Search Climate Insights Directory

The document identifies that National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs) have historically struggled to mobilise resources, accounting for less than 0.2% of global climate finance flows in 2013. Based on interviews with 30 organisations and literature reviews, the brief argues that successful resource mobilisation requires a three-part strategy: establishing a well-defined vision and theory of change, building institutional capacities across people, processes, governance, and partnerships, and implementing a systematic approach to investor engagement.

The report, developed by the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST), addresses the lack of a common definition and reporting system for South-South co-operation (SSC). It distinguishes South-South development co-operation (SSDC) as a subset of SSC and argues that it is broader than the OECD-DAC's Official Development Assistance (ODA) definition. The document proposes a comprehensive set of indicators to assess the quality of partnerships across seven dimensions, including national ownership, horizontality, and transparency. It also explores methodological approaches for impact evaluation, suggesting a shift toward 'double-sided' results-based management that recognizes mutual benefits for both provider and recipient. Finally, it outlines a roadmap for NeST to establish a global statistical hub for SSC data in collaboration with UN agencies.

The report details a USAID-funded project led by the Stockholm Environment Institute to integrate climate change considerations into Colombian water management. By deploying the WEAP modeling system and a participatory RDS process in the Otún, La Vieja, and Alto Magdalena watersheds, the program built technical capacity within regional environmental authorities (CARs) and academic institutions. Key findings include the critical role of páramo ecosystems in maintaining dry-season baseflows and the potential for hydropower development to disrupt downstream wetland dynamics in the Magdalena-Cauca basin. The project emphasizes moving from 'conscious incompetence' to 'conscious competence' in climate adaptation planning through institutional capacity building and the creation of a professional community of practice.

The 'Ríos del Páramo al Valle' project (2012-2015) focused on enhancing the adaptive capacity of Colombia's regional environmental authorities (CAR) in managing water resources under climate uncertainty. By implementing the Robust Decision Support (ADR) framework and the WEAP modeling system, the project provided technical tools and capacity building across several key basins: the Otún, La Vieja, Alto Magdalena, and the broader Magdalena-Cauca macro-basin. Key outcomes include the identification of basin-specific adaptation strategies—such as páramo conservation in the Otún and wastewater treatment in La Vieja—and the development of new WEAP functionalities to model floodplain dynamics and hydrological alteration. The project emphasized a gender-inclusive approach and the creation of a regional community of practice involving universities and government agencies like IDEAM to ensure the long-term sustainability of climate-informed water planning in Colombia.

Between August and December 2014, a project funded by FSD Africa and implemented by the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) aimed to embed the Bank of Uganda's Financial Consumer Protection Guidelines into the operations of 31 supervised financial institutions. The initiative trained 1,038 staff across 575 branches using 12 qualified trainers from a consortium of five local firms. A February 2015 review showed early signs of market-system change, with all five training firms intending to offer FCP modules commercially and some institutions planning to outsource training. The project is presented as a potential model for other sub-Saharan African countries to develop local training markets based on central bank regulations.

The document outlines five key conclusions for developing countries creating INDCs: treating them as political statements, establishing clear structures, leveraging existing policies, conducting broad consultations, and planning for implementation. It emphasizes the need to balance ambition with feasibility, often through a combination of unilateral and conditional contributions, while aligning climate actions with national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) reports progress on its Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, which aims to assist developing countries in accessing Fund resources. Between 28 April and 18 June 2015, the total number of nominated national designated authorities (NDAs) or focal points rose to 127, and the total number of readiness requests reached 74. The Secretariat finalized grant agreements totaling US$ 1.9 million for seven countries: Comoros, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Rwanda, Thailand, and Togo. The programme operates across five activity areas, including NDA strengthening, strategic framework development, accreditation support, project pipeline creation, and information sharing. Capacity-building efforts include regional workshops in El Salvador and South Korea, with future events planned for Fiji and Egypt, as well as headquarters visits for delegations from Mongolia and Fiji. The GCF is also coordinating with partners such as UNDP, UNEP, and the African Development Bank to ensure complementarity in readiness support.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) evaluates the implementation of an interdisciplinary research model combining natural and social sciences to create policy-relevant solutions in the Americas. The report highlights the success of specific projects, such as meteorological data compilation for crop yield modelling and ecosystem service vulnerability assessments. However, the SAC identifies a critical lack of regional data infrastructure to serve decision-makers and the public. Key recommendations include integrating social scientists from the start of projects, establishing a regional data services framework, and improving capacity building through interdisciplinary workshops.

The SAC reports that the IAI's interdisciplinary model, combining social and natural sciences, is producing useful results and serving as a global example. While evaluating CRN3 projects, the SAC identified a critical regional lack of infrastructure for hosting and distributing data and services. The committee recommends integrating social scientists from the start of project design and strengthening capacity development to better link science with policy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 23rd CoP of the IAI focused on strengthening the interface between science and policy, approving the 2015-2016 operational budget and annual plan, and establishing a working group for open science. Member countries reported on national climate communications and adaptation plans, while the IAI leadership emphasized the need to move from ad hoc scientific communication to a systematic approach for decision-makers. The conference also addressed financial challenges, noting unpaid contributions from Brazil and Mexico, and discussed strategic partnerships with Future Earth and FAPESP.

