Search Climate Insights Directory

The guide outlines a three-phase approach to managing artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Phase 1 focuses on preparation through the creation of a government task force, stakeholder consultation forums, and comprehensive context analysis. Phase 2 details the development of a national ASM vision and tailored management strategies that balance economic potential with the mitigation of social and environmental impacts. Phase 3 provides a framework for implementation, including legislative changes, the establishment of ASM zones, and the use of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to ensure long-term success.

The paper introduces the Jurisdictional Risk Assessment (JRA), a tool developed by WWF-US and Global Forest Watch to quantify deforestation risks in Indonesia. By analyzing four 'Key Forest Areas'—Primary Forests, Protected Areas, Peatland, and Forest Estate—the JRA uses indicators such as forest loss percentages, fire density, and overlap with government palm oil concessions to score district-level risk. Findings indicate that while most districts lost up to 10% of primary forest between 2009 and 2012, a small number experienced losses up to 50%. The authors caution that the JRA is a partial assessment based on remote sensing and should complement, not replace, field validation and social data.

The document argues that proactive investment in climate resilience reduces long-term financial risks and liability costs for municipalities. It advocates for 'multiple-bottom-line' accounting and the valuation of ecosystem services (eco-asset accounting) to prioritize cost-effective natural infrastructure over expensive engineered solutions. The briefing details various financing mechanisms to enhance urban robustness, redundancy, and resourcefulness, including green bonds, public-private partnerships, user fees, and the use of Alberta's carbon levy. It concludes with strategic recommendations to embed resilience into zoning, permitting, and planning processes.

The document details a workshop involving government officials, Sami representatives, and researchers to address the gap between legal requirements to promote Sami culture and the actual practice of authorities in planning and permitting. Key discussions focused on the necessity of early dialogue, the recognition of traditional knowledge, and the systemic failure to account for cumulative effects of land exploitation. The report highlights a strong convergence between authorities and Sami representatives on the primary obstacles, such as resource shortages and the problematic assumption of 'coexistence' between industry and reindeer husbandry.

The New Climate Economy report 'Better Cities, Better Growth: India’s Urban Opportunity' finds that compact cities in India experienced faster economic growth from 2002-2012 than sprawled cities. Smart urban growth could save India between $330 billion and $1.8 trillion annually by mid-century, representing up to 6 percent of GDP. The document identifies three target areas for reform: land regulations, sustainable urban infrastructure (such as bus rapid transit), and the strengthening of urban local governments. It highlights the high costs of car-driven growth, citing Delhi as an example where traffic congestion and air pollution create significant economic and livability crises.

The report finds that public finance for REDD+ objectives in Côte d’Ivoire is severely insufficient, with 2015 investments of FCFA 16.8 billion representing a small fraction of the estimated FCFA 173 billion annual need for the 2030 forest cover target. A significant amount of public funding (FCFA 84.2 billion) is classified as 'grey finance'—agricultural intensification that lacks safeguards and may drive deforestation. The analysis highlights critical gaps in national planning, underfunding of land-use planning and land tenure, and institutional weaknesses in agencies like SODEFOR. It argues that 'greening' existing agricultural finance and creating a National REDD+ Fund could significantly increase aligned investment.

The document identifies six key risks in Liberia's forest conversion laws, including land use conflicts and community dispossession, and suggests reforms such as passing the Land Rights Bill and implementing multi-stakeholder land use planning.

The document analyzes the legal mechanisms for clearing natural forests for other uses in Liberia, highlighting a lack of national land use planning and poor coordination between government agencies. It examines the roles of the Forest Development Authority (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the status of community forest rights, and the challenges of integrating conversion timber into the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union.

The report highlights that while global wild tiger populations increased to approximately 3,890 by 2016, this progress is threatened by an estimated 11,000 kilometres of planned roads and railways across tiger landscapes. Linear infrastructure causes habitat fragmentation, increases human-tiger conflict, and facilitates poaching. Through case studies in the Dawna Tenasserim Landscape, the Terai Arc Landscape, and Sumatra, the document demonstrates how infrastructure projects can isolate populations and degrade ecosystems. WWF calls on governments and investors to adopt long-term spatial plans, protect critical habitats as inviolate areas, and implement wildlife crossings to maintain connectivity.

