Search Climate Insights Directory

The author contends that the rise of right-wing populism, Brexit, and Donald Trump are symptoms of a deeper structural crisis of neoliberalism and globalisation that began in the 1970s. This crisis is characterized by financialisation, stagnant wages, and an ecological crisis. The author argues that the Right has successfully monopolised the idea of national sovereignty to appeal to disenfranchised masses, while the Left has mistakenly viewed the nation-state as obsolete. The document calls for a 'progressive vision of national sovereignty' based on democratic economic control and social justice, which would allow for a renewed form of international cooperation on global issues like climate change.

The document assesses the threat of violent extremism in South Africa, concluding that while the overall risk of a major attack is low, the country remains vulnerable to 'lone wolf' incidents and the use of its infrastructure as a base for international extremists. It details the history of far-right groups like the AWB and Boeremag, the militant activities of Pagad in the 1990s, and recent concerns regarding South Africans joining ISIS. The brief highlights systemic vulnerabilities such as government corruption and porous borders, while recommending a focus on youth engagement, social cohesion, and improved intelligence capabilities.

The document analyzes the first extraordinary national terror alert in Norway, issued by the Police Security Service (PST) in July 2014. It identifies three primary intentions behind the communication: to deter potential attackers, to instruct the public on behavior, and to explain the presence of increased security measures. The author argues that while the alert conveyed the reality of the threat, its vague nature and lack of concrete instructions led to unintended consequences, including a climate of suspicion and discrimination against individuals of Middle-Eastern heritage.

The World Resources Institute outlines five primary reasons why the United States should maintain its participation in the Paris Agreement, asserting that withdrawal would harm U.S. diplomatic standing, business interests, and job growth in the clean energy sector. The author highlights that 71 percent of Americans support staying in the Agreement and notes that the U.S. clean energy workforce is expanding significantly faster than the coal sector. Furthermore, the document argues that remaining in the Agreement allows the U.S. to maintain leverage over transparency requirements and the development of the Agreement's rulebook.

The author contends that Islamic State employs a strategy of provocation designed to trigger military escalation and social insecurity in Europe, which in turn fuels Islamophobia and recruitment. The document argues that orthodox security responses, which sacrifice personal freedoms for national security, actually support Islamic State's objectives by validating its narrative of Western aggression. It suggests that Islamic State is less coherent and powerful than portrayed, noting that its leadership includes pragmatic ex-Ba'ath Party officers and that many European attacks are 'outsourced' to individuals with limited organizational ties. The author advocates for a shift in policy where security is viewed as interdependent with civil liberties, arguing that bolstering the rights of minority communities and rejecting the 'clash of civilisations' narrative is the most effective way to delegitimize the group.

The document analyzes irregular violence targeting health services and aid workers, finding that while both follow similar patterns and are strongly driven by conflict intensity, attacks on medical personnel are significantly more lethal. Syria is identified as the primary location for these attacks, particularly those targeting health services. The authors highlight a critical lack of systematic data to determine actual risk levels and argue that addressing these attacks is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 16.

Turkey has become a critical partner for the Somali Federal Government (SFG), providing significant humanitarian aid, military training, and private investment. While Turkish interventions in the Mogadishu airport and seaport have substantially increased government revenues, the briefing argues that this approach risks undermining peace by favoring specific clans and bolstering an unaccountable central government. The document highlights a tension between Turkey's goal of strengthening the state and the need for an inclusive political settlement that avoids zero-sum clan dynamics.

The author examines the conflict between 'inclusivist' and 'residualist' definitions of migrants. While the inclusivist view sees all people changing their country of residence as migrants, the residualist view—promoted by the UNHCR—treats migrants as a residual category of people who are not refugees. The author argues that the residualist approach creates a false dichotomy of 'two kinds of people' and may inadvertently harm those seeking protection by suggesting that only 'refugees' are worthy of compassion.

The Mauritius Convention on Transparency, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2014, provides a mechanism for States to 'opt-in' to the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency for arbitrations brought under investment treaties concluded before April 2014. The document highlights that investor-State arbitrations often involve public interests, including policies on nuclear or alternative energy, tobacco control, and the protection of drinking water, yet typically lack the openness of legal systems governed by the rule of law. By mandating the disclosure of documents and open hearings, the Convention aims to improve democratic participation, accountability, and the ability of governments to reform international economic governance. As of January 2017, Mauritius and Canada had ratified the Convention, while several other States had signed it.

