Search Climate Insights Directory

The document details a research effort to define equitable resilience in Southern Africa, addressing a gap in literature which has predominantly focused on the Global North. Using Group Concept Mapping (GCM), the study engaged experts from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to identify key themes of resilience. Despite challenges such as technological barriers and power outages, the research identified nine central clusters: social justice, development, legislation and policies, collaboration and co-creation, capacity building, inclusion and participation, transformative change, preparedness measures, and mitigation and adaptation strategies. The study emphasizes the need for context-specific strategies that account for the region's severe inequality and climate vulnerability.

The document outlines the potential for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) agriculture to transition South Africa from a linear to a circular economy by converting organic waste into high-value protein meal, oil, and frass. While the sector faces scaling challenges and investor caution—highlighted by the closure of Inseco in 2024—there are significant opportunities in waste management, pet food, and regenerative agriculture. The brief recommends regulatory reforms to accelerate feed and fertilizer registration and the development of industry standards for substrates.

The document explores the potential of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae as an alternative source of chitin and its derivatives (chitosan and glucosamine), reducing reliance on crustacean aquaculture. It highlights a significant opportunity in South Africa, where approximately 10.3 million tonnes of food waste could potentially yield between 4,258 and 9,036 tonnes of BSF chitin annually, with a theoretical optimistic value of up to $498 million. While the global market for chitin products is projected to grow to $24.9 billion by 2030, the document identifies barriers such as high production costs, lack of industrial-scale extraction expertise in South Africa, and onerous regulatory registration processes. It suggests focusing on niche, high-quality products for biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors and leveraging urban waste streams to strengthen the business case.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) have signed a five-year framework agreement to collaborate on global change research and scientific diplomacy. The agreement focuses on activities at the interface of science and policy, including administrative support, technical assistance, and capacity building. Specific projects will be detailed in subsequent complementary acts, which will define budgets, human resources, and intellectual property rights. The agreement does not create immediate financial obligations for either party.

The IAI Strategic Plan 2024–2030 focuses on three strategic themes: meeting the needs of Parties to address global environmental change, developing science for the sustainability of the Americas, and ensuring the sustainability of the IAI. These themes are implemented through 10 strategic goals, including the promotion of transdisciplinary research on biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and water-food-energy nexuses, as well as strengthening science-policy interfaces and regional funding networks.

The report emphasizes the critical role of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal protection. It argues that these 'blue carbon' ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and calls for a comprehensive framework involving scientific diplomacy, transboundary cooperation, and community engagement. The document provides specific policy recommendations across four dimensions: ecology, ecosystem services, spatial governance, and community action, while highlighting the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica as case studies for sustainable management.

This white paper argues for the critical importance of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection. It identifies threats such as climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management. The report emphasizes the role of 'blue carbon' in climate mitigation and advocates for science diplomacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. It provides specific case studies from the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica to illustrate successful management and the need for continued restoration.

The document argues that estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America are critical for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection, but face threats from climate change, pollution, and urbanization. It proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management, emphasizing the need for scientific diplomacy, inclusive governance, and community participation. The report highlights the role of 'blue carbon' in national climate strategies and provides case studies from the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica and the Coiba Archipelago in Panama to illustrate successful sustainable management and the potential for pristine sites to serve as regional health benchmarks.

The document presents a series of demands from African environmental defenders, calling for the recognition of their human rights, the creation of a legally binding regional treaty for their protection, and an end to 'false solutions' in climate change. It advocates for a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the cessation of militarized conservation in favor of community-led models, and the implementation of redress mechanisms to hold governments and businesses accountable for human rights violations. The text emphasizes the need for the meaningful inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous peoples in the management of natural resources and climate mitigation efforts.

The report examines the energy landscapes of seven southern African states, highlighting a stark divide between vast renewable energy potential and a continued reliance on fossil fuels or traditional biomass. While most surveyed countries have established renewable energy targets and some have liberalized their energy markets, the transition is often hindered by governance challenges, high rural-urban electricity gaps, and the pursuit of new oil and gas reserves. The document advocates for an 'energy justice' framework to ensure that the shift to low-carbon energy is inclusive, transparent, and protects the rights of marginalized communities and future generations.

