Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines the relationship between human migration and ecosystem health in the Great Lakes Region of East and Central Africa, specifically focusing on the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia, the Misotshi–Kabogo ecosystem in the DRC, and the Lake Albert ecosystem in Uganda. It highlights how migration drives land conversion and resource overexploitation, particularly in the Bale Mountains, and introduces a toolkit designed to help practitioners implement migration-sensitive conservation interventions.

The report examines the relationship between human migration and ecosystem degradation in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, focusing on case studies in Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It argues that while migration is not the primary cause of environmental pressure, it acts as an exacerbating factor that increases habitat destruction and unsustainable resource use. The document provides a framework for conservationists to integrate migration trends into land-use planning and natural resource governance.

The document examines how political instability, corruption, and a focus on onshore security led to 'sea blindness' in the Gulf of Guinea, creating a security gap exploited by pirates and transnational criminal networks. It details the region's vast natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals, and analyzes the shift toward maritime security since 2012. The author evaluates various responses, from national naval upgrades in Nigeria and Ghana to regional frameworks like the Yaoundé Declaration and international support from the EU and UN, concluding that the primary challenge remains translating high-level policy into operational action.

The Migration and Conservation Toolkit, developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), offers a four-phase roadmap for practitioners to integrate migration dynamics into conservation planning. The process moves from defining scope and analyzing migration and conservation contexts to assessing ecosystem impacts and implementing targeted interventions. The toolkit emphasizes participatory research, including surveys, focus group discussions, and participatory mapping, to understand the links between migration, livelihood choices, and biodiversity loss. It highlights the need for conflict-sensitive and gender-aware approaches, particularly in critical ecosystems where population pressures can exacerbate existing environmental stresses.

The document is a declaration by social movements and civil society organizations criticizing the trend of adapting the UN's Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) into business-centric tools. The authors argue that guides produced by entities like USAID, the G7 New Alliance, and the Interlaken Group transform a human rights framework into a corporate social responsibility (CSR) tool, effectively legitimizing land grabbing. They contend that these guides erroneously treat states and corporations as equal stakeholders and dangerously suggest that private investors can manage land rights recognition and conflict resolution—tasks that are the sole legitimate mandate of the state. The statement calls for states to implement the VGGT based on human rights obligations, for the FAO to provide technical support for state regulation of businesses, and for the adoption of a legally binding international instrument on multinational corporations and human rights.

The document analyzes South Africa's strategic positioning within FOCAC and BRICS, arguing that while FOCAC is a vital tool for continental development and Sino-African relations, it is unlikely to serve as a primary platform for global governance reform in the same way as BRICS. It suggests South Africa should instead focus FOCAC on practical continental issues such as infrastructure quality, natural resource management, and the role of the African Union Commission.

The document examines the challenges and necessity of resolving maritime boundary disputes in Africa, highlighting how these conflicts hinder the 'Blue Economy' and regional security. It discusses the role of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIMS), while recommending a preference for bilateral and regional resolution mechanisms over international courts.

The paper examines the dynamics of China-Africa economic cooperation, noting a significant increase in Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) from $500 million in 2003 to nearly $15 billion by 2012. While acknowledging the role of Chinese firms in hiring local labour—such as the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation and Chinese National Minerals Corporation—the author highlights a lack of transparency regarding training, health, and environmental standards. The document reviews several academic and scientific initiatives, including the Confucius Institutes and the 20+20 Cooperation Plan, concluding that while these signal a move beyond purely commercial interests, they have often failed to yield tangible results. The author recommends the establishment of a tighter African regulatory framework and an autonomous monitoring mechanism to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.

The briefing examines the shift in SADC's focus from trade integration to a region-wide industrialisation policy via the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (ISR). It highlights significant obstacles to implementation, including the economic dominance of South Africa, the lack of alignment between national and regional policies, and the historical failure of previous trade integration efforts. The author suggests that success depends on incorporating private sector insights and developing regional value chains (RVCs) that prevent economic polarisation by ensuring smaller states benefit from hub economies' access to global markets. Specific recommendations include linking Special Economic Zones (SEZs), regionalising local content requirements, and using fiscal incentives to lower input costs for beneficiation.

The document identifies human migration as a primary driver of land conversion and resource overexploitation in the Bale Mountains ecosystem, which harms conservation efforts and traditional livelihoods. While land conversion also occurs due to population growth and climate change among resident populations, migration accelerates these processes. The research was conducted by IISD, the Conservation Development Centre, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society as part of a broader project focused on the Great Lakes Region.

