Search Climate Insights Directory

The Stockholm Environment Institute has developed WASH Flows, a Microsoft Excel-based tool that links household-level WASH data with watershed-scale modelling, such as WEAP. By bridging the gap between WASH services and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), the tool allows users to estimate service levels, identify vulnerable communities, and model the impact of interventions on water balance and quality. A case study in the Tupiza watershed in Bolivia demonstrated the tool's ability to establish a service baseline—revealing significant gaps in safely managed water (25%) and sanitation (4%)—and to evaluate the effectiveness of proposed drinking water and decentralized sanitation systems in increasing drought resilience.

This fact sheet explains the formation and types of glaciers, the drivers and consequences of their melting due to global warming, and the importance of legal protections for these freshwater reserves, highlighting Argentina's National Glacier Law.

The report introduces a technology-neutral sustainability assessment method based on five pillars: social, environmental, economic, health and hygiene, and technical/institutional sustainability. Applying this to Montero, Bolivia, the study compares four systems: conventional gravity-fed sewers (System 1), condominial sewers (System 2), septic tanks with soak pits (System 3), and urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) (System 4). Findings indicate that while conventional systems have high social acceptability, they are the least affordable and most vulnerable to water scarcity and flooding. System 4 (UDDTs) performs best in health, water use, and climate resilience. Optimization—such as adding inlet screens, using personal protection equipment (PPE), and implementing scheduled emptying—generally improves health and environmental outcomes but increases technical complexity and reduces economic sustainability. The report argues for a city-wide inclusive sanitation approach using a mix of these systems to balance trade-offs between cost, health, and environmental protection.

The document details the definitions, data sources, and analytical frameworks used to assess global forest loss, degradation, and restoration. It establishes a 'gross zero' deforestation benchmark for 2030, utilizing a linear reduction pathway from a 2018-2020 baseline. The annexes include a detailed regional aggregation based on UN geoscheme designations and a data table comparing 2022 deforestation levels across 30 high-impact countries against their interim targets.

Global Witness asserts that the financial sector is failing to meet its voluntary deforestation pledges, noting that institutions without 'zero deforestation' policies invested $3.6 trillion in forest-risk companies last year. The author calls for financial leaders to support mandatory due diligence laws in the EU, UK, and US, and for Chinese banks to prioritize deforestation risks in their ESG guidance to prevent irreversible tipping points in forests like the Amazon.

The document argues that current global food production pushes the planet beyond its natural limits, contributing significantly to biodiversity loss, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. WWF proposes a systemic transformation focused on four strategic pillars: conservation of critical landscapes, regenerative and resilient systems, thriving people and communities, and innovation and influence. Key goals for 2030 include achieving zero deforestation from commodity expansion and halving the footprint of agricultural food systems through circular approaches.

The document argues that current global food production is pushing the planet beyond its natural limits, contributing significantly to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. WWF proposes a 'nature-positive approach' centered on four strategic pillars: conservation of critical landscapes, regenerative and resilient systems, thriving people and communities, and innovation and influence. Key targets for 2030 include achieving zero deforestation from agricultural expansion and halving the environmental footprint of food systems by scaling circular and regenerative practices.

The document explores the application of Robust Decision Making (RDM) to address the 'super wicked' problem of climate adaptation in the Greater Mekong Subregion, where decision-making is often hindered by mistrust of national governments and unequal power dynamics. It suggests that while full RDM is technically intensive, a simplified 'RDM lite' approach could better suit local needs by preserving core principles of participation and robustness. The study also identifies critical needs for capacity building, strengthening informal networks, and ensuring 'meaningful' participation through transparent information access and digital inclusion.

The IAI provides financial support between $100,000 and $300,000 USD for research projects lasting up to 3 years, targeting teams from 14 specific Latin American and Caribbean countries. Funding is contingent on co-funding and alignment with IAI's strategic policies, including a mandatory equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) plan.

The document highlights the disproportionate impact of climate hazards on women, particularly those in marginalized communities, and argues that women's participation in decision-making leads to more effective climate-resilient policies. It reviews the Lima Work Programme on Gender and specific pledges from COP26, such as the UK's £165 million commitment to address inequalities, while calling for stricter implementation of gender-related goals during COP27.

