Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for financing large-scale, export-oriented biofuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document argues that these projects exacerbate social inequality, threaten biodiversity, and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use changes, while failing to alleviate rural poverty.

This research paper argues that African countries, particularly within the SADC region, should adopt biotechnology and genetic modification to combat food insecurity and climate-change-induced droughts. The author contends that current regulatory stances in Africa are overly influenced by external pressures from the European Union and the Cartagena Protocol, leading to 'regulatory overkill' that may conflict with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and hinder the timely delivery of food relief.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an interpretive analysis of three major international scientific assessments—the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IAASTD, and GEO-4—to determine their implications for the policy goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The analysis focuses on 11 key themes, including climate change, biotechnology, and energy production, evaluating how these global trends affect Canada's agricultural competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management.

This report, based on the SA Army Seminar 21, outlines the strategic vision for the South African Army to remain relevant and ready for future security challenges in Africa. It examines the nature of African conflict, the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) and SADC Brigade, and the necessity of integrating cultural intelligence, professional leadership, and technological innovation into military doctrine to handle complex, asymmetric, and multi-dimensional peace support operations.

This report by Friends of the Earth International presents testimonies from nine countries to illustrate the human impact of climate change. It emphasizes that Indigenous Peoples and communities in the global South are most vulnerable due to their reliance on land and water. The document argues for a global movement to achieve climate justice by challenging the economic systems driving unsustainable production and consumption.

This report by Friends of the Earth International presents testimonies from nine countries, highlighting the disproportionate vulnerability of the Global South to climate change. It emphasizes that local communities often possess ancestral knowledge and traditional practices—such as agroecology and sustainable water management—that are more effective for adaptation than top-down institutional measures. The document calls for a global movement for climate justice and a transition away from fossil fuels to protect the most marginalized populations.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) argues that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires the integration of environmentally sustainable strategies across all goals, specifically focusing on freshwater, energy, and sanitation. The study identifies significant gaps in current MDG planning, particularly regarding the water requirements for food production and the need for innovative sanitation solutions. It estimates that an annual investment of USD 107 billion is required between 2005 and 2015 to meet targets for water, food, sanitation, and energy using sustainable pathways.

This research paper explores methodologies for linking global food system scenarios with local food security and livelihood dynamics. Using case studies from India and South Africa, the authors demonstrate how top-down global scenarios (such as those from the Global Scenario Group) can be downscaled to national and provincial levels, while proposing a bottom-up approach that uses livelihood systems as an intermediate scale to better capture local vulnerability and adaptive capacity.

The document outlines a panel's recommendations for enhancing African agriculture through science, technology, institutional development, and policy reform to improve food security and income.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that current global trade rules, particularly those of the WTO, undermine food sovereignty and sustainability. It advocates for a shift from industrial, export-oriented agriculture toward localized, sustainable food systems that prioritize the rights of small farmers and the environment over corporate interests.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It examines the official Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, various unofficial scientific and NGO forums, and the perceived failures of the decade following the Rio Earth Summit.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It outlines the IAI's participation in official sessions and alternative forums, specifically focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem monitoring.

This report by Jenny Clover for the Institute for Security Studies examines the debate over Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Africa, specifically within the context of a food crisis in Southern Africa in 2002. The author argues that while GM technology offers potential productive gains, it cannot solve hunger on its own because food security is a complex issue involving economic, social, and political factors. The document highlights the tension between immediate humanitarian needs for food aid and long-term concerns regarding biodiversity, multinational corporate control of seeds, and trade restrictions, particularly with the European Union.

This 1997 draft report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the University of Toronto examines the vulnerability of agriculture in the Canadian Prairies to climate change. It analyzes historical droughts, projects future agroclimatic shifts, and discusses the economic and policy adaptations required to maintain sustainability and global competitiveness.

The African Climate Foundation (ACF) has established the African Food Systems Transformation Collective to address food insecurity and climate vulnerability in Africa. The Collective uses a three-tiered structure of conveners, research bodies, and advocacy networks to build a local evidence base and coordinate philanthropic investments toward sustainable, regenerative agriculture and systemic food system transformation.

This document presents three case study profiles from Senegal focusing on community-led climate adaptation in agriculture (Daga Birame), coastal erosion (Dionewar), and health (Widou Thiengoly). It details the specific practices, outcomes, and challenges associated with these local initiatives and their alignment with Senegal's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This briefing by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment examines the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on honey bees, biodiversity, and global food security, with a specific focus on the agricultural landscapes of Ontario and Québec.

This factsheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines the direct and indirect health impacts of climate change, detailing risks associated with extreme weather, infectious diseases, food security, and socio-economic stability.

This factsheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment provides guidance for health professionals on mitigating the health impacts of climate change in Canadian communities. It outlines specific climate-related risks—including extreme temperatures, flooding, wildfires, food insecurity, vector-borne diseases, and water quality issues—and offers actionable tips for clinicians to protect vulnerable patients and advocate for community-level adaptation measures.

This case study describes locally-led adaptation (LLA) strategies in Ghana's Upper West Region, specifically within the Lawra, Nandom, and Jirapa districts. It details how communities facing high climate vulnerability use participatory methods, local leadership, and innovative farming techniques to build resilience against inconsistent rainfall and food insecurity.