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The document analyzes the reliance of Ethiopian households on traditional biomass, which accounts for approximately 90% of total primary energy use. Using the LEAP model, it compares a baseline scenario with 'moderate shift' and 'high shift' scenarios. The findings indicate that transitioning to improved cookstoves and electricity could reduce biomass demand by 53% to 67% compared to the baseline by 2030, while contributing significantly to national GHG reduction targets.

The document argues that sustainable governance of water, energy, and food requires an integrated nexus approach to reduce trade-offs and generate co-benefits. Using a scoping study of 85 organizations in Ethiopia's Tana and Beles basins, it demonstrates that social network analysis can identify the formal and informal relationships necessary to move beyond siloed sectoral management. The findings reveal that while some connections exist, relationships largely follow administrative and sectoral boundaries, with stronger vertical ties than horizontal ones, hindering the coordinated decision-making required for comprehensive solutions.

The document examines the socio-institutional drivers, governance networks, and barriers to water resources adaptation in three Model Forests (MFs). It identifies a common lack of shared vision and technical data across the sites, while noting that climate change will exacerbate existing biophysical and social stressors. The analysis emphasizes a bottom-up approach, identifying 'agents of change' and strategic entry points—such as generating new technical information and strengthening organizational capacity—to facilitate inclusive water governance.

Malawi relies heavily on traditional biomass for energy, leading to deforestation and land degradation. The country faces energy insecurity due to a total dependence on imported refined petroleum. While Malawi has long-term experience with sugarcane ethanol and is exploring Jatropha-based biofuels, production is under-utilized due to weak institutions and infrastructure. Transitioning to modern bioenergy, including cogeneration from agricultural residues and improved cookstoves, is proposed to diversify the energy mix and reduce climate vulnerability.

Anglo American used the Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) for its greenfield Jacaré nickel project in São Félix do Xingú, Pará. The process identified critical dependencies on the São Sebastião River for water and the potential for replacing coal with wood biomass for energy. Key risks include water scarcity driven by climate change and regional economic growth, as well as legal uncertainties regarding land tenure for reforestation. Opportunities include reducing operational costs and carbon footprints through biomass, and improving community relations by investing in local sanitation and reforestation.

The Grupo André Maggi used the five-step Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) to analyze energy supply risks at its Itacoatiara plant. The process identified critical dependencies on biomass, fresh water, local climate, soil erosion regulation, and habitat health. The company found that while biomass is a low-carbon energy source, its supply is threatened by illegal logging, climate-induced droughts affecting river transport, and regulatory hurdles for reforestation. To mitigate these risks, the company is exploring internal reforestation projects and evaluating alternative biomass sources, while preparing for a partial transition to grid electricity by 2015 for power generation, though biomass will remain essential for grain drying.

Walmart Brasil used the five-step Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) to mitigate risks in its beef supply chain in the Amazon. The assessment identified critical dependencies on soil quality, water purification, climate stability, and freshwater provision. In São Félix do Xingu, the company found that deforestation—driven by poor pasture management and infrastructure-led demand—threatens these services. To meet its 2015 goal of zero-deforestation beef, Walmart Brasil is exploring strategies including a dedicated 'zero-deforestation' brand, investment in monitoring tools for land tenure and the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), and collaborations with partners like The Nature Conservancy to promote sustainable intensification of cattle ranching.

The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) and the Mexican Environmental Law Center (CEMDA) report that at least 14 wind projects in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, have generated social and environmental costs that outweigh their benefits. The authors highlight the failure of the Mexican government to ensure free, prior, and informed consent for indigenous communities, the use of unreasonable land lease terms, and the occurrence of threats and violence against local opposition. Environmental damages cited include mangrove deforestation and the destruction of migratory bird habitats. The document calls for a human rights-based development protocol and a process to measure project externalities to ensure sustainability and community benefit.

The document assesses Kenya's National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) and its Action Plan (NCCAP) through the lens of Climate Compatible Development (CCD). It highlights that while agriculture is central to Kenya's economy—contributing 26% to GDP—it is highly vulnerable to climate variability, with 80% of land being arid or semi-arid. The study finds a lack of clear synergies between adaptation and mitigation specifically regarding food security, noting that policy actors often struggle to distinguish between the two. It identifies institutional silos and a lack of specialized climate knowledge as primary barriers. Financially, the report notes that while Kenya has attracted significant international funding (e.g., $2.3 billion for various activities), these resources are fragmented, and the agricultural sector receives almost no domestic public climate finance. The document advocates for the establishment of a Climate Change Authority to act as a 'gatekeeper' for funds and the mainstreaming of CCD to build strategic partnerships for food security.

