Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses service design methodology to analyze the 'user journeys' of households adopting advanced cookstoves in Kenya and Zambia. The study identifies a gap between the motivations that drive the initial purchase of a stove and the factors that ensure long-term adoption and consistent use.

This report argues that transforming gender relations in sub-Saharan African agriculture is essential for improving agricultural productivity, food security, and overall human development. It posits a causal link between gender equality in households and communities and better agricultural outcomes, asserting that standard development interventions cannot fully succeed unless women and men are on equal footing.

This report chapter examines the critical role of land access and control in empowering women farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that while statutory land titles are rare for women, direct access to land improves food security, household livelihoods, and economic agency. Through case studies in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, the document illustrates how gender-neutral or customary land systems often marginalize women—particularly widows and single mothers—and highlights the necessity of combining legal reform with grassroots activism and support for agricultural inputs.

This document is the front matter (foreword and table of contents) of a report titled "Transforming Gender Relations in Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa," published by the Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI) and the Stockholm Environment Institute. It describes the origins of the book, which grew from a 2009 Sida study on gender aspects of agricultural programmes and a subsequent 2011 seminar and "writeshop." The report aims to provide a guide and inspiration for designing agricultural development efforts that empower both women and men by sharing successful approaches and analytical frameworks.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute proposes a new governance paradigm called "strategic resilience" to address the failures of traditional climate change adaptation. The authors argue that adaptation is currently hindered by its placement within relatively weak environment ministries and a narrow focus on territorial impacts. By relocating adaptation to the center of government and integrating it into a broader resilience agenda, states can better manage complex, cross-border climate risks and avoid a "securitization" approach dominated by defense logics.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has introduced the Water Beyond Boundaries (WBB) initiative to address gaps in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). WBB seeks to create a new agenda for sustainable water planning by focusing on tele-connections beyond the watershed, early integration of ecosystem needs, and multi-scale participatory approaches to address social inequalities.

This guide, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in June 2013, provides a step-by-step methodology for using the weADAPT platform and the Climate Information Portal (CIP) to access and apply climate data for adaptation planning and policy-making. It emphasizes that adaptation is a socio-institutional learning process rather than a purely technical exercise. The document includes a detailed case study in the Philippi suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, to demonstrate how historical data and future projections (using RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios) can inform land-use decisions, specifically regarding the tension between maintaining vegetable production and developing low-cost housing.

This fact sheet outlines the challenges and opportunities for a just energy transition (TEJ) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, a city heavily dependent on the petroleum industry. It proposes diversifying the local economy through regenerative agriculture, nature tourism, renewable energy, and sustainable fuels to mitigate the impact of moving away from fossil fuels.

This report by Trend Asia, CELIOS, and CREA identifies the 20 most toxic coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in Indonesia, termed the "Toxic Twenty." It analyzes the severe public health, economic, and environmental costs associated with these facilities, arguing that current government retirement roadmaps are insufficient and often delayed by a reliance on unproven technologies like co-firing and CCS/CCUS. The report provides detailed case studies for several plants, documenting widespread respiratory illnesses, loss of traditional livelihoods in fisheries and agriculture, and significant negative impacts on regional GDP.

This position paper by Forum Studi Halmahera (FOSHAL), Trend Asia, and YLBHI details the ecological and social devastation caused by nickel mining and downstream processing (hilirisasi) in North Maluku. It argues that while the province shows high economic growth driven by nickel exports, this is contrasted by rising poverty, severe deforestation, water pollution, and health crises among local populations.

This fact sheet by Trend Asia examines the failures of biomass energy projects and the resulting land inequality in the Mentawai Islands. It highlights the collapse of 'bamboo electricity' projects, the threat of deforestation from industrial forestry concessions, and the disparity between large corporate land grants and the small, slow-to-be-recognized customary lands of indigenous communities.

This fact sheet by Trend Asia examines the failure of biomass power plants (PLTBm) in the Mentawai Islands and the resulting environmental and social impacts. It highlights how a project funded by a US grant led to the deforestation of customary forests when intended bamboo fuel proved unsuitable, while arguing that the region's energy needs should be met through more abundant renewable sources like solar and hydro rather than extractive bioenergy.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the process of mainstreaming climate change adaptation into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) in Kenya, focusing on the successful experiences of Makueni and Wajir Counties. It highlights the role of County Climate Change Funds (CCCFs), leadership, and stakeholder engagement in accelerating the integration of climate risks into local development planning to build resilience against intensifying climate impacts like prolonged droughts.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the role of aquaculture in meeting global fish demand by 2050. It argues that aquaculture production must more than double to meet projected needs, while simultaneously improving productivity and environmental performance to ensure sustainability.

This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes the financial risks posed by climate change and water scarcity to the USD 40 billion food and beverage (F&B) sector in South and Southeast Asia, focusing on agricultural inputs, operating efficiency, and reputation.

This joint agency paper by the Poverty-Environment Partnership (PEP) argues for the creation of an inclusive green economy to address poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. Using case studies from developing countries, it advocates for strategic investments in growth industries and ecosystem services to achieve a 'triple bottom line' of economic growth, environmental protection, and social inclusion.

This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes the management of extractive industry revenues by subnational governments (SNGs) in Peru, specifically focusing on the Camisea natural gas project. It argues that international financial institutions (IFIs) and the Peruvian government failed to build sufficient SNG capacity before large revenue transfers began, leading to weak strategic planning and limited public accountability. The report recommends that IFIs withhold support for extractive projects until governance conditions are sufficient and provide targeted support for SNG capacity building in strategic planning and transparency.

This working paper analyzes the implementation of public bicycle-sharing (PBS) systems in India, focusing on the transition from failed private rental models to more successful public-private partnerships in Mysuru, Bhopal, and Pune. It examines the socio-economic barriers to cycling in India and the role of technology and government policy in promoting low-carbon urban mobility.

This report by the World Resources Institute analyzes the access of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPs and LCs) to payments for ecosystem services (PES) based on a review of 129 programs across 36 countries and a case study in Guatemala. It identifies systemic barriers to equitable participation and provides a multi-tiered framework of recommendations to improve rights recognition, representation, and financial benefits for these communities.

This policy brief describes a pilot conservation incentive program led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) focused on the gopher tortoise in the southern forests of the United States. The program utilizes a market-based, pre-compliance approach to create a voluntary marketplace for conservation credits, aiming to protect habitat and prevent species from being listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) while providing regulatory certainty for developers.