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The government of St. Maarten established the Man of War Shoal Marine Park, protecting 1,500 hectares of coral reefs and sea grasses, after the St. Maarten Nature Foundation used a WRI tool to demonstrate that these ecosystems contribute US$58 million annually to the economy through tourism and fisheries.

The report argues that traditional conservation policies relying on regulation and financial incentives are often insufficient because they ignore the psychological and social drivers of human behavior. It proposes a 'soft policy' approach using 'nudges'—small changes in the decision-making context—to encourage voluntary pro-environmental actions. The authors identify five primary 'areas of influence' for behavior change: attitudes, personal agency, emotions, social norms, and the environmental/decision context. To improve conservation outcomes, the report recommends that practitioners explicitly use social science evidence, track social indicators alongside ecological ones, and employ experimental or quasi-experimental designs to identify causal relationships between interventions and behavioral changes.

The document examines the mechanisms for developing countries to access Green Climate Fund (GCF) financing directly rather than through international intermediaries. It distinguishes between 'direct access' (oversight and management at the national level) and 'enhanced direct access' (where funding decisions also occur nationally). Drawing on the Adaptation Fund and Global Environment Facility (GEF), it identifies fiduciary standards and institutional capacity as primary barriers to accreditation. The brief recommends that the GCF Board establish clear access modalities quickly, consider interim accreditation for previously accredited institutions, and support capacity building to enable the devolution of decision-making to subnational levels.

The project uses proxy data from lagoon sediments, stalagmites, tree-rings, and corals to analyze past hurricane activity. Key findings indicate that higher hurricane activity correlates with warmer sea surface temperatures and specific climate patterns like the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Research in Nicaragua and Belize suggests an anti-phase relationship in landfall activity between Central America and the eastern Caribbean/U.S. East coast, influenced by the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and subtropical anticyclone. Additionally, the project identifies the Low-Level Jet (IALLJ) as a critical factor for sea surface temperatures and moisture advection. Demographic data highlights that approximately 19 million people in the conterminous U.S. live in vulnerable areas less than 1 km from the coastline.

The document outlines a six-step framework for MEA Outcome Planning, utilizing IEA tools to bridge the gap between international environmental commitments and national action in the Caribbean. It emphasizes the use of the Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to identify synergies between different MEAs and align them with human well-being and development goals. The guide introduces five specific tools: MEA Priorities Mapping, MEA Synergies Mapping, the Challenge Scenario, Policy Mapping, and Rapid MEA Stress Testing, culminating in the creation of a policy planning brief for high-level decision-makers. It also provides guidance on adaptive policy-making and the use of SMART targets and indicators to track progress.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD), defined as a "development first" approach that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emissions, resilient future. Drawing on experience from over 40 countries, the paper identifies key sociopolitical drivers—such as national resilience needs, energy security, and economic opportunities—and outlines significant barriers, including high implementation costs, political resistance, and institutional capacity gaps.

The document identifies five key drivers for Climate Compatible Development (CCD)—national adaptation needs, energy security, new economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and strong government leadership—while detailing seven primary obstacles, including high opportunity costs, political resistance, and institutional constraints. It provides case studies from over 40 countries to illustrate how these factors interact and suggests solutions such as multi-stakeholder dialogue, legislative anchoring, and risk-sharing financial mechanisms.

The paper identifies five key drivers for CCD: national adaptation needs, energy security and resource efficiency, new economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and strong government leadership. It also outlines seven primary challenges, including high implementation and opportunity costs, opposition from vested interest groups, lack of trusted data, short-term political thinking, limited state capacity, institutional constraints, and technological uncertainties. The authors argue that managing the political economy of CCD is essential for overcoming these barriers.

The research investigates the feasibility of climate compatible development (CCD) by analyzing whether policies can deliver 'triple wins' without generating negative side effects. Using four coastal country case studies, the authors find that while 'no-regrets' triple wins exist—particularly through soft environmental engineering like mangrove restoration—many policies involve trade-offs. Hard-engineering solutions often result in 'regrets' such as habitat destruction or social inequity. The paper concludes that the governance context is critical and warns that a narrow focus on triple wins might divert funding from essential development projects that only offer double wins.

CCORAL (Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation TooL) is an open-access online system developed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to help Caribbean government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector mainstream climate resilience into daily decision-making. The tool provides a screening exercise to prioritise climate-influenced activities, high-level guidance for both experts and non-experts, and a toolbox of over 70 climate risk management resources. It is specifically designed to fit into existing organisational processes such as national planning, budgeting, and legislation to avoid the high economic costs of climate inaction in the region.

