Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing note outlines the results of a three-year programme titled 'Putting lessons into practice: Scaling up People/s Biodiversity Management for Food Security', implemented by Oxfam Novib and the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Peru, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. The programme aimed to strengthen the rights and technical capacities of indigenous peoples and smallholder farmers regarding the sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food security.

This position paper examines proposed May 2014 amendments to the REACH Annexes by the European Commission, aimed at improving the efficacy of nanomaterial registration within the European Union's primary chemical regulation framework.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), prepared for Hunter Douglas, evaluates the energy savings potential of insulating honeycomb window shades in U.S. residences. Using EnergyPlus simulations across eight ASHRAE climate zones, the study finds that these shades can significantly reduce heating and cooling energy consumption, improve thermal comfort, and lower peak electricity demand, with existing homes seeing greater benefits than new homes.

This research paper examines the current status of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects following a decline in market conditions, noting a significant information gap regarding the barriers and requirements for the continuation of individual projects worldwide.

This report, produced by the OECD and Climate Policy Initiative, provides preliminary estimates of climate finance mobilized by developed countries for developing countries in 2013 and 2014 to track progress toward the USD 100 billion annual goal by 2020.

A statement from World Resources Institute President and CEO Dr. Andrew Steer regarding an OECD report that found climate finance commitments from developed countries and multilateral banks rose to $62 billion in 2014, indicating progress toward the $100 billion annual goal for 2020.

This research paper examines how technical assistance, specifically through five programs managed by the German agency GIZ, mobilizes public and private climate finance. It distinguishes between direct mobilization (co-financing) and indirect mobilization (creating conducive policy environments and markets) and highlights the challenges in quantifying the latter due to time lags and interacting variables.

The research paper discusses the tension between state-to-state arbitration and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) within South Africa's foreign direct investment (FDI) protection regime, specifically regarding the Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill (PPIB).

This research paper examines the implementation of REDD+ environmental safeguards at the national level, specifically focusing on biodiversity and natural forests. It highlights that while the 2013 Warsaw Framework links results-based payments to the provision of safeguard information, the broad discretion given to countries may undermine effectiveness. The paper suggests using systematic gap analyses of national laws and policies to improve implementation.

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute outlines how Virginia can meet and exceed the U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan requirement to reduce power sector emissions by 23 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. It identifies three primary pathways—improving energy efficiency, increasing renewable energy, and utilizing existing natural gas plants—and details the potential economic benefits of these actions.

This case study describes a project to assess the carbon and water footprints of the capital cities of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru to support urban planning and climate compatible development.

The paper proposes a framework to integrate three analytical approaches—quantitative systems modelling, socio-technical transition analysis, and initiative-based learning—to better support the governance of transitions to sustainable and low-carbon societies.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) arguing that the chemical industry is attempting to undermine the ability of US states to enact protective toxic chemical legislation through the reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

This fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment describes the nature of neonicotinoid pesticides, their impact on honey bee populations in Canada and globally, and the regulatory actions taken in Ontario and the European Union to mitigate these risks.

This case study describes the first phase of the 'Carbon and water footprinting in three Andean Cities' project, which assessed the carbon and water footprints of La Paz, Quito, and Lima to support municipal climate change mitigation and adaptation. The project provided the first greenhouse gas inventories for La Paz and Lima and the first city-level customized analysis for Quito, leading to the development of action plans and small-scale pilot projects to reduce environmental footprints.

This case study assesses the economic impacts of climate change on malaria prevalence in the Tororo and Kabale districts of Uganda. It finds that while climate change (specifically rising temperatures) is expected to increase malaria incidence, population growth is the primary driver of future case increases. The report estimates that the economic burden of malaria in these districts could more than double by 2050, primarily due to mortality costs. It recommends a multi-sectoral approach to adaptation, including improved disease surveillance, early warning systems, and the continued use of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS).

This case study provides an economic assessment of climate change impacts in Kampala, Uganda, combining qualitative analysis with quantitative modelling of climate projections. It evaluates the costs of flood-related damages and the investment required to climate-proof urban infrastructure, while conducting cost-benefit analyses on specific drainage improvement projects.

This case study assesses the economic impacts of climate change on agricultural production in three villages within the Karamoja region of Uganda: Oryeotyene North ward (Abim district), Nakayot (Napak district), and Lopedot (Amudat district). The report analyzes recent losses from droughts and floods, projects future production losses up to 2050, and evaluates adaptation strategies to improve resilience for crop and livestock farming.

This case study examines the impact of climate change on Arabica coffee production in Uganda's Bududa district. It finds that coffee yields have declined by approximately 66% since 1991 due to poor management and increased climate extremes like droughts and landslides. The report argues that adopting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)—specifically shade trees, mulching, and trench construction—could significantly improve the internal rate of return (IRR) for farmers, even under future climate projections. While the required investment is high (up to US$4.9 million annually by 2019), the study concludes that the economic benefits of CSA outweigh the costs.

This case study assesses the economic impacts of climate change on the water and energy sectors within the Mpanga River catchment in Uganda. It focuses on the potential for conflict between hydroelectric power generation and other water needs (domestic, agricultural, and industrial) as climate change and socioeconomic development increase pressure on water resources. The study utilizes climate modelling and economic valuation to estimate future losses and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of various adaptation strategies.