Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing note details a vulnerability assessment conducted between 2011 and 2012 in the Monte Alén–Monts de Cristal landscape as part of the COBAM project. The analysis highlights how climate variability, specifically unpredictable rainfall and temperature increases, negatively impacts agricultural production and food security, with female-headed households and those lacking young labor being the most vulnerable social groups.

The document details a participatory vulnerability assessment conducted between 2011 and 2012 in the Tri-National de la Sangha (TNS) landscape of Cameroon. It identifies that local populations face increasing vulnerability due to erratic rainfall patterns and shifting seasons, which primarily impact agricultural production and food security. While livelihood diversification and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provide essential safety nets, the report highlights a weakness in collective action for social infrastructure. To strengthen adaptive capacity, the authors suggest improving NTFP commercialisation, introducing alternative livelihoods like apiculture, enhancing agricultural yields to reduce forest pressure, and implementing participatory monitoring of deforestation.

The assessment identifies that vulnerability in the Virunga landscape is driven by high population density, land mismanagement, and social marginalisation. While gorilla-based tourism has boosted regional economic development, benefits are unevenly distributed, and the Batwa community remains particularly vulnerable due to extreme poverty and restricted land access. Soil erosion is attributed more to poor agricultural practices on steep slopes than to rainfall alone. The document suggests that improving adaptive capacity requires agroforestry, restoration of marginal lands, and sustainable fuelwood management.

The document outlines the baseline survey results from a three-week mission to Rwanda (November 14 to December 5, 2011) intended to support the monitoring and evaluation of two climate adaptation initiatives. These initiatives include the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP), which focuses on integrated and comprehensive adaptation approaches, and the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) project, which targets early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and integrated watershed management in flood-prone areas. The report specifically includes the creation of a vulnerability index for local communities at the project sites.

The report identifies three primary livelihood strategies in the Jaldhaka watershed: agriculture, off-farm employment, and independent tea production. Smallholders predominantly grow rainfed rice for consumption, with cash crops including jute, tobacco, and potatoes. Irrigation is heavily dependent on groundwater, often via rented diesel pumps, which creates financial constraints and vulnerability. Off-farm income, ranging from 10-70% of total income, serves as a critical buffer against crop failure. Independent tea growing is an emerging, lucrative strategy for those with high-lying land, supported by Self Help Groups (SHGs) for marketing. The most vulnerable group is identified as those solely dependent on agriculture, while those with off-farm income are the least vulnerable. Key challenges include a lack of electricity, unpredictable rainfall, and market price fluctuations for cash crops.

The report assesses three primary livelihood strategies in the Mkindo watershed: official irrigation agriculture, rainfed agriculture with supplementary irrigation, and livestock keeping. It identifies that while irrigated farmers are financially better off, rainfed farmers are more secure than livestock keepers. Key challenges across the watershed include poor road infrastructure, limited access to financial services, poor water quality leading to frequent health issues like malaria and typhoid, and escalating conflicts between farmers and livestock keepers over land and water access.

The assessment identifies four primary livelihood strategies in the Nariarlé watershed: rainfed agriculture, irrigated gardening, pastoralism, and fishing. Rainfed agriculture is the most dominant activity, covering 60-70% of the watershed, but suffers from low yields and high climatic risk. Irrigated gardening provides higher financial returns, with up to 90% of harvests sold, though it faces challenges from dam siltation and pesticide pollution. Pastoralism serves as a critical financial safety net, though grazing lands are being reduced by the expansion of Ouagadougou and agri-business. Fishing is a minor activity involving less than 3% of the population, threatened by invasive plants and non-compliant fishing nets.

The research establishes a baseline for sustainable development (SD) among 1,551 tenth grade students in Manitoba using three composite indexes. Findings indicate that while students possess relatively high knowledge (mean 2.12) and favourable attitudes (mean 2.14) toward SD, their actual supportive behaviours are less pronounced (mean 2.83). Regression analysis reveals that knowledge and attitudes only explain 21% of the variation in sustainable behaviours, with attitudes being a more influential predictor than knowledge. The study highlights a particular strength in students' support for gender equality and environmental protection, but notes confusion regarding the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.

