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The document argues that integrating the implementation of UNFCCC and CBD commitments at the national level is essential for achieving global climate and biodiversity goals. It advocates for domestic policy coherence across the design, financing, implementation, and review of NAPs and NBSAPs, providing practical entry points and case study lessons for country-level focal points and ministry staff.

The report finds that most EU Member States cannot reach climate neutrality through natural sinks alone, with only Spain, Finland, and Sweden projected to have sinks of the necessary magnitude by 2050. While forestry is the primary focus of natural removals, there is a significant lack of attention to sink stability and other land-use categories. Technological solutions are discussed, with a clear preference for Carbon Capture and Storage/Utilization (CCS/CCU) over Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC), though distinctions between these technologies are often blurred in national strategies.

The document outlines a readiness proposal for Ecuador to overcome barriers in climate finance, specifically targeting the limited capacity of local financial institutions to integrate ESG standards, the lack of climate-resilient mechanisms in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and institutional gaps in accessing international finance. The proposed solution involves four workstreams: strengthening local financial institutions' ESG integration, building government capacity for green bonds and debt-for-climate swaps, developing a National Green Taxonomy, and creating a strategic framework for climate-smart PPPs. The project will be implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) over 18 months, focusing on the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE).

The study investigates a UN Adaptation Fund project in Madagascar's Aloatra-Mangoro region, finding that project benefits disproportionately accrued to households with higher political connectivity rather than the most vulnerable, thereby exacerbating local inequality.

Uruguay employs a sectoral and regional approach to climate adaptation, coordinated by the National Climate Change Response System (SNRCC). The country has implemented sectoral National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) for agriculture, cities and infrastructure, and coastal areas, with additional plans for public health and energy under development. A key priority is reducing vulnerability in coastal zones, where 70% of the population resides, through high-resolution risk mapping and projects like the Adaptation Fund-supported disaster risk reduction in the Uruguay River watershed. The government is currently developing a GIS mapping system to track over 481 climate adaptation projects and an information system to monitor NDC progress using indicators such as gender sensitivity.

The document highlights the critical state of global freshwater ecosystems, noting that one in three freshwater species face extinction and only one-third of long rivers remain free-flowing. It identifies unsustainable agriculture and poorly planned infrastructure as primary drivers of degradation, both exacerbated by climate change. The author calls for the Global Biodiversity Framework to include specific numerical restoration targets by 2030: 300,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of inland waters. It further advocates for the elevation of freshwater to the same priority level as land and sea in conservation goals, urging the use of nature-based solutions and financial support to ensure water security and support the clean energy transition.

Armenia is seeking USD 197,031 from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) over 18 months to update its Country Cooperation Programme for the 2024-2027 replenishment round. The project, implemented by the Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU) under the Ministry of Environment, aims to align climate funding with the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy. Key activities include a national readiness needs assessment, the development of a Green Finance Implementation Strategy and Action Plan for 2023-2027, and the design of a high-quality Simplified Approval Process (SAP) project concept note. The initiative seeks to address coordination gaps between strategic frameworks and limited private sector engagement in climate finance.

The 2022 report outlines the achievements of the WHO-Civil Society Working Group, including coordinated submissions to the UNFCCC, a joint call for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and the establishment of a health pavilion at COP27. It also details efforts to integrate climate change into health professional curricula and plans for a new WHA resolution in 2024.

The report finds that investments in climate resilient infrastructure (CRI) are in their nascent stages, representing only about 1.1% of average annual infrastructure investment in 2019/20. It proposes a five-principle framework to define and track CRI, though data gaps limited its operationalization to three principles. The study highlights a significant gap between investment and vulnerability, noting no correlation between per capita CRI investment and the ND-GAIN Vulnerability Index. It recommends the adoption of common resilience principles, mandated double materiality disclosures, and the creation of a standardized CRI taxonomy to scale finance.

The Simplified Approval Process (SAP) Technical Guidance Compendium outlines the eligibility and technical requirements for GCF projects with contributions up to USD 25 million and minimal environmental and social risks. It provides sectoral guidance across agriculture, ecosystems, water security, cities, energy efficiency, forests, REDD+, renewable energy, and transport, detailing 'SAP-able' activities, impact measurement indicators, and the requirements for achieving a paradigm shift in each sector.