COP23 was intended as a technical summit to establish the Paris Agreement Rulebook, but achieved only modest progress on these rules. Key breakthroughs included a first-time agreement to address climate challenges in agriculture and the establishment of a Gender Action Plan and a Local Communities and Indigenous People’s Platform. The conference launched the Talanoa dialogue to accelerate action and increase ambition. While official negotiations were slow, strong political support was demonstrated by non-state actors and an alternative US delegation. Additionally, the 'Powering Past Coal' alliance was endorsed by 28 countries and regional actors, though Germany was notably absent from the pledge.

The document outlines the intersection of climate change and public health in Canada, highlighting risks such as extreme heat, wildfires, and food insecurity, particularly in the Arctic and among Indigenous populations. It advocates for a rapid phase-out of coal-powered electricity by 2030, the implementation of a National Active Transport Strategy, and the integration of Health Impact Assessments into federal environmental processes to mitigate health risks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The document details the UCDP's approach to tracking armed conflict and fatalities, arguing that its rigorous, permanent infrastructure provides a 'gold standard' for measuring SDG 16.1.2. It outlines the program's categorization of violence, its data triangulation methods, and the challenges of disaggregating data by age and sex. Using UCDP data, the authors analyze global conflict trends from 1989 to 2016, noting a general long-term decline in warfare deaths despite recent spikes and high geographic concentration in countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index ranks 153 countries based on 11 indicators across three dimensions: inclusion (education, employment, parliamentary representation, cellphone use, and financial inclusion), justice (legal discrimination, son bias, and discriminatory norms), and security (intimate partner violence, community safety, and organized violence). Iceland ranks first (.886), while Afghanistan and Syria rank last (.385). The report finds that while some countries perform well across all dimensions, many exhibit unbalanced achievements; for example, Latin America performs well on justice but poorly on inclusion. The index also highlights a disconnect between national income and women's well-being, noting that countries like Saudi Arabia rank significantly lower on the index than their per capita income would suggest. Additionally, the report analyzes the specific impact of conflict on security, noting that women in conflict-affected states face a 35 percent higher risk of intimate partner violence.

The document analyzes how ecological challenges, such as severe droughts and storms, exacerbate social instability and violent conflict in Mindanao, Philippines. It highlights the displacement of millions due to both climate events and conflict, which creates opportunities for terrorist groups like ISIS to establish footholds. The text emphasizes the geostrategic importance of the region to the United States and recommends that U.S. policy support water-related programs and collaborative governance to build climate resilience and promote peace.

The report examines Turkey's transition to an 'emerging donor' through its activities in Somalia, highlighting a 'multi-actor and multi-track policy' that combines humanitarian aid, development assistance, and strategic political engagement. While praised for its rapid delivery and respect for national ownership, the Turkish approach is noted for lacking structured monitoring and evaluation and being heavily concentrated in Mogadishu.

The author contends that the EU's approach to Turkey is overly focused on refugees and civil liberties, ignoring critical security dynamics in Syria. The text details Turkey's shifting relationship with the Assad regime, its conflict with the PKK, and the role of the Turkish 'deep state' in collaborating with various militants. It highlights the strategic importance of 'Operation Euphrates Shield' in closing IS communication lines and urges the EU to collaborate with Turkey on the liberation of Raqqa and the peace process with Kurdish separatists.

The EU-Turkey deal significantly reduced sea crossings to Greece but shifted smuggling activities toward air travel and document fraud in Istanbul. While the deal provided temporary 'breathing space,' the paper argues it is unsustainable due to Turkey's internal political instability, economic pressures from hosting 2.75 million refugees, and the lack of a credible EU alternative.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) expresses concern that the TPP's legal frameworks, specifically Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) provisions, may limit Canada's ability to implement essential climate mitigation and public health policies. The statement highlights risks such as corporate lawsuits over fossil fuel restrictions, increased pharmaceutical costs due to extended patents, and the potential for trade tribunals to override the precautionary principle in environmental health decision-making.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other health professionals argue that the Pacific Northwest LNG Project should be rejected because its environmental assessment fails to fully consider human health impacts. They highlight that the project's emissions would consume a significant portion of British Columbia's 2050 carbon budget, contradicting the Paris Agreement. Additionally, they cite evidence of local health risks from hydraulic fracturing, including groundwater contamination and reproductive toxicity, and express concern over the psychological distress ('solastalgia') and treaty rights violations affecting Indigenous communities, specifically the Blueberry River First Nations.

The author argues that the Euro and Schengen crises create opposing dependencies between the EU's centre and periphery. While the Euro crisis increased the centre's dominance by making the periphery dependent on financial support and austerity, the Schengen crisis makes the centre dependent on the periphery to manage external borders and migration. Rather than destroying the EU, these overlapping crises are likely to result in a more integrated core and an expanded, graduated periphery.