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The document argues that conventional 'siloed' policy-making is insufficient to address the interconnected pressures of population growth, urbanization, and climate change on water, energy, and food security. It proposes a 'nexus approach' that integrates management across sectors to identify synergies and minimize negative externalities. The paper details the specific interactions between these sectors—such as the high water intensity of biofuels and the energy requirements of water desalination—and provides case studies from Jordan, Ethiopia, India, and Brazil to illustrate both the risks of non-integrated development and the potential for sustainable, pro-poor intensification.

The document argues that Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change despite being among the lightest polluters. It highlights critical threats to water and food security, the potential for climate change to act as a 'threat multiplier' for conflict, and the urgent need for improved climate information and financial compensation from developed nations for adaptation.

The report argues that India's push for jatropha to meet biodiesel targets has led to the forced displacement of tribal and lower-caste communities from their traditional lands. While promoted as a pro-poor, non-food crop for 'waste land', the report finds that jatropha often displaces food crops and common resources, fails to thrive due to poor understanding of growing conditions, and is unlikely to be commercially viable as a monoculture.

The document examines the intersection of environmental governance and climate change in Africa, highlighting the continent's high vulnerability due to low adaptive capacity and 'multiple stresses'. It analyzes specific case studies on land degradation and gender in Uganda, informal institutions in the Lake Victoria Basin, and renewable energy policies in Nigeria and Uganda. It further critiques the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) from an African perspective, suggesting reforms to increase participation and sustainable development. Finally, it argues for a human rights-based approach to climate mitigation and adaptation to protect the most vulnerable populations.

The document serves as a framework for a workshop hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Mombasa, Kenya, in September 2009. It argues that climate change, water scarcity, and energy deficits are critical drivers of conflict and underdevelopment in Africa. The paper highlights the Nile River Basin as a primary area of concern due to the lack of a comprehensive agreement binding all riparian states and the increasing competition for water resources among growing populations. It identifies the vulnerability of pastoralist communities to drought and the inadequacy of the African Union's response to climate change. The workshop aims to develop strategies for the joint management of water resources, assess the 'Helsinki Rules' for international water utilization, and explore the role of international actors and civil society in preventing water-related conflicts.

The document reports that pastoral communities in Ethiopia's Borana and Somali zones are facing unprecedented climate variability, including increasing temperatures and drought frequency, which are rendering traditional coping strategies ineffective. It identifies significant barriers to adaptation, such as land degradation, resource conflicts, and limited access to information and financial services. The brief recommends that the Ethiopian government protect pastoral land, improve weather information sharing, and enhance social safety nets. It advises civil society to integrate climate projections into programming and leverage traditional knowledge, while urging international donors to provide funding flexibility for climate emergencies.

The report assesses the vulnerability of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Ethiopia's Borana and Shinile zones, highlighting that recurrent droughts and increasing temperatures are rendering traditional coping strategies ineffective. While communities suggest diversifying livestock and livelihoods, their adaptive capacity is constrained by land degradation, conflict, and limited access to services. The study recommends that the Ethiopian government and international donors prioritize pastoral land protection, improve climate information sharing, and support community-led adaptation strategies.

The document investigates the current state of wildland fire management in Mozambique, identifying a lack of systematic interagency coordination and a gap in the dissemination of satellite fire data from national to local levels. It argues for a holistic fire management approach that integrates satellite monitoring, a national Fire Danger Rating System, and community-based fire management (CBFiM) to mitigate the ecological and livelihood impacts of increasing fire frequency.

The report analyzes how global trends in climate change, energy, and biotechnology affect the competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management of Canadian agriculture. It finds that while warming trends may increase yields and competitive advantage, these gains are offset by increased vulnerability to extreme weather and emerging social demands for sustainable and healthy food systems.

The report applies a prototype framework to Kenya, finding a simultaneous decline in biodiversity and human well-being. It identifies land-use change, resource consumption, demographics, and economics as primary drivers of ecosystem change. While Kenya's PRSP addresses several social opportunities, it is found to be less effective in addressing demographic drivers and lacks a concrete implementation strategy for environmental regulations.

The research paper introduces a two-phase methodology to quantify policy coherence by analyzing the frequency of shared goals, instruments, and actors across international agreements. Applying this to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Ramsar Convention, the UNFCCC, and the MDGs, the study finds a significant level of policy incoherence. Specifically, it calculates a 52% degree of incoherence among the four MEAs and a 62% degree of incoherence when the MDGs are included. The CBD is identified as the most coherent agreement, while the Ramsar Convention and UNFCCC show the lowest levels of integration with other frameworks.

