Search Climate Insights Directory

The analysis of 14 large Swedish export-oriented businesses reveals that climate change is not viewed as a priority risk, with a lack of operational risk management strategies and a failure to link global climate change to specific supply chain operational risks.

The report examines climate adaptation frameworks in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), finding that while all nine studied countries have national strategies, only Denmark mandates local-level adaptation plans. Most BSR countries encourage but do not require municipalities to develop specific adaptation strategies, often relying on project-based funding or integrating climate risks into broader spatial and emergency planning. The analysis highlights a strong focus on flood risk management and identifies critical knowledge gaps regarding the comprehensiveness of local risk assessments and the sufficiency of stable funding and guidance for local authorities.

The document examines the challenges of measuring climate change adaptation, noting that most existing frameworks are designed for project-level monitoring rather than national or global assessment. It argues against a 'one-size-fits-all' metric, suggesting instead that metrics be tailored to specific purposes—such as identifying needs, tracking implementation, or assessing effectiveness. The paper highlights evolving practices in agriculture, urban planning (using the City of Melbourne as a case study), and multilateral development bank (MDB) financing, while recommending the integration of qualitative data, new technologies like earth observation, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the comparability and transparency of adaptation tracking.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) has introduced the Climate Resilience Principles to integrate climate adaptation and resilience into the Climate Bonds Standard. The framework distinguishes between asset-focused investments (ensuring an asset's performance over its lifespan) and system-focused investments (delivering broader systemic benefits). It requires issuers to conduct physical climate risk assessments—covering hazards, exposure, and vulnerability—and demonstrate that investments are 'fit-for-purpose' and do not cause maladaptation. The Principles also address the potential for 'mitigation trade-offs,' where emissions requirements might be relaxed for projects providing exceptional resilience benefits. These Principles will be used by Technical Working Groups to create sector-specific certification criteria.

ClientEarth argues that HM Treasury (HMT) is an obstacle to ambitious climate policy and lacks transparency in its coordination with other departments. The submission calls for a 'Climate Cabinet' and a parallel climate budget to ensure legal targets are met. In the financial sector, ClientEarth highlights a widespread failure among pension funds and asset managers to treat climate change as a material financial risk, noting a 'herd mentality' that stifles innovation. It criticises the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for a lack of enforcement regarding climate risk disclosures and warns of 'greenwash' in sustainable financial products. The document recommends mandatory TCFD reporting for large asset owners by 2022 and the regulation of investment consultants by the FCA.

The document argues that aligning NDCs and NAP processes under the Paris Agreement provides a feasible starting point for countries to improve the coherence and efficiency of their climate policies. While NDCs offer high-level direction, NAPs provide the technical strategies for implementation. The briefing identifies common challenges, such as differing timelines and institutional silos, and suggests that the 2020 NDC update cycle is a critical opportunity to integrate NAP findings into national climate commitments. Furthermore, it positions this alignment as a gateway to integrating the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The project targets four regional hubs in northern Mauritania—Aoujeft, Rachid, Tamchekett, and Nema—to address severe desertification and water scarcity. It aims to benefit 204,171 people through a combination of land rehabilitation, water infrastructure development, and the diversification of livelihoods. The initiative focuses on integrating climate change adaptation into local and national planning, utilizing ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to stop the southward expansion of the Sahara and protect fertile lands in the Sahelian region.

The report examines adaptation activities across 18 developing countries' NDC Partnership Plans, identifying critical gaps in climate risk assessments, project design, and M&E systems. It argues that these short-term plans can be leveraged to align NDC pledges with the more detailed NAP processes to improve climate resilience planning and implementation.

The report outlines outcomes from an event held during Africa Climate Week 2019 in Ghana, focusing on scaling up resilience in African agriculture. It emphasizes the need for nature-based solutions, the centrality of smallholder farmers, and the urgent requirement for climate finance to reach local levels, particularly in least developed countries. The document proposes specific actions for the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit, including halting land degradation, implementing early warning-early action systems, and integrating climate risk analysis into National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

The Town of Canmore developed a Climate Resilience Action Plan in 2016 to address vulnerabilities to extreme weather, particularly following a catastrophic flood in 2013. Using the Climate Resilience Express (CRE) tool provided by All One Sky, the town identified eight priority risks and three opportunities. The highest risks were forest fires, Bow River flooding, and mountain creek flooding. Implementation steps since 2016 include a Bow River flood risk assessment, the creation of creek mitigation plans, and the integration of adaptation actions into municipal budget planning. The document highlights the value of structured planning tools and the importance of incorporating detailed costing into adaptation strategies.

