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The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners. Participants work in teams of three to produce a research paper of up to 12 pages focusing on a selected theme—Biodiversity, Climate Change, or Sustainable Development—and a specific topic such as energy, oceans, or air pollution. The project requires both a local and an international case example. The programme consists of three phases: the research paper, provincial or regional presentations for top papers, and the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference from 6-11 December 2015 in Gauteng, where top learners draft the 2015 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration for government and UN officials. Key deadlines include school registration by 11 May 2015 and final paper submission by 21 July 2015.

The document examines the drivers and barriers to climate change adaptation in the Swedish forestry sector, emphasizing that social and cultural factors are as critical as scientific data. While forest owners recognize increasing productivity and risks from extreme weather, many adopt a "wait and see" approach due to the gradual nature of climate change and distrust of scientific communication. The research highlights the importance of social networks, the role of indirect global climate impacts on export markets, and the need for relevant, credible, and legitimate science communication to foster proactive adaptation.

The report finds that AFOLU mitigation potentials for eight major emitters—the United States, Indonesia, China, India, Brazil, the European Union, Mexico, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—could reduce the 2020 emissions gap by approximately three-fourths and the 2030 gap by nearly half. The United States has the highest individual potential at 23 Gt CO2eq, while Indonesia, China, and India also show substantial potentials between 0.75 and 1.75 Gt. These potentials are derived from three primary activities: reducing emissions from deforestation and peatland clearing, decreasing agricultural emissions (such as methane and nitrous oxide), and increasing carbon sequestration through reforestation and ecosystem restoration.

The document emphasizes that robust accounting rules and quality criteria are essential for the integrity of future carbon markets to avoid double counting and ensure net atmospheric benefits. It advocates for consistency across different mechanisms, including those for international aviation (ICAO), and warns against including land-use activities like REDD-plus in carbon markets due to risks of leakage and impermanence.

In 2013, global climate finance flows totaled USD 331 billion, a decrease of USD 28 billion from 2012. This decline was primarily driven by a USD 31 billion drop in private investment, largely due to falling solar PV costs. Public finance remained stable at USD 137 billion, with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) acting as the primary public source. Mitigation accounted for 91% of total flows, while adaptation received 7% (USD 25 billion), all of which originated from public sources. The report highlights a significant gap between current flows and the estimated USD 1.1 trillion annual investment needed in the energy sector to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius.

The author asserts that climate change threatens to reverse development gains and undermine efforts to end poverty. The text emphasizes that the UN Climate Summit and the transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals are critical opportunities to integrate climate resilience with poverty eradication. It highlights specific solutions, such as renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, as drivers of economic growth and public health.

A briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and other NGOs criticizing the decision by CITES to remove Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from the Review of Significant Trade. The document argues that the DRC has failed to implement sustainable management practices, continues to engage in widespread illegal logging, and has provided an insufficient non-detriment finding (NDF) to justify its export quotas.

In 2011, Indonesia's public climate funding totaled at least Rp 8.4 trillion (USD 951 million), with domestic government spending as the primary source. Most domestic funds were directed toward 'supporting activities' like policy development, particularly in the forestry sector, while international funding focused more on 'core activities' in mitigation and adaptation. The report highlights a significant gap in funding reaching local governments and identifies challenges in tracking international funds and defining adaptation activities.

The document serves as a technical supplement to a report on Indonesia's public climate finance. It provides a detailed breakdown of 2011 state budget expenditures, categorizing funds into climate-specific and potentially climate-relevant outcomes across sectors such as forestry, energy, and transport. It includes a comprehensive list of Indonesian laws and regulations governing public finance and climate action, a registry of climate-relevant policy incentives, and an analysis of local government spending via Specific Allocation Grants. Additionally, it summarizes the climate-related investment activities of various state-owned enterprises and lists the government agencies and international partners consulted during the study.

In 2011, Indonesia disbursed at least IDR 8,377 billion (USD 951 million) in public climate finance, with the domestic government providing 66% of these funds. The majority of domestic spending (73%) targeted 'indirect activities' such as policy development, primarily in the forestry sector. International development partners contributed 34% of the total, with a stronger focus on direct mitigation and adaptation projects, particularly in energy. The report identifies significant tracking gaps, especially regarding adaptation finance, and highlights the limited role of local governments and the untapped potential of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in delivering climate action.

The article analyzes the challenges and requirements of science-stakeholder interactions in Swedish forestry research related to climate change. It identifies barriers to communication and emphasizes the need for research findings to be presented in formats that support decision-making and for clear communication of goals to prevent stakeholder fatigue.

The report assesses Zimbabwe's capacity for climate compatible development (CCD), identifying significant research and institutional gaps despite a strong tradition of academic publishing. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary research, curriculum innovation, and better integration of indigenous knowledge to address vulnerabilities in agriculture, water, and health.

The report identifies a significant gap between Malawi's high vulnerability to climate change and its institutional capacity to respond. While universities are increasingly integrating CCD into curricula and research—particularly in agriculture, water, and forestry—these efforts are heavily dependent on donor funding and often remain fragmented. The document calls for a national research strategy, increased budgetary allocations, and a shift toward transdisciplinary knowledge co-production involving government, academia, and the private sector.

The report identifies Swaziland as highly vulnerable to climate change, with observed temperature increases exceeding 3°C between 1961 and 2000. It assesses the role of higher education institutions, such as the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), in addressing these risks through research, teaching, and community outreach. The analysis reveals significant gaps in observational data, a lack of postgraduate research (Masters and PhDs), and a need for transdisciplinary approaches that integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific methods. While some initiatives in agriculture, water, and energy are active, the report argues for a more coordinated national strategy and the mainstreaming of CCD into university curricula and government policy.

The document analyzes China's multifaceted role in Liberia's recovery between 2003 and 2013, covering its participation in the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), bilateral development aid, and large-scale investments. While China provided critical infrastructure and diplomatic support, the author argues that the economic relationship is characterized by a significant imbalance, describing it as a 'relative win' for Liberia and an 'absolute win' for China due to massive trade surpluses and favorable mining concessions.

The document examines how climate change affects bioenergy supply, demand, and logistics, specifically within the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). It argues that while the Nordic region may benefit from increased biomass productivity and reduced heating demand, its reliance on international bioenergy trade exposes it to global climate risks. The paper explores synergies between mitigation and adaptation, such as the use of perennial grasses and agroforestry, and warns of conflicts, including the potential for bioenergy demand to drive indirect land use change (ILUC) and soil erosion in other regions.

The report synthesizes the results of applying the ADAPTool in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. It examines 27 policies across agriculture, forestry, water, and parks management to determine their ability to support adaptation measures and their general adaptability to future changes.

The report details the use of the ADAPTool to assess the adaptability of three existing forestry policies and a developing wetlands policy in Manitoba. While the tool provided recommendations to improve forestry policy adaptability, it was deemed less useful for the wetlands policy because that policy had already been in development for several years, though it did identify potential co-benefits.

The document outlines that Africa is experiencing significant warming and increased extreme weather, which threatens food security, health, and economic growth. It argues that while Africa has contributed little to historic emissions, it is highly vulnerable and must integrate adaptation and mitigation into long-term development planning. Key opportunities for the region include adopting decentralized renewable energy, implementing conservation agriculture, and planning low-carbon urban growth to avoid fossil fuel lock-in.

The document translates the global findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report into a regional context for South Asia, detailing observed warming, projected risks to food and water security, and the potential for low-carbon development. It emphasizes that while further warming is inevitable, integrated adaptation and mitigation can protect development gains and offer economic opportunities.