Search Climate Insights Directory
490 results
Environmental Change and the New Security Agenda: Implications for Canada's security and environment
This research paper examines the bidirectional link between environmental change and Canadian security. It identifies three key security challenges arising from environmental change—Arctic shipping routes, energy sourcing, and regional environmental security—while arguing that Canada's post-1990s 'new security agenda' focused on terrorism often competes with and negatively impacts environmental management.
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Document type: Research paper
PREVENTION OF AIR POLLUTION FROM SHIPS
The report evaluates the human health impacts of reducing sulphur in marine fuels, comparing a 'no action' scenario with two control options: a 0.1% sulphur limit within 200 nautical miles of coastlines and a global 0.5% sulphur limit. It estimates that these controls could reduce global premature mortality from international shipping by 50-60% by 2012, saving between 41,500 and 50,000 lives annually. Using US EPA cost methodology, the Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) values these societal benefits at approximately $225 to $275 billion per year.
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Document type: Report
An Experiment With Social Network Analysis: Assessing the scope and scale of IISD’s relationships on Internet governance to test the usefulness of social network analysis for network evaluation
The report uses a case study of IISD's Internet governance relationships to test social network analysis (SNA). It finds that while SNA provides valuable insights into network gaps—specifically weak connections with developing nations—the high cost, complexity, and need for specialized expertise make it a challenging tool for resource-limited policy networks.
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Document type: Report
Could one Trident submarine cause ‘nuclear winter’?
The paper examines the climatic risks of nuclear war, updating the 'nuclear winter' concept with modern climate modelling. It argues that even a regional conflict or the deployment of a single UK Trident submarine could cause significant global cooling, disrupt agriculture, and lead to mass starvation. The author concludes that any arsenal exceeding 5MT poses a global climatic threat and calls for the cessation of the UK's Trident replacement programme.
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Document type: Research paper
Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax Under section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1} of the internal Revenue Code (except black lung benefit trust or private foundation)
The World Resources Institute (WRI) reported total revenue of $27,765,582 and total expenses of $28,102,119 for the 2008 tax year. The organization operates three primary program services: the Climate, Energy and Pollution Program, the Institutions and Governance Program, and the People and Ecosystems Program. WRI maintains a global presence with activities and grantmaking in regions including East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. As of the end of the year, the organization held total assets of $53,223,660 and total liabilities of $3,795,121.
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Document type: Report
REVIEW OF MARPOL ANNEX VI AND THE NOx TECHNICAL CODE
The document argues for the adoption of strict NOx emission standards for ships to protect human health and the environment, proposing a two-tier reduction schedule by 2011 and 2015. It highlights that ocean-going ships contribute 15% to 30% of global NOx emissions and suggests that port States be allowed to deny entry or charge fees to ships that fail to comply with these standards.
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Document type: Statement
REVIEW OF MARPOL ANNEX VI AND THE NOx TECHNICAL CODE
The document presents findings from the 'Corbett and Winebrake Study', which estimates that particulate matter (PM) from ocean-going ships caused approximately 60,000 premature deaths globally in 2002. The study indicates that these deaths are expected to increase by 40% by 2012 (or 2020 in some case analyses) due to growth in shipping traffic. Regional analysis shows that Europe and the Mediterranean, East Asia, and South Asia are the most heavily impacted areas. The document argues that the societal cost of these deaths exceeds $300 billion annually based on US EPA valuations, far outweighing the costs of emission reductions. Consequently, it urges the IMO Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases to recommend stringent emission limits for the amended MARPOL Annex VI.
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Document type: Statement
Jonathan Lash's Statement To the US House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Jonathan Lash, representing the US Climate Action Partnership (US CAP), advocates for a federal cap-and-trade program and a long-term emissions roadmap to transition the United States to a low-carbon economy. He emphasizes that clear federal rules are necessary to avoid a regulatory patchwork of state laws and to provide the market certainty required for large-scale private investment in clean energy technologies.
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Document type: Statement
Alternative trade initiatives and income predictability
The document assesses how certification schemes like Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance affect coffee producer incomes. It argues that while these standards can reduce price volatility through premiums and minimum price floors, their overall impact is limited by the small market share of certified coffee relative to conventional markets. The author also explores non-price factors, such as improved farm management and shade-grown quality, as potential drivers of long-term income stability.
