 30-year history of Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR), detailing its evolution from a merger of peace-oriented scientific groups in 1992 to its current role as an advocate for ethical science. Key activities include organizing the 'Climate Train to Kyoto' in 1997, publishing reports on the environmental impacts of the UK military and the risks of AI, and developing science education resources for schools. SGR has also contributed research to the campaign for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and conducted critical assessments of the UK fracking industry.

The Changing Markets Foundation and partner organisations write to FrieslandCampina to highlight the company's lack of action on methane emissions, scoring it 8.8 out of 100 in a ranking of 20 meat and dairy companies. The letter demands disclosure of investments in methane abatement and alternative proteins and recommends setting absolute methane reduction targets aligned with a 1.5°C limit.

The Center for International Environmental Law argues that COP26 failed to address the root causes of the climate crisis, specifically fossil fuels, and instead relied on 'false solutions' like carbon offsets. The statement highlights the exclusion of civil society and Indigenous Peoples from negotiations, the inadequacy of climate finance for adaptation and loss and damage, and the persistence of 'greenwashing' by corporate interests. While noting some progress in marginal alliances like the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, the author concludes that the official negotiated outcomes lack the ambition and equity required to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

The World Resources Institute evaluates COP26, noting that while 151 new national commitments were submitted, they are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C. The statement highlights progress on phasing down coal, doubling adaptation funding, and addressing loss and damage, while criticizing the failure of developed nations to meet the $100 billion annual finance goal and the decision to allow old emission credits in carbon markets.

The report criticizes the COP26 Presidency and UNFCCC Secretariat for restricting observer access to negotiating areas, which the author claims undermines the monitoring of key discussions on finance, loss and damage, and Article 6, and risks the adoption of 'false solutions' due to the exclusion of frontline voices.

The document emphasizes the urgency of COP26, noting that global warming is occurring faster than expected and that Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. It highlights the human cost, citing 569 deaths in British Columbia from a heatwave, and the economic risk, noting that climate-related catastrophes have cost Canada 5-6% of its annual GDP growth since 2010. The author argues that achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050 is essential to limit warming to 1.5 °C and protect Canada's export economy as global investments shift away from carbon-intensive sectors.

The author asserts that COP26 is a pivotal moment to act on climate change, noting that global warming is accelerating and Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. The text highlights the human cost, citing 569 deaths in British Columbia from a heat wave, and the economic risk, noting that weather-related disasters have cost Canada 5 to 6 per cent of annual GDP growth since 2010. It emphasizes that achieving net zero emissions globally by 2050 could still limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The Center for International Environmental Law asserts that COP26 faces a critical 'ambition gap' and warns against 'false solutions' such as net-zero targets and carbon capture that distract from the necessary phase-out of fossil fuels. The statement emphasizes that legitimate outcomes require equitable participation, particularly for low-income countries and Indigenous Peoples, and calls for developed nations to fulfill their $100 billion annual climate finance promise. It specifically critiques the UK's leadership for continuing North Sea oil leasing while promoting global climate action. The document advocates for a rights-based approach to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to prevent land-grabs and double-counting of emissions, and demands the establishment of a dedicated loss and damage finance facility to support the most vulnerable communities.

The briefing discusses the need for a post-2025 climate finance goal and proposes four procedural pathways: creating an ad hoc Technical Committee, mandating a process led by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), establishing a dedicated Work Program, or having the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) outline the process via co-facilitators. It emphasizes that a robust technical process is necessary to address the needs of developing countries and scale up finance mobilization.