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La Banque Agricole (LBA) is seeking US$ 646,600 from the Green Climate Fund's Project Preparation Facility to design a large-scale programme aimed at fostering climate-smart agriculture in Senegal. The proposed programme intends to establish a dedicated Line of Credit (LoC) to provide concessional loans to smallholder farmers, MSMEs, and cooperatives for the adoption of CSA practices, such as drip irrigation and biodigesters. The PPF will fund critical preparatory activities, including baseline and market studies, a feasibility study for a digital lending platform (Agricash), a gender assessment, and the development of a climate rationale. The ultimate goal of the full programme is to increase farm productivity and resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 3.42 million tCO2e over 20 years, benefiting approximately 307,000 direct beneficiaries.

The document defines the conceptual landscape of nature-based solutions, distinguishing between general NbS, climate-specific NbCS, and adaptation-focused EbA. It argues that for these solutions to be effective and legitimate, they must be grounded in risk assessments and incorporate robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent rights violations, the commodification of nature, and ecological harm. The brief highlights the importance of three pillars—gender responsiveness, social inclusion, and biodiversity benefits—and provides global case studies demonstrating the application of EbA across various ecosystems.

The document defines the conceptual landscape of nature-based climate solutions, distinguishing between the broad umbrella of NbS and the adaptation-specific focus of EbA. It argues that for these measures to be legitimate and effective, they must be grounded in risk assessments and robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent rights violations and biodiversity loss. The text provides practical examples of EbA across various ecosystems and outlines a framework for future implementation based on gender responsiveness, social inclusion, and biodiversity benefits.

The authors argue that South Africa's vulnerability to climate change is rooted in its political economy, specifically the fossil-fuel-dependent 'minerals-energy complex' (MEC). To move beyond simple coping strategies toward 'transformative resilience,' the paper outlines three pillars: a Green Decent Work Agenda (GDWA) to create sustainable livelihoods, social protection (specifically a universal basic income guarantee) to provide safety nets, and radical, state-led land reform to reduce exposure to risk and enhance adaptive capacity.

The document outlines the synergies between climate mitigation and public health, arguing that immediate action to reduce emissions provides significant health co-benefits across energy, transport, urban planning, and agriculture. It emphasises that climate change is a justice issue, noting that wealthy nations and individuals are the primary polluters while vulnerable populations suffer most. The briefing advocates for systemic transformations, such as shifting to plant-based diets, decarbonising energy systems, and implementing sustainable urban design, to avoid breaching the 1.5°C warming threshold and to improve global health outcomes.

The briefing outlines a strategic framework for G20 nations to integrate forest conservation into climate action. It proposes six key measures: legal commitments to minimize deforestation, a collective goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030, food system transformation, safeguarding Indigenous rights, improving non-timber forest product markets, and establishing high-quality nature-based carbon credit policies. The author emphasizes Indonesia's role as a 'carbon superpower' to lead by example through expanded moratoriums, social forestry permits, and robust carbon credit frameworks.

The document profiles Nasreen Al-Amin and her non-profit, Surge Africa, focusing on the Jeji Restoration project in Kumbo, Kano State. This initiative employs nature-based solutions, specifically tree plantation, to restore degraded land and provide sustainable livelihoods for marginalised communities, including those affected by war and environmental conflicts. The project emphasizes community ownership, the use of local languages for training, and the integration of income generation with environmental restoration.

The document outlines the role of BECCS as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method, noting its technical potential to remove 0.5-11.3 GtCO2 annually by 2050. However, it warns that large-scale deployment could threaten food security, biodiversity, and Indigenous rights, potentially requiring land areas twice the size of Egypt by 2100 in 1.5°C pathways. The briefing emphasizes that delaying near-term emissions reductions increases reliance on BECCS, thereby escalating land-use pressures.

The land sector is essential for 1.5°C and 2°C pathways, potentially providing up to 30% of global mitigation. While it offers significant near-term potential at low cost, the IPCC warns that land-based mitigation cannot compensate for delayed emissions reductions in other sectors. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is deemed necessary for net-zero targets, but the IPCC highlights substantial uncertainties, risks, and a massive investment gap, with current annual investment at USD 0.7 billion against a needed USD 400 billion.

