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230 results
Trouble in paradise: New initiative transforms tourism in Belize and its threat to the environment
The document highlights that 70% of Belize's tourism sector is vulnerable to climate change, specifically through coastal erosion, floods, and coral die-off. It details a multi-stakeholder initiative by WWF and partners that led to the adoption of an integrated coastal zone management plan in February 2016, which uses economic valuation of marine resources to justify coastal protection. Key recommendations include mainstreaming adaptation into national policy, tailoring climate information to different stakeholders, and ensuring inclusive consultation to secure private sector and community buy-in.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Opportunities for climate-compatible coastal tourism: Lessons from Belize
The document details a CDKN-supported project in Belize that identified up to 70% of the coastal tourism sector as vulnerable to climate-related impacts, including coastal erosion, flooding, and biodiversity loss. It highlights the role of 'grey-green' infrastructure and the adoption of a national integrated coastal zone management plan in February 2016 to enhance resilience. The study emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement, the use of interactive mapping tools, and the integration of ecosystem services into national policy to protect critical natural assets like mangroves and coral reefs.
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Document type: Case study
Shedding light on causal recipes for development research uptake
The paper pilots the use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to understand why some research projects achieve policy uptake while others do not. Analyzing 20 completed projects, the study identifies three causal pathways to success, with research credibility emerging as a necessary 'gatekeeper' condition. The authors conclude that while QCA is a resource-intensive method that reduces causal complexity, it is a valuable tool for challenging and refining a Theory of Change in complex international development settings.
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Document type: Research paper
Marco de Manejo Ambiental y Social para el proyecto Manejo Integrado Transfronterizo con Enfoque de la Cuenca al Arrecife para el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano
The document provides an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for a project aimed at conserving freshwater, marine, and coastal resources in the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR). It defines the institutional roles of the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) and partner NGOs, establishes a project classification system (Categories A, B, and C) based on risk, and outlines procedures for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). The framework identifies priority river basins—including the Hondo, Motagua, Belice, Chamelecón, and Ulúa—and details the threats facing the reef, such as agricultural runoff, deforestation, and urban waste. It also sets strict safeguards for indigenous peoples, involuntary resettlement, and the use of hazardous pesticides, while proposing various 'ridge-to-reef' interventions like agroforestry and habitat restoration.
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Document type: Report
CDKN Phase II – Sub-national Learning Programme on Climate Compatible Development: Moving From Sub-National Planning to Implementation
The CDKN-ICLEI First Learning Workshop in Quito, Ecuador, brought together 51 participants from 16 projects to identify enablers and barriers to sub-national climate compatible development (CCD). The workshop focused on moving from planning to implementation, resulting in a revised set of assumptions about effective CCD and the identification of critical knowledge gaps in planning, scaling, and conceptualisation. These outcomes informed seven core learning questions that project partners will address through the creation of 'Inside Stories'—reflective, evidence-based analyses of their learning processes. Regional discussions highlighted that in Asia, CCD is often framed as 'climate-smart' or 'climate-friendly' and requires strong links to poverty alleviation and gender issues, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, local framing and political will are seen as key drivers for sustainability.
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Document type: Report
2015 Stockholm Summit on Natural Capital: 9 Use Cases and the Natural Capital Science-Technology Platform
The report details the application of natural capital science and software tools across various sectors to integrate ecosystem services into decision-making. Key examples include the Inter-American Development Bank's infrastructure planning in Latin America, China's massive reforestation and zoning efforts, and corporate sustainability initiatives by Dow, Unilever, and Coca-Cola. It highlights the role of the Natural Capital Project's open-source tools, such as InVEST and OPAL, in quantifying the trade-offs between economic development and the preservation of natural assets like watersheds and coastal habitats.
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Document type: Report
Reviving the Ocean Economy
The report estimates the global ocean's total asset base at at least US$24 trillion, with an annual 'gross marine product' of US$2.5 trillion, making it the world's seventh largest economy. It warns that over two-thirds of this value depends on healthy ocean conditions, which are currently being eroded by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. The document proposes eight strategic actions, including expanding marine protected areas to 30% by 2030 and decarbonizing energy systems to prevent the projected disappearance of coral reefs by 2050.
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Document type: Report
The Climate Knowledge Brokers MANIFESTO
The Climate Knowledge Brokers Manifesto argues that a significant gap exists between the production of climate science and its practical application in decision-making. It proposes that 'knowledge brokers' act as critical filters and translators who synthesize, contextualize, and deliver tailored information to users across various sectors and localities. The document outlines six primary user needs—ranging from basic availability and trust to local enrichment and access to raw data—and describes the broker's role as a multi-disciplinary interface. To improve effectiveness, the CKB Group advocates for a community of practice based on collaboration, open knowledge principles, and the adoption of interoperable digital standards to break down information silos.
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Document type: Report
Living Blue Planet Report
The Living Blue Planet Report 2015 documents a 49% decline in global marine vertebrate populations between 1970 and 2012. It highlights critical losses in key habitats, including over half of reef-building corals in tropical reefs over 30 years and nearly 20% of mangrove cover between 1980 and 2005. The report identifies overfishing, climate change, pollution, and extractive industries as primary drivers of this degradation. It emphasizes the socio-economic risks, noting that nearly 3 billion people rely on fish as a major protein source and that the ocean generates at least US$2.5 trillion in annual economic benefits. The document advocates for the 'One Planet Perspective' framework, which includes expanding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to 30% to potentially generate up to US$920 billion by 2050.
