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The Climate Crowd initiative uses community-collected data to co-design and implement resilience projects in rural areas. This report highlights projects in Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and Kenya focusing on livelihood diversification, water security, and the reduction of human-wildlife conflict.

The report examines the role of indigenous knowledge in bridging climate data gaps in Africa, highlighting how traditional observation methods and community-based forecasting can enhance the accuracy of early warning systems when integrated with scientific meteorology. It identifies the decline of this knowledge due to modernization and the preference for top-down scientific models, while providing examples of successful 'co-production' of climate information in countries like Kenya.

The report examines how the TCU has evolved into a primary instance for the preventive control of socio-environmental risks in federal transport infrastructure concessions. While the TCU provides critical oversight to mitigate risks and ensure legal security, its intervention often occurs too late in the project lifecycle. This tardiness is attributed to a lack of motivated and transparent approval of Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA) by the Executive branch at the start of the viability phase. The document analyzes four case studies—BR-163/230/MT/PA, the North-South Railway (FNSTC), the Southern Integration Highway (RIS), and Ferrogrão—to illustrate the tensions between the TCU's oversight and the Executive's discretionary power, as well as the systemic failures in viability study quality, often exacerbated by the use of Manifestation of Interest (PMI) procedures.

The report finds that Jakarta's urban climate finance from 2015-2019 totaled USD 44.9 billion, heavily dominated by public funding and a single mega-project, the Giant Sea Wall. Despite having the highest fiscal capacity in Indonesia, Jakarta underutilizes private finance, which accounted for only 2% of total climate investment. The study recommends better alignment between the city, the central government, and satellite cities, alongside the adoption of innovative financing tools like green municipal bonds to reduce reliance on central government funding, especially given plans to move the national capital.

The report analyzes urban green finance in Hyderabad and Kolkata, finding that both cities are heavily dependent on state and central government funding. While Hyderabad has made significant progress in renewable energy and electric mobility, and Kolkata has excelled in e-bus adoption and wetland conservation, both face governance challenges due to overlapping mandates and limited financial autonomy. The study recommends harmonized climate budgeting, increased devolution of funds to urban local bodies, and the exploration of innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds and resilience bonds to bridge investment gaps.

The report provides a comprehensive 'behind-the-scenes' look at the litigation brought by Milieudefensie and over 17,000 co-plaintiffs against Royal Dutch Shell. On May 26, 2021, the District Court of The Hague ruled that Shell must reduce its net carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The court based its decision on a 'duty of care' and the necessity to respect human rights, aligning corporate policy with the Paris Agreement. The document serves as a manual for other climate litigants, detailing strategies for funding, community mobilization, and legal argumentation, while analyzing Shell's defenses and the broader implications for corporate accountability and the energy transition.

The report documents the legal victory of Milieudefensie et al. v. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, where the District Court in The Hague ordered Shell to reduce its net carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 relative to 2019 levels. It explains the use of the 'duty of care' and human rights arguments to hold a corporate actor liable for its contribution to climate change, including Scope 3 emissions. The document also provides a 'mini-toolkit' for other NGOs planning strategic climate litigation, covering research, fundraising, and media strategies.

The document argues that COVID-19 recovery efforts have remained largely piecemeal and short-term, missing the opportunity for deep structural reform. It proposes a nested framework of green structural measures—ranging from green fiscal reform and natural capital investment to green skills and governance—and categorises prioritisation criteria into conventional, advanced, and systemic/political brackets. The authors highlight significant gaps in current recovery agendas, particularly regarding gender integration, nature-based solutions, and the financing challenges faced by the global south.

The report explores the 'Use of Research Evidence' (URE) by policymakers in Africa, focusing on the intersection of CSO research and tax policy. Through case studies in Tunisia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Uganda, it finds that while the technical quality of CSO research is generally high, its influence is primarily determined by non-technical factors such as the timing of engagement, the perceived non-partisan reputation of the CSO, and existing relationships with policymakers. The document provides strategic lessons for CSOs to increase their policy impact and recommendations for funders to better support internal capacity and flexible funding timelines.

Timor-Leste has utilized its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to mainstream Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), treating it as one of 14 guiding principles to link environmental protection with climate action. The NAP, ratified in September 2020 and submitted to the UNFCCC in March 2021, identifies 107 adaptation action items across seven priority sectors and programs over a 10-year horizon (2020–2030). A key feature of the implementation is the use of Tarabandu, a traditional customary rule system, to engage local communities in EbA measures. The process emphasizes cross-sectoral coordination, gender-responsive analysis, and alignment with international frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework. The government aims to establish a national monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning (MERL) framework by 2022 to track progress in the biodiversity and ecosystems sector.

