Search Climate Insights Directory

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a global, people-led transition away from 'dirty energy'—including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and large-scale hydroelectric projects—to combat the planetary emergency of climate change.

A 2017 statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a global, grassroots-led energy revolution to replace 'dirty energy'—including fossil fuels, nuclear, and large-scale hydro—with decentralized, community-centered energy systems to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a people-led energy transition to combat the climate emergency, arguing that the Paris Agreement is insufficient and that fossil fuels, nuclear power, and large hydroelectric dams must be replaced by community-centered energy systems.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides an overview of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It details the environmental and economic benefits of PEVs, the current state of the U.S. and global markets, charging infrastructure, battery technology trends, and government incentives.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, arguing that these principles have failed to stop corporate impunity or provide access to justice, and advocating for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.

This directory, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with financial support from Denmark, provides an inventory of assistance and capacity-building programmes available to African states in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) areas. It details the offers of nearly 50 states, various international and regional organisations, and civil society entities, primarily within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and other international non-proliferation treaties.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six critical areas of climate finance to monitor during the COP 21 negotiations in Paris. It emphasizes the need for developed countries to meet the $100 billion annual funding goal by 2020, the importance of increasing adaptation funding, and the necessity of transparent reporting and a predictable finance cycle to support developing nations.

This briefing analyzes the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which focused on the adoption of the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It examines the successful negotiation process led by the Open Working Group (OWG), initial national commitments to implementation, and outstanding requirements such as the development of indicators and the outcome of the Paris Climate Change Conference.

This research paper examines different ownership and operation models for distributed energy resources (DERs), evaluating utility-centric, third-party-centric, and customer-centric approaches. Through various case studies, the author argues that any of these models can optimize the electricity system if they prioritize fair compensation, transparency, and adaptability to new technologies.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) argues against the 'financialization' of biodiversity, which it defines as the process of converting nature into financial assets and commodities. The document critiques market-based mechanisms such as biodiversity banking, natural capital bonds, and payment for ecosystem services, asserting that these tools facilitate corporate control over nature, marginalize Indigenous and local communities, and provide 'false solutions' that allow continued environmental destruction through offsetting.

An open letter from various health and environment organisations to President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker arguing against the re-appointment of a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to the European Commission, citing concerns over transparency, corporate influence, and the concentration of power.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines agricultural cooperatives as a model for inclusive investment. It details the types of cooperatives, their benefits for smallholders, the role of foreign investment in reducing risk and improving skills, and the necessary government support and legal frameworks to ensure their success without undue state interference.

This research paper by GreenCape examines the use of Performance-Based Contracts (PBCs) to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW), drawing on international experiences from countries such as Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Ireland. It outlines the technical, financial, and managerial challenges of NRW reduction and provides guidance on scoping, risk-reward balancing, and ensuring the sustainability of water savings for public utilities, with a particular focus on the South African context.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the effectiveness of investment incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). It argues that fiscal incentives cannot compensate for a weak investment climate and recommends a transition from automatic tax holidays toward targeted, performance-based incentives and transparent tax administration.

This technical policy briefing note from the ClimateCost project assesses the potential economic impacts of river flooding in the European Union (EU27) under different climate and socio-economic scenarios. Using the LISFLOOD model, the study evaluates expected annual damage (EAD) and the number of people affected (EAP), while analyzing the costs and benefits of maintaining flood protection levels. The findings emphasize that socio-economic growth is as significant a driver of future flood costs as climate change, and that adaptation can significantly reduce direct damages.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland argues that carbon trading is an ineffective and dangerous primary tool for tackling climate change. The document proposes a comprehensive package of alternative mitigation strategies across energy, agriculture, forests, and industry, alongside several specific financial mechanisms to provide at least US$420 billion per year in additional climate finance for developing countries.

The report "DespejanDo el aire" argues that carbon trading is an irresponsible and ineffective solution to climate change. It proposes a comprehensive package of alternatives: investing US$100 billion annually in renewables via feed-in tariffs, adopting sustainable small-scale agriculture, implementing common industrial technology standards, and protecting forests by addressing demand for commodities. To fund these actions, it suggests generating over US$420 billion annually through a global financial transaction tax, combating tax evasion, reorienting fossil fuel subsidies, and issuing new IMF Special Drawing Rights.

A statement delivered by Amelia Broodryk on May 7, 2010, at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, representing a group of non-governmental experts from New Agenda Coalition (NAC) countries. The statement outlines seven specific criteria for measuring the success of the 2010 Review Conference in advancing international peace, security, and the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world.

The paper assesses Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) as a tool to reduce household GHG emissions in Sweden. It concludes that a UK-style PCT scheme would be inefficient in Sweden due to high administrative costs and the existing effectiveness of policies in the housing sector (e.g., district heating). While PCT could potentially address rising transport emissions, it would face equity issues between urban and rural populations. The authors note that emissions from imported food and consumables remain a significant gap in Swedish policy, but targeting these via PCT is currently technically unfeasible.

This report documents a seminar held by the Institute for Security Studies on September 19, 2009, regarding the unionisation and democratisation of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The discussions focus on the tension between constitutional labour rights and military discipline, the adversarial relationship between the Department of Defence (DOD) and military unions, and the systemic grievances of soldiers leading to protests.