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The NAP Global Network provides a framework for developing countries to accelerate national adaptation planning (NAP) through peer learning, technical support, and donor coordination. The Network facilitates Targeted Topics Forums (TTFs) and South-South exchanges to share best practices on issues such as financing and sectoral integration. It also operates a Country Support Hub for expert advice and works to align bilateral donor investments with national priorities to avoid duplication of efforts.

The National Energy Transition Strategy (NETS) for Saint Lucia identifies an optimal energy portfolio consisting of solar, wind, energy storage, energy efficiency, and existing diesel generation. This combination is projected to reduce diesel expenditures by 42% and carbon emissions by 40% by 2025. The report emphasizes that utility ownership generally leads to lower customer rates and that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective resource for minimizing system costs. While geothermal energy offers significant base-load potential, its viability depends on concessional financing and successful exploration. The strategy also highlights the need for regulatory reform, specifically decoupling utility revenues from sales to incentivize energy efficiency and avoiding 'rate shock' associated with certain independent power producer (IPP) arrangements.

The document proposes a four-year programme (2017-2021) to enhance coastal resilience in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It targets the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and the poor, through a grants-on-lending framework focusing on coastal protection, food and water security, health, renewable energy, and tourism. The programme aims to fund at least 20 local investment projects with individual grants ranging from USD 300,000 to USD 600,000, requiring a 20% counterpart contribution from grantees. The initiative emphasizes ecosystem-based adaptation, such as mangrove rehabilitation and coral reef restoration, to mitigate the impacts of sea-level rise and extreme weather events which have historically caused severe GDP losses in the region.

The document outlines a project focused on integrating climate model rainfall projections into flood risk assessments for Jamaican communities. It emphasizes the necessity of flood hazard maps that account for future climate change to support disaster management and climate compatible development. Key recommendations include providing ongoing geospatial data training for local government and parish-level disaster coordinators, and improving cooperation between academia and government bodies to ensure high-quality data informs life-saving policies.

The study identifies significant current potential for cultivating Acrocomia aculeata in Latin America, particularly in Central America, the Caribbean, northern Colombia, Venezuela, southern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay. However, it warns that many suitable areas are already used for agriculture or have high conservation value, and that under the IPCC A2A 'business as usual' scenario, most suitable growing areas could severely decline or disappear by 2080.

The document details a CDKN-supported project (2013–14) that used Regional Climate Models (RCM) to assess future flood risks in Jamaica. Key findings include the high vulnerability of coastal tourism infrastructure in Negril to sea-level rise and the critical intersection of major roadways with high-likelihood floodplains. The study emphasizes that current risk assessments are hindered by low-resolution climate models (50 km) and a lack of high-quality topographical and hydro-meteorological data. It recommends the adoption of laser technology for terrain mapping and continuous GIS training for local government staff to improve disaster management.

Grenada has adopted a 'sector-driven' approach to climate adaptation, where individual sectors had already begun integrating adaptation measures before a national coordinating framework was established. The government is now using the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to stocktake these efforts, identify gaps, and 'climate-proof' its national development planning. Coordination is led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (MALFFE) and the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC), with a focus on improving climate finance readiness to access the Green Climate Fund.

Nigel Sizer reviews five years leading WRI's forest program, highlighting the creation of Global Forest Watch and the Global Restoration Initiative. He notes the role of technology in monitoring deforestation and the commitment of private sector companies to deforestation-free supply chains. Looking forward, he identifies the need for scalable solutions, improved certification standards, and expanded land rights for indigenous communities and poor farmers.

The report details the conclusion of the Small Grants Program for Cooperative Research in the Americas (SGP-CRA) and the ongoing progress of the Third Cooperative Research Networks Program (CRN3). It highlights the mobilization of US$ 26 million from an initial US$ 2.75 million investment in SGP-CRA and the implementation of 17 multidisciplinary networks under CRN3. Key achievements include the influence of research on legislation in Argentina, the development of hurricane forecasting for Baja California, and the creation of a coastal risk decision tool for 25 Caribbean countries. The report also notes the start of the CONICET-IAI partnership and the development of the Inter-American Forum for Global Change Research Cooperation to expand multilateral funding.

The document examines the rise of unsolicited proposals (USPs) in infrastructure, where private entities initiate projects rather than governments. It highlights risks such as lack of transparency, corruption, and the avoidance of competition. Drawing on a PPIAF report, it recommends that governments adopt formal frameworks—including competitive bidding mechanisms like 'Swiss challenges'—to mitigate these risks. The author further argues that USPs can distract from sustainable public procurement (SPP) by bypassing critical needs analyses and straining limited public sector capacity to manage long-term asset life cycles.

