Search Climate Insights Directory

This report examines the tension between trade liberalization and environmental sustainability in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), highlighting how infrastructure development and illegal trade undermine ecological protections and proposing regional coordination mechanisms to address wildlife trafficking and climate change.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines its activities plan for July 2010 to June 2011, focusing on training institutes, science programs, and a specific MacArthur project regarding Andean biodiversity.

This report analyzes the impact of the 2006–08 global food crisis on Latin America and the subsequent policy responses. It evaluates the effectiveness of short-term 'coping' strategies versus long-term 'curing' strategies, examines the conceptual shift toward 'food sovereignty' and the 'right to food', and discusses the need for balanced agricultural investments and international governance to ensure future food security.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) presents its core budget request for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, totaling US$1,279,000. The budget supports the Directorate's operations, including the management of scientific programs like CRN II and SGP-HD, capacity building through training institutes, and administrative functions. The request reflects a roughly 10% increase over the previous year, primarily driven by rising salary and benefit costs, while facing challenges from depleted reserves due to shortfalls in member country contributions.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted an operating budget request for the 2010/2011 fiscal year, proposing a total of US$1,279,000. This represents an approximate 10% increase over the previous year to maintain operations and services despite a depletion of reserves caused by a lack of member country contributions during 2009 and 2010.

The document contains the minutes and action list from the Twenty-Eight Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), held on May 21, 2009, in Bogotá, Colombia. The meeting focused on strategies to improve member country engagement, the review of the Host Country Agreement with Brazil, and the synthesis of science from the Climate Research Network (CRN) programs.

The minutes of the 28th Executive Council (EC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on May 21, 2009, in Bogotá, Colombia, detail strategies to improve member country engagement, the revision of the Host Country Agreement with Brazil, and the synthesis of scientific research from the CRN program.

A joint submission by various civil society organizations to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) criticizing its Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards, and Disclosure Policy. The document argues that the IFC relies too heavily on unverified client data, fails to protect human rights—particularly those of indigenous peoples and women—and lacks transparency in its dealings with financial intermediaries and the extractive industry.

This research paper argues that South Africa's foreign policy under the Zuma administration has become rudderless, characterized by a lack of strategic clarity and a managerial vacuum that risks eroding international goodwill and the country's status as a reliable developmental partner.

A joint submission by civil society organizations urging the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to update its sustainability and disclosure policies to reflect the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, human rights responsibilities, climate change urgency, and lessons from the financial crisis regarding private sector oversight.

This policy briefing examines the evolving relationship between the United States and Brazil, noting that while the US now recognizes Brazil as a genuine emerging power and a vital player in global politics, translating this awareness into a concrete 'special relationship' is hindered by divergent priorities in security, trade, and regional leadership.

This fact sheet describes a project examining the impacts of coastal environmental variability and climate change on pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis) artisanal fisheries in the Patos Lagoon estuary of southern Brazil, focusing on social vulnerability and adaptation capacity.

This fact sheet describes project CRN2014, which investigates how land use and cover change (LUCC) and climate affect soil microorganisms, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), across temperate and tropical ecosystems in the Americas.

This fact sheet describes a study analyzing transition zones (ecotones) between forest and non-forest sites across one Canadian and four South American locations to understand how climate change and human intervention drive ecosystem displacements.

This executive summary evaluates the current scientific knowledge regarding the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of the tropical Andes. It identifies the region as a global biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism, particularly in cloud forests and high-altitude ecosystems. The document details how rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and habitat fragmentation threaten species' survival and the ecosystem services—such as water regulation and food security—upon which over 40 million people depend. It advocates for adaptive management, the creation of connected conservation corridors, and increased inter-institutional coordination to mitigate these risks.

This report examines the complex interlinkages between trade, climate change, and food security in mainland Southeast Asia, with a detailed case study on Cambodia. It argues that food insecurity in the region persists despite surplus rice production due to structural economic weaknesses and vulnerability to external shocks. The author advocates for a holistic, participatory, and long-term policy approach to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and volatile global markets.

This 2010 training manual by the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive framework for law enforcement agencies in Eastern and Southern Africa to identify, investigate, and prosecute environmental crimes. It covers the foundations of environmental law, the technical processes of inspection and evidence gathering, and the legal requirements for criminal prosecution, emphasizing a participant-centered learning approach for police, customs officials, and prosecutors.

A letter from the Green Economy Coalition to G-20 Ministers of Finance urging the urgent implementation of the phase-out of fossil-fuel subsidies to combat climate change and support sustainable development.

This policy brief discusses the results of a rapid trade and environment assessment in Namibia, highlighting the risk that climate change concerns among international tourists—particularly from Europe—could damage the national tourism economy. It argues that Namibia must move beyond 'business as usual' to become a world-leading destination by implementing a national policy on climate change and tourism, promoting carbon-neutral products, and integrating climate considerations into existing regulatory bodies and development plans.

A modeling study by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the potential for increasing global crop production through on-farm water management strategies, specifically vapour shift and water harvesting, under current and future climate scenarios.