The document outlines a climate risk assessment of water resources in Uganda's Ruhezamyenda catchment, emphasizing the need to address risks from changing temperatures, rainfall patterns, and extreme weather. It aims to integrate these findings into local planning and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), while noting the use of Nature-Based Solutions since 2015 to reduce climate vulnerability through ecosystem restoration and management.

The document details a climate risk assessment of the Ruhezamyenda catchment in Uganda, which found the area extremely vulnerable to higher temperatures and increased precipitation. It outlines a multi-step process for mainstreaming these findings into catchment management plans and provides strategic recommendations for Uganda's broader National Adaptation Plan (NAP), emphasizing the need for cross-sectoral coordination, local stakeholder engagement, and the use of existing scientific data to avoid costly redundant modeling.

Colombia has been developing a National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for climate change adaptation since 2014 as part of its National Adaptation Plan (PNACC). Initial efforts led to the creation of the National Adaptation Indicator System (SNIACC), which identified 34 indicators across seven categories. However, the country is now shifting toward a more strategic M&E approach that moves beyond vulnerability metrics to evaluate the management and impact of adaptation actions. Key lessons include the need for flexible, multi-scalar tools that can aggregate local data into national macroeconomic indicators and international reporting commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Future goals include institutionalizing M&E within the National Development Plan 2018-2022 and partnering with academia and statistical institutes to ensure data rigor.

The document highlights how climate change threatens energy infrastructure through extreme weather and shifting environmental conditions, which can jeopardize the financial viability of projects. It advocates for a resilience-based approach—focusing on robustness, resourcefulness, and recovery—and suggests a combination of technological, green, behavioural, and financial strategies to safeguard energy systems and support NDC mitigation goals.

The Government of Saint Lucia, led by the Department of Sustainable Development, implemented a strategic communications strategy to support its 10-year National Adaptation Plan (2018-2028). Key initiatives included the creation of a dedicated website, the engagement of journalists through workshops and challenges, the use of charismatic spokespersons and local artists for public awareness, and the development of a specific NAP logo. To measure the impact of these efforts, the government utilizes Knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) surveys conducted between 2005 and 2016. These activities aim to foster consensus on climate threats and mobilize resources for adaptation in a country where inaction could cost up to 49 per cent of GDP by 2100.

The document outlines a $63 million project in Nepal designed to mitigate the risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and other climate-induced hazards. It proposes strengthening the institutional capacity of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and other agencies to provide risk information and early warning services. Key interventions include the lowering of four high-risk glacial lakes, the construction of check dams, and the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) through community forestry. The project aims to benefit 327,500 people, particularly indigenous communities, by integrating centralized and community-based early warning systems and developing sustainable financing mechanisms for monitoring networks.

The document describes the ALivE tool, a qualitative assessment method designed to support project managers and stakeholders in designing EbA strategies. It outlines a three-stage planning process: collecting information through secondary research and participatory methods, using the ALivE tool for step-by-step analysis of risks and options, and integrating these findings into broader policy and planning frameworks. The tool specifically helps users identify vulnerable social groups, prioritize EbA options based on effectiveness and feasibility, and establish monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks using SMART indicators.

The ALivE tool guides users through a three-phase process: collecting data on livelihoods and ecosystems, analyzing risks and prioritizing EbA options, and integrating these options into policy and planning. It emphasizes a participatory approach, gender sensitivity, and adaptive management to ensure sustainable climate resilience.

The ALivE tool is a decision-support system that guides users through a three-phase process to build climate resilience. Phase 1 involves gathering data via secondary research and participatory methods. Phase 2 uses the tool to analyse risks, identify and prioritise EbA options based on effectiveness and feasibility, and design project activities. Phase 3 focuses on integrating these options into broader policies and planning processes to ensure sustainability and scale.

The ALivE (Adaptation, Livelihoods, and Ecosystems) tool is a qualitative decision-support system that guides users through a three-stage process to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation into climate resilience planning. The process involves collecting data on livelihoods and ecosystems, analyzing climate and non-climate risks, prioritizing EbA options based on effectiveness and feasibility, and developing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks. The tool emphasizes gender sensitivity, adaptive management, and the integration of EbA into national and subnational policies, such as National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).