The document outlines the critical role of the private sector in scaling up investment and providing technical expertise for REDD+ initiatives. It highlights that while the 17th Conference of the Parties signaled a move toward diversifying funding and market-based approaches, there remains a lack of detailed identification of private sector players and their specific roles. The research aims to bridge the financing gap between public funds and the needs of developing countries by enhancing private sector engagement.

The report examines the necessity of private sector engagement to scale up investment and technical expertise for REDD+ initiatives, analyzing the specific players and barriers within the supply chain to bridge the financing gap in developing countries.

The document argues that private sector involvement is critical for bridging the financing gap and providing technical expertise necessary for the success of REDD+ initiatives. It highlights the importance of diversifying funding sources and developing market-based approaches, as recognized at the 17th Conference of the Parties, to mobilize private finance. The brief is based on research involving interviews with over 40 developing-country decision-makers and implementers to identify private sector players, their motivations, and the challenges they face in the REDD+ supply chain.

The paper examines 38 PES schemes in Latin America, finding that most are local initiatives driven by NGOs and focused on improving extractive water supply through forest conservation. It highlights a significant disconnect between payment levels and market-based data, noting that payments are typically decided top-down and based on inputs (actions) rather than verified ecosystem outputs.

The proceedings detail a national seminar in Malawi focused on shifting from traditional biomass (firewood and charcoal) to modern bioenergy (bioethanol and biodiesel). Key discussions include the potential of Jatropha as a boundary crop to avoid food-fuel competition, the efficiency of improved cookstoves like the rocket stove, and the socio-economic benefits of sugarcane outgrower schemes. The document emphasizes the need for a coherent national policy to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and mitigate deforestation.

The report evaluates the implementation of REDD+ readiness in the Republic of Congo, noting progress in scientific capacity and institutional strength while recommending that capacity building and stakeholder engagement be prioritised early to ensure integration into sustainable development.

The document uses a global-to-local modelling approach to project land use changes in Vietnam up to 2030. It finds that economic growth and urbanisation will lead to a significant loss of paddy rice land and protected forests, while climate-induced flooding poses a severe threat to the Red River and Mekong River Deltas. The study highlights critical policy trade-offs between reducing greenhouse gas emissions through reforestation and maintaining national food security targets.

The report examines the tension between the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 and other national laws, such as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the NIPAS Act, which often undermine indigenous land tenure and governance. It highlights that while the Philippines has progressive laws on paper, implementation is hindered by the 'Regalian Doctrine' and institutional conflicts between agencies like the NCIP and DENR. The document details the role of ICCAs in biodiversity conservation and provides case studies of indigenous communities, such as the Tagbanwa and Talaandig, struggling to maintain control over their ancestral domains against state-led protected area systems and extractive industries.

The document examines the status of Indigenous Territories and Community Conserved Areas (TICCAs) in Bolivia, highlighting the gap between the country's advanced constitutional protections for indigenous peoples and the actual implementation of state policies. It details the legal evolution from the 1953 Agrarian Reform to the 2009 Constitution, which recognizes Bolivia as a Plurinational State. The report identifies significant threats to biodiversity and indigenous governance, including the expansion of the agricultural frontier, large-scale extractivist projects (mining and hydrocarbons), and the government's failure to conduct prior informed consultation. Through case studies of the TIPNIS and Kaa-Iya, it illustrates conflicts over infrastructure projects and the erosion of co-management agreements between the state and indigenous organizations.

The 2050 Criteria identifies primary environmental and social risks for ten major commodity sectors—including aquaculture, beef, cotton, dairy, palm oil, soy, sugar, timber, wild-caught seafood, and bioenergy—and establishes Key Performance Criteria (KPC) to help banks and investors identify responsible practices. The document argues that the global economy is consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished, creating systemic risks for the financial sector. It promotes the use of credible third-party certifications, such as the RSPO for palm oil and FSC for forestry, as proxies for business performance and risk management. The report also highlights investment opportunities in sustainable technologies, such as methane capture systems in palm oil and dairy sectors, and the rehabilitation of degraded lands to meet growing global demand without further deforestation.

The document argues that effective private sector engagement is critical for scaling up REDD+ investment. It identifies diverse motivations for involvement—ranging from corporate social responsibility to monetary returns—and highlights that private actors can operate across multiple roles, including project development, carbon credit retailing, and technical expertise. Key barriers to investment include a lack of policy certainty, unclear land tenure and carbon ownership, and insufficient demand in voluntary carbon markets. The report recommends that governments create clear national legislation, integrate REDD+ into sectoral planning, and adopt nested crediting frameworks to allow direct performance-based payments to the private sector while maintaining environmental integrity.