The guidelines detail the requirements for SAP funding proposals, which are designed for projects with minimal environmental and social risks and a maximum GCF funding request of USD 25 million. The document outlines a five-section proposal structure covering project summaries, detailed design, financing, investment criteria performance, and mandatory annexes. It emphasizes the need for a clear theory of change, a strong climate rationale, and evidence of country ownership and paradigm shift potential. The manual also specifies the roles of accredited entities (AEs) and executing entities (EEs), the necessity of no-objection letters from national designated authorities, and the requirement for detailed budget plans and risk assessments.

The report investigates the management of urban flooding in selected cities in Ghana, specifically focusing on the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi areas. It examines the extent to which Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) prioritize green infrastructure and engage residents in flood-prone communities to enhance city resilience. While local authorities generally recognize the importance of green spaces for flood control, the study finds that many residents do not prioritize green spaces on their own properties due to concerns about waste dumping, crime, and economic pressure to build shops. However, there is a strong overall willingness among residents to participate in decision-making processes if they trust the governance system and see their input implemented.

Ethiopia is not on track to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, with poverty and hunger projected to remain high due to conflict in Tigray, climate change, and economic shocks. The report argues that a sustainable food system transformation is possible with an additional annual public investment of USD 4.6 billion from 2023 to 2030. This funding would target increasing agricultural productivity, transitioning to healthier diets, and enhancing climate resilience. A significant financing gap exists between short-term emergency food assistance and the long-term investments required for systemic resilience. Key recommendations include prioritizing on-farm interventions, scaling up sustainable livestock intensification to reduce GHG emissions, and integrating nutrition education with social protection programs.

The Eswatini Outreach Programme, supported by the NAP Global Network, conducted workshops and case studies across Eswatini's four administrative regions to integrate traditional knowledge into climate adaptation. The programme found that while traditional early warning systems remain prominent in rural areas, they are declining due to modern living and a lack of coordination in documentation. It highlighted the extreme vulnerability of peri-urban areas like KaKhoza, which are often overlooked by adaptation programmes, and called for a nationwide outreach strategy, a formal monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system, and the archiving of indigenous knowledge to inform scientific climate observations.

The manual operationalizes the national M&E system for climate change adaptation in Viet Nam, detailing a six-step process for data collection, analysis, and reporting. It defines 72 quantitative and qualitative indicators across six thematic groups, including state management, resilience, disaster risk reduction, investment, science/technology, and awareness raising. The document specifies the roles of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) as the focal agency and provides a structured framework for annual reporting via an online platform.

The document outlines a comprehensive framework for monitoring and evaluating climate change adaptation in Vietnam. It details a six-step M&E process, provides specific indicators for central and local government levels across multiple sectors, and describes the operation of an online reporting system managed by the Department of Climate Change.

The report details a co-creation process between Kalmar municipality and the Stockholm Environment Institute to align a new mobility strategy with the Agenda 2030 goals. The strategy aims for a transport mode split of 60% walking, cycling, and public transport and 40% cars by 2035. Analysis indicates strong positive impacts on public health and sustainable cities, though risks include social polarization among car-dependent groups and potential conflicts over land use for biodiversity. Key recommendations include implementing '15-minute city' planning, enhancing fossil-free maritime transport, and using life-cycle analyses in procurement.

The document explores the application of Robust Decision Making (RDM) to address the 'super wicked' problem of climate adaptation in the Greater Mekong Subregion, where decision-making is often hindered by mistrust of national governments and unequal power dynamics. It suggests that while full RDM is technically intensive, a simplified 'RDM lite' approach could better suit local needs by preserving core principles of participation and robustness. The study also identifies critical needs for capacity building, strengthening informal networks, and ensuring 'meaningful' participation through transparent information access and digital inclusion.

The report examines how 'maldevelopment'—development that prioritizes economic growth over social equity—increases the vulnerability of marginalized groups, particularly women and Indigenous peoples, to disasters in Nepal and the Philippines. It details how inadequate planning and failed free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) processes lead to land grabs and forced displacements, which are experienced as disasters. The study highlights the role of WEHRDs in resisting these processes through grassroots mobilization, legal advocacy, and capacity building, while also documenting the severe hostility, violence, and systemic fragmentation they face.

A coalition of development, faith-based, and environmental organizations requests that the U.S. government maintain $64.5 billion for foreign assistance in FY23 and maximize international climate finance to meet a $11.4 billion commitment. The letter specifies funding targets for bilateral programs, including adaptation and renewable energy, and multilateral funds such as the Green Climate Fund. The authors argue that such investments are essential for U.S. national security, global stability, and international credibility.