Search Climate Insights Directory

The document addresses the financing gap for urban Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in India, where investment remains heavily dependent on public funds. It proposes a three-step guidance framework: identifying the enabling policy environment, leveraging financial and business mechanisms, and applying a nine-factor project evaluation framework. The guide maps existing Indian national and sub-national policies—including forestry, water, and infrastructure schemes—that can be leveraged for NbS. It also catalogues various financial instruments (such as municipal bonds, green bonds, and blended finance) and business models (including carbon credits and user-pay systems) to improve project bankability. A repository of nine global and domestic case studies, such as Chennai's municipal bonds for stormwater drainage and Chicago's Tax Increment Financing for green roofs, illustrates replicable approaches for Indian urban contexts.

The document outlines a framework for the ethical application of Indigenous Knowledge in nature-based solutions and climate adaptation. It emphasizes the necessity of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), the recognition of Indigenous women's leadership, and the shift toward direct funding for Indigenous-led initiatives. The brief draws on global frameworks like the Rio Conventions and specific regional protocols to bridge the gap between policy principles and the practice of engaging Indigenous Knowledge Holders.

The document outlines a framework for the ethical mobilization of Indigenous knowledge in climate and nature projects, emphasizing rights-based approaches, the necessity of free, prior, and informed consent, and the importance of direct funding and leadership for Indigenous peoples, particularly women and youth.

The NAP Global Network's 2025 report details its efforts to move developing countries from adaptation planning to implementation. Key achievements include supporting 18 countries in this transition, delivering 24 short-term technical assistance requests via the Country Support Hub, and managing 13 long-term In-Country Support Programs. The Network emphasizes the importance of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and the integration of nature-based solutions. A new strategic plan to 2030 prioritizes Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with a focus on accountability, civil society engagement, and the alignment of adaptation planning with peacebuilding and the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Palau is developing its first stand-alone national adaptation plan (NAP), expected in 2026, to address critical vulnerabilities including sea level rise, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion. The process, led by the Office of Climate Change (OCC) and supported by the Green Climate Fund, employs a "whole-of-society approach" across 10 priority sectors. Adaptation strategies combine high-tech monitoring—such as LiDAR and drones—with traditional ecological knowledge and community-led initiatives. Key actions include nature-based coastal protection via mangrove conservation and reforestation, the use of climate-resilient taro varieties in agriculture, and community-organized sea wall repairs in Melekeok State. The framework emphasizes that durable resilience must be rooted in local stewardship and the intergenerational transmission of environmental knowledge.

The Resilient Coasts – Caribbean Sea project, led by the Stockholm Environment Institute, uses 'living labs' in the Dominican Republic and Colombia to test nature-based solutions for coastal resilience. The project focuses on rehabilitating mangroves and coral reefs to reduce wave energy, prevent erosion, and support local economies through fishing and tourism, while developing sustainable financing models and community-led rehabilitation strategies.

The Varadero Living Lab, part of the Resilient Coasts – Caribbean Sea project, focuses on rehabilitating the coral reef near Cartagena, Colombia. The initiative employs technical demonstrations of nature-based solutions to protect against climate change impacts while empowering the local community through conservation-linked livelihoods. Expected outcomes include the use of emerging technologies for storm and erosion protection and the creation of a replicable blueprint for coral restoration and community adaptation.

The Resilient Coasts – Caribbean Sea project is implementing a living lab in Montecristi, Dominican Republic, to address hydrological degradation and salinization of mangroves in El Morro National Park. The initiative integrates ecological restoration with the creation of sustainable business models and climate finance mechanisms to protect against storms, support biodiversity, and capture carbon. The project intends to produce a national resilience blueprint and a scalable framework for nature-based solutions that can be replicated across the Caribbean.

The 2026 ESMP for Jomotshangkha Wildlife Sanctuary outlines mitigation strategies for four key activities: lowland grassland restoration, waterhole maintenance, bio-engineering at the Tashithang landslide area, and a 5-hectare plantation at Lauri. The plan categorizes the project as 'Category B,' meaning impacts are site-specific and reversible. It details environmental risks such as invasive species spread and soil erosion, and social risks including worker safety from wildlife attacks and potential disruption of grazing rights. The document specifies a total budget of Nu. 2,000,000 and mandates compliance with both Royal Government of Bhutan laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures.

The Living Planet Report 2026 documents a 73% average decline in monitored vertebrate populations between 1970 and 2022. It identifies the energy, food, and financial systems as the primary drivers of this loss. The report introduces a framework of 'positive tipping points'—thresholds where beneficial change becomes self-amplifying—to accelerate the transition to a nature-positive economy. While the energy sector is already in an 'accelerating phase,' the food and finance sectors remain in the 'enabling phase.' The report emphasizes that achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets by 2030 requires coordinated global action, subsidy reform, and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in governance.