The document details Liberia's transition from outdated 'scoop and ship' agricultural contracts to a more transparent, regulated framework for foreign direct investment. Key reforms included the Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2005 and the Investment Act of 2010, which established inter-agency coordination and a model template for negotiations. The government also introduced the National Concessions Portal of Liberia for land-use monitoring and mandated community development committees to ensure local benefits. The case emphasizes the importance of translating agreements into simple language and involving local authorities to ensure meaningful community engagement.

The report presents a business case for investing in community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and scientific rigour compared to conventional public sector monitoring. It identifies a critical data gap, noting that 100 of Canada's 167 sub-watersheds lack sufficient data to report on health. Through case studies in the Lake Winnipeg basin, the Kaska Dena ancestral territory, and the Annapolis River, the document demonstrates that CBWM can reduce costs (e.g., a 3.4:1 expense difference in the Lake Winnipeg case) and integrate Traditional Knowledge. The author argues that the current 'non-profit starvation cycle'—driven by short-term, competitive grants—is incompatible with the long-term nature of environmental monitoring and recommends a 5-year core funding model to ensure data continuity and support Canada's climate and conservation targets.

The report advocates for a shift from short-term project-based funding to long-term core funding for community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada. It highlights that 100 of 167 Canadian watersheds lack sufficient data for quality scoring, creating a gap that CBWM can fill more cost-effectively than professional government monitoring. Through three case studies—the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, the Kaska Guardians, and the Clean Annapolis River Project—the document demonstrates that CBWM can achieve a return on investment exceeding 3:1 and up to 11.6:1 in some instances. The report recommends the creation of a five-year pilot project and the use of a proposed Canadian Water Agency to coordinate these efforts to improve environmental governance and climate adaptation.

Timor-Leste's National Adaptation Plan (NAP), ratified in September 2020 and submitted to the UNFCCC in March 2021, establishes Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as one of 14 guiding principles to link environmental protection with climate action. The process, led by the National Directorate for Climate Change (NDCC), utilizes a systems approach across seven priority sectors and five ecological zones. A key feature of the implementation is the use of Tarabandu, a traditional customary rule system, to engage local communities in EbA measures. The NAP aligns with the Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 and international frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework. Future steps include the development of a monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning (MERL) framework and a comprehensive financing plan by 2022.

Timor-Leste has utilized its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to mainstream Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), linking environmental protection with climate action. The NAP, ratified in September 2020 and submitted to the UNFCCC in March 2021, identifies EbA as one of 14 guiding principles to maximize co-benefits between adaptation and environmental protection. The process emphasizes a systemic approach across five ecological zones and integrates traditional customs, specifically Tarabandu, to ensure community-led implementation and social cohesion in a post-conflict context. The government aims to align these efforts with its Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 and international frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

The document examines China's role as a primary funder and contractor of ICT networks in the Global South, specifically through the Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative. It compares the implementation of a submarine fibre optic cable in Cambodia and the National ICT Broadband Backbone in Tanzania. The analysis finds that while these projects generally had limited environmental impacts and provided essential connectivity, they suffered from a lack of transparency and mixed results in socioeconomic mitigation, such as limited high-level technology transfer and underutilisation of infrastructure.

The document examines the failure of grant-based 'design, procure, install' models for electrifying public institutions, which often lead to premature system failure due to neglected operation and maintenance (O&M). It proposes a service-based model where private providers install and maintain systems over 10-15 years, with governments paying for performance verified by third parties. The brief identifies key barriers—including public sector affordability, private sector capital risks, and grid arrival—and presents case studies from Benin, Kenya, Niger, and Nigeria to demonstrate the model's potential.

The analysis reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the climate finance gap in developing countries, leading to domestic budget reallocations away from climate projects toward health and economic recovery. International climate finance has also decreased, with a higher reliance on loans that increase national debt burdens. The report highlights that climate-finance needs, estimated at $4.6 trillion based on a sample of NDCs, far exceed current flows, and that pandemic-related restrictions have delayed the approval and execution of critical climate projects.

The document outlines the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model, a holistic approach designed to secure policy changes and full funding for large-scale conservation goals over a long-term timeframe. It details a five-phase development process—identification, assessment, readiness, design, and implementation—and emphasizes the necessity of a shared vision, a robust financial model, and independent fund administration. The guide provides specific case studies from Brazil (ARPA for Life), Colombia (Heritage Colombia), and Peru (Peru’s Natural Legacy), illustrating how transition funds and sustainable financing mechanisms are used to move from donor dependency to national financial sustainability.

The document outlines the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model, a holistic approach to securing long-term ecological, social, political, organizational, and financial sustainability for conservation areas. It details a five-phase process—identification, evaluation, preparation, design, and implementation—and emphasizes the need for a shared vision, a robust financial model, and independent fund management. The guide provides specific case studies from the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program, including ARPA for Life in Brazil, Herencia Colombia, and Patrimonio Natural del Perú, illustrating how these frameworks are applied to protect millions of hectares of biodiversity.