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Document type: Research paper
Framework for Community Sustainability: Ten Ingredients for Long-Term Success
The Framework for Community Sustainability provides ten ingredients for sustainable governance, arguing that community, economy, and environment are complementary rather than competing interests. It aims to help community decision makers weave sustainability into the fabric of their local governance across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
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Document type: Guide
REVIEW OF MARPOL ANNEX VI AND THE NOX TECHNICAL CODE
The document summarizes recent emissions inventories and health studies to demonstrate that shipping emissions are growing rapidly and significantly impacting human health. It highlights a global inventory projecting a 4.1% annual growth in emissions through 2040 and a North American inventory projecting 5.9% annual growth. The text argues that current and proposed IMO regulations are insufficient to offset this growth and calls for steep, fleet-wide reductions. Additionally, it cites California Air Resources Board (CARB) data showing that premature deaths attributed to ocean-going ships in California are predicted to more than double by 2020.
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Document type: Statement
Allocation and Forecasting of Global Ship Emissions
The report develops a high-resolution global inventory of ship emissions (SOx, NOx, PM, and black carbon) using power-weighted ICOADS data. It argues that a business-as-usual (BAU) growth rate of 4.1% per year, driven by trade globalization and containerization, will likely offset current IMO emission control measures. The authors conclude that fleetwide reductions of at least 60% would be required within two decades to maintain 2002 pollution levels.
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Document type: Report
Becoming a Sustainability Leade
The document evaluates the IISD internship program, which from 1997 to 2007 supported 311 young professionals across 40 countries. Findings indicate that sustainability leadership is driven by a combination of on-the-job training, a global mindset developed through overseas placements, and a shared set of values. The report emphasizes a shift toward 'leadership-by-team' and recommends that IISD expand its reach beyond Canadian youth to include professionals from developing and transitional countries through a potential international consortium.
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Document type: Executive summary
Nuestro Clima Cambiante
The report analyzes how varying levels of greenhouse gas emissions will lead to temperature increases in California, ranging from 3 to 10.5 °F by the end of the century. It details severe risks including a 70-90% reduction in Sierra Nevada snowpack, increased frequency of extreme heat and wildfires, and rising sea levels that threaten coastal infrastructure. The document emphasizes that while some changes are inevitable, the most severe outcomes can be avoided through aggressive emission reductions, aligned with California's executive goals to return to 1990 emission levels by 2020.
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Document type: Executive summary
Socio-Economic Dynamics of the South African Agricultural Sector
The document examines the transition of South African agriculture from a protected, apartheid-era system to a deregulated, export-oriented sector. It highlights a structural shift from animal production and field crops toward high-value horticultural products, particularly wine. While the commercial sector is globally integrated and productive, a stark dualism persists with an impoverished smallholder sector. National food security is high, though significant malnutrition remains at the household level, especially among children.
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Document type: Briefing
North American Civil Society Statement to the Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum
The document outlines a series of policy recommendations from North American civil society to UNEP, emphasizing the region's responsibility as a major producer of chemicals and emitter of greenhouse gases. It calls for the achievement of the 2020 chemicals safety goal, a transition to sustainable energy services, and the integration of sustainability into all forms of tourism.
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Document type: Statement
United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary
The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment. Participants discussed the role of civil society in engaging with UNEP and worked in parallel groups to draft recommendations for a North American Regional Civil Society Statement. The meeting also served to elect representatives for a global drafting session in Bahrain and the Global Civil Society Forum in Dubai.
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Document type: Report
The Rush to Regionalism
The document analyzes the 'second wave' of regionalism in trade, characterized by a shift toward bilateral agreements and 'deeper integration' involving investment and intellectual property rights. It surveys various agreements (including NAFTA, ASEAN, and EU partnerships) to evaluate how they handle environmental exceptions, capacity building, and investor-state dispute settlement. The paper argues that while regionalism can pioneer new policy approaches, it risks creating a 'spaghetti bowl' of conflicting rules and may undermine the multilateral system by eroding the most-favoured-nation principle and restricting the policy space of developing nations.
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Document type: Research paper
Civil Society Declaration Calling for No Investment Negotiations at the World Trade Organization
The document is a joint statement by various civil society organizations arguing against the inclusion of investment and other 'Singapore Issues' in WTO negotiations. The signatories claim that previous multilateral investment attempts, such as the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), focused excessively on investor protections while neglecting poverty reduction and corporate accountability. They argue that current investor protection rules in NAFTA and bilateral agreements are used to challenge essential government actions for sustainable development. The declaration asserts that there is little empirical evidence that such rules increase investment quality or quantity and that the WTO is an inappropriate forum for these talks, as it should instead focus on reforms and issues critical to developing countries.
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Document type: Statement
DRYLANDS, PEOPLE, AND ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES
The report provides a geospatial analysis of the world's drylands, which cover approximately 40 percent of the global land area and support over two billion people. It evaluates the provision of ecosystem services including forage for livestock, food production, biodiversity conservation, freshwater, carbon storage, and energy. The analysis highlights that while drylands are often perceived as unproductive, they are critical for human survival, though they face significant threats from soil degradation, water scarcity, and human activities such as overgrazing and urbanization.
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Document type: Report