The document examines climate vulnerability in the Soufriere region of Saint Lucia, identifying significant gaps in financial, human, and social capital that hinder adaptation. It highlights barriers such as top-down government planning and a lack of incentives in the tourism sector, while suggesting micro-insurance as a tool to replace high-stress coping mechanisms among the poor.

The report examines the integration of ACP countries into global value chains (GVCs) and regional value chains (RVCs), highlighting significant heterogeneity across the group. It identifies critical barriers to entry, including poor infrastructure, weak institutional frameworks, and low business sophistication. The analysis suggests that while some countries like South Africa and Mauritius are more globally integrated, many others face fundamental challenges in basic trade-enabling requirements. The authors argue against protective industrial policies, instead recommending horizontal measures such as improving the rule of law, investing in workforce skills, and enhancing transport and energy infrastructure to attract multinational corporations.

The Energy Retrofit Guide for Caribbean Hospitals outlines a three-step process—Find, Finance, and Follow-through—to help healthcare facilities reduce energy consumption. It highlights the high cost of electricity in the Caribbean (averaging $0.38/kWh) as a primary driver for deep energy retrofits, which can reduce energy costs by over 50%. The guide introduces a free online tool for benchmarking and identifying energy efficiency measures (EEMs), and provides a framework for securing financing and managing the technical implementation of retrofit projects.

The document examines the vulnerability of coastal sectors in SIDS to climate change and the inadequacy of current coping mechanisms. It proposes micro-insurance as a tool to protect low-income populations from specific perils, identifying barriers such as mistrust and cost, while suggesting policy options like state subsidies and public-private partnerships to implement these schemes.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) evaluates the implementation of an interdisciplinary research model combining natural and social sciences to create policy-relevant solutions in the Americas. The report highlights the success of specific projects, such as meteorological data compilation for crop yield modelling and ecosystem service vulnerability assessments. However, the SAC identifies a critical lack of regional data infrastructure to serve decision-makers and the public. Key recommendations include integrating social scientists from the start of projects, establishing a regional data services framework, and improving capacity building through interdisciplinary workshops.

The report examines Energy Savings Insurance (ESI), an instrument developed by the Inter-American Development Bank and BASE to unlock energy efficiency investments for SMEs by insuring against the risk that projected energy savings are not met. ESI can absorb up to 80% of underperformance risk and is being piloted or replicated across several countries, including Mexico, Colombia, and El Salvador. If scaled globally, the instrument is estimated to drive USD 10-100 billion in investment and reduce annual emissions by 27-234 MtCO2 by 2030.

The IAI activities plan for 2015-2016 focuses on completing a tripartite institutional structure across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, while advancing interdisciplinary research and capacity building. Key initiatives include a small grants call on ecosystem services in adaptation, professional development seminars in Colombia and Panama, and the development of four global environmental change seminars for 2016-2018. The institute also continues its engagement with IPBES and the UNFCCC SBSTA process.

The document analyzes the conflict between the principle of differential treatment (CBDRRC) used in climate law and the principle of equal treatment central to international aviation law. It argues that a 'contextual treatment' approach—which differentiates based on changing national circumstances and implementation assistance—is more viable for regulating aviation emissions than the rigid binary divisions of the Kyoto Protocol. The brief notes a shift toward this approach within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union (EU), suggesting that such flexibility is key to establishing a global market-based emissions reduction mechanism.

The report analyzes the mitigation efforts of 14 priority countries and regions, highlighting a wide variation in ambition and activity. While large emitters like India and Indonesia have established legislation and quantitative targets, many other partner countries, particularly in Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), prioritize adaptation due to extreme vulnerability. The analysis identifies key trends, such as the integration of low-emissions paths into economic development strategies and a heavy reliance on donor-funded projects for capacity building and MRV systems.

The guide argues that effective mainstreaming of disaster risk management (DRM) requires a supportive policy environment, strong leadership, risk knowledge, consistent financing, and innovation. It identifies key barriers, such as the compartmentalisation of DRM, climate change, and development into separate policy streams, and the lack of technical capacity for risk assessment. The document proposes solutions including strategic inter-ministerial coordination, the use of 'data-light' risk assessment methods, and the creation of political incentives by demonstrating the economic returns of risk-informed investments. It emphasizes that mainstreaming is a political process requiring inclusive partnerships and the navigation of vested interests to protect development gains from climate-related disasters.