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Parched prospects: The emerging water crisis in South Africa
South Africa is over-exploiting its freshwater resources, with a projected widening gap between supply and demand by 2035. The authors find that the National Water Resource Strategy 2013 (NWRS2) lacks the aggressive measures needed to close this gap, which is driven by urban migration, industrial growth, and agricultural expansion. Proposed solutions include significant reductions in municipal non-revenue water, increased wastewater reuse, and expanded groundwater extraction.
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Document type: Research paper
An integrated approach to family farmer adaptation in Brazil’s semi-arid region
The Adapta Sertão programme employs a community-based adaptation (CBA) approach to help small farmers in Brazil's semi-arid region increase yields and resilience through a combination of low-cost technology, micro-credit, and market access. The programme argues that a systemic approach, which uses partnerships to link fragmented public policies regarding finance, technology, and technical assistance, is more effective than relying solely on slow government interventions.
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Document type: Policy brief
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document outlines the current state of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba, highlighting that the transportation and agriculture sectors are the largest contributors. It reviews previous efforts, such as the Beyond Kyoto plan, and examines climate policies in other jurisdictions like Quebec, British Columbia, and Sweden to inform a new provincial strategy. The paper emphasizes the need to integrate adaptation and mitigation, particularly for the vulnerable agriculture and water sectors, and proposes a set of guiding principles for the new plan. It concludes with a questionnaire designed to gather stakeholder input on barriers, opportunities, and capacity-building needs for reducing emissions and enhancing resilience in Manitoba.
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Document type: Briefing
Angola Country Report
The report identifies a critical lack of institutional and individual capacity for climate compatible development (CCD) in Angola, particularly within universities, which are largely disconnected from national climate research. While the government has established policy frameworks and some international projects (such as those by UNDP and GEF) employ transdisciplinary approaches, university-level research and curriculum integration are nearly non-existent. The report highlights urgent needs for meteorological data, skilled researchers in hydrology and agro-meteorology, and the development of CCD materials in Portuguese. Potential pathways for improvement include the newly established Centre of Excellence for Sciences Applied to Sustainability (CESSAF) and the Climate Change and Tropical Ecology Research Centre at José Eduardo dos Santos University.
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Document type: Report
Zimbabwe Country Report
The report assesses Zimbabwe's capacity for climate compatible development (CCD), identifying significant research and institutional gaps despite a strong tradition of academic publishing. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary research, curriculum innovation, and better integration of indigenous knowledge to address vulnerabilities in agriculture, water, and health.
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Document type: Report
STRENGTHENING UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTIONS TO CLIMATE COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA Botswana Country Report
The report identifies Botswana as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly regarding water shortages and agricultural yields. It finds that while universities like the University of Botswana and Botswana College of Agriculture possess significant individual expertise, there is a critical lack of overarching national CCD policy and institutional coordination. The document argues for a shift toward transdisciplinary research and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems to build climate resilience.
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Document type: Report
Malawi Country Report
The report identifies a significant gap between Malawi's high vulnerability to climate change and its institutional capacity to respond. While universities are increasingly integrating CCD into curricula and research—particularly in agriculture, water, and forestry—these efforts are heavily dependent on donor funding and often remain fragmented. The document calls for a national research strategy, increased budgetary allocations, and a shift toward transdisciplinary knowledge co-production involving government, academia, and the private sector.
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Document type: Report
Mauritius Country Report
The report identifies Mauritius as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in its coastal zones, and maps the role of higher education institutions in addressing these risks. While universities show strength in mitigation and renewable energy research, there are significant gaps in adaptation research, long-term baseline data, and transdisciplinary collaboration. The document argues for a more integrated approach to CCD, emphasizing the need for curriculum innovation, improved data sharing through a national repository, and stronger partnerships between academia and government.
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Document type: Report
Namibia Country Report
The report identifies Namibia as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in agriculture and water resources. It finds that while national policies like the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2012) are strong, there is a significant gap in translating these into university curricula and coordinated research. The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of Namibia are key partners, with UNAM's Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC) emerging as a hub for interdisciplinary work. However, the report highlights a lack of dedicated CCD postgraduate degrees, insufficient institutional coordination, and a need for greater transdisciplinary research that engages local communities and indigenous knowledge.
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Document type: Report
Swaziland Country Report
The report identifies Swaziland as highly vulnerable to climate change, with observed temperature increases exceeding 3°C between 1961 and 2000. It assesses the role of higher education institutions, such as the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), in addressing these risks through research, teaching, and community outreach. The analysis reveals significant gaps in observational data, a lack of postgraduate research (Masters and PhDs), and a need for transdisciplinary approaches that integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific methods. While some initiatives in agriculture, water, and energy are active, the report argues for a more coordinated national strategy and the mainstreaming of CCD into university curricula and government policy.