Migration from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Buliisa District, driven by economic opportunities in the fishery, is contributing to the deterioration of the Lake Albert ecosystem. This labor influx, combined with increased fish demand from markets like Kampala—facilitated by oil and gas infrastructure—has pushed the fishery toward collapse, evidenced by the rarity of larger fish and a decrease in average fish size. The document argues that the ecosystem will continue to decline unless sustainable resource management is implemented and migration impacts are addressed.

The research paper argues that South Africa can bridge the conceptual divide between its 'Latin American' and 'African' foreign policy by treating the South Atlantic Zone as a single entity. It highlights the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) as a framework for security and economic collaboration. Key drivers for this engagement include the 'Operation Phakisa' blue economy initiative, the need to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and the exploitation of untapped oil and gas reserves. While trade between South Africa and Latin American partners like Brazil and Argentina remains low due to similar commodity exports, the document identifies significant growth potential and the role of South Africa as a strategic gateway between Latin America and Asia.

Friends of the Earth International celebrates the leadership of women in justice movements and emphasizes that dismantling the patriarchy is essential for a just world. The statement highlights the central role of women in agroecological production and the disproportionate violence faced by women human rights defenders, particularly those protecting land and natural resources.

The report documents a 2015 policy dialogue hosted by SAIIA and Oxfam to explore the dynamics of South–South Co-operation (SSC) in Africa. It examines the roles of emerging partners like China, Brazil, and India, contrasting their non-conditional approaches with traditional North–South models. The discussions highlight the tension between the need for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure accountability and the desire of Southern nations to maintain a distinct, solidarity-based framework that avoids Northern-led conditionality. Key conclusions emphasize the need for an African-led strategy to engage emerging partners and the development of a tailored M&E framework that respects national sovereignty while improving transparency.

The report argues that climate change acts as a "threat multiplier" in fragile states, exacerbating existing conflict drivers like poverty and weak governance. It proposes a framework for "climate-resilient peacebuilding" based on six principles, including integrated context analysis and a forward-looking approach to planning. The document identifies specific entry points for integration across five peacebuilding dimensions: basic safety and security, political processes, basic services, government functions, and economic revitalization. It also reviews existing international guidance, noting that while some tools integrate climate risks, many others lack this perspective, suggesting that practitioners should integrate climate resilience into existing resources rather than creating new toolkits.

The Limpopo River Basin supports 14 million people, with a significant portion of the population in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe relying on rain-fed agriculture. Due to highly variable rainfall, resource-poor small-scale farmers are particularly vulnerable to weather-related shocks as they lack the means to invest in water-saving technology and storage. To address these challenges, the document recommends strengthening the Limpopo River Basin Commission's capacity, establishing secure land tenure and water rights for rural populations, prioritising water pricing for small-holders, and planning for water resources based on future precipitation scenarios.

The document outlines the need for more inclusive, evidence-driven partnerships between African governments, extractive companies, and communities to move beyond raw material exports toward value-addition and beneficiation. It proposes the creation of Regional Mining Visions (RMVs) to set standards on social and environmental impacts and calls for strategic global partnerships with systemic players like China to enhance Africa's position in global minerals value chains.

The document examines the relationship between environmental justice and the success of conservation strategies, specifically Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). It argues that ignoring social dimensions—such as distributive equity, recognition of rights, and inclusive decision-making—increases the risk of project failure through social conflict and sabotage, whereas integrating these criteria improves ecological outcomes and long-term efficiency.

The report examines the tension between Mozambique's progressive legal frameworks, such as the 1997 Land Law, and a state tendency toward recentralization and the prioritization of extractive industries. While laws recognize customary land rights (DUAT), implementation is often hindered by bureaucratic hurdles, flawed community consultation processes, and legislation that gives mining operations priority over other land uses. The document highlights the failure of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) initiatives like Tchuma Tchato due to lack of genuine power devolution and the negative social impacts of large-scale resettlement projects, such as those led by Vale in Tete Province.

The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) is implementing a Production-Protection strategy in Indonesia, specifically in Central Kalimantan, to reconcile economic growth with environmental conservation. This approach focuses on increasing oil palm productivity through modern agricultural systems and a jurisdictional model to be developed by the end of 2015. The strategy involves partnerships with the Central Kalimantan Government, the Palangkaraya Institute for Land and Agricultural Research (PILAR), and the national Fiscal Policy Agency of the Ministry of Finance to align fiscal mechanisms with a green economy transition.