The document outlines the drivers and challenges of traceability in global commodity supply chains, advocating for 'material-forward tracking' over 'product-backward tracing'. It details the technical elements of effective traceability, including event-based tracking, data standards (such as GS1 EPCIS), and the distinction between serialized and lot-based methods. The guide also evaluates supporting tools like geospatial analysis, certification systems, and scientific testing to combat fraud. Finally, it provides a 12-step implementation road map for downstream companies to build traceability capabilities, from securing leadership support to fostering industry-wide collaboration.

The document outlines a structured approach to move from human-tiger conflict to coexistence, utilizing the C2C (Conflict to Coexistence) methodology. It defines conflict and coexistence as dynamic spectrums influenced by risk, tolerance, and management effectiveness. The report details four key outcomes for monitoring—People, Livelihoods & Assets, Wildlife, and Habitat—and proposes a collaborative decision-making process using the nominal group technique to prioritize interventions. It summarizes 29 interventions, ranging from preventative measures like livestock enclosures and predator alert systems to response strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, and evaluates their effectiveness based on robust evidence. Additionally, it presents nine monitoring tools and a theoretical framework for policy advocacy to support long-term sustainable management of tiger landscapes.

The report finds that nature-related financial disclosures among large South African companies are in their infancy, with most firms relying on existing climate governance structures that do not yet substantively address biodiversity. While there is high awareness of the TNFD framework, formal adoption is very low, with only four companies having adopted it by the end of 2025. The analysis highlights significant gaps in board-level accountability, a lack of specific biodiversity metrics, and limited engagement with Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The report recommends that companies leverage their more mature climate reporting systems to fast-track the adoption of TNFD recommendations and integrate nature-based solutions into their value chains.

The 2025 report on Brazil's Forest Code implementation reveals a significant increase in CAR registration validation, rising from 3.3% to 9% of the national database, driven largely by automation in states like São Paulo and Paraná. While federal governance of the SICAR system has improved through new intergovernmental coordination and the operationalization of Environmental Reserve Quotas (CRAs), progress remains uneven across regions. The Northern region shows limited progress, while the Southeast is the most advanced. A critical bottleneck remains the lack of verifiable land tenure information, with approximately 30% of registrations in Mato Grosso showing spatial overlaps. Implementation of the PRA remains limited, with a small number of Environmental Compliance Agreements (TCs) relative to the volume of properties requiring restoration.

The report examines the growth of the bioeconomy and the deployment of biobased technologies—including bioenergy, bioplastics, and sustainable land use—as a means to reduce emissions and build climate resilience. It highlights the potential for these technologies to operate locally and inclusively, leveraging regional resources and indigenous knowledge to support a low-carbon transition.

The document argues that forests are essential 'natural insurance' against climate change, yet they remain underfunded, receiving only 4% of international climate finance. The author calls for tropical countries to prioritize zero deforestation and for high-income nations to transform consumption patterns and supply chains. The text advocates for a sustainable bioeconomy and binding accountability mechanisms, citing the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as a potential starting point for paying for standing forests.

The evaluation of Viet Nam's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2021-2025 reveals that while a robust institutional and legal framework has been established, implementation remains uneven across sectors and regions. Approximately 20% of the 142 priority tasks have been completed, with 74% continuing into an updated NAP. Significant progress was made in state management, agriculture, and disaster risk monitoring, but critical gaps persist in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), private sector financing, and the widespread deployment of scientific research. The report emphasizes the need for better intersectoral coordination and dedicated funding to ensure sustainable climate resilience.

The handbook traces G20 engagements with Africa from 2008 to 2025, noting a transition from ad hoc initiatives to structured partnerships, culminating in the African Union's permanent membership in 2023. While identifying successes in rural youth employment and financial inclusion, it highlights persistent implementation gaps in infrastructure and climate finance. The document maps G20 outcomes against AU Agenda 2063, finding strong alignment with economic integration but gaps in peace and institutional capacity. It also details South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency priorities, focusing on solidarity, equality, and sustainability through specific task forces on inclusive growth, food security, and AI.

The report examines the potential for implementing OECMs (meccs) in Brazil to achieve the '30x30' biodiversity goals. It analyzes various spatial mechanisms, including protected areas (UCs), Indigenous lands (TIs), Quilombola territories (TQs), and private lands. The document highlights that while formal protected areas are established, significant conservation occurs in traditional territories and private lands that lack formal recognition. It identifies land tenure insecurity as a primary obstacle to inclusive conservation and proposes that the mecc framework be used to prioritize land regularization for traditional peoples and communities (PCTs). The report concludes with recommendations to integrate meccs with social policies, ensure equitable governance, and provide technical and financial support to local actors.

The report examines Colombia's transition from a centralized conservation model to an inclusive approach that recognizes the role of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and private landowners. It evaluates the current state of the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) and the emerging framework of OECMs, identifying systemic barriers such as land tenure insecurity, armed conflict, and an extractivist development model. Through case studies of private, Afro-descendant, and Indigenous territories, the document highlights that effective conservation often stems from cultural and spiritual motivations rather than economic incentives. It concludes with recommendations to harmonize land tenure rights, close the environmental financing gap, and integrate OECMs into national territorial planning to meet the global 30x30 biodiversity target.