Search Climate Insights Directory

The paper argues that Kenya's current e-mobility policies, which favor importing electric vehicles, overlook the value of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). By leveraging IKS in the design, assembly, and maintenance of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, Kenya can increase local content, create jobs for youth and women, and better achieve its climate goals. The author highlights successful local innovations, such as the 'eMkoko' cargo cart, and calls for policy reforms, including tax incentives for local manufacturers and the integration of IKS into formal technical education.

The document argues that while Ghana has a robust policy framework for climate change, there is a critical disconnect between modern CSA tech, Indigenous Knowledge, and youth employment. It highlights the role of startups like Farmerline and AgroCenta in bridging these gaps and recommends the creation of multi-stakeholder platforms and digital IK repositories to foster a more inclusive, climate-resilient agricultural system.

The document examines Quw’utsun Kw’atl’kwa Enterprises (QKE), a commercial fishing business owned by the Cowichan Tribes in British Columbia. It analyzes how the enterprise navigates the intersection of global warming, industrial pressures, and regulatory restrictions using the Nuu-chah-nulth principle of Tsawalk (interconnectedness). The study finds that while some salmon species are recovering, others like chum have reached lows not seen since the 1960s, threatening the economic and cultural viability of the community. QKE is adapting by diversifying its catch to include crab and ground fish and integrating Indigenous knowledge with Western science. The report recommends comprehensive environmental impact assessments, ecosystem mapping, and the establishment of climate-resilient partnership programs involving government and Indigenous stakeholders.

The document argues that while African governments have set ambitious climate adaptation targets, governance and financial barriers hinder the effectiveness of locally led adaptation (LLA). It highlights the severe economic impact of climate change on Africa's GDP and food systems, noting that LLA can enhance resilience by centering decision-making at the community level and leveraging Indigenous knowledge. The brief identifies gaps in national policies, such as the lack of substantive gender analysis in NDCs and the disconnect between identified needs and available funding. It recommends integrating LLA principles into national policies, expanding direct access to climate finance for local actors, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure accountability and inclusivity.

The Asunción Declaration, issued on May 30, 2025, outlines a regional framework for the Americas to address climate extremes such as droughts and floods. It emphasizes the integration of transdisciplinary science, indigenous knowledge, and open data exchange to improve early warning systems and protect water, food, health, and energy security. The declaration highlights the region's 69% renewable energy share while noting the vulnerability of energy sources to climate events.

The Declaration of Asunción, issued on May 30, 2025, outlines a commitment by IAI member countries and associated institutions to enhance climate resilience in the Americas. The parties pledge to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems, promote transdisciplinary science, and foster scientific diplomacy to address the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. The declaration emphasizes the integration of indigenous and traditional knowledge and the exchange of open data to support evidence-based policy and sustainable management of water and ecosystems.

The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) calls for a fundamental reassessment of the international development model, which it describes as a colonial project. Amidst declining foreign aid from the United States and Europe, WACC advocates for a 'post-aid world' centered on communication justice, democratic data ownership, and the prioritization of national actors and Indigenous knowledge over Northern agendas.

The document outlines the drivers and impacts of coastal erosion, highlighting the vulnerability of the 15% of the global population living near coasts. It critiques temporary solutions like beach nourishment and emphasizes the loss of coastal wetlands, which act as storm defenses. The guide offers journalistic advice on handling the complexity of community resettlement, utilizing public records, and valuing indigenous knowledge. It also suggests specific data sources from NOAA and the USGS to track shoreline changes and the costs of erosion control.

The document outlines the drivers and impacts of shoreline loss, noting that roughly 15% of the global population lives near coasts and faces increased erosion from climate-fueled storms and rising seas. It highlights the high cost and temporary nature of beach renourishment, citing North Carolina's expenditure of over $1 billion since the 1950s. The guide provides reporting advice from journalist Olga Loginova, emphasizing the importance of embracing complexity, using public records requests, and valuing Indigenous traditional knowledge. It also lists specific global examples of coastal loss in Scotland, Nigeria, and the US, alongside recommended data sources from NOAA and the US Geological Survey.

