Search Climate Insights Directory

The document highlights the disparity between the high profits of global chocolate companies and the poverty of cocoa farmers, particularly in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. It argues that farmer poverty is a primary driver of environmental and social issues, including deforestation and child labor, and calls for companies to implement living income reference prices, fair contracts, and transparent reporting.

Reclaim Finance asserts that the 'transitioning away from fossil fuels' agreement at COP28 must be backed by concrete action from rich countries. It calls for the EU, US, Canada, Norway, the UK, and Australia to end domestic oil and gas production, stop their financial institutions from enabling global fossil fuel expansion, and provide concessional finance for just coal retirements and renewable energy deployment in the Global South.

The project has been rated as 'Highly Satisfactory' for its overall outcomes, having successfully established the TNFD Secretariat and released the TNFD Recommendations in September 2023. While the project demonstrated high cost-effectiveness by leveraging approximately USD 1.85 million in GEF funding to unlock nearly USD 12.5 million in total financing, it faced operational challenges regarding inconsistent funding tranches from WWF-GEF to UNEP FI. The review recommends developing a new Theory of Change to shift focus from framework creation to maximizing uptake, building capacity in the Global South, and supporting the fulfillment of CBD Target 15.

The document examines how climate change and sea level rise threaten coastal communities and military infrastructure, potentially leading to social instability and reduced military readiness. It advocates for the use of nature-based solutions—such as mangroves, coral reefs, and salt marshes—as cost-effective alternatives or supplements to artificial infrastructure to dissipate wave energy and reduce flooding. The author highlights specific military applications, including US Department of Defense projects in Florida and UK efforts in overseas territories, and suggests that supporting these ecological defenses in partner nations can bolster strategic alliances and global security.

The document examines how disparate fringe movements—including the far right, far left, and Islamist groups—find common ground through shared antisemitic narratives. It highlights a trend of 'hybridisation' on social media where these groups cross-fertilise narratives, such as the belief that Jews possess disproportionate global power or the conspiracy theory that Israel was responsible for the October 7 attacks. The briefing argues that antisemitism is best predicted by conspiratorial worldviews and authoritarian preferences rather than specific left- or right-wing political views, and calls for a 'cross-harm perspective' to tackle these intersecting hate narratives.

The Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) reports on the 2023 status of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), noting a breakthrough in consensus at the previous year's Review Conference despite a difficult geopolitical climate. The document advocates for the establishment of a multi-layered verification mechanism, the creation of an International Agency for Biological Safety, and the development of independent scientific assessment tools. It highlights successful BWC universalization efforts in Africa led by the ISU and UNODA, while warning that baseless non-compliance allegations undermine the treaty's goodwill.

The document critiques the COP28 final declaration for lacking a commitment to a 'fossil fuel phaseout' and for being lenient on coal and gas. It argues that developed countries, particularly France and the UK, must stop their financial institutions from enabling fossil fuel expansion and instead provide concessional finance and de-risking mechanisms to help developing countries transition to renewables and energy efficiency.

The document argues that limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C requires an immediate stop to burning fossil fuels, urging governments to halve global fossil fuel use by 2035 and stop new fossil fuel project investments. It highlights the role of cities and businesses in this transition, noting that solar and wind are already cheaper than new fossil gas electricity in most C40 city locations. Examples of city-level action include fossil gas bans in new buildings in several US cities and renewable energy targets in Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Seoul. Additionally, over 200 companies with nearly US$1.5 trillion in revenue are calling for clear phase-out timelines, 100% decarbonised power, and the reform of fossil fuel subsidies.

ClientEarth advises a UK pension scheme's trustees to cease providing bond capital to energy companies unless they have credible net-zero transition plans and enforceable bond covenants. The letter asserts that climate change represents a material financial risk—including physical, transition, and litigation risks—that trustees must manage to meet their legal fiduciary duties and protect beneficiaries' interests.

ClientEarth asserts that banks providing financial services to fossil fuel expanders like Saudi Aramco are contributing to climate-related human rights impacts. The organization argues that such financing violates the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines, creating significant legal risks through emerging mandatory human rights due diligence laws and greenwashing litigation. ClientEarth proposes specific 'red-lines,' including an immediate end to financing new fossil fuel exploration and requiring clients to publish Paris-aligned transition plans by H1 2024.

The document examines the disproportionate impact of climate change on African youth and their subsequent rise in activism. It highlights the gap between youth demographics and political leadership in Africa, the specific climate vulnerabilities in countries like Nigeria and Sudan, and the systemic barriers activists face, including financial constraints and state repression. The author calls for the establishment of youth councils, dedicated funding, and protection mechanisms to ensure young people can shape climate-resilient policies.

