Search Climate Insights Directory
22 results
A Sustainable Asset Valuation Assessment of Nature-Based Solutions in the Jukskei River Catchment in Johannesburg
A SAVi assessment of the SUNCASA project in Johannesburg's Jukskei River catchment finds that nature-based solutions—including riparian restoration of 469 hectares and planting 46,000 trees—will generate USD 8.6 million in net benefits over 25 years. The highest return comes from improved water quality, which is expected to save USD 3.7 million in health costs.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Nature That Works
This executive summary from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of 17 types of natural infrastructure in enhancing water resilience across the Canadian Prairies. It argues that natural assets—both conserved/restored and constructed—should complement conventional grey infrastructure to mitigate floods, secure water supplies during droughts, and improve water quality.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Executive summary
Sustainable Asset Valuation of Nature-Based Flood Mitigation Infrastructure in Drakenstein, South Africa
This report by the Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre evaluates the cost-benefit ratio of implementing nature-based infrastructure (NBI) to mitigate flood risks in the Drakenstein Municipality of South Africa, specifically focusing on river restoration in the Berg River catchment.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Sustainable Asset Valuation of Reforestation in Uganda
This report by the Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre provides an integrated cost-benefit analysis of the 'Bring Back Our Trees' reforestation project in Kasese, Uganda, demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of nature-based infrastructure (NBI) in mitigating climate-related flooding and landslides.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
A Scan of Natural Infrastructure Approaches
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines "bright spots"—effective examples of policy and planning change—to scale natural infrastructure for water services in Canada. It analyzes three distinct models: the City of Nelson's use of local bylaws, the Halifax Regional Municipality's integrated multi-level planning, and EPCOR's hybrid approach combining natural and grey infrastructure for flood mitigation in Edmonton.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
SOUTH AFRICA INSPIRING CASE STUDIES FROM THE CAPE WINELANDS FARMING WITH BIODIVERSITY
This report by WWF South Africa provides a guide and case studies on integrating biodiversity into agricultural landscapes in the Cape Winelands. It advocates for regenerative farming practices, such as reducing tillage and chemical inputs, and offers practical strategies for restoring degraded land through passive and active restoration. The document includes specific plant palettes for riverine areas, intercropping, and habitat hedges to enhance ecosystem resilience and support pollinators.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
An Innovative Jobs Program in Odisha, India Helped Informal Workers Through COVID-19 and Beyond
This case study describes the Urban Wage Employment Initiative (UWEI) in Odisha, India, a large-scale public works program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to support urban poor, informal, and migrant workers. The program focused on climate-resilient infrastructure and was later institutionalized as a permanent scheme called MUKTA.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Case study
Summary of the 2022 International Institute for Sustainable Development Canadian Prairie Water Retention Monitoring and Modelling Workshop
This report summarizes a virtual workshop hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on June 23, 2022, focused on the monitoring and modelling of water retention projects in the Canadian Prairies. The event brought together 20 participants from government, academia, and industry to share research on the effectiveness of small dams, retention ponds, and wetlands in managing water quantity and nutrient loads, specifically phosphorus. The workshop highlighted the technical challenges of monitoring in cold climates, the use of new technologies like UV-Vis spectrometers, and the need for better business cases to encourage the adoption of natural infrastructure by agricultural producers.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the costs and economic benefits of 10 water retention projects implemented between 2014 and 2020 in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District of Manitoba. The analysis finds that for livestock producers, the average benefit-cost ratio is 3.16, with benefits including improved water quality, extended grazing, and reduced operational costs. While most projects showed a positive return on investment, those on crop-only farms were more likely to have costs outweighing benefits due to high upfront construction expenses.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of Stormwater Infrastructure Solutions in Johannesburg, South Africa
This report presents a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of three stormwater infrastructure options in the Paterson Park Precinct of Johannesburg, South Africa: a grey concrete culvert, a nature-based stream renaturalization, and a hybrid solution. Using data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the study compares these options through an integrated cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and climate change scenario analysis over 20- and 40-year horizons. The findings demonstrate that nature-based infrastructure is the most cost-efficient and climate-resilient choice, providing significant co-benefits in flood mitigation and water supply.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: District-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana
This policy brief examines the causes of recurring flooding in Accra, Ghana, and advocates for the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) with traditional infrastructure to mitigate disaster risks. It emphasizes the necessity of collaboration and communication between municipal and district assemblies to manage shared waterways and drainage systems effectively.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
Coastal Resilience in the Southeast
This briefing transcript features experts from NOAA, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Wetlands Watch, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection discussing coastal resilience strategies in the Southeast United States. The discussion focuses on the implementation of natural infrastructure, such as living shorelines and coral reef protection, the challenges of sea level rise and nuisance flooding in Virginia, and the regulatory and financial barriers to adopting nature-based solutions over traditional hard infrastructure like bulkheads.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) surveys federal funding and technical assistance available to state and local governments, tribes, non-governmental organizations, universities, and individuals to implement nature-based solutions for climate resilience. It details various programs across agencies including the EPA, FEMA, HUD, NOAA, USDA, and USFWS, highlighting their eligibility requirements and providing real-world examples of projects such as wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and urban forestry.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Fact sheet
Congressional Action on Resilient Infrastructure: Areas of Progress and Future Needs
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines legislative progress made by the 115th Congress to improve the resilience of U.S. infrastructure against extreme weather and climate change. It details specific provisions in laws affecting disaster recovery, water systems, national defense, and natural infrastructure, while identifying remaining gaps for the 116th Congress, such as energy grid resilience and National Flood Insurance Program reform.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Fact sheet
Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit Follow-up Meeting
This report synthesizes the proceedings of a follow-up meeting held on December 1, 2011, to review progress since the 2010 Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit. The meeting focused on the 'Lake Winnipeg Bioeconomy Project,' an initiative by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to transform nutrient loading issues—specifically phosphorus pollution—into economic opportunities through clean technology and sustainable development.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Establishing a Foundation for Ecological Infrastructure Investments in the Red River Basin
This report details the first phase of the 'Building Capacity for Ecological Infrastructure Investments in the Red River Basin' initiative, a partnership between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Red River Basin Commission (RRBC). The project aims to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to help municipalities and counties in the Red River Basin (RRB) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ecological infrastructure investments—such as restoring natural environments—compared to traditional 'hard' infrastructure for flood control and water quality management.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
THREE DISTRIBUTED WATER STORAGE OPTIONS FOR MANITOBA
This infographic presents a cost-benefit analysis of three distributed water storage options for land management in Manitoba to mitigate floods and droughts while managing nutrients. The analysis was modeled on a field scale for a typical quarter-section.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Fact sheet
Nature’s wealth
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, with a specific focus on Manitoba, Canada. It details the services wetlands provide—such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—while highlighting the severe loss of these ecosystems due to agriculture and urbanization. The document also explores innovative uses for cattails as bioenergy and discusses regional conservation and restoration initiatives.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a response to proposed drainage regulations by the Government of Manitoba. While the government aims for 'no net loss of wetland benefits', IISD argues that the proposed regulations would roll back protections for temporary wetlands (Classes 1 and 2) and enable the drainage of permanent wetlands (Classes 3, 4, and 5) through payment or purchase options, which IISD claims would make the 'no net loss' goal impossible to achieve.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Statement
Natural Infrastructure Essentials: A focus on water retention
This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the decline of water storage in the Canadian Prairies and advocates for natural water retention measures to mitigate the risks of floods and droughts exacerbated by climate change.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief