Search Climate Insights Directory
67 results
THE SECURITY THREAT THAT BINDS US
The report argues that global ecological disruption is a critical, underappreciated security threat. It details how the collapse of ecosystem services, biodiversity loss, and environmental crime create systemic risks including pandemics, political instability, and economic harm. The authors advocate for a fundamental reboot of U.S. national security architecture to integrate scientific expertise and prioritize ecological security alongside climate change.
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Document type: Report
Cabo Delgado and the Rise of Militant Islam: Another Niger Delta in the Making?
The document examines the conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, asserting that while the violence is framed as militant Islam, it is rooted in long-term structural problems. It highlights how the discovery of rubies and offshore natural gas led to a 'resource scramble' that marginalised local communities and fostered grievances. The author notes that the Mozambican government's inept security response and the poor state of its military have further exacerbated the crisis. The brief concludes by comparing the situation to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, warning that without addressing socio-economic inequalities and improving governance, military interventions will be insufficient.
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Document type: Policy brief
Does climate change increase risk of conflict?
The research paper examines the relationship between climate change and global instability, asserting that while climate change may not cause conflict in isolation, it intensifies problems like food and water insecurity, economic loss, and ethnic tensions. It highlights that the risk of conflict is heavily dependent on regional sociopolitical contexts, such as government corruption and historical grievances. The document also notes a correlation in the U.S. between residents of disaster-prone areas and higher levels of concern regarding climate change, suggesting that these insights should inform government policies on mitigation and conflict prevention.
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Document type: Research paper
Supporting Equity and Environmental Justice
The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that marginalized communities in the US face disproportionate environmental and health harms, which are exacerbated by systemic racism within federal agencies. The document recommends that agencies make equity-based analyses mandatory for significant policies, strengthen scientific integrity, and dismantle internal racial biases. Specific calls to action include rescinding certain EPA and CEQ rules, increasing the number of health and safety inspectors, and improving the meaningful participation of frontline and tribal communities in rulemaking processes.
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Document type: Fact sheet
N O T I F I C A T I O N
The IAI has launched the STeP Fellowship Program, starting with a pilot in Argentina's agricultural sector involving three post-doctoral scientists funded by CREA and CONICET. Modeled after the AAAS program, STeP aims to place scientists in government or private organizations to facilitate the integration of scientific knowledge into policy processes across Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Document type: Statement
Co-designing climate services to support adaptation to natural hazards
The document examines the application of the Tandem framework for co-designing climate services in Karlstad and Stockholm, Sweden. It argues that tailoring climate information to the specific institutional and decision contexts of users—such as local planners—bridges the gap between research and action. The findings suggest that climate service needs vary based on the user's prior experience and their stage in the adaptation learning cycle, and that co-design can help overcome barriers like competing policy priorities and climate uncertainty.
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Document type: Briefing
Is the Global Compact on Refugees Fit for Africa’s Purposes?
The document examines the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), arguing that while they offer a progressive 'whole of society' approach to refugee integration, their non-binding nature and flawed funding mechanisms hinder their effectiveness in Africa. It highlights a gap between liberal policy and implementation in South Africa and the failure of the CRRF in Tanzania due to financial burdens. The authors advocate for a results-based management system and a stronger link between security, development, and migration to address the root causes of displacement on the continent.
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Document type: Research paper
Haiti: A Political Economy Analysis
The report argues that Haiti is characterized by a 'phantom state' where a small economic elite maintains power through symbiotic relationships with security forces and external actors, particularly from the United States. This structure has led to extreme inequality, the marginalization of the poor, and a chronic lack of public services in health, education, and energy. The analysis highlights a dramatic decline in voter turnout in recent elections, suggesting a crisis of political legitimacy for presidents Michel Martelly and Jovenel Moïse. It further details the environmental degradation caused by a heavy reliance on biomass energy, the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate shocks and trade liberalization, and the prevalence of organized crime, including child trafficking through private orphanages. The report also examines the role of international actors, noting that aid often bypasses the Haitian state, further weakening its capacity.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in Snow Leopard Habitat Central Tian Shan Region of the Kyrgyz Republic 2017
The report details the ecological and physical vulnerability of the Central Tian Shan in the Kyrgyz Republic. It finds a general trend of glacier retreat and shrinking lakes, which threatens the region's role as the 'water tower of Central Asia' and impacts hydropower security. Biodiversity is at risk, particularly the endangered snow leopard, due to habitat shifts and prey instability, although some species have expanded their range. Future scenarios project significant temperature increases and a long-term decrease in surface runoff by 2100. The document advocates for the expansion of protected areas and the implementation of climate-smart livelihoods, such as yak breeding and ecotourism, to build community and ecosystem resilience.
