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The document examines the expansion of fracking in the Vaca Muerta formation, highlighting a critical gap between national economic goals and local environmental protection. It introduces the OBSERVAR geospatial platform to map risks, such as the proximity of 3,017 wells to sensitive water and population centers. The brief finds that while Neuquén has a more structured regulatory framework than Río Negro, both provinces suffer from inadequate enforcement and a lack of transparent data, with approximately 80% of fracking wastewater remaining unaccounted for. It argues for a watershed-based approach to regulation to address cross-border contamination risks.

The report outlines a five-step framework for structuring adaptation-focused financial instruments: defining a resilience thesis, building a bankable pipeline, strategically engaging funders, cultivating local collaborations, and measuring impact. It highlights that while adaptation finance lags behind mitigation, private sector opportunities exist if perceived risks are managed through blended finance and simplified structures. Based on 17 adaptation-relevant instruments, the report notes that 12 successfully mobilized capital, totaling USD 1.2 billion, emphasizing the role of technical assistance and concessional capital in de-risking early-stage projects.

The SRVALI project aims to address acute water scarcity and energy deficits in Southern Iraq. It proposes converting 68 km of open irrigation canals to closed piped systems, installing 1 MWp of solar photovoltaic systems on canals to power water pumps, and training 10,000 farmers in climate-resilient agriculture. The project also focuses on empowering women through a 'Climate Wise Women' cadre and developing national strategies for water allocation and rural solar electrification.

The document argues that green bonds are an under-utilised tool that could help Africa meet its estimated USD 2.8 trillion climate finance need by 2030. While the global green bond market reached approximately USD 2.8 trillion in 2023, Africa's share is less than 1%, representing only USD 5.1 billion. The paper highlights successful issuances in South Africa, Nigeria, and Zambia, while identifying key barriers such as low liquidity, inadequate regulation, and high transaction costs. It calls for stronger public-private collaboration and international support at COP29 to create enabling environments for green bond proliferation in Africa.

The Saint-Louis Declaration, issued by the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Senegal consortium, calls for the integration of climate justice into Senegal's environmental policies. It highlights the extreme vulnerability of the Saint-Louis region and demands simplified access to green funds, the operationalization of the loss and damage fund at COP29, and increased support for climate-resilient agriculture and renewable energy in rural areas.

The document analyzes the role of voluntary sustainability standards in the mining sector, categorizing them by focus (supply chain, performance, and principle-based) and scope. It argues that while these standards cannot replace robust regulation, they can complement it by filling regulatory gaps, providing a foundation for new laws, or serving as proof of compliance. The briefing highlights a trend toward harmonization, exemplified by the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI), and emphasizes the importance of third-party certification and multistakeholder governance for credibility. It concludes with recommendations for governments to engage in standards development and align national regulations with emerging sustainability issues to attract investment.

The SEI strategy 2025–29 focuses on accelerating the implementation of climate and environmental goals through three primary impact areas: climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing. The institute aims to move beyond goal-setting to action by boosting research on implementation, exploring emerging topics like critical raw materials and AI, and strengthening research-to-policy networks. Operationally, SEI seeks to enhance its 'One SEI' approach to integrate its distributed regional centres and diversify its funding to ensure financial resilience.

The report identifies several climate-smart water technologies for rice cultivation in the Mekong Region, such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Modern Irrigation Systems (MIS), which can significantly reduce water consumption. It analyzes the policy landscapes of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, noting that while national strategies exist, adoption is hindered by financial barriers, technical gaps, and insecure land tenure. The document recommends strengthening policy frameworks, increasing access to credit, and fostering public-private partnerships to enhance agricultural resilience and food security.

The report examines the degradation of the Chiquitano Dry Forest due to agricultural expansion, deforestation, and intensifying forest fires, highlighting the risk of total forest disappearance by 2050 and the need for sustainable water management tools.

The report assesses gender dynamics and climate vulnerabilities in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Niger. It identifies a consistent gap between national gender policies and real-world implementation, noting that women are often framed as victims rather than active agents of adaptation. Key challenges include limited access to land, finance, and education, alongside high rates of gender-based violence. The document recommends institutionalizing local gender assessments, ensuring women's representation in project design, and using gender-disaggregated data to guide the LoCAL+ programme's investments in climate resilience.

