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The document serves as a prevention manual for forest communities, specifically in equatorial regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, to avoid signing REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and similar conservation contracts. It argues that these projects often use deceptive language and long-term commitments (30 to 80 years) to strip communities of their land rights, prohibit traditional agricultural and forestry activities, and transfer biodiversity benefits to private companies. The guide advocates for community-led forest management, the legal recognition of territorial titles, and public policies that support traditional conservation practices instead of market-based carbon offsets.

The document warns forest communities in tropical regions about the dangers of signing REDD and forest conservation contracts, which it argues can lead to 'deterritorialization' and loss of autonomy. It details how these contracts often use technical language to hide restrictive obligations, such as banning traditional agriculture and wood use, while granting companies extensive access to biodiversity and carbon credits for long periods (30 to 80 years). The guide advocates for the recognition of indigenous land rights and the implementation of public policies that support collective, non-market-based community forest management as a more effective way to preserve biodiversity and prevent deforestation.

The document serves as a prevention manual for communities in equatorial forest regions, specifically highlighting how REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and similar 'pay for conservation' projects can be deceptive. It analyzes contracts from the Peruvian Amazon and Brazil to demonstrate how technical language and long-term commitments (30 to 80 years) can strip indigenous peoples of their land rights, prohibit traditional agricultural practices, and transfer biodiversity benefits to private companies. The guide advocates for community-led forest management, the legal recognition of territorial titles, and public policies that support traditional sustainable practices instead of market-based carbon mechanisms.

The guide warns forest communities against signing REDD and forest conservation contracts, which it argues are often designed to strip local people of their land rights and sovereignty. It highlights how these contracts, often written in technical jargon and spanning 30 to 80 years, impose strict prohibitions on farming and timber use, potentially forcing communities to abandon their territories. The document advocates for community-based forest management and the recognition of traditional land rights as more effective and just alternatives to market-based carbon schemes.

The IAI is implementing a tripartite structure with headquarters operations moving to Montevideo and a strategic office in Buenos Aires. Research priorities include monitoring CRN3 projects, finalizing a MacArthur Foundation project on tropical Andean biodiversity, and leading the Latin American network for Future Earth. Capacity building includes a modeling event in Panama City and the management of seed grants. Policy engagement focuses on contributions to IPBES, the UNFCCC's SBSTA, and planned events for the UNFCCC COP in Lima regarding environmental monitoring and global change governance.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the underperformance of land rental markets in Brazil and argues that deregulation could improve agricultural productivity and environmental protection by enabling more efficient land use.

The document discusses the implementation of the landing obligation under the new Common Fisheries Policy, emphasizing that it is not a blanket ban but a partial obligation with specific exemptions and flexibilities. It argues that these mechanisms must be managed lawfully to avoid undermining the goal of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).

The report details a rapid foresight exercise and backcasting analysis conducted with 18 practitioners from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to identify gaps in sustainable development planning. It emphasizes the need to transition from siloed, sector-based planning to integrated, multistakeholder processes that align national visions with subnational implementation. The document outlines a capacity-building agenda for 2014-2015 focusing on vertical and horizontal collaboration, cross-cutting policies for water, energy, and food security, and the shift from expenditure-based reporting to objective-based monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER). It also maps existing regional networks, such as REDEPLAN and CLAD, to coordinate knowledge sharing and avoid duplication of efforts.

The report identifies a critical lack of institutional and individual capacity for climate compatible development (CCD) in Angola, particularly within universities, which are largely disconnected from national climate research. While the government has established policy frameworks and some international projects (such as those by UNDP and GEF) employ transdisciplinary approaches, university-level research and curriculum integration are nearly non-existent. The report highlights urgent needs for meteorological data, skilled researchers in hydrology and agro-meteorology, and the development of CCD materials in Portuguese. Potential pathways for improvement include the newly established Centre of Excellence for Sciences Applied to Sustainability (CESSAF) and the Climate Change and Tropical Ecology Research Centre at José Eduardo dos Santos University.

The report assesses Zimbabwe's capacity for climate compatible development (CCD), identifying significant research and institutional gaps despite a strong tradition of academic publishing. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary research, curriculum innovation, and better integration of indigenous knowledge to address vulnerabilities in agriculture, water, and health.

The report assesses the 2009-2014 European Parliament term from a Green perspective, highlighting victories in energy efficiency, data protection, and fisheries, while critiquing the influence of fossil fuel and agro-industrial lobbies. It argues for a more democratic, social, and ecologically sustainable European Union to counter neoliberal austerity and conservative pushback.

The document explains the various safeguard frameworks governing REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), specifically those from the UNFCCC, UN-REDD, REDD+ SES, and the World Bank's FCPF. It highlights the risks of displacement and loss of land rights, the importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the challenges of translating international guidelines into binding national policies. It provides practical guidance for communities to engage in national safeguard development and advocate for their rights.

The interior of Southern Africa faces severe climate impacts, including temperature increases of up to 6°C by 2100, which threaten dryland forests. These ecosystems, comprising Miombo and Kalahari Woodland biomes, are already degraded by land-use changes and over-use. The author argues that current SADC forestry policies are too sector-based and lack specific adaptation guidance for dryland forests. To build resilience, the document recommends a shift toward Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), full-cost accounting of natural capital, and the creation of landscape connectivity to allow species migration. It emphasizes the role of community-based management and the use of non-timber forest products as socio-economic safety nets for the millions of people dependent on these forests.

The document describes a pilot study focused on copper supply chains as part of a broader initiative to help Chinese enterprises and policy-makers manage the social and environmental footprints of their inbound supply chains. It argues that sustainability risks—such as negative impacts on biodiversity, water, and communities—can lead to supply chain disruptions and damage China's international brand, thereby threatening resource security. The project, supported by the UK's DFID, developed a methodology tested through copper and palm oil pilots and stakeholder consultations to bridge the gap in how sustainability risks are understood and managed by companies operating in China.

The document describes a pilot study focused on palm oil to evaluate how social and environmental sustainability risks in inbound supply chains can lead to supply disruptions and damage China's international brand. It is part of a broader initiative by the International Institute for Sustainable Development to help Chinese enterprises and policy-makers manage the sustainability footprint of their global resource procurement.

The document describes a methodology developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help Chinese enterprises and policy-makers manage the social and environmental risks associated with their inbound supply chains. It argues that sustainability problems in exporting countries can lead to supply chain disruptions and damage China's international brand, affecting its access to capital and resources. The methodology was tested through pilots focusing on copper and palm oil supply chains and involved consultations with business, academic, and governmental stakeholders.

The document defines Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help communities adapt to climate change, positioning it as a cost-effective, 'no-regrets' alternative or complement to traditional infrastructure. While international organizations like the UNFCCC, UNEP, and the World Bank have begun integrating EbA, the author argues it remains under-utilized by national governments due to gaps in technical information, limited on-the-ground effectiveness data, and a preference for short-term 'hard' engineering solutions. The brief recommends increased research into ecosystem service complexities and stronger financial commitments to mainstream EbA into global policy.

The tourism sector in Kenya is highly climate-sensitive, with climate change already causing infrastructure damage and threatening key attractions. While the sector contributes less than one per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions, the document encourages businesses to adopt sustainable practices and low-carbon operations to build resilience and capture the growing market for sustainable tourism.

The document examines how National Sustainable Development Councils (NCSDs) can support the transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals. Based on survey data from 12 countries, it identifies that while most nations have national sustainable development strategies, they face significant financial and structural barriers, including institutional resistance and poor data quality. The briefing highlights the advisory role of NCSDs and recommends a participatory approach, vertical alignment between government levels, and the strengthening of existing institutional frameworks to achieve national SDG targets.

A coalition of social movements and NGOs argues that the FAO's current forest definition is reductionist and primarily benefits industrial timber, pulp, paper, and rubber companies. The authors contend that by defining forests simply as land with a certain percentage of tree cover, the FAO erroneously classifies large-scale monoculture plantations as 'reforestation' and ignores the structural and cultural importance of forests to the 300 million people who depend on them for their livelihoods. The letter calls for a new, community-led definition process that recognizes the role of forests in food sovereignty and biological diversity.