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Document type: Report
THE ADOPTION OF ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE AGENDA
The document defines Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help communities adapt to climate change, positioning it as a cost-effective, 'no-regrets' alternative or complement to traditional infrastructure. While international organizations like the UNFCCC, UNEP, and the World Bank have begun integrating EbA, the author argues it remains under-utilized by national governments due to gaps in technical information, limited on-the-ground effectiveness data, and a preference for short-term 'hard' engineering solutions. The brief recommends increased research into ecosystem service complexities and stronger financial commitments to mainstream EbA into global policy.
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Document type: Policy brief
Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan and the Private Sector
The document outlines the role of the private sector in achieving Kenya's low carbon climate resilient development pathway as defined in the National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017. It details sector-specific opportunities for mitigation and adaptation, highlighting existing private sector investments in geothermal power, bagasse cogeneration, and solar panel assembly. The briefing emphasizes that the plan creates new market opportunities and cost savings for businesses across agriculture, energy, ICT, and urban development.
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Document type: Briefing
2013 ADAPTool Application Strengthening Adaptive Capacity in Four Canadian Provinces: ADAPTool analysis of selected sectoral policies
The report synthesizes the results of applying the ADAPTool in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. It examines 27 policies across agriculture, forestry, water, and parks management to determine their ability to support adaptation measures and their general adaptability to future changes.
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Document type: Report
GreenCape Sector Development Agency Progress Report on Strategic Project Water as a Constraint on Economic Development 2013-2014 Report
The report details a project to analyze water consumption and economic productivity in the Western Cape to identify constraints to growth. It introduces a conceptual model to determine the "right" water sources, quality, and pricing for specific developments, particularly in Saldanha Bay. The project implemented statistical water accounting and water footprint assessments for the Berg Catchment to establish a baseline for water-economic productivity.
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Document type: Executive summary
How are Italian and Spanish cities tackling climate change? A local comparative study
The study finds that Italian cities are generally more proactive in climate mitigation than Spanish cities, with earlier plan implementation and more ambitious emission targets. In both countries, mitigation efforts significantly outweigh adaptation efforts, despite high vulnerability levels. The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is identified as a more influential driver for local action than national policies or networks.
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Document type: Research paper
IISD Input to the LPI E-Consultation: Guiding Principles on large-scale land-based investments in Africa
The IISD provides a series of technical recommendations to strengthen the Land Policy Initiative's guiding principles for large-scale land-based investments in Africa. Key suggestions include requiring independent third-party verification of financial feasibility studies, integrating social and environmental impact assessments into risk management plans, and prioritizing domestic courts over international arbitration for dispute resolution. The IISD also emphasizes the need for comprehensive legislation covering water management, labor laws, and tax incentives, alongside clearer definitions of the rights and obligations of states, investors, and local communities.
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Document type: Statement
Recent Progress in Applying Participatory Scenario Development in Climate Change Adaptation in Developing Countries Part II
The research demonstrates that participatory scenario development serves as a critical tool for capacity-building and awareness-raising in developing countries, complementing traditional vulnerability assessments by integrating socioeconomic trends with climate projections. Through case studies in Ghana, Honduras, and Tajikistan, the authors show that PSD can validate and complement donor-driven initiatives and national strategies. The paper emphasizes the need to combine qualitative stakeholder knowledge with quantitative data—such as downscaled global scenarios and crop modeling—to avoid 'myopic traps' and ensure adaptation options are compatible with broader development goals like poverty reduction and food security.
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Document type: Research paper
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REGULATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that current proposed fracking regulations in South Africa are inadequate because they rely on industry standards and are housed under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) rather than comprehensive environmental laws. The document advocates for a regulatory regime based on the Constitution and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), calling for a specialised inter-departmental unit to oversee authorisations and enforcement. Key recommendations include mandatory baseline environmental measurements, public disclosure of fracking fluid chemicals, a prohibition on using potable water, and the implementation of 'green completions' to eliminate gas venting and flaring. The CER emphasizes that fracking should only be permitted if it can be proven to contribute to sustainable development without causing irreparable harm to water resources or disadvantaged communities.
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Document type: Statement
Meeting China’s Global Resource Needs
The document presents a systematic framework for evaluating supply security risks related to sustainability at both national and corporate levels in China. It defines risk through the interaction of domestic vulnerability and exposure with foreign supply hazards, including sustainability issues and national environments. The methodology employs a scoring system (0-3) across indicators of economic importance, vulnerability, and loss exposure to identify 'hotspots' in supply chains. The report concludes with five policy recommendations for the Chinese government to improve supply chain risk management, including capacity building for embassies, alignment with international standards, and the integration of sustainability into green procurement.
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Document type: Report
Meeting China’s Global Resource Needs
The report uses the IISD Supply Risk Tool to analyze China's copper supply chain, finding high vulnerability due to heavy reliance on a few major producers like Chile, Peru, and Australia. It identifies resource nationalism and environmental/social governance (ESG) issues—specifically greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and labor rights—as critical risks that could disrupt supply. The document recommends that the Chinese government enhance the capacity of its embassies, align with international standards, and integrate supply chain sustainability into green procurement and national planning.
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Document type: Report