The briefing argues that climate change and biodiversity loss are inextricably connected and recommends five key opportunities to align the CBD and UNFCCC agendas. These include developing specific indicators for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), aligning National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), formalizing collaboration between the IPBES and IPCC, establishing a joint work program among the three Rio Conventions, and formalizing the role of CBD Action Agenda High-Level Champions.

The document argues that current international financing systems fail to provide the scale, speed, and justice required to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies in Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights a significant gap between global financial targets—such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG)—and the actual resources reaching the region. The brief advocates for a shift toward 'just financing' that prioritizes direct access for indigenous peoples and local communities, reduces capital costs through local currency financing, and replaces harmful subsidies with nature-based solutions. It specifically promotes innovative mechanisms like debt-for-nature swaps, Finance for Permanence (PFP) projects, and the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) as pathways to systemic change.

LandMark is a global platform that maps Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' lands to support land rights advocacy. A 2024 redesign expanded its map coverage to over 30% of the world's land and introduced new analytical tools focusing on biodiversity and climate change mitigation, specifically tracking forest greenhouse gas fluxes and intersections with key biodiversity areas. The platform provides evidence used in legal battles for land recognition in Suriname and the Philippines, and supports national reporting for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The document outlines a management plan for a 10-acre recreational park development within the 65.10-acre Changkhaphu Ornamental Conifer Tree Nursery Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan. It identifies potential environmental and social risks—specifically related to the 2024 construction of 3 km of fencing—and establishes mitigation measures, occupational health and safety (OHS) standards, and grievance redressal mechanisms. The project aims to provide urban green space, foster biodiversity, and support local communities through employment and eco-tourism.

The document outlines a curated conservation trip to Nepal and Bhutan led by WWF expert Dechen Dorji. It details visits to Chitwan National Park and various Bhutanese sites, emphasizing WWF's work in protecting tigers, rhinos, and snow leopards, as well as restoring forests and managing protected areas.

The Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio) seeks a 12-month, USD 200,000 grant to implement the GCF's Integrated Results Management Framework (IRMF). The project focuses on updating Funbio's monitoring policies and its Microsoft SharePoint-based project management system, training approximately 40 staff members, and refining two specific project concept notes to meet IRMF standards. Implementation will be managed by Funbio using a mix of national and international consultants and an existing IT firm.

GreenLatinos boycotted COP28 due to the appointment of a state-owned oil company CEO as summit president and the hosting of the event in the United Arab Emirates, a top oil producer. The organization argues that the presence of nearly 2,500 fossil fuel lobbyists and the UAE's history of methane emission misinformation compromised the conference's integrity. While acknowledging the agreement to "transition away" from fossil fuels and the US announcement of Methane Oil and Gas rules, GreenLatinos maintains that the COP28 outcome falls short of a complete fossil fuel phase-out required to protect frontline communities.

The World Resources Institute describes the COP28 agreement to transition away from fossil fuels as a historic outcome but warns that the transition requires a massive scale-up in climate finance for developing countries. While praising the activation of the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Goal on Adaptation framework, the statement criticizes the deal's failure to limit the role of carbon capture technology and the lack of quantified targets for adaptation.

The document examines the disproportionate impact of climate change on African youth and their subsequent rise in activism. It highlights the gap between youth demographics and political leadership in Africa, the specific climate vulnerabilities in countries like Nigeria and Sudan, and the systemic barriers activists face, including financial constraints and state repression. The author calls for the establishment of youth councils, dedicated funding, and protection mechanisms to ensure young people can shape climate-resilient policies.

In 2022, IDFC members committed a record USD 288 billion in green finance, a 29% increase from 2021. Climate finance dominated these commitments, accounting for 98% of the total, with mitigation finance reaching USD 244.7 billion and adaptation finance increasing by 52% to USD 31.6 billion.