The report identifies systemic barriers to integrated climate governance in Belize, Nepal, and Tanzania, such as fragmented institutional mandates and the narrow framing of climate change as solely an environmental issue. It advocates for 'collective learning' and systems thinking to bridge gaps between sectors and governance levels, highlighting the potential of payment for ecosystem services (PES) and the role of civil society as 'boundary organisations' to foster collaboration.

The document argues that the Peruvian state violated international human rights law by granting mining concessions in the Tiquillaca district without prior consultation with the Arboleda and other indigenous peoples. It asserts that under the American Convention on Human Rights and ILO Convention 169, such consultations must occur during the earliest planning stages and, for large-scale projects, require free, prior, and informed consent. The authors contend that the failure to consult renders the concessions null and void, requiring the judiciary to review them to ensure the survival and territorial rights of the affected communities.

The document analyzes the International Bar Association's Model Mining Development Agreement (MMDA 1.0), providing a template and narrative to ensure mining contracts promote sustainable development, transparency, and equitable resource distribution. It details key contractual areas including land tenure, royalties, taxation, and community obligations, while emphasizing the use of international standards like the IFC Performance Standards and EITI. Additionally, the report investigates the existence of similar model agreements for the oil and gas sector, concluding that no internationally accepted model currently exists despite the availability of various national form contracts.

The document describes the creation of an Implementation Plan (IP) to operationalize the CARICOM Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. It emphasizes a 'three-ones' approach to resource mobilization and the necessity of transformational change in policy-setting to avoid severe economic costs of inaction. The IP focuses on mainstreaming climate adaptation and mitigation into national development, targeting sectors such as agriculture, energy, and tourism, while promoting a risk-management ethic in decision-making.

The executive summary outlines the role of tropical forests in global warming, contributing approximately 15 percent of annual emissions. It advocates for the REDD+ framework to incentivize the conservation and restoration of forests in developing nations. The text highlights specific strategies for carbon sequestration, such as simulating natural regeneration in secondary forests, reduced-impact logging, and community forestry. It recommends national-level accounting baselines and international financial incentives to ensure that emissions reductions are additional and that local communities and biodiversity are protected.

The Atlantic region contains approximately 10% of the world's coral reefs, with over 75% currently affected by local threats and more than 30% at high or very high risk. While 631 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) cover about 30% of these reefs, only 6% of the assessed area is classified as fully effective. Projections indicate that climate-related threats could push the proportion of reefs at risk to 100% by 2050.

The study compares the economic returns of carbon sequestration and timber harvesting in Central American tropical forests between 1990 and 2005. It finds that while timber generally offers higher face-value returns, the attractiveness of carbon-based conservation is highly dependent on carbon pricing and discount rates. The author argues that integrating co-benefits and sustainable forestry management can make carbon-focused options more competitive.

The report examines the intersection of ecosystem management, poverty reduction, and climate adaptation in Belize, focusing on the vulnerability of its coastal zone. It identifies key drivers of change—population patterns, socio-economic development, and climate change—and uses scenario building to project outcomes by 2050. The study assesses Belize's current governance baseline across four clusters (institutions, policies, regulations, and capacity), finding that while sectoral policies are progressing, enforcement and integrated capacity remain weak. It proposes a transition toward stronger, more centralized governance and integrated cross-sectoral planning to enhance national resilience.

The document outlines the climate finance requirements for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, estimating annual mitigation needs between US$40–80 billion and adaptation needs between US$18–21 billion by 2030. It highlights the region's unique emissions profile, where land-use change is the primary driver of greenhouse gases, particularly in South America. The briefing argues that the AGF's recommendations for public-private partnerships and carbon-based revenue sources offer significant opportunities, provided that the region secures an equitable share of adaptation grants and establishes a robust framework for reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+).

The report outlines how tropical forests can be transitioned from net carbon emitters to net sinks through the REDD+ framework. It details specific reforestation, restoration, and sustainable production forestry techniques, while emphasizing the necessity of 'additional' carbon benefits beyond business-as-usual baselines. The authors argue that achieving zero net emissions by 2030 requires a combination of reducing deforestation and scaling up sequestration activities, supported by international financial incentives and national policies that protect biodiversity and the rights of indigenous and local communities.