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The document outlines three primary actions for regional governments to mitigate the climate impact of waste: diverting organic waste from landfills, banning the open burning of municipal and agricultural waste, and implementing gas collection and energy recovery systems at landfills.

The report proposes a UK-wide Nature and Environment Commission to replace the oversight and enforcement functions previously provided by EU institutions. It argues that environmental law is often ineffective due to poor compliance by public authorities and a lack of a dedicated enforcer. The proposed Commission would combine technical expertise with strong legal powers, including the ability to conduct thematic inquiries, issue binding notices, and seek specific mandatory injunctions from courts. To ensure independence, the report recommends that the Commission be funded by and accountable to parliaments rather than governments, and be composed of an interdisciplinary team of experts. It also emphasizes the need for the Commission to act as a voice for nature and local communities through a transparent complaints process and public advocacy.

ClientEarth proposes a blueprint for a UK environmental watchdog with binding legal powers, independent funding from parliament, and a UK-wide mandate to ensure government accountability for environmental obligations.

The report argues that the draft European Union (Withdrawal) Bill jeopardises the UK's environment and legal system by transferring excessive power to Government Ministers and failing to guarantee the retention of all EU environmental laws and governance functions. It identifies three primary risks: a democratic deficit caused by broad ministerial powers and inadequate scrutiny; a reduction in environmental protection due to the loss of overarching principles and incomplete transposition of Directives; and a governance gap resulting from the absence of independent replacements for EU institutions. The authors recommend that retained EU law only be modified by Acts of Parliament, that environmental principles be explicitly retained, and that new, independent governance mechanisms be established through primary legislation.

The document argues that many LGPS funds are failing their fiduciary duties by ignoring climate risk or incorrectly delegating its management. It identifies five misconceptions: that climate change is not a financial risk, that delegation to managers is sufficient, that delegation to the LAPFF is sufficient, that pooling removes the need for fund-level consideration, and that taxpayers bear all the risk. The authors request that TPR investigate these issues, issue guidance, and engage with Defra for an Adaptation Report.

The report finds that despite the promotion of circular economy goals, the vast majority of carpets in Germany are incinerated and 60% in Europe are landfilled. It highlights a significant discrepancy between the environmental claims of industry leaders Interface and Desso and their actual reclamation rates, which are approximately 1.5% and 3% respectively. The document argues that structural issues, including poor product design, lack of separate collection systems, and an overcapacity of waste incinerators in Germany, hinder the transition to a closed-loop system. It recommends the introduction of product stewardship (Extended Producer Responsibility), an incineration tax, and mandatory bulky waste regulations to incentivise recycling over burning.

The report argues that the European carpet industry is far from achieving a circular economy, with the vast majority of carpets in Germany being incinerated and 60% in Europe being landfilled. Despite the public sustainability branding of market leaders Desso and Interface, the study finds that these companies recover only 1.5% to 3% of the carpets they place on the market. The document identifies structural barriers, including poor eco-design, a lack of comprehensive collection systems, and an overcapacity of waste incineration plants in Germany, which creates financial incentives to burn recyclable materials. It recommends the introduction of extended producer responsibility, a waste incineration tax, and mandatory recycling quotas to shift the industry toward genuine material recovery.

The document argues that energy sufficiency—defined as using 'enough—not more, and not less'—is essential for achieving a just energy transition. It distinguishes sufficiency from efficiency, noting that efficiency alone can lead to increased consumption via the 'rebound effect'. The briefing highlights global inequalities, where energy consumption in the US and Canada is roughly 30 times higher than in the poorest African countries. Practical applications are illustrated through community-led solar projects in Palestine and Cameroon, and a consumption-capped mini-grid on the Isle of Eigg in Scotland.

The document examines the global disparity in energy consumption, contrasting energy poverty in the Global South and parts of the North with excessive consumption in industrialized nations. It proposes 'energy sufficiency' as a paradigm shift away from orthodox economic growth and purely technocentric efficiency, which can lead to the 'Jevons paradox' (increased overall consumption). Through case studies in Gaza, Cameroon, and the Isle of Eigg, the report demonstrates how community-led, small-scale renewable energy projects can meet basic human needs and empower local populations while maintaining ecological limits.

The report by Friends of the Earth International examines the global disparities in energy consumption, distinguishing between energy exclusion in the Global South and energy poverty in the Global North. It proposes 'energy sufficiency'—defined as using neither more nor less energy than is sufficient for a dignified life—as an alternative to energy efficiency, which can lead to the 'Jevons paradox' or 'rebound effect' where efficiency increases overall consumption. The document illustrates this through case studies: solar PV projects in Gaza to counter electricity shortages; community solar lighting in rural Cameroon to bypass centralized, polluting grids; and a community-owned mini-grid on the Isle of Eigg in Scotland that uses consumption caps to maintain sustainability.

