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The document defines debt-for-climate swaps as the cancellation or refinancing of sovereign debt in exchange for commitments to invest savings into climate mitigation, adaptation, or conservation. It outlines two primary structures: bilateral swaps between a debtor and official creditors, and tripartite swaps involving private creditors and NGO intermediaries. The guide details the internal and regulatory capacities required for implementation, ranging from basic debt tracking to the creation of special purpose vehicles (SPVs). It highlights that while swaps can improve sovereign credit ratings and reduce liquidity risk, they face challenges such as high transaction costs, limited structuring capacity in ministries of finance, and concerns over additionality. Case studies from Ecuador, Belize, and Seychelles illustrate the role of credit enhancements, such as political risk insurance and guarantees, in making these transactions viable.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for accreditation as a regional entity for 'small' projects (up to USD 50 million) with a high environmental and social risk category (Category A/I-1). The CDB demonstrated strong fiduciary standards, a track record of mobilizing approximately USD 200 million for climate action, and a robust gender equality policy. However, accreditation is conditional upon the CDB establishing a public system for reporting the progress of grant-funded projects and finalizing a permanent external communications mechanism for environmental and social complaints.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of the World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF) under a fast-track process. The assessment confirms that WWF meets the GCF's basic and specialized fiduciary standards, environmental and social safeguards for medium-risk projects, and gender policy requirements. WWF is recommended for international access to manage projects of 'medium' size (up to USD 250 million) with a maximum environmental and social risk category of 'medium risk' (Category B/I-2).

The Accreditation Panel recommends that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) be upgraded to 'large' project size and 'high risk' (Category A/I-1) environmental and social risk categories. The assessment found that IFAD's fiduciary standards, project management capacities, and environmental and social safeguards fully meet GCF requirements for these expanded parameters.

GEEREF NeXt adopts the EIB Group’s Gender Strategy to address the gendered nature of energy poverty in developing countries. The fund focuses on the upstream renewable energy value chain, aiming to avoid aggravating existing inequalities while promoting female entrepreneurship and representation in the energy workforce. It identifies specific risks associated with on-grid projects, such as discriminatory land-use norms and limited female employment, and plans to require Investee Funds to conduct project-specific gender assessments supported by the GEEREF NeXt Technical Assistance Facility.

Key messages delivered by Kishan Khoday of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the UWI Regional Conference on Resilience to Hurricanes in the Caribbean on 2 October 2024, outlining UNDP's regional climate action, specific country initiatives, and future priorities for resilient development.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate from June 1, 2024, to April 2025. It focuses on implementing decisions from the 32nd Conference of the Parties (CoP-32), expanding institutional partnerships, advancing transdisciplinary research on climate, health, and oceans, and strengthening science diplomacy through the IAI Science Diplomacy Center and the STeP Fellowship program.

This document is an annex to a science report from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, dated April 30, 1998. It consists of a series of tables detailing the status of project reports, scientific meeting presentations, student support, and the evaluation of pre-proposals related to climate change and global change research in the Americas.

The CAPA Initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada, implements nature-based solutions (NbS) to protect biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience. In Belize, activities focus on reforestation in the Maya Forest Corridor and coral reef health in marine reserves. In Fiji, interventions include flood mitigation buffers and sustainable fisheries. In the Greater Virunga Landscape (Uganda), the project focuses on restoring agricultural lands and promoting climate-resilient livelihoods. In the Kavango–Zambezi Landscape (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Angola), efforts target forest restoration and the stabilization of wetlands and headwaters. Global-level support is provided by IISD through research, capacity strengthening, and gender-responsive approaches.

Argentina reduced direct budgetary transfers to oil producers, resulting in estimated savings of USD 780 million in 2017. While oil subsidies were cut to reduce the fiscal deficit and meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan conditions, the government maintained and prioritised subsidies for unconventional gas production in the Vaca Muerta field, viewing gas as a transition fuel. These reforms were accompanied by significant increases in electricity and natural gas tariffs for residential and commercial users.

