Search Climate Insights Directory

This synthesis report analyzes the policy responses of countries and regional organizations in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa to the 2006–08 global food prices crisis. It assesses these responses in terms of economic sustainability and their impact on trade and regional integration, arguing that short-term emergency measures often conflicted with long-term food security and production goals.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) details a scenario-planning exercise conducted in May 2010 to explore the future of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The authors identify key certainties and uncertainties—such as the impact of the global financial crisis and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations—to project four potential futures for the organization, ranging from deeper integration to total collapse.

This report examines the complex relationship between trade policy, climate change, and food security in mainland Southeast Asia, using Cambodia as a case study to highlight the need for holistic, participatory, and long-term policy strategies.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of agricultural trade policies and the Doha Round of WTO negotiations on the food security of net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs). It analyzes how trade-distorting subsidies, export restrictions, and tariff reforms affect the affordability and accessibility of food in low-income societies.

This report examines the complex interlinkages between trade, climate change, and food security in mainland Southeast Asia, with a detailed case study on Cambodia. It argues that food insecurity in the region persists despite surplus rice production due to structural economic weaknesses and vulnerability to external shocks. The author advocates for a holistic, participatory, and long-term policy approach to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and volatile global markets.

This 2010 policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines how air pollution, energy production, and pesticide use threaten the ecosystem services necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It argues that the degradation of approximately 60 per cent of examined ecosystem services may prevent the eradication of hunger and poverty, particularly in developing regions.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the conflict between increasing food production to sustain a growing population and the conservation of ecosystem services under the pressure of climate change. It argues for a shift from managing ecosystems solely for food to a holistic approach that integrates food production with the maintenance of other nature-based services to avoid irreversible ecological tipping points.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute explores the role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in helping countries, particularly developing nations, adapt to climate change. It details how ICTs enhance weather forecasting, risk assessment, and the dissemination of critical alerts to vulnerable populations via mobile networks, while highlighting the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) efforts to integrate these technologies into national adaptation plans.

This document introduces a series of commissioned papers for the 2010 World Resources Report, focusing on the tension between addressing immediate development needs—such as poverty and hunger—and preparing for long-term climate risks. It highlights the projected decline in water availability and crop yields in Asia and calls for new planning tools to manage the trade-offs between short-term relief and long-term resilience.

This briefing by Mohamed El-Ashry for the World Resources Institute outlines four guiding principles for climate adaptation strategies to ensure that economic development and poverty alleviation are not compromised by climate risks. The author emphasizes that the world's poorest populations, particularly in rural Asia and Africa, are the most vulnerable and require urgent international support to build resilience and protect public health.

This research paper, authored by representatives of SEKEM, examines Egypt's vulnerability to climate change and proposes a 'Green Transformation' strategy. It highlights SEKEM's use of biodynamic agriculture and a Sustainability Balanced Scorecard as models for private sector adaptation and mitigation, arguing that national governments should adopt similar integrated, vision-led approaches to ensure economic competitiveness and national security.

This 2009 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute assesses the economic impacts of climate change in Kenya, the costs of adaptation, and the potential for low-carbon growth. It finds that existing climate variability already imposes significant costs, while future climate change could lead to annual GDP losses of approximately 2.6% by 2030. The report estimates immediate adaptation needs at $500 million per year for 2012, potentially rising to $1-2 billion per year by 2030. It also identifies a low-carbon development pathway that could reduce energy-related emissions by 22% by 2020, with over 80% of these options available at a net negative cost.

This report by Friends of the Earth Europe examines the impact of jatropha biofuel cultivation in India, specifically focusing on the state of Chhattisgarh. It argues that the drive to replace 20% of diesel consumption by 2017 has led to the forced displacement of tribal and lower-caste communities from common lands, often without consultation, while the crop itself has frequently failed to thrive due to poor understanding of growing conditions.

This report examines the risks associated with "peak phosphorus"—the point when demand for rock phosphate exceeds supply—and its implications for global food security and water quality. It focuses on the Lake Winnipeg Basin as a case study for extreme eutrophication and proposes a transition toward phosphorus stewardship through nutrient recovery, recycling, and improved agricultural practices to reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers.

This research paper argues that green water is dominant in food production and that managing local green water resources can increase agricultural resilience to climate change and population growth, potentially allowing water-short countries to produce sufficient food.

This concept paper outlines an expert roundtable workshop hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Mombasa, Kenya, on September 29-30, 2009. The workshop focuses on the legal, policy, and institutional challenges associated with climate change and transboundary water conflicts in Africa, with a specific emphasis on the Nile River Basin.

This research paper examines the role of co-operatives in governing the artisanal fisheries sector in Angola. It argues that co-operatives can serve as a mechanism for co-management and a tool for formalising a largely informal subsector, provided they are treated as voluntary, bottom-up enterprises rather than top-down state instruments.

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2009, examines climate-related vulnerability and adaptive capacity among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Borana and Shinile zones of Ethiopia. Based on a 2009 study, the document details how increasing temperatures, drought frequency, and unpredictable rainfall are rendering traditional coping strategies ineffective, leading to food insecurity and environmental degradation. It provides specific recommendations for the Ethiopian government, civil society, and international donors to enhance resilience through community-led interventions, improved infrastructure, and better climate information sharing.

This working paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute explores the development of an integrated scenario approach for food systems, aiming to link local livelihood dimensions with national and global stressors, particularly in the context of food security and climate change.

This report examines how sustainable development issues are integrated into Brazil's international trade and investment agenda, noting a shift from official government resistance to practical adaptation by economic actors due to international pressures and domestic political evolution.