Search Climate Insights Directory

In 2021, global electricity demand grew by 5.4%, the fastest rate since 2010. While solar and wind generation continued to rise, coal generation reached an all-time high, leading to a 7% increase in power sector CO2 emissions. This resulted in the first increase in global electricity carbon intensity since 2011, moving the sector further away from the IEA's 1.5 degree pathway.

The WACC Secretary General highlights the importance of communication rights in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine. The organization is implementing a new Strategic Plan to support public interest and community media, promoting digital rights and linguistic diversity. Key initiatives include a symposium on communication for social justice and a forthcoming program on gender and media to empower women and girls. The WACC also produces a quarterly magazine addressing the democratization of the public sphere, climate change communication, and digital trust.

The WACC Secretary General emphasizes the essential nature of communication rights, citing the impacts of Covid-19 and the Russian attack on Ukraine as evidence of the dual potential of digital platforms. The organization is implementing a strategic plan to support public interest and community media, promote digital rights, and develop a comprehensive program on gender and media to advance equality for women and girls.

Fortum/Uniper is criticized for having an inadequate coal exit strategy and increasing its dependence on gas, while continuing to receive significant financial support from major banks and investors, including French institutions like BNP Paribas and Société Générale.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the resulting humanitarian crisis and the risk that the conflict will disrupt global energy and food systems. WRI President & CEO Ani Dasgupta expressed concern that the war could divert the political will and resources necessary to address global challenges, specifically climate change, poverty, and hunger.

Analysis by Ember, E3G, RAP, and Bellona indicates the EU can end Russian gas imports by 2025, two years ahead of the European Commission's 2027 target. This goal is achievable without building new gas import infrastructure or delaying the phase-out of coal power, provided the EU fully implements the Fit for 55 plan and removes barriers to wind and solar growth.

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 authors argue that the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and threats to the Chernobyl site demonstrate the extreme dangers of nuclear facilities in conflict zones. They suggest the United States must develop a strategy to provide alternatives to Russian nuclear exports, monitor how these events affect global public perception of nuclear energy's role in climate mitigation, and adopt a more holistic approach to risk assessment that incorporates extreme climate projections and converging security threats.

The document examines how the Ukraine crisis intersects with climate security, emphasizing the need to accelerate the clean energy transition to neutralize Russia's fossil fuel leverage. It details the ecological degradation in Ukraine, including risks to nuclear sites and ecosystems, and warns of global food insecurity due to disruptions in wheat, maize, and sunflower oil exports. Finally, it assesses Russia's own vulnerabilities to permafrost melt and Arctic ice loss, noting that the conflict hinders necessary international climate cooperation.

The authors argue that the European Green Deal is essential for Europe's strategic autonomy from Russia. They warn against short-term fossil fuel measures that create lock-in effects and call for a unified energy strategy focusing on renewables, energy efficiency, and solidarity. The text emphasizes the need for grassroots engagement on energy sufficiency and deeper diplomatic cooperation with the Global South, particularly Africa, to ensure a just and secure green transition.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance asserts that the dependence on fossil fuels creates energy insecurity and severe health risks, urging a rapid transition to renewable energy. The document highlights that meeting Paris Agreement targets would not only mitigate climate threats but actively improve public health through cleaner air and more livable cities. It emphasizes the role of the global health community in advocating for climate justice and health equity, particularly as the world prepares for COP27 in Egypt.

The document asserts that the EU must accelerate its green transition to break dependence on Russian fossil fuels, warning that short-term emergency energy measures could create detrimental lock-in effects. It advocates for a unified European energy strategy focusing on renewables, energy efficiency, and solidarity through mechanisms like the Social Climate Fund, while urging the EU to strengthen diplomatic cooperation with the Global South, particularly Africa.

Recourse urges development finance institutions (DFIs) to suspend Russia and Belarus as members, divest from their companies, and cease operations in both countries. The organization argues that the war is fueled by a global addiction to fossil fuels and calls for a ban on Russian fossil fuel imports and an end to financial support for fossil fuel infrastructure in Russia to avoid replacing Russian fuels with other fossil fuels like liquefied natural gas.

Business leaders call on the EU to prioritize the green transition as the primary strategic response to geopolitical instability and high energy costs. They advocate for a rapid shift away from fossil fuel subsidies, the acceleration of electrification across sectors, and a renewed focus on energy efficiency and the circular economy to ensure long-term energy independence and climate resilience.

The author posits that the Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a clash between neoimperialism and European unity. The text describes Putin's ideology as a reactionary neoimperialism that seeks to divide Europe and reduce small nations to spheres of influence. To counter this, the author advocates for a democratic European political union that ends fossil fuel dependence, upholds the rule of law, and provides a social and ecological alternative to authoritarianism.

The document examines the role of the IUCN Red List, CITES, and CMS in species conservation, highlighting the success and limitations of targeted initiatives like the Global Tiger Initiative and the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program. It identifies funding gaps, capacity limitations, and a bias toward 'iconic' species as primary barriers to preventing extinction.

A coalition of international environmental and social organizations has demanded that a wide range of global banks, insurers, and asset managers immediately stop providing financing, investment, and insurance to Russian coal, oil, and gas companies. The letter argues that financial support for these entities directly fuels the war in Ukraine and contradicts commitments to carbon neutrality. The signatories specifically request the divestment of existing assets and the suspension of services for non-Russian companies still active in Russia, such as TotalEnergies and Wintershall DEA, noting that BP, Shell, Equinor, and ExxonMobil have already committed to withdraw.

Reclaim Finance has issued an open letter to Crédit Agricole's CEO, Philippe Brassac, demanding the bank stop financing fossil fuel companies active in Russia. The organization calls for the blacklisting of companies on the Urgewald Global Coal Exit List and Global Oil and Gas Exit List, specifically mentioning Gazprom. The letter further requests the suspension of support for companies like TotalEnergies, Uniper/Fortum, and Wintershall DEA until they exit Russian operations, arguing that fossil fuel dependence drives both climate change and international conflict.

Reclaim Finance urges Crédit Agricole to stop providing financial services to coal, oil, and gas companies active in Russia, specifically citing the bank's role as a main banker for Gazprom and its support for TotalEnergies. The organization argues that fossil fuel dependence fuels both international conflict and climate change, calling for a shift toward renewables and energy savings to achieve carbon neutrality.

Reclaim Finance calls on Crédit Agricole to stop financing Russian coal, oil, and gas companies, specifically highlighting the bank's role as a main banker for Gazprom. The letter demands divestment from a provided blacklist of Russian energy firms and the suspension of support for non-Russian companies still active in Russia, such as TotalEnergies, until they withdraw.