Search Climate Insights Directory

A briefing note from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other health and environmental groups calling for the modernization of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 1999, to address current public health threats and environmental justice issues.

This legal briefing examines the impact of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) Komstroy decision on intra-EU investment disputes under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). It argues that the ruling, alongside the Achmea and PL Holdings decisions, effectively bars investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) between EU investors and Member States, creating significant legal and financial obstacles to the enforcement of arbitration awards. The document specifically analyzes how these rulings and EU State aid laws could impede claims by energy companies RWE and Uniper against the Netherlands regarding its coal phase-out policy.

This guide identifies 69 strong policy provisions from existing Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) to assist financial institutions in creating or improving their accountability frameworks. It emphasizes the need for IAMs to be independent of management, accessible to project-affected communities, and capable of providing both institutional learning and material remedy for harms.

This report analyzes the role of the Brazilian National Development Economic and Social Bank (BNDES) in providing investment credit for the Brazilian agricultural sector, focusing on the financing of machinery and equipment.

This report analyzes the link between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (2013-2020). It finds that while only 11% of fire-affected forest is directly converted to clear-cut deforestation within three years, fire is a strong indicator of regional risk, with high rates of nearby deforestation. This association is particularly strong in rural settlements and public land holdings, suggesting fire's role in land grabbing. Regional disparities exist, with significant intensification of this pattern in states like Acre and Pará.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from INPE's DETER and PRODES systems. It finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, a significant portion of deforestation occurs in the vicinity of previously degraded areas, suggesting that degradation can serve as a regional risk indicator for future forest loss.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a methodology to track incremental energy efficiency investments in certified green buildings. Using a global database of over 16,000 certifications from 2019-2020, the report argues that current green certifications are often inconsistent indicators of actual energy performance and that energy efficiency investments represent only a small fraction of total building construction costs.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes a legislative report by Senator Carlos Fávaro regarding Bill (PL) nº 510/2021, which proposes changes to the legal framework for land regularization in Brazil. The authors argue that the report favors medium and large land occupants while offering no benefits to small farmers, potentially incentivizing illegal deforestation and land grabbing (grilagem).

This report analyzes the energy transition in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, highlighting the state's struggle to meet renewable energy targets despite its significant role in India's total power demand. The authors argue that UP's heavy reliance on coal-fired power creates financial and operational vulnerabilities, and they propose reforms for the state's distribution companies (Discoms) to facilitate a shift toward solar and biomass energy.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation outlines the building electrification and energy efficiency provisions within the House version of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). It details $12.5 billion in incentives for residential and commercial building decarbonization, alongside significant investments in affordable housing, workforce training, and the adoption of zero-energy building codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer costs.

This report examines the adoption of new mining technologies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their impact on local procurement. While large-scale mining projects like Kibali and Kamoa-Kakula utilize advanced automation and green technologies, local suppliers struggle to capture high-value contracts due to gaps in capital, skills, and infrastructure. The report analyzes the 2018 Mining Code's efforts to mandate local content and identifies systemic barriers—including a weak manufacturing sector and outdated intellectual property laws—that hinder the transfer of technology to Congolese enterprises.

This report examines the adoption of new mining technologies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their impact on local procurement. While large-scale industrial mines like Kibali and Kamoa-Kakula utilize advanced automation and green energy, local suppliers struggle to access high-value contracts due to gaps in capital, specialized skills, and a weak manufacturing base. The document analyzes the effectiveness of the 2018 Mining Code and the 2017 Subcontracting Law in promoting local content, concluding that a more supportive regulatory and economic environment is necessary to translate technological advancement into sustainable local economic growth.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the application of the principle of subsidiarity within the African Union (AU) and its relationship with regional mechanisms (RMs). It argues that the lack of a clear operational definition of subsidiarity has led to contradictions, competition, and inconsistent decision-making within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The authors recommend establishing a comprehensive legal, policy, and financial framework to shift the relationship from competition to collaboration, clearly distinguishing between the region as a 'first responder' and the AU as the 'primary actor'.

The 2021 AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) report notes a positive shift toward addressing climate-induced insecurity but criticizes the council for ignoring governance deficits as root causes of conflict. The report highlights the PSC's response to military coups in Mali, Guinea, and Sudan, while noting a controversial endorsement of a military transition in Chad. Looking toward 2022, it warns of potential electoral violence in Kenya, Angola, and Senegal, and identifies several conflict hotbeds, including Ethiopia and Libya. It also emphasizes the ongoing threat of violent extremism in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, and Mozambique, while noting the AU's struggle with member state funding and the need for strategic autonomy.

This case study describes a decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 15, 2021, which upheld a Punjab provincial government notification banning the construction or expansion of cement plants in environmentally fragile "Negative Areas."

This case study details a legal challenge brought by Greenpeace Spain, Oxfam Intermón, and Ecologistas en Acción against the Government of Spain, alleging that the state's climate actions and its National Energy and Climate Plan were inadequate and violated EU regulations and the Paris Agreement.

A case study on the legal challenge Neubauer et al. v. Germany, in which the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany ruled that parts of the Federal Climate Protection Act were incompatible with fundamental rights because they failed to specify sufficient emission cuts beyond 2030.

The 'Klimaataksie Handboek' is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 to help South African communities build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It explains the science of climate change, identifies vulnerabilities, and provides a comprehensive toolkit for using legal mechanisms, public participation, and community organizing to protect environmental and human rights.

The Climate Action Handbook is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 designed to help communities in South Africa build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It provides educational material on the causes and impacts of climate change, outlines the legal framework of South Africa, and offers a ten-step practical toolkit for communities to advocate for their rights and hold governments and corporations accountable.

A case study detailing the legal action brought by four NGOs against the French government for failing to implement sufficient measures to address climate change, resulting in a court order for immediate corrective action.