The study finds that heavy precipitation events leading to severe flooding in Sudan are no longer rare in a climate 1.3°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, with such events now expected approximately every three years. Climate models indicate that human-induced warming has roughly doubled the likelihood of these events and increased their intensity by about 10%, with observed 30-day rainfall intensity in the study region increasing by 18% since 1981. The report emphasises that these climate risks are compounded by 'risk multipliers' including ongoing conflict, poverty, rapid urbanisation, and ageing infrastructure, which have created a displacement crisis in Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria. The authors argue that the transboundary nature of river systems in sub-Saharan Africa necessitates improved international coordination for flood management and early warning systems to mitigate future disasters as warming reaches 2°C.

The project examines hydroclimate variability in the American cordillera, specifically in western Canada, Mexico, the Altiplano, and Southern South America. Using tree-ring data, glacier studies, and streamflow records, the research analyzes the relationships between precipitation, runoff, and climatic drivers like ENSO and PDO over the last 300 years. Key outputs include long-term drought and precipitation reconstructions for central Mexico and the Bolivian Altiplano, as well as snowpack and river reconstructions for the Southern Andes.

New analysis from the World Resources Institute reveals that 25% of global crops are grown in areas with highly stressed or unreliable water supplies. This vulnerability is particularly acute for staple crops like rice, wheat, and corn, with 33% produced in such areas. The report highlights a critical dependency on a small number of countries for irrigated crops and the increasing instability of rainfed agriculture due to climate change. To mitigate these risks, the document recommends strategies including reducing food waste, shifting diets away from water-intensive meats, increasing irrigation efficiency, and investing in nature-based solutions.

The Thailand Country Programme (TCP) 2024 outlines a framework to align national climate strategies with GCF funding for the 2024-2027 programming cycle. Thailand aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, with the energy sector identified as the largest GHG contributor. The programme identifies five priority areas: mitigation strategies and technologies, knowledge enhancement in agriculture and waste, advanced adaptive technologies, strengthening climate financing mechanisms, and awareness raising. To meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Thailand estimates a need for THB 5,000 billion for unconditional targets and THB 7,000 billion for conditional targets. The TCP also details a readiness plan to strengthen National Designated Authority (NDA) capacity and accredit Direct Access Entities (DAEs) such as Kasikorn Bank and the Environment Fund.

The document identifies a strong correlation between Pacific sea surface temperature patterns and water availability in the Andes of central Chile and Argentina. It highlights that El Niño years typically correspond with high snowpack and streamflow, while La Niña years often align with low levels. Furthermore, the document links multi-decadal shifts in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) to significant changes in mean annual river discharges, suggesting that the interplay between ENSO and PDO is critical for forecasting future water scarcity.

The SAP002 project, implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), focuses on improving climate resilience in the Naryn, Osh, and Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan. As of June 2024, 48% of planned activities have been completed, including the installation of eight Automatic Weather Stations and the training of nearly 9,000 farmers in climate-resilient practices. While the project has successfully increased food security and improved access to drinking water in some areas, it has faced delays due to high staff turnover in government agencies and technical team instability. The evaluation highlights a significant paradigm shift in community awareness of climate change, though a majority of beneficiaries remain unwilling to pay for localized climate services.

The report analyzes the hydrological impacts of forest fires and deforestation in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia, specifically focusing on the Curichi Grande and Tucavaca watersheds. It details the development of a multi-criteria prioritization tool using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and a hydrological model using WEAP to assess water availability and soil retention. Field findings from 2021-2022 highlight critical water scarcity and quality issues in local communities following the 2019 and 2020 fires, while the report argues that integrating fire risk into water management is essential for sustainable regional development.

The document advocates for the G20 to promote participatory processes in climate adaptation planning at the subnational level, particularly for water resource management in the Global South, to ensure long-term public commitment and inclusive governance.

The project addresses climate-related risks in western North America, specifically focusing on weather extremes, water scarcity, and food security. It aims to strengthen adaptive management by promoting the exchange of climate information between scientists and policymakers in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, while examining the role of cyclone precipitation in reservoir storage and the tradeoffs between water augmentation and energy consumption.

The report assesses climate vulnerability and institutional adaptive capacity in the Mendoza, Choquecota, and Elqui river basins. It finds that current adaptive capacities of producers and governments are insufficient to meet future climate challenges, citing poor institutional coordination and lack of integrated water management. While commercial farmers in Argentina and Chile have some protection due to capital and institutional frameworks, poor populations and traditional farmers in Bolivia remain highly vulnerable, relying on local resources and traditional knowledge. The study highlights a critical lack of early warning systems across all basins and suggests that policies targeting resource concentration and risk prevention could reduce vulnerability.