The authors call for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK's constitutional and democratic framework to address a 'crisis of democracy' characterized by voter disillusionment and inadequate representation. Proposed reforms include the adoption of proportional representation for both houses of parliament and local elections, the creation of a written constitution with a citizens bill of rights, and the establishment of directly-elected regional assemblies. The text emphasizes the need to protect local governments from corporate influence and opposes the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the grounds that it would undermine local democratic decision-making and public services.

The author contends that the exclusion of the Green Party from the 2015 UK televised election debates is an "attack on democracy," arguing that the party's electoral performance, membership growth, and policy positions justify its inclusion alongside other parties like UKIP and the Liberal Democrats.

The document argues that subnational governments are essential for implementing sustainable development policies because they are closest to citizens' needs and can foster grassroots innovation. It emphasizes the need for 'vertical coordination'—the linking of local, subnational, national, and supranational levels—to ensure policy coherence. Using empirical research, the author identifies good practice examples in Europe (such as Tyrol, Austria) and other regions (such as Bhutan), while noting that many regions lack systematic links to national strategies due to political independence or administrative bottlenecks. The briefing recommends a 'metagovernance' approach that mixes hierarchical, market, and network styles to better integrate sustainable development across all levels of government.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) develops consumption-based accounting tools, such as multi-regional input-output (MRIO) models, to reveal environmental costs often ignored by territory-based emissions tracking. SEI argues that while consumers play a role, systemic shifts driven by government and business are essential to overcome infrastructure and business models that lock in unsustainable patterns. Their research also highlights how complex global supply chains can transfer vulnerabilities and environmental risks between producer and consumer regions.

The document argues that climate change increases flood risk through more intense and frequent extreme events, necessitating a shift from purely infrastructural defenses to a coordinated approach. Using the Ebro river basin as a case study, it demonstrates how spatial hydro-economic models can identify specific drivers of risk across different municipalities and sectors. The author advocates for a combination of institutional alerts, environmental river restoration, and private-sector self-protection to manage vulnerability and exposure.

The report examines water governance in four European countries, focusing on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). It finds that while there is a general shift toward integrated, river-basin-based management, significant challenges remain in coordinating freshwater and marine policies, managing spatial boundaries, and ensuring meaningful stakeholder participation. The study highlights diverse models of service delivery, from the privatized system in the UK to the public-private partnerships and user associations in Spain, and the strong tradition of community-led water protection in Finland.

The research examines the long-run dynamics of external costs associated with coal in the United Kingdom from 1700 to 2000. It finds that during the nineteenth century, the externalization of social costs rose significantly, peaking in 1891 when damages were estimated at £17.5 billion (2000 prices), or 17.3% of GDP. The author argues that this period represents a massive market failure where marginal social costs far outweighed marginal social benefits, and that government failure delayed optimal mitigation by fifty years. The paper uses this historical case to caution that current greenhouse gas emissions may follow a similar pattern of delayed government action and high social costs.

The document argues that national-level analyses of carbon leakage underestimate the severe economic risks to Old Industrial Regions (OIRs), where heavy industry is highly concentrated. Using an applied general equilibrium (AGE) model for the Basque Country, the authors find that relocating 1.5% to 35% of iron and steel production could lead to a GDP drop of up to 2.26%. While such relocation reduces CO2 emissions, the implicit cost of this mitigation (187 to 202 €/Tco2) is significantly higher than technological alternatives like carbon capture and storage. The authors recommend that climate policies be carefully designed to avoid imposing undue burdens on sectors prone to relocation in OIRs.

The report examines the relationship between an ageing population and climate change in the UK, noting that older adults—particularly 'baby boomers'—often have the highest carbon footprints. It identifies a gap in public engagement, as older people frequently feel they are neither affected by climate change nor capable of taking personal action. The document critiques top-down communication strategies and recommends a shift toward peer-to-peer interaction, the use of trusted community brands, and positive framing to encourage sustainable behavioural change among the over-50s.

The study uses the SIMSDAIRY and LEGGRAZE models to project the impact of climate change on UK dairy systems across four time-slices (baseline, 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s). Findings indicate a general decrease in nitrous oxide (N2O) and overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per litre of milk, but an increase in ammonia (NH3) emissions and nitrate (NO3) concentrations in leachate. While farm profitability and soil quality are projected to improve due to increased land productivity and altered rainfall patterns, the study highlights a trade-off with increased acidifying gases and water pollution.