Search Climate Insights Directory

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) reviewed federal legislation from the 115th through the 117th Congress to identify laws promoting climate adaptation and resilience. EESI identified 41 laws that address over 16 different climate impacts, ranging from acute events like wildfires to slow-onset events like thawing permafrost, though much of the federal approach remains centered on disaster response and recovery.

This case study describes a community-led mangrove nursery initiative in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh, implemented by the local NGO Bangladesh Environments and Development Society (BEDS). The project focuses on empowering women to transition from using mangrove seeds as cooking fuel to cultivating saplings for sale and ecological restoration, providing both economic stability and climate resilience.

This report analyzes whether 67 countries integrated climate adaptation and resilience into their COVID-19 recovery measures between January 2020 and December 2021. The analysis reveals a paradox where a country's income level was a more significant determinant of climate-responsive recovery than its actual vulnerability to climate risks.

The Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report documents a global gathering of over 1,200 participants aimed at taking stock of evidence on building resilience across people, communities, urban systems, socio-ecological systems, and market systems. The report emphasizes the need for 'locally led adaptation,' the integration of mixed-methods evidence (combining quantitative data with lived experience), and the bridging of funding gaps for climate resilience, noting that less than $50 billion is spent annually against needs of $160 billion to $340 billion.

This policy brief by Transforma analyzes the potential for green jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), focusing on a territorial approach to just transition. Based on community experiences in Colombia, Chile, and Mexico during 2023, the document examines how green jobs can foster resilience in rural areas, the challenges posed by high labor informality, and the role of bioeconomy and agroecology in creating sustainable livelihoods.

The World Resources Institute's (WRI) 2023-2027 Strategic Plan outlines a transition from a period of global commitments to one of tangible impact on the ground. The strategy centers on three interconnected global goals—improving human well-being, protecting nature, and tackling climate change—and targets systemic change across three 'Human-Centered Systems' (Food, Land and Water; Energy; and Cities) supported by three 'Enabling Systems' (Economics, Finance, and Governance). WRI aims to operate as a centrally coordinated global network with a specific focus on 12 priority countries to drive just transitions.

This research paper analyzes the distributional outcomes of a UN Adaptation Fund project in the Aloatra-Mangoro region of Madagascar, examining how informal patronage and political connectivity influenced the allocation of climate adaptation benefits.

The 2022 Report on the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health details the collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and health civil society to integrate health considerations into global climate policy. The report highlights 2022 achievements, including coordinated submissions to the UNFCCC, advocacy for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and the establishment of a WHO Health Pavilion at COP27. It outlines future goals for 2023 and 2024, including a proposed World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on climate change, air pollution, and health.

This report describes a collaboration between Kalmar municipality and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to evaluate a new mobility strategy using the 'Agenda 2030 Compass' tool. The strategy aims to shift the mode share to 60% walking, cycling, and public transport and 40% cars by 2035. Through a series of workshops, participants identified how the strategy aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting benefits for public health and climate, while noting risks such as social polarization and urban-rural divides.

This policy discussion brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the role of the private sector in climate adaptation, emphasizing the need for businesses to assess physical climate risks across global supply chains and integrate justice and equity into their resilience measures.

This policy brief outlines how large multinational corporations can implement climate adaptation actions in a just and equitable manner to minimize risks to supply chains, workers, and communities.

This briefing from the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that the global decarbonisation agenda presents both socio-economic risks and industrial opportunities for Africa. It advocates for an 'African Green deal' to leverage the continent's mineral resources for economic diversification and industrialisation, rather than remaining a source of raw materials for the global energy transition.

This report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of an assisted natural regeneration (ANR) project covering 2,868 hectares in Sodo Woreda, Ethiopia, demonstrating that land restoration provides direct economic benefits to farmers and climate services.

A commentary by members of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) urging the Swedish government to use its presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023 to increase the European Union's sustainability ambitions and lead on the European Green Deal.

This briefing by RMI argues that integrating urban nature—such as forests, street trees, and bodies of water—into city planning reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers energy costs, and improves equity. The document highlights that the global value of urban nature's benefits is nine times the costs, and it calls for a significant increase in annual investment to reach a potential $2 trillion in annual net benefits by 2030.

The Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge is a joint initiative by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) and Shockwave Foundation to identify and scale nature-positive agricultural innovations in East Africa. The program provides selected winners with mentoring, leadership training, and connections to private investors to transform seed-level ideas into sustainable, funding-ready businesses.

This policy brief examines the barriers Local Green Entrepreneurs (LGEs) face in South Africa, specifically focusing on the lack of inclusive finance. It argues that while small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are critical for decarbonisation and climate adaptation, they are hindered by limited risk appetite from funders, compliance-driven ESG requirements, and regulatory red tape. The document recommends the development of a Green Economy Framework and the adoption of innovative finance mechanisms to support black-, youth-, and female-owned green enterprises.

This policy brief examines the intersection of international trade and climate change, specifically focusing on how the World Trade Organization (WTO) can facilitate cooperation to support climate mitigation and adaptation goals while ensuring a just transition for developing countries.

This guide by RMI describes resilience hubs as community-serving facilities designed to support vulnerable populations during and after extreme weather events. It outlines five foundational areas of support—power, communication, facilities, operations, and services—and provides six strategic lessons for cities implementing these hubs, emphasizing community partnership, energy efficiency, and the integration of solar and battery storage.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) introduces a discussion on climate change loss and damage—defined as impacts that cannot be adapted to—ahead of the COP27 negotiations in Egypt. The document outlines the focus of a panel discussion involving experts from Climate Analytics, the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and E3G, covering funding, measurement, and the implications for U.S. policymakers.