The document argues that effective responses to global environmental change (GEC) require a non-linear, iterative dialogue between scientists, policy-makers, and society. Based on an assessment of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), it identifies key attributes for making science policy-relevant: credibility, practicality, usefulness, accessibility, and acceptability. The brief emphasizes that trust is the foundation of societal credibility and suggests that early engagement, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the involvement of social scientists are essential to bridge the gap between scientific research and concrete policy actions in the Americas.

The report examines how competition for limited water resources in Wajir District, Kenya, leads to violent conflicts that undermine pastoral livelihoods. It finds that such conflicts divert critical time and labor away from livestock management and basic services, resulting in reduced access to food, education, and healthcare. The study highlights the failure of top-down development policies and recommends harmonizing traditional and modern resource management systems to reduce insecurity.

The report analyzes the environmental vulnerability of West Africa, focusing on the interplay between poverty, environmental degradation, and natural hazards. It identifies key sensitivities in health, water availability, and food security, while detailing the diverse farming systems and urban livelihoods that shape resilience. The document emphasizes that vulnerability is exacerbated by social inequities, political conflict, and population growth, and argues for integrated poverty reduction strategies that prioritize diversification and adaptive capacity to mitigate the impacts of climate change and resource scarcity.

The report identifies Mali as highly vulnerable to environmental and climatic stresses, particularly droughts and floods, which exacerbate poverty and food insecurity. It highlights that vulnerability is shaped by regional disparities, social hierarchies, and health crises like HIV/AIDS. Environmental degradation, driven by deforestation and unsustainable agricultural expansion (especially cotton), further reduces the resilience of rural populations. The document argues for integrated strategies to reduce vulnerability, focusing on income diversification, improved water and sanitation, and targeted support for the most marginalized groups, including women and children.

The report identifies five critically stressed ecosystem services in Mauritania: biodiversity maintenance, food and fibre provision, water supply and regulation, fuel provision, and carbon sequestration. These stresses directly impact human well-being, specifically the ability to be adequately nourished, access clean water, obtain energy for cooking and warmth, and earn a livelihood. The analysis highlights that while all regions are affected, Assaba, Gorgol, and Guidimaka are high-priority areas due to the combination of stressed services, threatened well-being, and higher population density. Key drivers of degradation include prolonged droughts, over-grazing, over-hunting, and poorly planned infrastructure like the Diama dam.

The briefing examines the relationship between poverty and vulnerability to environmental stress, asserting that traditional income-based definitions of poverty are insufficient for guiding vulnerability reduction. It proposes a multidimensional framework encompassing economic, human, political, socio-cultural, and protective capabilities. The text explains how these dimensions interact with the three components of vulnerability—exposure, sensitivity, and resilience—and highlights how a lack of diverse assets and political marginalization increases the risk of chronic poverty and environmental degradation.

The document presents a set of recommendations focused on four key areas: science and technology options, the development of research and knowledge institutions, the cultivation of a new generation of agricultural scientists, and the implementation of markets and policies to boost food security in Africa.

Following the April 2002 ceasefire, Angola faces immense reconstruction needs, including the reintegration of approximately 105,000 ex-combatants and the resettlement of 4.3 million internally displaced persons. While the country possesses vast oil and mineral wealth, structural crises persist in health, education, and agriculture. A critical strategic concern is the Okavango River Basin; as Angola develops the headwaters in Kuando-Kubango province, potential increases in water abstraction and dam construction could negatively impact the downstream ecosystems and water security of Namibia and Botswana. Cooperation is managed through the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM), but Angola's lack of technical capacity and hydrometric data hinders its participation in integrated water resource management.

The report examines how environmental stress, resource scarcity, and inequitable access to natural resources contribute to political instability and violent conflict across various global contexts. Through case studies in Pakistan, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and the North Atlantic, it demonstrates that environmental mismanagement often amplifies existing social and political tensions. The authors argue that investing in sustainable resource management and equitable livelihoods can offset the need for peacekeeping and humanitarian relief by addressing the root causes of insecurity. The document also explores the impact of armed conflict on biodiversity and provides strategic recommendations for conservationists to operate effectively before, during, and after periods of violence.