Advancing Climate Compatible Development (CCD) for Food Security through the Implementation of National Climate Change Strategies

This case study examines the implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) in Honduras, focusing on its integration with agriculture and food security. It evaluates the institutional frameworks, such as the Climate Change Inter-institutional Committee (CCIC), and identifies significant barriers—including financial constraints and limited institutional empowerment—that hinder the transition toward Climate Compatible Development (CCD).

• The National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) was developed between 2009 and 2010 to reduce Honduras' climatic vulnerability by strengthening policy frameworks for adaptation and mitigation. It is structured around 7 priority sectors—water resources, agriculture, soil and food security, forests and biodiversity, coastal marine systems, human health, and risk management, and hydropower—and contains 17 strategic objectives, 15 of which focus on adaptation.
• Agriculture is a critical sector for both emissions and vulnerability in Honduras, accounting for approximately 32% of total greenhouse gas emissions as of the base year 2000. Climate threats, specifically increasing temperatures and droughts, are projected to cause thermal and water stress in plants, reducing productivity and threatening food security for poor rural and urban populations.
• The institutional framework for implementing the NCCS is centered on the Climate Change Inter-institutional Committee (CCIC), which includes over 60 institutions and operates at both political and technical levels. A specialized Sub-Committee on Agriculture and Food Security was created in 2011 to introduce adaptation measures to the agricultural sector.
• Stakeholders perceive the implementation of the NCCS to be in its early stages and generally unsatisfactory. Key barriers include limited institutional empowerment at the operational level, weaknesses in knowledge sharing, and limited access to financial resources.
• The NCCS Action Plan consists of 29 measures, divided into 18 sectorial and 11 institutional strengthening measures. For the agriculture sector, prioritized measures include modifying crop calendars and species for adaptation, and substituting unsustainable practices with the Quesungual Agro-Forestry System for mitigation.
• Significant financial barriers exist, with a lack of funding for generating project proposals for adaptation. A survey of stakeholders revealed that 66% of actors do not receive any financing for agricultural and food security programs related to climate change mitigation or adaptation.
• Knowledge and technical barriers hinder the NCCS, including a lack of accurate information on climate impacts for public and institutional personnel, and language barriers that limit the ability to formulate proposals for international funds.
• The document proposes using Regional Development Councils (CDRs), created under the Nation's Plan, as a mechanism to 'land' the NCCS at the local level. These councils could serve as platforms to integrate agriculture and food security initiatives into regional planning and budgeting.
• The report suggests that the Secretariat of Planning and International Cooperation (SEPLAN) and the Natural Resources and Environment Secretariat (SERNA) should act as 'gatekeepers' for climate change initiatives to better attract and manage international funding.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2012). Advancing Climate Compatible Development (CCD) for Food Security through the Implementation of National Climate Change Strategies. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CCD-for-Agriculture_Case-Study_Honduras-final.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Advancing Climate Compatible Development (CCD) for Food Security through the Implementation of National Climate Change Strategies. 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CCD-for-Agriculture_Case-Study_Honduras-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Advancing Climate Compatible Development (CCD) for Food Security through the Implementation of National Climate Change Strategies |date=September 2012 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CCD-for-Agriculture_Case-Study_Honduras-final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2012advancing, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Advancing Climate Compatible Development (CCD) for Food Security through the Implementation of National Climate Change Strategies}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, month = sep, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CCD-for-Agriculture_Case-Study_Honduras-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }