Search Climate Insights Directory

The ESMP for Biological Corridor 3 (BC 3) in Tsirang, Bhutan, outlines the environmental and social safeguards for the construction of a Range Office and staff quarters between July 2022 and June 2023. The project, funded by Bhutan for Life (BFL), aims to enhance protected area management and public service delivery. The plan identifies potential risks—including noise, dust, waste, and worker safety—and mandates specific mitigation measures, such as restricting construction hours to 7am–7pm and providing personal protective equipment. It emphasizes compliance with both Royal Government of Bhutan laws and WWF's more extensive safeguard policies, particularly regarding the rights of non-title land users and community consultation.

The ESMP outlines the environmental and social requirements for four 2022 activities: a herbal tea production unit in Bumdeling, solar dryer parabola domes in Drametse, a honey processing unit in Khotokha, and a bamboo processing unit in Gongdue. It identifies potential risks such as vegetation loss, construction waste, and worker safety, providing specific mitigation measures and monitoring frameworks. The plan emphasizes the use of indigenous knowledge and the promotion of rural livelihoods through sustainable non-wood forest product (NWFP) management, while adhering to WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP) and national laws.

The 2022 Native Nations Partnership Report details conservation initiatives in the Northern Great Plains, focusing on the reintroduction of plains bison and black-footed ferrets. Key achievements include the growth of the Wolakota bison herd to nearly 1,000 animals and a 105% increase in black-footed ferret detections at the Fort Belknap Reservation in 2021. The report highlights the establishment of the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA) as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the creation of a Buffalo Research and Education Center at Aaniiih Nakoda College. It also describes the 'Stronghold Working Group's' efforts to regain community participation in managing the South Unit of Badlands National Park within the Oglala Lakota Nation.

The report details the outcomes of a five-year partnership between WWF South Africa and Woolworths, highlighting achievements in sustainable seafood sourcing, water stewardship in key catchments, regenerative agriculture, and the reduction of food waste and plastic pollution.

ClientEarth argues that current Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapters in EU FTAs are often insufficient and lack effective enforcement. The document proposes a 'blueprint' to integrate core environmental principles into the general chapters of agreements, make ratification conditional on multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and introduce a robust system of sanctions for non-compliance. It specifically advocates for the systematic inclusion of the precautionary principle and the creation of reciprocal complaint mechanisms for civil society. The briefing also details specific legal obligations the EU should seek regarding climate (1.5°C limit), biodiversity (30% protected areas), deforestation-free products, and the elimination of harmful fisheries subsidies.

The report maps 103 multistakeholder initiatives (MIs) to demonstrate how transnational corporations and philanthropic entities are displacing state-led multilateralism. It argues that the 'multistakeholder' rhetoric masks deep power imbalances, allowing the private sector to set global agendas, define standards, and implement market-based solutions that often undermine human rights and democratic accountability. The analysis highlights the central role of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in driving this trend, particularly through the instrumentalization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can support poverty reduction for smallholder farmers across three dimensions: access to resources, opportunities and choices, and power and voice. Through an analysis of 13 major VSSs and interviews in six countries, it finds that while VSSs can improve crop income, natural resource management, and skills development, their overall impact on poverty is inconclusive and context-specific. Significant barriers to smallholder access include high certification costs, limited financial resources, and asymmetrical power relations in supply chains. The report recommends that VSSs better integrate gender equality, support business diversification, and harmonize standards, while urging governments to provide better land tenure and financial support to enable smallholder compliance.

The 2021 Plan Director de la Cuenca del Río Tupiza (PDCRT) updates the 2018 plan to integrate climate change projections, sustainable sanitation, and robust decision-making tools. The plan identifies critical vulnerabilities in water access, irrigation, and mining impacts, proposing eight strategic lines of action with a total estimated investment of BOB 160,472,859 over a five-year horizon. Key findings include a projected reduction in annual river flow of up to 38% by 2050 under RCP 8.5 and significant gaps in sanitation, where 58% of inhabitants in 20 of the 24 studied communities practice open defecation.

The project achieved a 'Satisfactory' overall rating, successfully exceeding several output targets despite an ambitious design and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key achievements include the development of the Soy, Beef, and Palm Oil Toolkits, the expansion of the Trase transparency platform, and the launch of RSPO-labeled cooking oil in Indonesia. While the project was highly efficient in leveraging co-financing—reaching US$ 130,308,741 against an initial target of US$ 42,334,902—it faced difficulties in gender mainstreaming and encountered socio-political resistance in Brazil. The evaluation recommends deeper local context analysis during design and the formalization of exit strategies to ensure the sustainability of established platforms and tools.

The document argues that COVID-19 recovery efforts have remained largely piecemeal and short-term, missing the opportunity for deep structural reform. It proposes a nested framework of green structural measures—ranging from green fiscal reform and natural capital investment to green skills and governance—and categorises prioritisation criteria into conventional, advanced, and systemic/political brackets. The authors highlight significant gaps in current recovery agendas, particularly regarding gender integration, nature-based solutions, and the financing challenges faced by the global south.

The report advocates for a shift from short-term project-based funding to long-term core funding for community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada. It highlights that 100 of 167 Canadian watersheds lack sufficient data for quality scoring, creating a gap that CBWM can fill more cost-effectively than professional government monitoring. Through three case studies—the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, the Kaska Guardians, and the Clean Annapolis River Project—the document demonstrates that CBWM can achieve a return on investment exceeding 3:1 and up to 11.6:1 in some instances. The report recommends the creation of a five-year pilot project and the use of a proposed Canadian Water Agency to coordinate these efforts to improve environmental governance and climate adaptation.

The document outlines a Wetland Rapid Assessment (RVA) methodology designed for the Upper Chindwin River Basin. It provides a structured approach to collecting basic site data, mapping vegetation, and assessing ecosystem services using the RAWES toolkit. The manual includes criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance based on Ramsar standards and a detailed framework for evaluating threats, such as pollution, invasive species, and climate change. It also specifies protocols for surveying wildlife, specifically mammals and birds, to inform Conservation Action Plans (CAPs).

The document outlines the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model, a holistic approach designed to secure policy changes and full funding for large-scale conservation goals over a long-term timeframe. It details a five-phase development process—identification, assessment, readiness, design, and implementation—and emphasizes the necessity of a shared vision, a robust financial model, and independent fund administration. The guide provides specific case studies from Brazil (ARPA for Life), Colombia (Heritage Colombia), and Peru (Peru’s Natural Legacy), illustrating how transition funds and sustainable financing mechanisms are used to move from donor dependency to national financial sustainability.

The document outlines the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model, a holistic approach to securing long-term ecological, social, political, organizational, and financial sustainability for conservation areas. It details a five-phase process—identification, evaluation, preparation, design, and implementation—and emphasizes the need for a shared vision, a robust financial model, and independent fund management. The guide provides specific case studies from the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program, including ARPA for Life in Brazil, Herencia Colombia, and Patrimonio Natural del Perú, illustrating how these frameworks are applied to protect millions of hectares of biodiversity.

The document details the status of five rhino species. The greater one-horned rhino and white rhino show recovery trends, while the Javan, Sumatran, and black rhinos remain critically threatened. Poaching is a universal threat across all species, with climate change and habitat loss specifically impacting the greater one-horned rhino.

The project targets the Luangwa Upper Sub-catchment in Mafinga District, Zambia, to secure the river's source and maintain water flow and quality. It addresses threats from shifting agriculture (chitemene), unsustainable wood collection, and forest fires. The strategy involves improving the management of the Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve, establishing the first Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA) in Zambia, and promoting climate-resilient conservation agriculture and community forestry. The project is funded by the GEF with a total cost of US$ 24,738,355, including significant co-financing.

The project targets the Luangwa Upper Sub-Catchment in Zambia's Muchinga Province, specifically focusing on the Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve and surrounding lands. It aims to combat deforestation and land degradation caused by shifting agriculture (chitemene), unsustainable wood collection, and forest fires. The strategy involves improving the management of the Mafinga Hills NFR, establishing a new Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA), and promoting climate-resilient conservation agriculture and community forestry. The project is funded by the GEF and implemented by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment with technical support from WWF.

The South African Youth Climate Action Plan (SA YCAP) is a comprehensive framework developed by young people aged 13-30 to advocate for an intersectional and just transition to a decarbonised economy. It calls for the integration of youth in policymaking, the implementation of a national climate education plan, and a shift from fossil fuel dependency to decentralised renewable energy. The plan emphasizes the need for good governance to combat corruption in climate finance and proposes specific nature-based solutions and sustainable agricultural practices to protect South Africa's biodiversity and food security.

The Chindwin River Basin in northwest Myanmar is a highly biodiverse region facing habitat loss and species decline due to economic development and climate change. The document argues that conservation success depends on community buy-in and recommends a community-based natural resource management approach. It evaluates three conservation models—National Parks, Ramsar Wetlands, and Biosphere Reserves—noting that Biosphere Reserves are the most inclusive. While Myanmar has legal frameworks like the Conservation of Biodiversity and Protected Areas Law of 2018, implementation is hindered by poor governance, lack of funding, and a failure to recognize customary land rights. The brief recommends enhancing coordination between government levels, prioritizing biodiversity for livelihood enhancement, and formally recognizing customary resource rights.

The document examines three climate adaptation projects by the W8banaki Nation: lake sturgeon habitat restoration, medicinal plant preservation, and riverbank erosion assessment. It highlights the importance of integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge with western science and argues for flexible, long-term, community-led funding models over rigid, top-down provincial programs.