Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the increasing import of fracked natural gas liquids (NGLs)—specifically ethane and propane—from the United States to Europe is undermining the European Union's climate and plastics reduction goals. The document details the supply chain from US fracking basins to European petrochemical plants and contends that current EU regulations, such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), contain loopholes that allow the plastics industry to offshore emissions and avoid carbon pricing.

An analysis by Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs regarding opportunities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address environmental crises and sustainable development during its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

Friends of the Earth International critiques the COP26 announcement by the UK, US, and 18 other countries to end public financing for overseas fossil fuel projects by the end of 2022, calling it hypocritical due to continued domestic extraction and a lack of climate finance for the Global South.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizing the COP26 announcement to end public financing for overseas fossil fuel projects, arguing that it is hypocritical as participating nations continue domestic extraction and fail to provide essential climate finance for the Global South.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to halt deforestation as a rebranding of flawed initiatives that allow corporations and polluting nations to offset emissions rather than reduce them, warning that it risks facilitating land grabbing and human rights violations.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 commitment to end deforestation, characterizing it as a superficial effort that allows major polluters to continue emitting carbon through carbon offsets and market-based mechanisms rather than implementing regulatory action and protecting indigenous rights.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to end deforestation, arguing it serves as a facade for continued fossil fuel use and carbon emissions through offsetting mechanisms. The organization warns that the pledge lacks regulatory teeth and risks repeating the failures of REDD+, potentially leading to land grabbing and human rights violations.

A report by NewClimate Institute, IIASA, and FTSE Russell analyzing climate mitigation efforts across 30 major emitting countries and regions, finding that current policy projections are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) identifies perceived knowledge gaps and barriers hindering the adoption of 'gridless' (decentralized) water, sanitation, and energy services. Based on workshops with 48 global stakeholders, the report argues that project failures often stem from socio-technical and systemic issues—such as regulatory mismatches, lack of user-centric design, and unsustainable business models—rather than technical performance.

This research paper argues that South Africa should adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to transition toward a cashless economy, thereby reducing the risks associated with cash-in-transit (CIT) hijackings and enhancing its investment appeal despite high rates of cybercrime.

Ember's submission to the Environmental Audit Committee expresses concern that current mainstream Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), specifically the model proposed at the Drax power station, may fail to deliver genuine negative emissions due to the carbon impact of burning wood for power.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law outlining the necessary conditions for COP26 to achieve real climate ambition, arguing that success requires the phase-out of fossil fuels, equitable financial support for developing nations, and the rejection of 'false solutions' like carbon offsets and geoengineering.

The Climate Policy Initiative analyzed public climate commitments from over 350 private financial institutions across four sectors. While assets committed to net zero have grown to over USD 93 trillion, the report finds a significant lack of interim targets, detailed transition plans, and comprehensive fossil fuel phase-out strategies.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that major corporations and industry groups are using "net zero" commitments as a "con" to greenwash their images and block effective climate policy ahead of COP26. The document details how six specific entities—BP, Microsoft, IETA, BlackRock, Shell, and Drax—continue to invest in fossil fuels, lobby governments, and rely on unproven technologies or offsets while maintaining a public image of climate leadership.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that major corporations and industry groups are using "net zero" pledges as a strategy to delay meaningful climate action and greenwash their images ahead of COP26. The document details how six specific entities—BP, Microsoft, Drax, IETA, BlackRock, and Shell—employ false solutions, accounting loopholes, and aggressive lobbying to maintain business-as-usual fossil fuel extraction and emissions while appearing to align with the Paris Agreement.

A statement by over 200 civil society organizations calling for an immediate end to international public finance for coal, oil, and gas to align with the 1.5°C warming limit and the Paris Agreement.

This report explores how insurance can be integrated into urban climate resilience strategies to mitigate financial and physical risks. It argues that while insurance is underutilized, cities can act as consumers of risk-transfer products, stewards of risk-reducing policy, and conveners of stakeholders. Key barriers include a lack of technical capacity, data gaps, and the short-term nature of insurance products. The report recommends increased investment in risk assessment, the development of collaborative resilience plans with the insurance industry, and the use of concessional finance from DFIs to make insurance affordable for vulnerable urban populations.

This briefing by Ember compares three expert modeling scenarios—from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), National Grid, and Energy Systems Catapult (ESC)—to demonstrate that the UK can phase out unabated gas-fired electricity generation by 2035 or sooner. The report argues that such a transition is essential for meeting the UK's legislated carbon targets, would reduce dependence on expensive imported gas, and would support a green industrial revolution through the expansion of renewables and energy storage.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and E3G analyzes the significant contraction of the global coal power project pipeline between 2015 and 2021. It argues that a global commitment to 'no new coal' is feasible, as a majority of proposed projects have been cancelled due to poor economics and shifting climate policies.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) mechanisms are becoming a reality as countries increase climate ambition. The author proposes a set of international principles and best practices to prevent BCAs from becoming protectionist tools and suggests the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the ideal forum for these discussions.