Search Climate Insights Directory

The report finds that French supermarkets are largely failing to address the unsustainable nature of 'fed aquaculture,' which relies heavily on wild-caught fish meal and fish oil (FMFO). While some retailers like Auchan, Carrefour, and Système U acknowledge the issue, few have firm commitments to eliminate FMFO. The study highlights a systemic lack of transparency in labeling and supply chains, and criticizes the industry's reliance on certifications (such as ASC and MSC) that do not guarantee the absence of wild-fish inputs or ensure animal welfare. It specifically identifies major producers like Mowi and Lerøy as key suppliers to French retail, noting their links to problematic sourcing in Peru and West Africa.

The document outlines the development of eligibility criteria for electrical grids and storage to align bond investments with a 1.5°C warming scenario. It details the decision to adopt EU taxonomy criteria for transmission and distribution, the rationale for applying similar constraints to energy storage, and the requirements for climate resilience and adaptation.

The document argues that the innovative policy responses used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic can be repurposed to mitigate systemic climate-related risks. It details how prudential regulations, such as stress testing and capital buffers, and monetary instruments, including collateral frameworks and corporate financing facilities, can be 'greened' to support a sustainable recovery in the ASEAN region. The brief emphasizes the need for clear roadmaps and mandatory climate disclosures to manage both physical and transition risks.

The report analyzes the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM), noting that while it is named a 'free trade zone', it functions more like an 'enterprise zone' by focusing on regional development and local employment rather than international trade. The authors argue that current tax incentives have not significantly improved productivity or wages, with 59% of employees earning up to two minimum wages in 2019. The document recommends redefining the ZFM's identity and linking tax benefits to local hiring quotas, education, infrastructure reinvestment, and sustainable activities that leverage the Amazon biome's comparative advantages.

Between 2008 and 2019, fifteen CO2-intensive industrial sectors in nineteen EU countries earned estimated additional profits between €30 billion and over €50 billion from the EU ETS. These profits were derived from three primary sources: the overallocation of free emission allowances, the use of cheaper international credits (CERs/ERUs) for compliance, and the passing through of opportunity costs of free allowances into product prices. The iron and steel sector was the largest beneficiary, with profits ranging from €11.9 billion to €16.1 billion. In contrast, the aviation sector experienced a net loss of €151.2 million due to the need to purchase allowances. The report argues that free allocation may no longer be fit for purpose and recommends increasing the share of auctioning combined with targeted investment subsidies or a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to reduce windfall profits and encourage decarbonization.

Ember estimates that Drax's proposed BECCS plant would cost UK energy bill-payers £31.7 billion over a 25-year lifetime, adding approximately £16 annually to each household's energy bill. The report warns that the project's ability to provide negative emissions is highly uncertain due to the carbon neutrality assumptions of woody biomass, which may instead result in net emissions in worst-case scenarios. It argues that relying on BECCS for the UK's net-zero targets constitutes a serious policy risk and recommends tightening biomass regulations and exploring alternative negative emission sources.

The report identifies five key technical solutions for net-zero—energy efficiency, electrification, low-carbon fuels, heavy industry decarbonization, and carbon removal—and five strategic recommendations for Canada, including the creation of industry consortia, Indigenous leadership, a whole-of-government approach, a just transition for workers, and a transparent framework for carbon offsets.

The report finds that the City of London is the world's third largest source of loans for the global coal industry, with top UK banks providing $56 billion to coal companies between October 2018 and October 2020. It highlights a significant gap between the UK's net-zero rhetoric and the actual activities of its financial sector, noting that no UK financial institution has adopted a robust coal exit policy. The document specifically identifies Barclays, HSBC, and Standard Chartered as major providers of coal finance, and Legal & General as the largest UK investor in coal. It contrasts this with the French financial sector, where many institutions have committed to ending support for coal expansion. The report concludes with a set of ten rules for UK financiers to exit coal and calls for an immediate end to the expansion of all fossil fuels, including oil and gas.

The paper analyzes how COVID-19 has disrupted climate finance, noting a tension between the need for economic recovery and the fulfillment of the $100 billion annual climate finance pledge. It highlights that while the pandemic created opportunities for 'green recoveries' through stimulus packages, early funding often favored carbon-intensive sectors. The authors emphasize a growing need for adaptation finance and the mobilization of private capital to support a sustainable transition in Africa.