The report reviews global research on the intersection of climate change and health, finding that framing climate change as a public health issue—particularly through the use of trusted health professionals and positive, solutions-oriented messaging—can increase public engagement and support for climate policies across political divides. It notes a significant lack of representative data from the Global South and highlights the need for better integration of climate-health curricula in medical education and stronger engagement from public officials.

The report argues that nuclear energy is essential for a reliable, zero-carbon energy system but has stagnated since 1990 due to high costs and slow delivery. It proposes a 'fundamental reset' of the industry, shifting from bespoke mega-projects to standardized, manufactured products. Key recommendations include the creation of Independent Nuclear Development Organizations (INDOs) to integrate project delivery, a Global Licensing Authority (GLA) to harmonize international regulations, an International Technical Support Organization (ITSO) to assist embarking nuclear nations, and an International Bank of Nuclear Infrastructure (IBNI) to expand financing access. CATF analysis suggests these combined measures could reduce overnight construction costs by as much as 60% from first-of-a-kind to Nth-of-a-kind reactors.

The report examines the potential for international cooperation to mitigate the risks of unilateral border carbon adjustments (BCAs), such as 'green protectionism' and trade retaliation. It evaluates the G7 Climate Club, GASSA, and the OECD's IFCMA using a framework of 'input legitimacy' (inclusiveness and institutional strength) and 'output legitimacy' (effectiveness in achieving five specific goals). The analysis finds that while none are currently ideal for BCA cooperation, the IFCMA shows the most promise due to its focus on data and comparability. The report warns that domestic political priorities and existing policy path dependencies, such as the EU's established CBAM, hinder the creation of a unified international approach.

The report examines the risks associated with LNG export projects in Mozambique, particularly those involving the European Union. It finds that these projects have caused social displacement, environmental damage, and increased sovereign debt without delivering promised economic development. The authors argue that the 'gas for development' narrative is unsupported by evidence, as Cabo Delgado's socio-economic conditions have worsened since gas discoveries. Financial risks include volatile global gas prices, declining long-term demand due to the energy transition, and contractual designs that delay government revenues until the 2030s. Furthermore, the report highlights an erosion of sovereignty through investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms and the prioritization of infrastructure security over civilian protection. It recommends that Mozambique reassess operational projects, halt new LNG developments, and prioritize sustainable economic diversification.

The December 2023 update finds that global warming projections have stalled, with current policies leading to 2.7°C of warming by 2100. Even the most optimistic scenario, including all announced targets, results in 1.8°C, exceeding the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal. The report highlights a growing implementation gap and warns that reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS), e-fuels, and carbon offsets are 'false solutions' that delay necessary deep emission cuts. It urges governments to submit 1.5°C-aligned 2035 targets by February 2025 and to commit to a complete phase-out of fossil fuels.

The report examines the vulnerability of global trade infrastructure to climate change, highlighting that maritime, land-based, and air transport are all exposed to acute and slow-onset hazards. It identifies critical 'chokepoints' in global supply chains, particularly for food and raw materials, and notes that current adaptation efforts by governments and businesses are insufficient. The document argues for a systemic, global approach to climate-proofing trade infrastructure to prevent catastrophic economic losses and support the low-carbon transition.

The paper examines how strategic assessments can be used to streamline the approval of clean growth projects in Canada, particularly in light of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on the Impact Assessment Act. It suggests that by shifting the regulatory burden from individual project assessments to broader strategic analyses of policies and systemic issues, Canada can accelerate its energy transition. The author recommends implementing clear triggers, a tiered approach to assessment, and robust outcome tracking, drawing on international examples from the EU and US.

The paper examines how strategic assessments—which analyze policies and systemic issues rather than individual projects—can accelerate Canada's net zero transition. It highlights that while the 2019 Impact Assessment Act provides a framework, the tool remains underused and lacks formalization. By adopting global best practices such as tiering, formal triggers, and outcome monitoring, Canada could more efficiently manage cumulative impacts and share regulatory burdens between strategic and project-level assessments.

The report analyzes over 285 million social media posts from June 2022 to July 2023 to identify trends in meat and dairy misinformation. It categorizes misinformation into 'disparage' narratives targeting alternatives and 'enhance' narratives promoting animal products. The study finds that a small number of 'misinfluencers' drive significant engagement, often linking food systems to far-right conspiracy theories like 'The Great Reset'. These narratives are shown to undermine scientific consensus and hinder government efforts to reduce agricultural emissions in countries such as Ireland and the Netherlands.