The assessment finds that over half of Central Kalimantan consists of high conservation value (HCV) areas, with nearly two-thirds of these areas threatened by planned development. The report details the distribution of biodiversity-critical areas, large natural landscapes, ecosystem transition zones, and rare or endangered ecosystems across various districts to support their integration into regional policy and business licensing.

The paper argues that current land valuation in Indonesia fails to account for critical ecosystem services such as carbon stocks and water provision, leading to suboptimal land-use decisions. It proposes a new valuation approach combining GIS, participatory methods, and expert opinion to align conflicting government regulations. The authors specifically highlight Kotawaringin Timur as a priority area for this approach due to its high deforestation rates, significant concentration of palm oil mills, and the presence of 27,502 hectares of high conservation value areas that are currently under-protected.

The study identifies that over half of Central Kalimantan's land area consists of High Conservation Value (HCV) zones, with approximately 61.6% of these areas currently threatened by planned development. The analysis focuses on five specific HCV categories—protected areas, large natural landscapes, transition ecosystems, rare/endangered ecosystems, and specific environmental services—to provide a scientific basis for the province's spatial planning and sustainable development goals.

The assessment finds that 60% of Central Kalimantan's land area contains High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, with 62% of these areas threatened by development. The report identifies critical hotspots in five districts and highlights logging and spatial planning as primary drivers of forest loss, which declined by 32% between 1973 and 2012.

The paper argues that elephant survival depends on incentivising local communities to value living elephants over ivory through effective CBNRM. It examines the evolution of these policies in Southern Africa, comparing models in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, while highlighting governance challenges such as elite capture and the need for diversified, non-consumptive livelihood strategies.

The 2016 Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard evaluates corporate adoption of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). While many companies have joined the RSPO and increased CSPO use, a significant gap remains between high-level commitments and the use of physically segregated supply chains. The report highlights that while 77 companies committed to 100% CSPO by 2015, only 56 achieved this. It emphasizes the need for companies to move beyond 'book and claim' certificates toward segregated sourcing to effectively eliminate deforestation and habitat loss in producer regions like Indonesia and Malaysia.

The document argues that current development and climate policies in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru often conflict, particularly where biofuel and hydropower expansion undermine forest conservation and water security. It advocates for a 'security agenda' based on the water-energy-food nexus to better manage resource trade-offs and improve coordination between national and subnational governments.

The report details how systemic governance failures by the DMR and DWS in Mpumalanga have led to widespread environmental degradation, health crises in mining communities, and threats to water and food security. It highlights the lack of enforcement, a culture of secrecy, and the conflict of interest inherent in the DMR's dual mandate to promote and regulate mining.

The report assesses Myanmar's natural capital, focusing on four key ecosystem services: sediment retention for water quality, dry-season water availability, flood risk reduction, and coastal protection. Using InVEST models and climate projections, it identifies critical areas where natural ecosystems support human populations and infrastructure. The findings indicate that while the volume of services (such as sediment retention) will likely change due to increased rainfall under climate change, the geographic 'hotspots' of these services are expected to remain stable. The report emphasizes the overlap between these service-providing areas and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), arguing that protecting these synergies is vital for both human resilience and wildlife conservation. It specifically highlights the Tanintharyi region as an example of where infrastructure projects, like the Dawei road, could threaten critical natural capital.

The report evaluates five key regional and federal policies in the Hudson Bay Inland Sea region to determine their ability to support climate adaptation for transportation and ICT infrastructure. While the analyzed policies generally score high on planned and autonomous adaptability—particularly regarding permafrost instability and shipping routes—they lack comprehensive support for emergency response and formal review mechanisms. The analysis emphasizes that remote communities are highly dependent on air and sea infrastructure, making their resilience critical for community well-being.

The document examines Botswana's CBNRM policy, which aims to reduce poverty and promote biodiversity by involving local communities in wildlife management. It highlights the tension between centralised state control and local devolution, the financial impact of the 2014 hunting moratorium, and the role of joint venture partnerships with private operators. Through case studies of the Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust (CECT) and the Okavango Community Trust (OCT), the paper identifies issues with revenue transparency, human-wildlife conflict, and limited local capacity, ultimately recommending improved governance, diversified economic activities, and stronger legislative support.