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Document type: Report
Opportunities for triple-wins development in coastal Belize
The document highlights the threats climate change poses to Belize's coastal ecosystems and the need for resilient economic development. It introduces a 'triple wins matrix' methodology to identify policies that balance economic growth with climate concerns, arguing that the protection and conservation of mangroves in Belize can achieve these simultaneous goals.
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Document type: Policy brief
An investigation of the evidence of benefits from climate compatible development
The document explores the concept of 'climate compatible development' or 'triple wins,' which refers to policies that simultaneously achieve climate adaptation, mitigation, and development goals. It notes a lack of empirical evidence regarding the costs and benefits of these policies and describes a project aimed at helping coastal planners identify investment strategies that reduce emissions, enable adaptation, and enhance local livelihoods. The analysis utilizes four developing country studies to evaluate these policies through the framework of 'no-regrets', 'low regrets', and 'with regrets' decision-making.
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Document type: Policy brief
TECHINCAL REPORT
The report identifies Belize's tourism sector as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly due to its reliance on the Belize Barrier Reef and coastal assets. It details the risks posed by rising sea temperatures, sea level rise, and intense storms, while providing a comprehensive portfolio of technical, managerial, and policy adaptation options to build resilience.
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Document type: Report
Climate-compatible Tourism Project: Key Summary Findings from Policy Analysis
The analysis of 39 Belizean policy documents and laws reveals a significant gap in climate change integration, with only 15% of reviewed documents addressing climate impacts. While some frameworks support sustainable development, many are outdated or use vague language, failing to provide concrete steps for adaptation. The report recommends urgent revisions to key instruments, including the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan and the Coastal Zone Management Act, to integrate climate-smart measures and protect natural capital.
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Document type: Policy brief
Analyzing Vulnerability of the Belize Coastal Tourism Sector
The report identifies high-risk hotspots in Belize's coastal tourism sector, particularly Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and the Central and South Central regions, which face significant threats from sea-level rise, thermal stress on coral reefs, and hurricane intensity. It highlights that 86% of tourism facilities are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, with potential GDP losses of over US $61 million from a 1m rise. While some regions like the Northern and Southern areas show medium vulnerability, the overall outlook suggests a high potential impact on the industry's future viability.
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Document type: Report
Reducing climate risk: adaptation and vulnerability
The document outlines SEI's approach to climate adaptation, emphasizing that vulnerability is driven more by socioeconomic conditions than by climate exposure. It argues that adaptation and development are inextricably linked and that adaptation has inherent limits, meaning it cannot replace mitigation. The briefing also details SEI's global initiatives, such as the weADAPT platform and the Asia Adaptation Knowledge Platform, and identifies future research priorities including the role of gender, culture, and the private sector in adaptation.
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Document type: Briefing
Living Planet Report 2014
The Living Planet Report 2014 highlights a critical decline in global vertebrate populations and an ecological overshoot where humanity requires 1.5 Earths to sustain its current consumption. It emphasizes the interdependence of food, water, and energy security with healthy ecosystems and proposes a 'One Planet Perspective' to align human development with planetary boundaries.
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Document type: Report
Exploring Trends in Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Development
The report examines the evolution of low-carbon, climate-resilient development (LCCRD) in developing countries, highlighting the integration of mitigation and adaptation into national planning. It identifies critical barriers, including limited human capacity and a significant imbalance in climate finance, where adaptation receives far less funding than mitigation. The document analyzes the shift from top-down to bottom-up international governance and the role of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) as a vehicle for sustainable development. It also discusses the challenges of monitoring and evaluating adaptation investments and the proliferation of online knowledge platforms, recommending a greater focus on user needs and the translation of high-level strategies into concrete actions.
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Document type: Report
Contrasting Coping in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean
The document investigates how low-income populations in the Caribbean (Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia) and the South West Indian Ocean (Mauritius, Seychelles) cope with extreme weather events. It finds a heavy reliance on 'medium level stressors' like savings and credit, which act as pseudo-insurance, and a concerning prevalence of 'high level stressors' such as 'doing nothing' (asset degradation) in the Caribbean. While there is an implicit need for microinsurance to prevent asset depletion, adoption is hindered by cost, lack of trust, and limited knowledge.
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Document type: Research paper
Governing Africa’s Mangroves: A Sustainable Future
The policy brief highlights that mangroves are among the world's most threatened vegetation types, with over 20% lost in the last 30 years. It emphasizes that in Africa, mangroves often overlap with fossil fuel deposits and infrastructure projects, leading to degradation. The author advocates for the use of ecosystem valuations, integrated coastal zone management, and the inclusion of local communities in decision-making to reconcile economic growth with biodiversity conservation. Proposed interventions include the adoption of 'no net loss' policies, the use of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), and the implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Blue Carbon trading to provide financial incentives for conservation.
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Document type: Policy brief
La Ruta hacia el Futuro para la Energía Renovable en Centroamérica
The report analyzes the energy landscape of Central America, noting a contradictory trend where the region leads in geothermal and hydroelectric power but faces increasing dependence on imported fossil fuels. It argues that while the region has the potential to meet 100% of its electricity needs through renewables, significant gaps in data, administrative inefficiency, and fossil fuel subsidies hinder progress. The document recommends integrating technical resource assessments with socio-economic analysis (LCOE+), simplifying bureaucratic processes through 'single-window' permitting, and strengthening regional interconnection via SIEPAC to manage variability in wind and solar power.
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Document type: Report