Search Climate Insights Directory

This case study examines how the government of Timor-Leste integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a guiding principle within its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to link climate action with ecosystem protection.

The Delhi-based Ant Studio developed the 'Beehive', a passive, modular façade cooling system that uses terracotta cones and recycled water to reduce indoor temperatures without electricity or harmful gases.

This report examines the landscape of urban green finance in Hyderabad and Kolkata, India, mapping the flow of public and private funds toward climate change mitigation and adaptation across six key sectors, including clean energy, sustainable transportation, and waste and water management.

This briefing describes Liberia's efforts to enhance sustainable agricultural investment through the renegotiation of large-scale land deals and administrative reforms following the 2006 installation of a democratically elected government.

This case study examines the risks and impacts of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, highlighting the transboundary nature of these disasters and the need for regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction.

A case study detailing RMI's assistance to the Government of Montserrat and its utility company in installing a 750 kW solar system and 1 MWh battery storage, which brought the island to 50 percent renewable energy installed capacity.

This briefing by RMI discusses the role of non-state actors in narrowing the 'ambition gap' between current global emissions trajectories and the 1.5°C goal. It argues that while national pledges are currently insufficient, 'ambition loops'—cycles of leadership and followership among businesses, investors, and cities—can accelerate the adoption of climate solutions through collective action and positive feedback mechanisms.

This report examines the role of indigenous knowledge systems in enhancing climate change adaptation and disaster management in Africa. It argues that integrating traditional knowledge with scientific forecasting can bridge critical data gaps, improve the accuracy of early warning systems, and increase the resilience of vulnerable farming communities.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the role of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) in the prior control of socio-environmental risks for federal railway and highway concessions. It argues that the TCU has become the primary, albeit late, instance for approving Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA), often filling a governance gap left by the Executive branch. The document examines specific cases to illustrate how the TCU manages environmental liabilities and the risks associated with the 'Manifestation of Interest' (PMI) procurement model.

This working paper by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) outlines a structural agenda for a green economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. It distinguishes between short-term stimulus and long-term structural reforms, providing a nested framework of policy measures and a set of prioritisation criteria to help governments transition from immediate crisis management to systemic socio-ecological transformation.

This case study, part of the IISD 'Stories of Change' series, details Liberia's efforts to renegotiate large-scale agricultural concession agreements following its civil war. Through an interview with Ciata Bishop, the document explains how the government transitioned from outdated 'scoop and ship' contracts to a transparent, regulated framework designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) while ensuring community benefits, food security, and job creation.

This knowledge brief by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and ESMAP advocates for a shift from traditional equipment-ownership models to private sector-led, performance-based service models to ensure the sustainable electrification of public health and education facilities in low- and middle-income countries.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative examines how financial instruments for sustainable agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) can leverage national regulations, government subsidies, and subsidized rural credit to overcome investment barriers and attract private capital.

This policy brief by GreenCape examines how virtual platforms and international networks can help green small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome trade barriers exacerbated by COVID-19. It highlights the methodologies of the International Cleantech Network (ICN) in using a virtual collaboration platform and a structured 'maturing process' to connect SMEs with global cleantech opportunities, illustrated through case studies in Helsinki and New York.

This case study by the Climate Policy Initiative and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio) uses an atmospheric transport model to analyze how deforestation in the Amazon Forest, specifically within the Xingu River Basin, reduces rainfall in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The study demonstrates that forest cover is critical for maintaining humidity in air parcels, and its removal leads to significant decreases in precipitation that threaten agriculture, energy generation, and urban water supplies.

This research paper explores how trade can be leveraged as a vehicle to support climate change adaptation in developing countries, specifically examining the role of National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes in identifying necessary goods, services, and financing.

This case study examines the efforts of the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) from 2014 to 2021 to mainstream climate change into national and sub-national policy. It focuses on the role of 'knowledge brokering'—acting as a link between knowledge producers and users—to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and climate adaptation.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative/PUC-Rio uses an atmospheric transport model to analyze how deforestation in the Amazon, specifically within the Xingu River Basin, impacts rainfall in the state of Mato Grosso. The study demonstrates that forest areas are critical for maintaining air humidity and that their removal leads to a measurable decrease in precipitation, affecting agriculture, energy production, and urban water supplies.

This case study by GreenCape examines how Wesgro, a trade promotion agency in South Africa's Western Cape, adapted its services during the Covid-19 pandemic to support SMMEs and how these lessons can be applied to enhance green trade competitiveness and resilience.

This report by the World Resources Institute outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and community lands in climate change mitigation. It argues that while community lands cover approximately half of the world's land and provide immense ecosystem services and carbon sequestration, they are often legally unrecognized and underfunded. The document provides evidence that secure land tenure leads to lower deforestation rates and proposes six strategic steps to better integrate community land management into global climate action.