The document offers a comprehensive framework for LDCs and SIDS to develop INDCs, emphasizing that these countries may communicate strategies and plans for low greenhouse gas emission development reflecting their special circumstances. It provides detailed templates for national context, mitigation contributions (both action-based and outcome-based), adaptation plans, planning processes, and means of implementation. The guide highlights the importance of identifying conditional contributions dependent on international finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building, while encouraging the capture of synergies between mitigation and adaptation to build political momentum and attract international support.

The document serves as a practical toolkit for LDCs and SIDS to formulate INDCs, offering a modular template that covers national context, mitigation, adaptation, planning processes, and implementation means. It emphasizes the flexibility allowed for these nations under the Lima Call for Climate Action, suggesting both measure-based and outcome-based approaches to mitigation. The guide highlights the importance of identifying synergies between adaptation and mitigation to attract international support and demonstrate political ambition ahead of the 2015 Paris COP.

The document offers a structured approach for LDCs and SIDS to develop INDCs, emphasizing that these countries may use strategies, plans, or specific projects rather than absolute emission reductions. It provides templates for mitigation (action-based or result-based), adaptation, planning processes, and means of implementation, while highlighting the importance of transparency, national circumstances, and the pursuit of co-benefits such as poverty reduction and energy access.

The GCF readiness programme aims to empower developing countries to access climate finance through five activity areas: strengthening National Designated Authorities (NDAs), developing strategic frameworks, supporting accreditation of implementing entities, building project pipelines, and information sharing. As of April 2015, 70 countries expressed interest, with over 120 NDAs nominated. The Fund provides up to US$ 1 million per country annually, with a minimum of 50% allocated to particularly vulnerable nations. The Secretariat has standardized work packages for NDA strengthening and strategic frameworks, each budgeted up to US$ 150,000, and is coordinating with partners like UNDP, GIZ, and the African Development Bank to avoid duplication of efforts.

The document analyzes the tension between the principle of equal treatment in international aviation and the need for differential treatment for developing nations regarding emissions regulation. It notes that the Kyoto Protocol delegated mitigation measures to the ICAO, which has seen limited success. The authors suggest that reconciling these opposing approaches requires applying differential treatment during the implementation phase through financial, technological, and capacity-building support.

The document outlines a three-tier governance structure for Future Earth consisting of National Committees, Regional Committees, and Regional Centres. It defines the roles, eligibility criteria, and operational functions of these entities to ensure that regional science priorities and stakeholder needs are reflected in the global agenda. The paper identifies five initial world regions and emphasizes the need for flexibility, inclusivity, and transdisciplinary collaboration to implement solution-oriented research for sustainability.

The document examines the critical role of National Governing Councils (NGCs) as the link between political leadership and technical research in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It identifies significant inconsistencies in NGC size, composition, and legal status across participating states, which hinder the consistency and legitimacy of Country Self-Assessment Reports (CSAR). The brief argues that meaningful independence from government, clear legal mandates, and robust technical support from the APRM Secretariat are essential for the mechanism's success. It recommends that the Secretariat develop coherent guidelines and that civil society organisations (CSOs) hold governments accountable for the composition of these councils.

The report details the first meeting of the NeST South Africa reference group, which aimed to unpack South Africa's approach to South-South co-operation (SSC). Key discussions focused on the need for a uniquely South African definition of development co-operation that moves beyond the narrow OECD-DAC Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria, as much of South Africa's support—including peacekeeping and infrastructure loans—falls outside those definitions. The document identifies significant challenges, including fragmented coordination across government departments, weak monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, and the tension between promoting human rights and adhering to Southern principles of non-interference. It emphasizes that South Africa views itself as a 'development partner' rather than a 'donor', guided by the philosophy of 'ubuntu'.

The report documents a 2015 policy dialogue hosted by SAIIA and Oxfam to explore the dynamics of South–South Co-operation (SSC) in Africa. It examines the roles of emerging partners like China, Brazil, and India, contrasting their non-conditional approaches with traditional North–South models. The discussions highlight the tension between the need for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure accountability and the desire of Southern nations to maintain a distinct, solidarity-based framework that avoids Northern-led conditionality. Key conclusions emphasize the need for an African-led strategy to engage emerging partners and the development of a tailored M&E framework that respects national sovereignty while improving transparency.

The report identifies significant gaps in the communication and implementation of China's energy-saving and low-carbon policies. While high-energy-consuming enterprises (over 10,000 tonne-ce/a) show better energy management and target-setting, a large number of general manufacturing firms lack technical guidance, funding, and awareness of available incentives. Key barriers include complex administrative procedures, a lack of predictable rewards, and insufficient professional third-party support. The authors recommend strengthening mandatory supervision for key emitters, lowering reward thresholds for smaller firms, establishing a collaborative partnership between government and third-party agencies, and upgrading technical guidance systems.