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The report analyzes the high climate vulnerability of the Caatinga biome, highlighting that family farmers—who manage 79% of rural properties in the region—are the most exposed to drought. Using an aridity index, the study demonstrates that increased aridity leads to significant relative losses in the productivity of beans, maize, and livestock compared to other Brazilian biomes. Beyond immediate agricultural losses, the report establishes correlations between increased aridity and worsening socio-economic outcomes, including higher poverty rates, increased infant mortality, higher school delay rates in primary education, and increased unemployment. It argues that a 'just rural transition' in the region requires integrating social policies with low-carbon agricultural technologies to build resilience among the most vulnerable producers.

The author contends that Ukraine's recovery should not be a return to pre-war status but a comprehensive green transformation. This includes decentralizing the energy grid through wind and solar power to mitigate the impact of Russian attacks, modernizing agriculture to protect fertile chernozem soils, and aligning with the European Green Deal to accelerate EU membership. The text highlights the severe environmental damage caused by the invasion, including the Kakhovka Dam collapse and forest destruction, as urgent drivers for a sustainable reconstruction strategy.

A survey of 2,000 registered voters across four US states reveals high concern over food prices and strong support for agricultural policies that promote climate resilience, support small-scale farmers, and prioritize nutrition over commodity crop subsidies.

The document argues that climate coverage must move beyond problem-focused reporting to include evidence-based solutions. It categorizes climate solutions into policy, economy, technology, civil society, and culture, urging journalists to prioritize the political and economic battles over purely technological fixes. The guide emphasizes the urgency for marginalized communities and provides specific examples, such as the US Inflation Reduction Act, to illustrate how to analyze the effectiveness and limitations of climate policies.

A coalition of organizations recommends that the next U.S. farm bill establish a dedicated Farmworker and Food Chain Worker Office, replenish pandemic relief funds, and expand disaster assistance for workers. The proposal calls for stricter meatpacking line speed regulations, increased research into pesticide alternatives, and the implementation of labor standards in USDA procurement. Additionally, it advocates for pathways to farm ownership for farmworkers, a weather warning system for workers, the protection of SNAP benefits, and enhanced protections for forestry workers on public lands.

The mid-term evaluation of the RECLIMA project in El Salvador finds that while the project is strategically aligned with national priorities and has seen high adoption of agroecological practices, implementation is behind schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events. The project has successfully reached 22,718 farm families through farmer field schools and restored 4,022 hectares of ecosystems, but progress toward mid-term targets remains below expectations. Key challenges include systemic vulnerabilities of target populations, procurement delays, and a lack of a formal greenhouse gas measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system. The evaluation recommends a two-year project extension and improvements in institutional coordination and capacity building to ensure the desired paradigm shift toward climate-resilient agriculture.

The Midway Christian Church in Kentucky implemented a series of energy efficiency measures and solar installations between 2004 and 2018. These efforts included replacing an old HVAC system with heat pumps, installing LED lighting, and adding a 4.5-kW rooftop solar system. The church's journey was supported by the Green Chalice Program and Interfaith Power and Light, leading to its certification as a Green Chalice Congregation in 2014 and a commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

The DR Congo possesses 80 million hectares of arable land, yet only 10% is cultivated, leaving the country as a net food importer with an annual food trade deficit of US$1.5 billion. On its current path, food import dependence is projected to reach approximately 60% of domestic demand by 2050. Agricultural productivity, which fell to 60% of its 1960 levels by 2006, is further threatened by climate change, specifically through heavy rain and flood events causing soil erosion. Recovery efforts include a US$75 million World Bank project, FAO seed distribution, and USAID's Food for Peace programme.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can bridge data gaps and provide evidence for governments reporting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 VSS, the authors demonstrate high alignment with SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and provide guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies into their national reporting processes.