The document details Canada's efforts to reform fossil fuel subsidies, specifically targeting tax deductions for oil, gas, and coal exploration and development. Since 2011, Canada has reformed seven policies, including reducing deduction rates for oil sands and mining expenses, driven partly by G20 commitments. While reforms between 1990 and 2007 saved over USD 900 million, the 2011-2022 reforms are expected to save approximately USD 260 million annually. However, the document notes a 'missed opportunity' with the introduction of a new LNG subsidy in 2015 and risks of backsliding through the federal purchase and expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

The author proposes that China can transition from purely economic expansion to supporting climate action in Latin America by implementing a Joint Credit Mechanism for renewables, engaging in debt-for-climate swaps (specifically with Ecuador), and negotiating free trade agreements that prioritize environmental goods and services.

Argentina reduced direct budgetary transfers to oil producers, saving an estimated US$ 780 million in 2017. However, the government maintained and prioritized subsidies for unconventional gas production, specifically targeting the Vaca Muerta reservoir through the 'Plan Gas'. These reforms were driven by fiscal pressures, including a US$ 50 billion IMF standby agreement requiring deficit reduction. While oil subsidies fell, the government continued to owe US$ 1.5 billion to oil companies as of January 2019. Environmental concerns persist as gas is treated as a transition fuel, despite the high greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination associated with fracking in Vaca Muerta.

This report provides a spatial analysis of disaster incidence in Central America and the Dominican Republic between 1950 and 2020. It identifies that hydrometeorological events, specifically floods and landslides, are the most recurrent threats, often coinciding with high-density urban areas and coastal zones. The study highlights a significant increase in recorded disasters since 1990, peaking in 2010. It further correlates disaster risk with physical variables, noting that 70.7% of records occur below 1,000 meters above sea level and that a high percentage of critical territories are located in areas with medium to high population density. The analysis also observes a decline in forest cover and an increase in pasture land from 1990 to 2018, linking these land-use changes to increased disaster vulnerability.

The submission argues that indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) are the most effective guardians of biodiversity, yet they face systemic threats including non-recognition of land rights, 'fortress conservation' models, and violence against land defenders. It provides global case studies of successful community-led conservation and calls for a shift toward rights-based conservation, secure tenure, and the protection of environmental defenders.

The document serves as a guide to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), detailing the collective and individual rights of Indigenous peoples, including self-determination and free, prior and informed consent. It outlines the responsibilities of States and the UN, provides criteria for identifying Indigenous peoples, and offers practical avenues for reporting human rights violations through UN mechanisms. The guide specifically highlights the intersection of UNDRIP with biological diversity, conservation, and land rights.

The document serves as a guide for indigenous communities to understand and utilize the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It details the historical context of the Declaration, defines 'indigenous peoples' according to international standards, and breaks down the specific individual and collective rights granted under the instrument, including self-determination and free, prior and informed consent. The guide also outlines the responsibilities of States and the UN, provides examples of national and regional implementation, and offers practical pathways for reporting human rights violations through UN mechanisms.

The report highlights a critical 'data deficit' in the energy sector, where the lack of sex-disaggregated data reinforces male-oriented policymaking and hinders the achievement of SDG7. It identifies systemic barriers to women's participation in the energy workforce—where they represent only 32% of the renewable energy sector—and the disproportionate impact of energy poverty on women and girls. The document provides a framework for designing gender indicators, emphasizing the need for both supply-side (employment/leadership) and demand-side (consumer preferences/household decision-making) metrics. It concludes with best practices for national policymakers, statistical offices, and international organizations to strengthen data capacity, particularly in low-income countries.

The document details mechanisms for raising public finance for climate action, focusing on the roles of international funding, debt instruments, and national vehicles. It examines the benefits and challenges of international public finance, the growth of the climate bond market, the utility of debt-for-climate swaps in reducing debt burdens, and the operational structure of national climate funds. The guide provides specific examples of these instruments in practice across various developing and middle-income countries.

The study estimates the economic value of three specific services provided by Belize's coastal ecosystems, finding that tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection contribute significantly to the national economy, though these resources face threats from development, overfishing, and climate change.