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Document type: Report
TPG Rushmore meeting request
The Private Equity Stakeholder Project and associated community organizations are requesting a meeting with TPG Capital to address the aggressive foreclosure activities of Rushmore Loan Management Services. The letter highlights Rushmore's role as a major owner of repossessed residential properties in Puerto Rico and its high foreclosure rates on mortgages acquired from Freddie Mac and HUD in Florida and Texas. In response to the impacts of Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey, the authors demand an immediate halt to all foreclosure proceedings in these affected zones.
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Document type: Statement
National Risk Assessments and the Politics of Public Risk Communication
The document argues that national risk assessments, while appearing scientifically objective, are inherently political because they rely on institutional biases and expert subjectivity. This political nature can reinforce existing power structures, justify current institutional landscapes, and influence the allocation of resources. The author highlights the challenge posed by new digital media, which reduces state control over risk perception but increases the need for authoritative, accessible information. Using examples from the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, and Norway, the brief outlines how different states categorize risks. It concludes by proposing that Norway merge its four separate risk assessments into a single, transparent, and expertise-based national risk management website to strengthen public awareness while maintaining political neutrality.
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Document type: Policy brief
Building a Climate-Resilient City: Urban ecosystems
The document argues that urban ecosystems and green infrastructure are economic assets that protect cities against climate shocks and natural disturbances. It suggests that investing in these ecosystems can offer lower-cost solutions to multiple urban challenges compared to traditional infrastructure. The brief emphasizes that healthy ecosystems provide critical environmental, social, and economic services while enhancing a city's adaptive capacity.
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Document type: Policy brief
'Saving for a rainy day': Micro-insurance as climate change adaptation strategies for SIDS
The policy brief examines the role of micro-insurance in mitigating the economic impacts of climate change on vulnerable coastal sectors in SIDS, noting that traditional coping mechanisms like household savings are insufficient.
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Document type: Policy brief
Climate risk Caribbean prosperity
The Caribbean faced $33bn in natural disaster damages between 2000 and 2009, representing 61% of its 2014 regional GDP. Climate change threatens key sectors: 94% of tourist accommodation in Belize is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding, while 90% of agricultural land is rain-fed. Projections indicate divergent crop impacts, with Jamaica's sweet potato yields potentially increasing by 33% by mid-century, while Belize's corn yields may decrease by 25% by 2030. Financial losses are widespread, with 25% of surveyed households using education savings for reconstruction.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Tajikistan
The report identifies Tajikistan as one of Central Asia's most vulnerable countries to climate change, specifically highlighting risks to water quality, availability, and the increasing severity of natural disasters. While the government has identified these critical concerns, capacity limitations have hindered the integration of climate change into development policies. Current efforts to address these gaps include the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience and the development of a national adaptation strategy and action plan.
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Document type: Report
Haiti’s Food Security Challenges
The document argues that Haiti's food insecurity is not merely a result of natural disasters like Hurricane Matthew or the 2010 earthquake, but is rooted in human policies. Specifically, it identifies structural adjustment and trade liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s—driven by the World Bank, IMF, and USAID—as catalysts that decimated local rice production in favor of cheap U.S. imports. This shift led to rural-urban migration, increased poverty, and a dependency on imports that leaves the population vulnerable. The author calls for a shift from short-term humanitarian aid to long-term investment in Haitian agriculture and the restoration of protective tariffs.
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Document type: Policy brief
SEI INITIATIVE
The SEI Initiative on Climate Services focuses on creating a Participatory Framework for Climate Services (PFCS) to better connect climate science with the practical needs of users, ranging from national governments to smallholder farmers. The initiative is structured around four work packages: understanding user needs, exploring collaborative co-generation processes, improving communication methodologies, and developing a community learning space via the weADAPT platform. It draws on interdisciplinary research and case studies from both industrialized and developing countries to ensure climate information is timely, relevant, and accessible.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Emergence of Human Resilience in Coastal Ecosystems under Environmental Change
The authors argue for an integrated approach to resilience that bridges the gap between psychosocial traditions (focused on the family) and social-ecological approaches (focused on macro-systems). Using a combination of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence scale and narrative inquiry in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh after the 2009 Cyclone Aila, the study finds that human resilience is a holistic and dynamic process driven by complex interactions between gender, education, livelihood, and social-ecological contexts.
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Document type: Research paper
‘SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY’: MICRO-INSURANCE AS CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR SIDS
The document examines the vulnerability of coastal sectors in SIDS to climate change and the inadequacy of current coping mechanisms. It proposes micro-insurance as a tool to protect low-income populations from specific perils, identifying barriers such as mistrust and cost, while suggesting policy options like state subsidies and public-private partnerships to implement these schemes.
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Document type: Policy brief
UNEP Financial Inquiry - Pathways to Scale
The UNEP Financial Inquiry argues that while global financial assets are abundant, investment flows are misaligned with sustainable development due to systemic failures and ineffective pricing. It identifies five key financial areas for alignment—banking, bonds, institutional investment, central banks, and systemic risk assessment—and proposes a performance framework based on effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience to measure the scaling of sustainable finance.
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Document type: Executive summary