Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines "bright spots"—effective examples of policy and planning change—to scale natural infrastructure for water services in Canada. It analyzes three distinct models: the City of Nelson's use of local bylaws, the Halifax Regional Municipality's integrated multi-level planning, and EPCOR's hybrid approach combining natural and grey infrastructure for flood mitigation in Edmonton.

A case study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) detailing how WRI India and the Kochi Municipal Corporation (KMC) implemented the Kawaki initiative to build climate resilience through urban forests in Kochi, India.

This briefing by RMI argues for a strategic, science-based approach to urban forestry in Delhi to mitigate extreme heat and the urban heat island effect, emphasizing the use of native species and site-specific planning over emergency responses.

This briefing from the World Resources Institute argues that the United States can create significant employment and economic growth while advancing climate goals by investing in tree restoration. It proposes specific federal policy changes to fund reforestation on private, municipal, and state lands and critiques the Trillion Trees Act for potentially increasing emissions and causing a net loss of trees.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) surveys federal funding and technical assistance available to state and local governments, tribes, non-governmental organizations, universities, and individuals to implement nature-based solutions for climate resilience. It details various programs across agencies including the EPA, FEMA, HUD, NOAA, USDA, and USFWS, highlighting their eligibility requirements and providing real-world examples of projects such as wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and urban forestry.

The Carbon-Free City Handbook: Biological Resources is a guide by RMI that outlines three primary actions for cities to manage biological resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: organic waste diversion, urban forestry, and the promotion of plant-based diets.

The Carbon-Free City Handbook, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) in November 2017, provides a guide for city governments to implement 22 "no-regrets" actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The handbook focuses on five key sectors: buildings, transportation and mobility, electricity, industry, and biological resources, offering a framework for cities to transition toward 100% renewable energy and carbon-free operations through immediate, actionable, and economically viable policies.

This report defines Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture and Forestry (UPAF) and outlines its potential role in climate change adaptation and mitigation, while noting a lack of detailed analysis on which specific UPAF models are most effective for different city configurations.

This guide proposes the implementation of Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) in Winnipeg to enable neighbourhoods to develop local action plans for environmental sustainability. Based on the 'Sustainable Winnipeg' strategy, the guide outlines key environmental issues—including climate change, urban energy, land use, transportation, waste, water, and pesticides—and details pilot results from three diverse neighbourhoods: Whyte Ridge, Riverview, and West Broadway. It advocates for a shift from 'one size fits all' municipal programming toward community-based social marketing (CBSM) to foster long-term behaviour change.

This briefing from the World Resources Institute outlines the impact of chronic underinvestment in U.S. K-12 public school infrastructure and proposes specific policy actions for Congress and governors to improve student health, academic performance, and community resilience through clean energy, green grounds, and electric transportation.