Search Climate Insights Directory

The report outlines recommendations for operationalizing the Loss and Damage (L&D) fund established at COP27, focusing on the perspectives of vulnerable countries and beneficiaries. Based on focus groups with representatives from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the document identifies on-the-ground needs, financial access bottlenecks, and necessary design features to ensure the fund is fair, inclusive, and effective for those in the Global South.

The text highlights the tension in international climate talks regarding the responsibility of high-income countries (HICs) to fund climate actions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It warns that without a resourced 'rescue plan' addressing mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage, climate negotiations will continue to fail, potentially leading to increased global emissions and deteriorating quality of life.

The village of Laborie, Saint Lucia, faces significant economic and social threats due to climate change, specifically through depleted fish catches, sea-level rise, and intense hurricanes. Fisherfolk have adapted by using fish aggregating devices (FADs) and traveling further offshore, though extreme weather continues to destroy equipment and infrastructure. While the Laborie Fishers’ & Consumers Co-operative provides critical distress funding, a lack of long-term insurance for small vessels remains a vulnerability. National efforts, such as the Fisheries Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (2018-2028), aim to enhance sustainability and support the transition toward a resilient blue economy.

The document examines the challenges of aligning long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) with global adaptation goals. It explores the potential for combined, synergistic strategies that ensure emission reductions are climate-resilient and that long-term adaptation plans align with mitigation targets, specifically within the framework of the Paris Agreement.

The report argues that while Bangladesh must transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy, this process requires 'just transition' planning to prevent negative impacts on vulnerable individuals. It recommends enhancing inter-ministerial coordination, broadening the use of climate finance to include social support, and implementing restorative justice in worker reskilling programs to include women, youth, and poor communities. Additionally, it calls for the education sector to prepare youth for the green economy and for Bangladesh to advocate in international forums for accountability from high-emitting countries regarding social, cultural, and economic losses.

The African Climate Foundation views COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber's holistic approach to the energy sector and his commitment to fixing climate finance as positive steps for Africa. The organization emphasizes the need for equitable access to renewable energy by 2030 and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage fund to support vulnerable African nations.

The Great Blue Wall (GBW) is a proposed regional programme for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) designed to create a network of regenerative seascapes. Led by the IUCN and targeting nine countries, the initiative seeks to combine nature-based solutions with innovative financing to protect critical blue ecosystems—such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs—while fostering a regenerative blue economy. The programme requests USD 200 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with an additional USD 100 million in co-financing, to implement a four-component strategy focusing on policy frameworks, market development, capital flow acceleration, and regional coordination. Key goals by 2031 include the protection of 2 million km² of the ocean in the WIO and the creation of 2 million jobs.

The 31st meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP-31), held in Panama City in June 2023, resulted in the adoption of 23 decisions. Key outcomes include the creation of the IAI Science Diplomacy Center, the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Advisory Committee, and the mandate to develop research programs on the nexus of climate, environment, and health, as well as oceans and coastal systems. The meeting also addressed financial sustainability, noting that voluntary contributions have not increased in over 30 years, and approved the core budget for FY 2023-2024.

The 55th meeting of the IAI Executive Council focused on financial sustainability, leadership transitions, and regional climate initiatives. The Council recommended that the Conference of the Parties (CoP) approve the FY 2023-2024 Core Budget and establish a working group to increase voluntary contributions and diversify funding sources, noting that the core budget has not increased since 1992. The meeting also introduced Dr. Anna Stewart-Ibarra as the new Executive Director and Dr. Edwin Castellanos as the incoming Science Director. Additionally, the Council discussed a Regional Assessment of global change policy priorities and an initiative to enhance national climate assessment capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The document establishes a programmatic gender approach for the &Green Fund, which aims to delink deforestation from commodity supply chains (livestock, palm oil, soy, rubber, cocoa, and forestry). It defines a two-tracked investment strategy—gender-sensitive and gender-transformative—integrated into the fund's due diligence and monitoring processes. The report provides detailed gender and socioeconomic baselines for 11 countries, highlighting systemic barriers such as limited land tenure for women, unpaid care burdens, and the prevalence of sexual exploitation, abuse, and sexual harassment (SEAH) in agribusiness. It recommends using Environmental and Social Action Plans (ESAPs) as binding loan covenants to ensure equitable benefits and the removal of gender barriers in the target landscapes.