The report examines the intersection of ecosystem management, poverty reduction, and climate adaptation in Belize, focusing on the vulnerability of its coastal zone. It identifies key drivers of change—population patterns, socio-economic development, and climate change—and uses scenario building to project outcomes by 2050. The study assesses Belize's current governance baseline across four clusters (institutions, policies, regulations, and capacity), finding that while sectoral policies are progressing, enforcement and integrated capacity remain weak. It proposes a transition toward stronger, more centralized governance and integrated cross-sectoral planning to enhance national resilience.

The document introduces Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) as a community-based framework for implementing environmental strategies in Winnipeg. It outlines baseline data and recommended activities across seven key areas: climate change/air quality, urban energy, land use, transportation, waste management, water management, and pesticide use. The guide details pilot results from three diverse neighbourhoods—Whyte Ridge, Riverview, and West Broadway—demonstrating that environmental priorities vary significantly by socio-economic profile and urban layout. It argues that a neighbourhood-scale approach using community-based social marketing (CBSM) is more effective for long-term behaviour change than city-wide, 'one size fits all' programming.

The assessment concludes that the Yzermyn underground coal mine is 'fatally flawed' from a biodiversity perspective and recommends a 'NO GO' decision. The project is located in a highly sensitive area, including the Enkangala Grassland Important Bird Area (IBA) and several Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs). Key risks include the potential for extensive wetland loss or deterioration due to groundwater drawdown (cones of depression) and long-term groundwater contamination from acid mine drainage (AMD) post-closure. The report highlights a significant disconnect between the findings of independent specialists—who identify high-significance impacts and irreplaceable habitats—and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), which downplays these risks by focusing narrowly on the surface infrastructure footprint. The assessment notes that the project threatens numerous 'Conservation Important' (CI) species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

The report calculates the ecological footprint (EF) of the North West region of England, finding it to be 6.2 global hectares (gha) per capita. This level of consumption would require more than three planets if adopted globally. The study identifies food consumption, construction, and transport as the primary drivers of the region's environmental impact, with food being the largest single EF component. It proposes 'Factor Four' efficiency scenarios to reduce these impacts by 2020 and 2050.

The document details the methodological framework for conducting a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of hydropower development in Vietnam. It outlines scenario development techniques, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analysis, and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) for weighting alternatives. The text provides a comprehensive environmental and social baseline for Vietnam, including data on river basins, forest types, and the socio-economic status of ethnic minorities. It specifically analyzes the impacts of hydropower on displaced populations and local communities through the creation of 'Social Impact Coefficients' and adjusted social mitigation costs. Additionally, it presents power demand forecasts and the 'Least Cost Expansion Plan' from Power Development Plan VI, comparing various energy supply scenarios from 2006 to 2025.

The World Resources Institute developed a baseline water risk model for Ethiopia using 2015 data to help decision-makers incorporate water-related climate risk into sectoral planning. The model utilizes geospatially-explicit estimates for irrigation, livestock, domestic, and industrial water use, combined with 36 years of remotely-sensed renewable water resources data. It generates four key indicators: baseline water stress, months of water scarcity, seasonal variability, and interannual variability. The model is intended for national-level scenario analysis and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal target 6.4.2, though it excludes water storage infrastructure, environmental flow requirements, and transboundary water obligations.

The report provides a global, map-based analysis of dryland ecosystems, examining their capacity to provide essential goods and services such as food, water, and carbon storage to support human livelihoods.

The report identifies Ningxia as one of China's most water-stressed regions, noting that an industrial structure dominated by energy production creates a high burden due to high water consumption. It recommends improving agricultural water efficiency, integrating water resources as a restrictive factor in coal industry planning, establishing water right trading mechanisms, raising water prices and fees, and creating ecological compensation systems for mine exploitation.

The Cool Food initiative, comprising 30 members as of December 2019, aims to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030 relative to a 2015 baseline. The baseline total food-related carbon costs are estimated at over 4,286,000 t CO2e, with animal-based foods—particularly ruminant meats—driving the vast majority of emissions. Achieving the target would reduce annual emissions by more than 1,071,000 t CO2e by 2030.