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This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in 2013, synthesizes lessons from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP) regarding the protection of livelihoods against climate change. Drawing on research from 13 Asian countries, it highlights the vulnerability of rural and coastal populations dependent on climate-sensitive sectors and evaluates the effectiveness of various adaptation strategies, including community forestry and the integration of local knowledge.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the critical water scarcity challenges facing El Alto and La Paz, Bolivia, driven by rapid population growth and climate change. It details the vulnerability of existing water systems to glacial melt and proposes a combination of new infrastructure, leak reduction, and integrated land-use planning to ensure water security through 2050.

This report, the final part of a five-part series by WWF South Africa, SinCo, Carbon Tracker, and Trucost, synthesizes research on the financial risks and opportunities associated with carbon emissions and water scarcity for institutional investors in South Africa. It argues that many investors are 'universal owners' whose returns depend on the overall health of the economy, making them vulnerable to systemic risks from climate change and water stress. The report finds that carbon and water risks are largely mispriced in the market, with significant exposure in the energy and mining sectors, and calls for regulatory interventions and a shift toward low-carbon, water-responsible investment strategies to avoid stranded assets and ensure long-term returns.

This fact sheet describes research using Polylepis tarapacana tree rings to reconstruct precipitation on the Bolivian Altiplano, linking a severe drought starting in 1316 to a shift from vulnerable valley villages to fortified hilltop settlements (Pukaras) due to social conflict over water.

This IAI fact sheet describes how tree-ring analysis of Polylepis tarapacana in the Bolivian Altiplano provides evidence that a severe, prolonged drought between 1316 and 1371 coincided with a transition from vulnerable settlements to fortified sites (Pukaras), suggesting that water scarcity triggered social conflicts.

This technical report by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes three agricultural water management (AWM) scenarios in the Mkindo watershed of the Wami River Basin, Tanzania. Using community fieldwork and expert meetings, the report evaluates how different interventions—ranging from small-scale irrigation and rainwater storage to diesel pumps and large-scale commercial cash crop expansion—impact the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, livestock keepers, and other residents over a ten-year horizon.

This research paper examines how rural communities in semiarid South Africa adapt to intersecting stresses, including water scarcity, disease, and institutional limitations, arguing that climate adaptation must be understood within broader social and political contexts to avoid maladaptation.

This research paper uses the LPJmL vegetation and hydrology model to compare global per capita water availability and requirements for food production between 1971–2000 and 2070–2099, assessing the impact of climate and population change on the ability of countries to produce a balanced diet.

The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) is a tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to calculate net climate impacts for individuals rather than regional averages. By comparing climate damages against the savings gained from not investing in emission reductions, CIEL demonstrates that while some individuals are currently 'net winners,' the vast majority of the global population will become 'net losers' by 2100 and 2150 as damages outpace savings.

This report documents a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan African Parliament, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS). It examines the surge of foreign direct investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabs," and provides recommendations for parliamentarians to ensure such investments benefit local communities and align with national development goals.

This report documents a seminar held by the Pan-African Parliament in July 2011 regarding foreign investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabbing." It examines the drivers of these investments, their negative impacts on local communities and human rights, and the legal frameworks governing them. The document provides recommendations for parliamentarians to increase transparency, reform land tenure, and ensure that investments benefit local populations through inclusive business models and genuine community consultation.

This discussion note, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Pan African Parliament, examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to food security, land rights, and the environment, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

The National Strategy for Water re-use, published by GreenCape in June 2011, outlines a framework for implementing water re-use projects in South Africa to address the country's water-stressed status. It defines various types of re-use, analyzes drivers such as cost and public perception, and identifies sector-specific needs in agriculture, industry, mining, and power generation. The strategy proposes a policy environment focused on clear guidelines, updated water quality standards, and the leveraging of private sector capacity to ensure sustainable water resource management.

This research paper by Petrus de Kock for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the historical and contemporary drivers of conflict in Sudan, focusing on the relationship between the central state in Khartoum and its marginalised peripheries. Written in June 2011, the document analyzes how the struggle for both high-level resources (oil) and low-level subsistence resources (land and water) has shaped the country's political landscape, leading to two civil wars and the eventual independence of Southern Sudan in July 2011.

This case study report examines agricultural participation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) across four Canadian watersheds: the Okanagan Basin (BC), Lower Souris River (SK), Yamaska (QC), and Souris River (PEI). It analyzes the drivers and barriers to producer engagement, the institutional structures governing water management, and the resources provided by federal and provincial governments. The report concludes that while financial incentives are a primary driver for adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs), there is a critical need for better integration between high-level IWRM planning and on-the-ground agri-environmental implementation, supported by localized technical extension and consistent monitoring data.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the World Bank's 3.75 billion dollar loan to Eskom Holding Limited for the Eskom Investment Support Project in South Africa. The authors argue that the Bank failed to comply with its own Operational Policy 10.04 (OP 10.04) by neglecting to fully quantify and incorporate environmental and social externalities—specifically regarding water scarcity, air quality, and transboundary impacts—into the project's Economic Evaluation, thereby overstating the project's net benefits.

This August 2010 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis on several African security issues. It focuses on Kenya's constitutional referendum, the potential for water-related conflict in the Nile Basin, the transition to democracy in Guinea, and the results of the presidential election in Somaliland. Additionally, it reviews the annual consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), the operationalisation of civil society engagement via the Livingstone Formula, and the outcomes of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Review Conference in Kampala.

This document introduces a series of commissioned papers for the 2010 World Resources Report, focusing on the tension between addressing immediate development needs—such as poverty and hunger—and preparing for long-term climate risks. It highlights the projected decline in water availability and crop yields in Asia and calls for new planning tools to manage the trade-offs between short-term relief and long-term resilience.

This concept paper outlines an expert roundtable workshop hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Mombasa, Kenya, on September 29-30, 2009. The workshop focuses on the legal, policy, and institutional challenges associated with climate change and transboundary water conflicts in Africa, with a specific emphasis on the Nile River Basin.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how climate change interacts with existing political tensions in the Middle East, specifically the Levant, to increase the risk of violent conflict through water scarcity, food insecurity, and economic instability.