The European Union has proposed a regulation to prevent commodities linked to deforestation and forest degradation from entering its market. While the author views the draft as an ambitious step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting biodiversity, they identify four critical areas for improvement: clarifying definitions of 'forest' and 'agricultural use', expanding the scope to include rubber and other ecosystems like peatlands, increasing transparency through public disclosure of company declarations, and implementing targeted supply-side engagement to protect smallholder producers.

The report identifies various low-cost mitigation measures for Georgia's agriculture sector, noting that cropland actions like low tillage and organic production are hindered by land-tenure regulation, while livestock measures are limited by the small scale of farming.

The report analyzes the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and sustainable finance in eight agricultural commodity sectors. It argues that while VSSs effectively address environmental and social risks—such as deforestation and labor rights—they often lack the rigorous economic and business management criteria that financial service providers (FSPs) require for due diligence. By benchmarking 12 VSSs against sustainable finance frameworks, the document identifies gaps in areas like corruption prevention, economic viability, and climate adaptation. It recommends that VSSs align their criteria with FSP needs, that FSPs develop preferential loan programs for certified farmers, and that governments support land tenure and infrastructure to improve investment readiness.

The document argues that the war in Ukraine should not be used as a justification to weaken the EU's Farm to Fork strategy or return to intensive agriculture. Instead, the signatories claim that accelerating the transition to agroecology, organic farming, and plant-based diets is the only way to ensure long-term food security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. They specifically oppose proposals to increase farmland for biofuels and intensive animal farming, warning that such actions would increase ecosystem collapse and vulnerability.

The report argues that forests are vital to human health through three primary functions: provisioning (food, water, medicinal plants), prevention (reducing zoonotic spillover and buffering natural hazards), and healing (reducing risks of noncommunicable diseases). It highlights how deforestation and degradation trigger negative health cascades, such as increased disease spillover and higher exposure to pollution and extreme heat. The document advocates for a systems approach to forest conservation, integrating public health and environmental sectors to protect intact forests, improve working land management, diversify restoration, and create urban forests.

The document presents the 'Drawdown Lift Human Well-being Index' and analyzes 28 climate solutions categorized into five groups: improving agriculture and agroforestry, protecting and restoring ecosystems, adopting clean cooking, providing green electricity, and promoting equality. It argues that these solutions provide significant co-benefits for human well-being, particularly in areas of income, health, food, education, gender equality, and energy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions between 2020 and 2050.

The report argues that climate mitigation and socioeconomic development can be achieved simultaneously through synergistic solutions. It introduces the Drawdown Lift Human Well-Being Index (HWI), based on the Doughnut Economics model, to assess 12 dimensions of human well-being. The analysis focuses on five groups of solutions: Improving Agriculture and Agroforestry, Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems, Adopting Clean Cooking, Providing Clean Electricity, and Fostering Equality. The report provides evidence that these solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while directly improving food security, health, income, and gender equality in low- and middle-income countries.

The proposal seeks USD 299,999 over 18 months to address severe land degradation in Burundi, where over 75% of agricultural lands are degraded. The project aims to revive the Sectorial Group on Agriculture and Rural Development (GSADR), conduct a study on the linkages between climate change and land degradation, and update the GCF Country Programme to align with current national priorities and GCF guidelines.

The report finds that the 2020 target of restoring 150 million hectares of forest was not met, with only 18% achieved by 2019. It highlights the difficulty of monitoring restoration progress due to the limitations of satellite data and notes that in regions like Central America, gross tree cover gains have been offset by higher rates of loss. The document argues that achieving the 2030 goal requires transforming the enabling environment through quantified targets, strengthened policy and finance, and more consistent monitoring frameworks.

Mighty Earth's analysis of satellite data and field research indicates that tropical forest destruction in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana remains high despite the 2017 Cocoa & Forests Initiative. The report highlights ongoing canopy loss in protected areas and a lack of transparent monitoring systems, calling for joint public monitoring and a shift toward agroforestry.

The document examines the role of bio-inputs and biological control agents in Colombia's transition toward a sustainable bioeconomy. It highlights Colombia's early leadership in regulatory frameworks, the growth of a science-intensive industry comprising 238 registered companies, and the preference for these tools among exporters of high-value crops. However, it identifies significant barriers, including lengthy and costly registration processes (up to 5 years and $15,000), a lack of farmer education regarding the preventive nature of bio-inputs, the risks of unregulated artisanal production, and a reliance on imported cosmopolitan microorganisms over native biodiversity.