The report assesses gender-based vulnerabilities in northwest Bangladesh to support the ECCCP-Drought project, which aims to benefit 215,000 people through water infrastructure and resilient agriculture. It identifies systemic barriers for women, including limited land ownership, wage discrimination in agricultural labor, and restricted mobility. The assessment highlights how drought exacerbates these issues, increasing food insecurity and the prevalence of early marriage. To address this, the project mandates that 50% of beneficiaries and Climate Change Adaptation Group (CCAG) members be women, while integrating gender-responsive measures into water management and agricultural activities.

The document examines the intersection of gender and climate change, highlighting how gender inequalities shape the differentiated impacts of climatic shocks. It argues that current climate finance is largely 'gender neutral' and fails to integrate gender-responsive strategies due to a lack of understanding of the gender-climate nexus and flawed operational frameworks. The brief specifically calls on public development banks (PDBs) to move beyond 'business as usual' by implementing transformational gender mainstreaming—which addresses root causes of inequality rather than just symptoms—to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of climate mitigation and adaptation investments.

The document advocates for the Biden administration to use Phase II of its NEPA rulemaking to prioritize environmental justice, climate change considerations, public engagement, and tribal sovereignty. It argues that restoring NEPA regulations will provide the necessary guidance for building resilient clean energy infrastructure—such as wind and solar farms and transmission lines—while protecting marginalized communities and reducing litigation risks.

The document details the challenges faced by the semi-nomadic Brokpa community in Merak, Bhutan, following an unprecedented heavy snowfall in the winter of 2022. It focuses on Ms. Pema Wangmo, a shopkeeper and mother who experienced the destruction of her greenhouse and the threat of roof collapses. The case study emphasizes the role of community support in rebuilding and argues for the necessity of steel-based infrastructure and better communication networks to enhance resilience against worsening climate impacts in remote highland areas.

The report analyzes the alignment between the Colombian and EU taxonomies, finding a high degree of similarity in climate change mitigation criteria for 47% of compared activities. While both frameworks share core principles and governance structures, the EU Taxonomy is generally more detailed in its technical eligibility criteria and adaptation objectives, whereas the Colombian Taxonomy offers more specific requirements for land-use sectors and certain circular economy safeguards.

The report details how the expansion of shrimp farming in Ecuador has led to the destruction of over 70% of its mangrove ecosystems by 2020, resulting in biodiversity loss, increased climate vulnerability, and human rights violations. It highlights the role of EU imports and trade agreements in driving this demand and warns that seafood companies and investors face increasing regulatory and reputational risks under emerging EU due diligence legislation.

A July 2023 survey of 400 likely voters in Pennsylvania indicates that 65% believe human activity causes climate change and 73% believe Pennsylvania taxpayers face increased costs due to its effects. A significant majority (90%) believe oil and gas companies should pay at least some of the costs for local community adaptation, and 69% support suing these companies to ensure they pay their share. Additionally, 69% of respondents would be more likely to support a political candidate who advocates for suing oil and gas companies to fund infrastructure rebuilding and prevention of climate-related damage.

The survey finds that a majority of Pennsylvania likely voters attribute climate change to human activity and support holding oil and gas companies financially responsible for climate adaptation costs.

Pennsylvania's municipal governments are projected to spend at least $15.47 billion by 2040 to adapt to climate change, with stormwater drainage capacity representing the largest expense at $7.8 billion. The report highlights that these costs will disproportionately affect rural, high-poverty, and Environmental Justice areas, with some small municipalities facing annual per capita costs exceeding $1,000. The authors argue that major oil and gas companies should be held legally accountable for these costs rather than taxpayers.

The report analyzes the institutional framework and policies of the Brazilian agricultural sector regarding climate change. It distinguishes between mitigation and adaptation policies and evaluates whether they incorporate 'justice elements'—such as prioritizing family farming, increasing income for vulnerable producers, and promoting gender and racial equity. The mapping identifies the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) as the primary actor, while noting a lack of a dedicated national strategy for a just transition in agriculture.