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The report analyzes pathways for California, Oregon, and Washington to reduce transportation petroleum use by 50% by 2030. It identifies a 'Half the Oil' (HtO) Pathway that distributes reductions across travel demand management, vehicle efficiency, and alternative fuel deployment. While existing policies are projected to reduce consumption by 24% in California and 8% in Oregon and Washington by 2030, achieving the 50% target requires extending and accelerating these measures. The analysis finds that relying on a single category of strategy is insufficient to meet the target, and that Washington faces greater challenges due to a lack of enforceable alternative fuel and zero-emission vehicle policies.

The document outlines a pathway for California to halve its oil use by 2030 by extending and enhancing existing policies on vehicle efficiency, electrification, and land use planning.

The document explains the mechanisms of Brazil's 2012 Forest Code, specifically the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA). It argues that while the law provides tools for monitoring and restoration, effective implementation requires the active engagement of the private sector, financial institutions, and government agencies to move beyond mere legality toward zero net deforestation and degradation.

The 2016 Orinoco River Basin Report Card evaluates the health of various sub-basins in Colombia, assigning an overall grade of B- (63%). The assessment reveals a strong west-east gradient, with Andean headwaters in the west facing severe degradation from mining, oil and gas, and agro-industry, while eastern sub-basins like the Matavén (Grade A) remain more intact. Key concerns include poor human nutrition in the Inírida basin and significant data gaps in water quality monitoring and biodiversity surveys across several tributaries.

The study investigated the December 1, 2015, rainfall event in Chennai, where some stations recorded up to 494 mm of rain in 24 hours, causing an estimated US $3 billion in economic costs. Using observational data and regional climate models, researchers found no detectable effect of human-induced climate change on the probability of this extreme one-day rainfall. The analysis suggests that the cooling effect of aerosols in the western Bay of Bengal likely counteracted greenhouse gas warming, while non-anthropogenic factors, such as El Niño and sea surface temperature anomalies, played a more significant role.

The report advocates for a shift from 'science-first' to 'policy-first' (or 'decision-first') adaptation methods, which prioritise development objectives and immediate policy windows over purely model-driven impact assessments. This approach is illustrated through a case study in Rwanda, where climate information was integrated into the Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (ASIP2) specifically for the tea and coffee sectors. The process involved identifying policy entry points, assessing current and future climate risks—such as rising temperatures and rainfall variability—and sequencing interventions into low-regret options, land-use planning, and early planning for future risks like pests and diseases. The report emphasises that for adaptation to be successful, it must be linked to specific financing sources, such as Rwanda's national climate and environment fund (FONERWA), and include iterative evaluation and learning mechanisms.

The document identifies infrastructure, human settlements, and mining as the primary non-agricultural drivers of deforestation, while logging is the main driver of forest degradation. Due to a lack of disaggregated global data, the report does not define quantitative indicators but instead reviews public policy interventions and private sector sustainability initiatives. Key public measures include import bans on illegal timber in the US, EU, and Australia, and the use of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) for infrastructure. Private sector efforts are highlighted through forest certification schemes like FSC and PEFC, though their global impact remains limited, and emerging responsible mining initiatives like IRMA and the Oro Verde Program in Colombia.

The document examines climate vulnerability in the Soufriere region of Saint Lucia, identifying significant gaps in financial, human, and social capital that hinder adaptation. It highlights barriers such as top-down government planning and a lack of incentives in the tourism sector, while suggesting micro-insurance as a tool to replace high-stress coping mechanisms among the poor.

The report analyzes the legal processes for converting forests in the Republic of Congo into agricultural or mining land. It highlights a critical lack of a national land-use plan, which leads to overlapping land use and insecurity. The document details the requirements for declassifying permanent forest estates and obtaining deforestation permits, while arguing that the rights of local communities and indigenous people (LCIP) are insufficiently protected. It also notes that the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) does not adequately cover the legality of conversion timber.

The paper argues that while supply chain traceability is a necessary first step, it is insufficient for achieving large-scale sustainability. Instead, it advocates for a 'landscape management approach'—managing agricultural production and ecosystem protection across connected areas of land rather than on a plantation-by-plantation basis. This strategy involves five key steps: defining landscape boundaries, partnering with government and business, allocating land to its highest value use, increasing productivity, and monitoring results. The document highlights a pilot project in Sei Mangkei, North Sumatra, and identifies significant opportunities to utilize degraded lands in North Sumatra and Central Kalimantan to reduce deforestation pressure.

