Search Climate Insights Directory

Global Witness asserts that its investigation into Dan Gertler's use of a suspected international money laundering network to evade US sanctions is based on rigorous evidence. The organization reports that prior to and following publication, it and its partner, the Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), faced intimidation tactics, including a criminal complaint filed by Afriland First Bank in Paris and coordinated social media smear campaigns. Global Witness maintains that these actions are intended to protect the status quo of the DRC mining sector and calls on Congolese, US, and EU authorities to investigate the findings.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is a flexible economic initiative involving the United States and 13 other nations, organized around four pillars: connected, resilient, clean, and fair economies. Unlike traditional free trade agreements, IPEF avoids tariff liberalization, which has led to criticisms regarding the lack of U.S. concessions and concerns over the long-term commitment of partners like India. Early ministerial meetings have highlighted tensions over the adoption of high standards, with countries such as Malaysia and Japan requesting transition periods, while the U.S. focuses on digital standards and industrial decarbonization as key areas of influence.

The authors present Urban Social Disorder 3.0, a global event dataset covering 186 cities from 1960-2014, containing 13,324 events. The study finds that global urban social disorder increased after the early 2000s, driven largely by Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Contrary to some previous research, the authors find a positive relationship between city population size and the frequency of lethal disorder events, while urban growth rates show no such association. The analysis also suggests that autocratic regimes may be more effective at suppressing lethal urban disorder than democratic ones.

The authors argue that the EITI lacks a proven Theory of Change, risking obsolescence in some countries. They propose three models—Name-and-Shame, Public Debate, and Technical Reform—and find that while stakeholders prefer the Public Debate model, actual change occurs primarily through Technical Reform. The study emphasizes that ToCs must be dynamic and context-specific to bridge the gap between disclosure and actual accountability.

The author analyzes 'value-talk'—the use of references to 'our values' to formulate 'we', 'us', and 'them'—following terror attacks in France and Norway. By examining national TV news from the first week after the events, the study argues that values are not static traits dividing cultural groups, but are dynamic tools used to mobilize unity (we-hood) and dissociate the national community from terrorists (us-hood). The findings suggest that while both countries used value-talk to foster cohesion, the results differed: Norway experienced a more consensus-oriented, depoliticized narrative, whereas France's efforts were more fragmented and marked by ongoing conflict regarding the loyalty of Muslim populations to the Republic.

The We Mean Business coalition outlines eight key policy asks for the COP21 Paris Agreement to ensure the transition to a low carbon economy is "inevitable, irreversible and irresistible." The brief argues that a clear, ambitious legal framework is essential to provide the policy certainty businesses and investors need to allocate capital toward decarbonization. Key recommendations include a long-term goal of net zero emissions well before the end of the century, five-year cycles for strengthening national commitments, the adoption of meaningful carbon pricing, and the scaling of climate finance beyond the USD$100 billion annual pledge. The document also emphasizes the need for transparency, high-ambition national commitments, political parity between mitigation and adaptation, and enhanced private sector engagement in pre-2020 ambition through Workstream 2.

The document outlines a descriptive narrative framework for Parties to the UNFCCC to communicate the fairness and ambition of their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) ahead of COP21. It suggests that countries use a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators to explain their contributions relative to their emissions responsibility, capabilities, and development needs. The proposed framework consists of five components: an initial framing statement, a description of pre-2020 undertakings, an explanation of fairness and ambition based on national circumstances, an assessment of the contribution toward the Convention's objectives, and additional considerations. The goal is to enhance international transparency, enable peer comparison, and build trust among Parties to motivate collective climate action.

The ACT 2015 Consortium proposes a legal framework for the 2015 Paris Agreement that integrates mitigation, adaptation, and support through five-year cycles of continuous improvement. Key recommendations include phasing out greenhouse gas emissions to net zero in the second half of the century, establishing a long-term adaptation goal, and ensuring equity for least developed countries and small island developing States through flexible commitments and targeted financial support.

The paper examines the role of the private sector in the Paris Agreement, arguing that clear policy signals are essential to shift investment patterns and avoid the risks of an incremental approach to emissions reductions. It suggests that the private sector should proactively shape these signals and align internal targets with a phase-out of emissions to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The ACT 2015 consortium argues that economic growth and climate action are now mutually reinforcing goals rather than conflicting choices. The document emphasizes that international cooperation via the UNFCCC negotiations for the Paris Agreement is essential to avoid devastating climate impacts that disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations.

This working paper, produced by the Agreement on Climate Transformation 2015 (ACT 2015) consortium, proposes a framework for the 2015 Paris Agreement. It suggests a structure based on two long-term goals, three continuous improvement cycles (mitigation, adaptation, and support), and a foundation of transparency and accountability to drive a global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

The document argues that the COVID-19 crisis is a critical window to shift from 'snapshot to transition thinking,' urging governments to use stimulus packages to accelerate future technologies like renewable energy while phasing out fossil fuels. It highlights a concerning trend where approximately 30% of global fiscal stimulus is directed toward high-environmental-impact sectors, often without sustainability conditions. The report advocates for a 'One Health' approach to prevent future zoonotic pandemics by protecting biodiversity, and calls for the integration of informal workers and urban poor into city-level recovery planning. Key recommendations include the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of 'do no harm' standards for bailouts, and increased financial support and debt restructuring for developing countries to facilitate a just transition.