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This project brief describes a transdisciplinary research initiative supported by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) aimed at integrating local and traditional knowledge systems into biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management across Latin America and Canada.

The 'Step Off the Gas' report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes international public finance for natural gas expansion in the Global South, arguing that such funding locks countries into high-carbon pathways despite the availability of cheaper renewable alternatives.

This research paper by Kitrhona Cerri and Maria Mexi examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study. The authors argue that without strengthened data governance, worker protections, and national value capture mechanisms, digitalization in low- and middle-income countries risks creating structural dependency and "industrial thinness" rather than inclusive development.

The report summarizes the Advancing Natural Infrastructure Forum 2024, held in Calgary, Alberta, on February 21–22, 2024. Co-hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Natural Assets Initiative (NAI), and WaterSMART Solutions, the event brought together 106 participants to discuss the implementation, funding, and scaling of natural infrastructure across the Canadian Prairies to address water management and climate resilience.

This report examines the tension between trade liberalization and environmental conservation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It highlights how rapid economic growth and infrastructure development have exacerbated illegal wildlife and timber trade and increased vulnerability to climate change, while regional governance remains hampered by non-binding agreements and limited administrative capacity.

This case study examines South Africa's heavy reliance on coal and the resulting fiscal implications for its energy transition. It details the role of state-owned enterprises, the structure of fossil fuel revenues and subsidies, and the government's climate commitments via its Nationally Determined Contribution.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) introduces 'Ecohealth,' a conceptual approach that links human well-being to the health of ecosystems, specifically focusing on the role of watershed management in improving both social and environmental determinants of health.

This case study examines the challenges of establishing horizontal business linkages in Mozambique, focusing on the Mozal aluminum smelter and the Mozlink II program. It highlights how low industrial capacity, limited human capital, and a weak private sector hinder the ability of local SMEs to diversify their client bases beyond single large-scale 'megaprojects'.

This fact sheet describes a joint project by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Climate Change and Development Consultants (CC&D), and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) to analyze how the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, with a specific focus on Chile.

This briefing paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development on 14 December 2004, presents the collective understanding of an international research collaboration on the future of the global climate regime following the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period. The authors explore two primary strategies—'Cap First' and 'Empower First'—to reach a long-term global solution consisting of a cap-and-trade scheme, technology development agreements, and assistance for developing countries.

This case study describes the application of the Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRiSTAL) and CARE's Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (CVCA) in the municipality of Santa Teresa and other areas of the Peruvian Andes. Implemented by CARE Peru as part of the Adaptation to the Impact of Rapid Glacier Retreat in the Tropical Andes Project (PRAA), these tools helped 14 communities identify and implement climate-resilient development measures tailored to local perceptions of risk.

This case study describes the application of a conflict-sensitive conservation (CSC) approach to restore the Lake Edward fishery within Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It details how institutional decline and environmental degradation caused by decades of violent conflict were addressed through multistakeholder monitoring committees, joint patrols, and transboundary dialogue to improve fish yields and regional peacebuilding.

This case study describes how the Town of Canmore, Alberta, developed a Climate Resilience Action Plan in 2016 using the Climate Resilience Express (CRE) tool developed by All One Sky (AOS). The process involved identifying climate risks and opportunities through stakeholder workshops and bilateral meetings, leading to specific adaptation strategies for forest fires, Bow River flooding, and mountain creek flooding.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the integration of biodiversity protection into mining governance, focusing on the application of the Mitigation Hierarchy (MH) in Senegal and Turkey. It provides a framework for governments to balance economic development with environmental preservation, detailing how avoidance, minimization, rehabilitation, and compensation can be used to achieve No Net Loss (NNL) or a Net Positive Impact (NPI) on biodiversity.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines agricultural cooperatives as a model for inclusive investment. It details the different types of cooperatives, their benefits for smallholder farmers, the role of foreign investment in these structures, and the necessary legal and governmental frameworks to support their success.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) discusses the integration of social and environmental safeguards into mangrove restoration projects to ensure climate resilience for both ecosystems and communities. It emphasizes that effective restoration must move beyond simple planting metrics to include biophysical variables and socio-economic indicators. The document provides a framework of safeguards based on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) guidelines and illustrates their application through the Natur’ELLES project in Senegal, which focuses on gender equality, climate adaptation, and economic development.

This briefing note presents resilience indicators for measuring local food systems based on community consultations in Honduras and Nicaragua. It advocates for a systems approach that expands food security assessments beyond food availability, access, and utilization to include supporting infrastructure, natural resources, and governance.

This report examines the relationship between human migration and environmental conservation in the Bale Mountains ecosystem of southeast Ethiopia, specifically comparing the Harenna Buluk and Delo Mena woredas. It finds that while land conversion occurs in both areas, large-scale migration into Harenna Buluk has accelerated deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the abandonment of traditional pastoralist systems in favor of intensive crop farming. The report recommends regulating informal land markets, strengthening participatory forest management bylaws, and developing alternative livelihoods like tourism to protect the region's high biodiversity and critical water-tower functions.

This briefing note describes how Fiji has integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to scale up nature-based solutions for climate resilience.

This case study describes how Timor-Leste has integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a guiding principle within its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to enhance climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and support post-conflict nation building.