The report examines the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on how VSS data can alleviate government reporting burdens in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through benchmarking 13 VSSs against five SDGs (2, 6, 8, 12, and 15) and providing practical reporting examples for Uganda, India, and Tanzania, the document demonstrates that VSSs can provide granular, on-the-ground data and 'best practice' case studies that complement state-centric reporting. It concludes with generic guidelines for governments to improve coordination with VSS bodies to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The document examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can be leveraged by governments to overcome data gaps in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 international and regional standards, the authors demonstrate high coverage of goals related to decent work (SDG 8) and clean water (SDG 6). The brief provides practical guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies from countries like Uganda, India, and Tanzania into their national reporting to improve policy coherence and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

The document argues that climate coverage must expand beyond problem-focused reporting to include solutions to empower audiences and policymakers. It defines solutions journalism as rigorous, evidence-based reporting that investigates the effectiveness and limitations of responses to the climate crisis. The guide emphasizes equity and justice, noting that marginalized communities—including indigenous peoples, who manage lands containing "approximately the 80% of the biodiversity that remains in the world"—are often the most impacted yet least responsible for the crisis. It categorizes potential story leads into five areas: policy and government (e.g., carbon pricing and subsidies), economy and business (e.g., scrutinizing "greenwash" and "net zero" claims), technologies and practices (distinguishing between mitigation and adaptation), civil society (evaluating the "theory of change" behind activism), and culture (the role of arts and celebrities). The guide concludes that while not all reporting should be solutions-oriented, integrating this mindset is essential to providing a complete picture of the climate emergency.

The report assesses the progress of the Brazilian Forest Code's implementation in 2022, highlighting a heterogeneous landscape where registration (CAR) is advanced but analysis and regularization (PRA) remain significant bottlenecks. While states like São Paulo and Espírito Santo show leadership in analysis, only 2% of national registries have completed analysis. The document identifies critical gaps in the registration of traditional territories and the slow adoption of the PRA, while noting that some states are integrating CAR data with deforestation alerts to enforce compliance.

The author argues that while governments can implement unilateral trade-related tools to promote sustainable agriculture, transboundary environmental challenges require multilateral coordination through the WTO. The paper identifies three 'windows of opportunity' for the WTO: addressing environmentally harmful agricultural subsidies, managing sustainability requirements and standards to reduce costs for developing countries, and utilizing the new work program on food insecurity to build resilience in least developed countries and net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs).

Grasslands are critical for biodiversity and carbon sequestration, holding about one-third of global terrestrial carbon stocks, yet they remain vastly unprotected. In the U.S., over 70 percent of prairies have been destroyed, with 10 million acres lost in the Great Plains between 2016 and 2020. The document identifies federal crop insurance subsidies and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as policies that unintentionally encourage the conversion of grasslands to cropland. To reverse these trends, the author advocates for strengthening the "Sodsaver" program, ensuring energy crops from converted grasslands do not qualify for the RFS, and increasing investment through the 2023 Farm Bill and the North American Grasslands Conservation Act.

The report assesses the economic viability of flood mitigation strategies in Colombia's La Mojana region, comparing grey infrastructure, nature-based infrastructure (NBI), and sustainable agriculture. It finds that all considered interventions are investment-worthy, with the potential to avoid over USD 1.26 billion in damages over 30 years.

The document argues that financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks, but that VSSs can mitigate these risks by requiring sustainable practices and better governance. While VSSs show high coverage of legal compliance, soil and water conservation, and labour rights, they lack sufficient criteria regarding economic viability, transparency, and climate adaptation. The brief provides recommendations for FSPs, VSS providers, and governments to better align sustainability standards with financial requirements to close the investment gap.

The document argues that financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks. It finds that while voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and forest conservation, they lack sufficient criteria for economic viability, transparency, and climate adaptation. The brief recommends that FSPs integrate VSS into ESG due diligence and that governments provide land tenure and financial incentives to support VSS-compliant farmers.

The policy brief examines the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in reducing the perceived risks that deter financial service providers (FSPs) from investing in sustainable agriculture in developing countries. By analyzing 12 VSS across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, the report finds that while VSS provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and soil and water conservation, they lack sufficient criteria for economic viability, anti-corruption, and climate adaptation. The document recommends that VSS incorporate more business-oriented criteria and that FSPs use VSS for ESG due diligence and the structuring of sustainability-linked financial products.

The document argues that financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks. It examines 12 Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and finds that while they provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and basic environmental conservation, they lack sufficient criteria regarding economic viability, transparency, and climate adaptation. The brief recommends that VSS incorporate more business-oriented criteria and that FSPs use these standards for ESG due diligence and structuring financial products to increase funding for sustainable farming.