The toolkit argues that rights-based approaches lead to more effective and legitimate climate outcomes. It outlines a three-step process for integrating rights into NDCs: inclusive planning, transparent communication of how rights informed that planning, and reflecting human rights obligations in implementation and monitoring. The document provides specific recommendations across seven thematic areas: ambition, participatory planning, general human rights integration, gender mainstreaming, Indigenous Peoples' rights, land tenure, and just transition. It emphasizes that states must align their climate ambition with the 1.5°C target to fulfill human rights obligations and should account for all emissions under their jurisdiction, including extraterritorial ones. The toolkit includes guiding questions and illustrative examples from the NDCs of Canada, Mexico, Vanuatu, Nepal, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and Chile to demonstrate best practices in human rights-based climate action.

The document argues that climate action must be aligned with human rights to be effective and legitimate. It provides a framework for integrating these rights into NDCs, focusing on scientific ambition, inclusive public participation, gender equality, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, land tenure, and a just transition for workers.

The document argues that climate action is most effective and legitimate when based on a human rights approach. It outlines a framework for integrating these rights into NDCs, focusing on scientific ambition, inclusive public participation, gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, land tenure, and a just transition for workers.

The Plan Director de la Cuenca Alta del Rio La Paz provides a comprehensive diagnostic and strategic roadmap for managing water resources in a 1,725 km² area. It identifies critical vulnerabilities, including severe water pollution in urban rivers, glacier retreat, and inadequate sanitation in rural areas. The plan proposes 11 strategic lines (LE) focusing on climate resilience, water governance, technological innovation in irrigation, and the construction of wastewater treatment plants (PTAR), with a total estimated investment of 1,555,183,480 BOB.

The report assesses the water balance of the Madidi National Park (PNM) in Bolivia, focusing on the Tuichi, Hondo, Madidi, and Quendeque basins. Using the WEAP model and data from 1980 to 2015, it finds that forests and wetlands have significantly higher soil moisture retention (66%) compared to agricultural lands and prairies (under 59%). The study highlights that converting forests to prairies or agriculture reduces soil moisture retention by 6.6% to 7.6%, with the greatest impact occurring in May. Annual average precipitation for the basin is 1778 mm, with a runoff coefficient of 0.32. The report recommends establishing new monitoring points within the park and prioritizing water quality analysis in the Tuichi basin due to mining risks.

The Amazon biome is facing a critical situation due to deforestation, degradation, and climate change, which threaten its role in global climate regulation and its immense biodiversity. Key drivers include cattle ranching, mechanized agriculture, illegal logging, and unsustainable infrastructure projects like dams. The report emphasizes the vital role of indigenous territories and protected areas in maintaining resilience and proposes an integrated landscape management approach, the protection of free-flowing rivers, and the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy to avoid an ecological tipping point.

This briefing outlines the progress of the Regional Assessment conducted by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The assessment aims to identify knowledge gaps and uncertainties in decisions impacted by global environmental change (GEC) to better target science and capacity-building efforts for Member Countries.

The IAI is conducting a Regional Assessment to better understand how global environmental change (GEC) affects the decisions of its member Parties. Through surveys and subregional listening sessions held in 2022, the IAI identified 'climate action' as the most important current national priority for 14 Parties. Key barriers to using scientific information include a lack of intersectoral collaboration and a lack of science available for non-technical audiences. The assessment has grouped member countries by shared priorities and identified specific regional focuses, such as water security in the Southern Cone and biodiversity in the Andean subregion. Next steps include a deep analysis of collected data and a review of national policy documents, with results to be communicated at CoP-31.

As of September 30, 2022, the IAI had received 38% of its approved contributions for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Total expenditures for the July-September period were $314,865, which is 10% lower than the budgeted $350,000. While salaries remained within budget, travel and training costs exceeded projections by 12.4% due to high ticket prices. Other categories, including equipment, operational costs, and dissemination, were under budget due to postponed purchases and improved resource management.

This report, prepared by the IAI Directorate for the Executive Council's fifty-fourth meeting, outlines the primary achievements and activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research from 1 July 2022 to 11 October 2022. It details progress in science communication, capacity building, and strategic partnerships aimed at addressing global environmental change in the Americas.