The paper argues that while good adaptation practices exist, an intersectional approach is necessary to address the intersecting structures of inequity—such as racism, ableism, and gender inequality—that exacerbate vulnerability to climate change. Drawing from a May 2024 knowledge co-production workshop, the authors introduce foundational principles (centering justice, equity, and power disruption) and process principles (positionality, context-specificity, and co-production). These are applied to the four stages of the UNFCCC iterative adaptation cycle: risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

The document argues that while gender-responsive approaches are increasing, a truly intersectional approach is necessary to address the overlapping structures of inequality—such as racism, ageism, and disability discrimination—that exacerbate climate vulnerability. It outlines core and process principles to guide practitioners through the four stages of the adaptation cycle: risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

The document argues that while intersectionality is increasingly recognized as vital for equitable climate adaptation, its practical application remains limited. It presents a framework of 'fundamental principles' (focusing on systemic vulnerability, agency, and power) and 'process principles' (such as positionality reflection and context-specificity) to be integrated across the four stages of the adaptation cycle: risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

The document argues that while African governments have set ambitious adaptation targets, governance and financial constraints hinder the effectiveness of these efforts. It advocates for locally led adaptation (LLA) as a participatory strategy to ensure resilience is context-specific and inclusive. Key barriers identified include a disconnect between national policies and local needs, limited direct access to climate finance for local actors, and weak monitoring systems. The brief recommends integrating Indigenous knowledge, devolving decision-making, and expanding decentralized finance to empower local communities.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has appointed five representatives from Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru to its new Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee (IPAC). The selection follows a call for candidates open from February 5 to March 19, 2025, which received 14 applications from across the Americas. The selected members were chosen for their ability to integrate indigenous and western knowledge systems to address global environmental change.

The proposal seeks €2,773,855 over 36 months to develop Bolivia's first National Adaptation Plan (NAP) targeting 2035. It addresses critical barriers including weak institutional capacity, poor intersectoral coordination, and insufficient scientific evidence for adaptation. The project focuses on four priority sectors: water, forests and biodiversity, agriculture and rural development, and human health, with education as a cross-cutting theme. Key objectives include establishing a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system, catalyzing private sector investment, and creating a pipeline of bankable adaptation projects. Implementation will be led by the Plurinational Authority of Mother Earth (APMT) and the Ministry of Development Planning (MPD), with GIZ as the delivery partner.

The report argues that nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation are more effective when they integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) by involving diverse voices, building trust with equity-deserving groups, and utilizing community-led monitoring. It highlights two specific examples: climate resilience planning for small-scale cooperatives in Zanzibar and an Indigenous Guardians program in Canada that incorporates Traditional Knowledge into land and wildlife management.

The IPAG-5 meeting focused on operationalizing the GCF Indigenous Peoples Policy, specifically regarding direct access to finance and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in locally led climate action. The group emphasized that simplification of access procedures must not compromise policy standards or the Cancun safeguards, particularly in REDD+ activities. Key recommendations include the development of a report on implementing specific policy paragraphs, the creation of communication materials based on studies of Indigenous-targeted funds, and the prioritization of initiatives to enhance access for the 2024–2027 period. The group also welcomed a Malaysian-led readiness proposal for a Global Indigenous Peoples Structured Dialogue intended for early 2025.

The brief details key decisions from CBD COP16, including the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health, the establishment of the Cali Fund for benefit-sharing from genetic resources, and the creation of a permanent forum for Indigenous Peoples and local communities (SB 8j). It highlights new frameworks for integrating biodiversity into climate action, marine area protection, and the recognition of diverse knowledge systems and the rights of people of African descent.

The report presents two case studies—one from Zanzibar and one from Canada—to illustrate the practical application of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation. In Zanzibar, the 'Pamoja Voices' toolkit helped cooperatives identify gender-specific climate risks and restructure governance to include women and youth. In Canada, the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh network demonstrates an Indigenous-led approach to land and wildlife monitoring that integrates traditional knowledge and intergenerational collaboration. Both cases emphasize the necessity of community-led processes, the use of disaggregated data, and the establishment of trust-based local partnerships to ensure that adaptation benefits are equitably distributed.

The report presents two case studies on integrating gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation. The first case study focuses on the Pamoja Voices toolkit used by cooperatives in Zanzibar to ensure women and youth are included in climate-resilience planning. The second case study examines the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh Network in Canada, where Kaska Dena Land Guardians combine Traditional Knowledge with Western science for land and wildlife monitoring. Both cases emphasize the necessity of community-led approaches, intergenerational knowledge sharing, and the use of disaggregated data in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) to avoid maladaptation and ensure equitable benefit sharing.