The report examines the challenges and successes of implementing Western sustainability and development agendas within Vietnam's highly centralized party-state. It analyzes how historical legacies, including Chinese influence and the impact of the US war, shape current governance and social dynamics. Through various case studies—including hydropower strategic environmental assessments, poverty reduction programs like Chia Sẻ, and research on Agent Orange—the author demonstrates that while the Vietnamese state is open to experimental pilot projects, it remains resistant to reforms that challenge its monopoly on power or its paternalistic view of ethnic minorities. The document concludes that long-term engagement and an understanding of local cultural contexts are essential for effective policy advice in Vietnam.

The report outlines a toolkit for local governments to manage the rapid expansion of unconventional oil and gas development, such as hydraulic fracturing. It details regulatory options like zoning and setbacks, non-regulatory strategies including community engagement and contractual agreements, and fiscal tools such as severance taxes and road maintenance agreements. The document emphasizes the challenge of state-level preemption and the need for local officials to act as 'honest brokers' between industry and concerned residents.

The document examines the conflict between mining, oil, and gas extraction and the conservation of protected areas (PAs) and World Heritage (WH) sites in Africa. It highlights that 32% of African natural WH sites are 'in danger' and argues that extractive activities are incompatible with WH status. The author calls for the implementation of 'no-go zones' in WH sites and the adoption of strict operational guidelines and biodiversity offsets where mining in other PAs is unavoidable. It emphasizes the role of the private sector as a custodian of the environment, noting that financial institutions and international standards (such as the Equator Principles) are increasingly driving corporate compliance to avoid investor stigma and protect shareholder value.

The report details the application of natural capital science and software tools across various sectors to integrate ecosystem services into decision-making. Key examples include the Inter-American Development Bank's infrastructure planning in Latin America, China's massive reforestation and zoning efforts, and corporate sustainability initiatives by Dow, Unilever, and Coca-Cola. It highlights the role of the Natural Capital Project's open-source tools, such as InVEST and OPAL, in quantifying the trade-offs between economic development and the preservation of natural assets like watersheds and coastal habitats.

The program targets the global supply chains of palm oil, soy, and beef, which are identified as primary drivers of approximately 80% of worldwide deforestation. It employs a 'whole of supply chain' theory of change, arguing that deforestation can be eliminated if production is localized in the right areas (avoiding natural forests) and follows sustainable practices. The program is structured into four child projects: Support to Production, Generating Responsible Demand, Enable Transactions, and Adaptive Management and Learning. Key geographic focuses include the Amazon and Cerrado in Brazil, the Chaco in Paraguay, and palm oil production in Indonesia and Liberia. The program seeks to leverage a total cost of $443.2 million, including $40.3 million from the GEF Trust Fund, to shift the market from voluntary niche sustainability to a mainstream norm.

The document argues that the Town of Tusayan's application for special use authorizations on Kaibab National Forest land is not in the public interest because it enables a massive resort development by Gruppo Stilo USA. The authors contend that the project threatens the Redwall-Muav regional aquifer, which supports critical springs in Grand Canyon National Park and the water supply of the Havasupai Tribe. They further argue that the development would cause light and noise pollution, overwhelm park infrastructure, and harm wildlife habitats, including elk calving grounds and antelope fawning areas. The letter urges the Forest Service to deny the application before initiating a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

The document examines how Valenzuela City, a low-lying industrial suburb of Metro Manila, has utilised the Partners for Resilience (PfR) framework to address chronic flooding and livelihood loss. It highlights the transition from short-term disaster response to a holistic approach that incorporates climate science, environmental restoration, and community-led early warning systems. Key successes include the integration of climate-informed contingency planning and the 'GREENING' project for urban land use. However, the study notes that institutional resilience is challenged by local political cycles and leadership changes.

The report details a 2014 assessment of dairy systems in Tanzania's Tanga region. It identifies a contrast between the intensive zero-grazing systems prevalent in the mountainous Lushoto district and the extensive grazing systems dominant in the lowland Handeni district. The study maps feed sources, infrastructure, and environmental risks, concluding that while dairy production is in early development and not yet a primary local environmental concern, future growth requires improved fodder preservation, better breeding, and enhanced extension services.

The document reports on a pilot study investigating how climate information is integrated into Rwandan policy. It finds that while current policies address immediate climate variability, there is a significant gap in the use of quantitative long-term projections. The study identifies land use and green city planning as high-potential areas for such data, while noting that barriers include a lack of technical capacity, short decision windows, and a tendency to omit model uncertainty in favor of qualitative narratives.

The document examines how integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry (UPAF) into city planning can address climate change risks, food insecurity, and urban poverty. In Western Province, Sri Lanka, the focus is on rehabilitating abandoned paddy lands to reduce flood risks and intensifying home gardening to lower GHG emissions and improve nutrition. In Rosario, Argentina, the city is using UPAF to mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce 'food miles' and associated CO2 emissions, and manage storm water run-off. The report argues that subnational (provincial) government involvement is essential for scaling these interventions and integrating them into broader land-use and climate action plans.