Search Climate Insights Directory

A briefing by the World Resources Institute outlining four strategic opportunities for the United States and India to collaborate on clean energy and climate action during a meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Modi in January 2015.

This policy brief details a pilot study on the use of climate information for decision-making in Malawi. It finds that while short-term weather and seasonal forecasts are used, medium- to long-term climate projections (5–40 years) are not currently integrated into national policy or planning, despite their availability. The document identifies barriers such as inappropriate spatial and temporal scales, technical jargon, and short policy cycles, while highlighting opportunities to integrate climate projections into long-term economic modelling and infrastructure design.

This case study examines the restoration of the Loess Plateau in north-central China between 1994 and 2005. The initiative, involving the Chinese government and the World Bank, focused on curbing soil erosion and improving food security through terracing, afforestation, and the 'Grain for Green' program. While the project achieved significant reductions in sediment runoff and increased per capita grain output, the document highlights long-term sustainability challenges related to species selection, water shortages, and the reliance on government subsidies.

This research paper examines the potential for the Nordic countries to cooperate on climate adaptation and the development of a regional adaptation strategy, noting the region's strong institutional capacity and relative resilience compared to other global regions.

This document introduces a report by the African Centre for Cities and CDKN that provides a framework for climate compatible development in African cities, specifically addressing the challenges of informality and inequality.

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adaptation Facility (ASCAF) is a proposed 'value chain financing' mechanism designed to catalyze private investment in climate resilience for small- and medium-sized agricultural producers in low- and middle-income countries. Administered by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and backed by donor-funded first-loss guarantees, the facility aims to enable agribusiness corporations to provide medium- to long-term loans and technical assistance to their suppliers for climate-adaptive investments.

This report outlines a strategy and one-year work plan (2014-2015) for the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) to establish a platform for engaging the Government of Kenya on climate compatible development. It aims to position KEPSA as a leader in climate change by improving its analytical capacity, enhancing two-way communication with its membership, and leading private sector input into national policies such as the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) and the draft Climate Change Bill.

This policy brief examines how the mono-cultural nature of economies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which are largely dependent on minerals or agriculture, influences five priority policy intersections for social, environmental, and economic development.

This case study examines housing vulnerability and the need for adaptive, resilient shelter designs in Gorakhpur, India, to address recurring flooding, waterlogging, and projected temperature increases.

This research paper examines the costs and benefits of enhancing housing resilience to typhoons in three wards of Da Nang, Vietnam, identifying barriers to safe construction and household preferences for risk reduction options.

This policy brief examines housing vulnerability to typhoons in Da Nang, Vietnam, highlighting how poor construction techniques and structural weaknesses in semi-permanent housing increase risk. It advocates for investigating the costs and benefits of alternative, resilient housing designs to reduce future risks as climate change intensifies storm events.

This case study examines a CDKN-START action research programme in Gorakhpur, India, which aimed to integrate climate change considerations into the district's disaster management planning. The programme successfully moved beyond research recommendations to publish a climate-sensitive District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) by utilizing 'Shared Learning Dialogues' and the Climate Resilience Framework to build capacity across government departments.

This working paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) explores strategies for scaling out community-based adaptation (CBA) to climate change. It distinguishes 'scaling out'—increasing quality benefits to more people over a wider geographical area—from 'scaling up,' which focuses on mainstreaming pilots into government policy. The document identifies key enabling factors for success, including the holistic development of adaptive capacity, the creation of strategic networks and partnerships, the use of documented evidence to prove value, and the identification of flexible institutional and financial channels, including the private sector.

This conference report from the Green Economy Coalition details discussions held at Wilton Park in February 2014 regarding 'Real Green Economies'. The document critiques the macro-economic, top-down models of 'green growth' promoted by international institutions, arguing that they often ignore social justice and the needs of the poor. It advocates for a transition based on diverse, community-led pathways and the integration of social equity into green policy from the outset.

This information brief outlines the concept of 'no and low regrets' investment options to enhance climate resilience within the Caribbean water sector. It advocates for investments that provide immediate benefits and remain effective across various future climate scenarios, highlighting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and tools like CCORAL as key mechanisms for implementation.

The CRiSTAL Food Security 2.0 User’s Manual describes a decision-support tool designed for local government staff and development practitioners to assess and strengthen the climate resilience of community-level food systems. The tool uses a conceptual 'spinwheel' framework to analyze five dimensions of food security—utilization, access, availability, supporting resources, and supporting organizations—and guides users through a process of risk screening, resilience analysis, and the selection of SMART indicators to monitor progress over time.

The FIPAT Guidebook describes the Food Security Indicator & Policy Analysis Tool, a Microsoft Excel-based framework designed for national and sub-national government decision-makers to identify climate vulnerabilities in food systems, establish resilience indicators, and assess the capacity of public policies to support these goals.

This paper examines climate compatible development in Rwanda, detailing the government's transition from national strategy and policy formulation to the practical implementation of sustainable development across budgetary, sectoral, and district levels.

This policy brief examines how the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can achieve its objective of initiating a 'paradigm shift' towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development. It argues that such a shift requires moving from small, project-by-project approaches to programmatic ones, ensuring strong country ownership, and providing significant financial resources. The document discusses the challenges of defining 'paradigm shift' and 'transformational change', the role of performance indicators, and the need for funding conditions that incentivize higher ambition while respecting national priorities.

This policy brief, based on a report by the Transport and Environment Science Technology Network (TEST), examines the intersection of transport and environmental challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically focusing on air pollution, road safety, traffic congestion, equity, and climate change.