The document analyzes the vulnerability of sub-Saharan African food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting a heavy reliance on global imports and a lack of fiscal capacity for social protection. It details how governments primarily used interventionist market, trade, and production policies, while highlighting severe disruptions in input supply, labor, and logistics. The authors argue for a shift toward more agile governance, investment in infrastructure, and the effective implementation of regional trade agreements to build future resilience.

The analysis evaluates Estonia's readiness for a hydrogen economy, focusing on the transport and industrial sectors as primary drivers for decarbonization. It models two scenarios (low and high) for hydrogen penetration by 2050, estimating that total investments could reach EUR 22.4 to 44.7 billion. The report highlights that while the transport sector—particularly shipping and rail—and the production of green ammonia and methanol offer the highest potential, significant barriers exist, including a lack of refueling infrastructure, high initial costs, and the need for a national hydrogen strategy. To unlock this potential, the study emphasizes the necessity of increasing renewable electricity capacity, specifically through offshore wind, and providing public investment to kick-start the market.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has committed to fully divesting its investment portfolio from fossil fuels starting in October 2021, following an internal audit that revealed approximately 5% of its holdings were in fossil fuels via mutual funds. While the AGU has ceased accepting fossil fuel sponsorship for events—ending a long history that included over $620,000 from ExxonMobil between 2001 and 2015—Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) argues that the AGU lacks transparency, as it does not disclose the specific companies within its $120.6m investment portfolio. The AGU also aims to chart a path toward net carbon neutrality for all investments and is transitioning its buildings to net zero energy, though no target dates for the latter have been provided.

Former OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü details the challenges of investigating chemical weapons use in Syria, the failure of the UN-led Joint Investigative Mechanism due to a Russian veto, and the subsequent creation of the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) to attribute responsibility for attacks.

The document outlines how fossil fuel companies use misleading advertising to appear more sustainable than they are. It specifically critiques claims regarding the sustainability of natural gas, the viability of carbon capture and storage (CCS), the effectiveness of carbon offsets and nature-based solutions, and the carbon neutrality of wood biomass energy.

The Council on Strategic Risks outlines critical priorities for the nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense (ASD(NCB)), focusing on biological threats highlighted by COVID-19, the erosion of chemical weapons norms, and the maintenance of civilian oversight of the U.S. nuclear enterprise.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and a coalition of 800 health professionals criticize Prime Minister Trudeau's commitment to reduce emissions by at least 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. They argue this target is inadequate compared to a proposed minimum of 60% reduction and falls behind the goals of other wealthy nations like the US and UK. The statement calls for a strengthened Bill C-12 and the reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies to ensure a healthy future for children and global climate stability.

The We Mean Business coalition highlights the role of corporate advocacy in the US government's decision to increase its 2030 emission reduction target to 50-52% below 2005 levels. The statement emphasizes that over 400 businesses and investors, representing $4 trillion in annual revenue, urged this increase to provide the policy clarity needed for private sector investment in a zero-carbon economy. It further calls for other global economies to align their NDCs with the 1.5ºC trajectory to maintain economic competitiveness.

The Council on Strategic Risks outlines key policy challenges and proposed Senate questioning for Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins' nomination as Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. The authors emphasize the need for the U.S. to address the erosion of norms against chemical weapons, vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19 regarding biological threats, and the rising risks of nuclear proliferation and treaty dissolution. They suggest that the nominee should be questioned on strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention, managing the final destruction of U.S. chemical stockpiles by 2023, and reinvigorating 21st-century nuclear arms control.

The authors contend that while corporate pledges to reduce emissions are increasing, the decarbonization of heavy industry—which accounts for approximately 18% of global carbon emissions—requires significant government funding and regulatory support. They highlight the 'Global Framework Principles for Decarbonizing Heavy Industry' as a tool to coordinate these efforts and criticize the gap between the climate rhetoric and actual policy actions of leaders in the US, China, Japan, and India.

Reclaim Finance asserts that the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) is failing to drive a real movement away from coal despite growing membership. The organization highlights that most financial institution members continue to fund coal development, and co-chairs Canada and the United Kingdom, along with members like Mexico and Germany, exhibit contradictory behaviors such as planning new mines or power plants. The document calls for the PPCA to reform its criteria to include the entire coal sector and align with Paris Agreement timetables ahead of COP26.