Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines 93 unique plastic pollution reduction measures notified by nearly 70 WTO members. It finds that prohibitions on single-use plastics and import restrictions on plastic waste are the most common tools. The analysis highlights a lack of product diversity in current bans and suggests that WTO members could benefit from enhanced transparency, geographic expansion of successful measures, and the exploration of new thematic areas beyond common single-use items.

This briefing from the IAI Directorate provides an update on the partnership between the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Belmont Forum, detailing the IAI's role as a member and co-Chair, and its participation in several Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs).

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) updates the Conference of the Parties on its partnership with the Belmont Forum and its involvement in Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs) to address global change challenges in the Americas.

This briefing provides an update on the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative (LACI), an effort by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to strengthen climate risk assessments and capacity building for adaptation and mitigation in the region.

The report outlines the progress of the LACI initiative, which aims to strengthen climate risk assessments to support local and regional decision-making. Following a scoping phase involving 14 countries to identify priorities and map capacities, the initiative has entered a pilot co-design phase with four specific projects focusing on El Salvador, regional data interoperability, Amazonia, and Jamaica.

The UN 2023 Water Conference, held in New York, focused on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) through the Water Action Agenda. The event resulted in approximately 700 voluntary commitments totaling USD 300 billion and the announcement of a UN Special Envoy for Water. Discussions emphasized the water-food-energy nexus, the human right to water and sanitation, and the need for innovative finance and improved global water data. While the conference generated significant political momentum and new partnerships, analysis suggests that many pledges lack quantifiable targets and that the international community must quadruple its efforts to meet 2030 goals.

The document examines the unprecedented global outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, highlighting the virus's increasing ability to infect mammals and the risk of potential human-to-human transmission. It details the devastating ecological impact on bird populations and the economic toll on poultry farms, particularly in the United States. The authors argue that current biosecurity efforts are lagging and call for urgent improvements in vaccine development, the implementation of safer industrial farming practices—specifically regarding mink and pig farms—and the expansion of wild bird surveillance to prevent a future pandemic.

The document is a directory of participants for the 'Taller Regional en Clima, Ambiente y Salud' (Regional Workshop on Climate, Environment, and Health) held in March 2023 in Neuquén, Argentina. It lists the institutional hosts and organizers, including the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE). The text provides detailed professional profiles of the organizers, members of transdisciplinary teams from various American countries, and a list of speakers and experts specializing in climate science, public health, epidemiology, and environmental governance.

The report analyzes the global banana industry, highlighting the role of VSSs like Fairtrade and Organic in improving producer prices and resilience. It details the sector's high vulnerability to climate-driven pests and diseases, such as Tropical Race 4, and the economic pressures caused by retail price wars and market concentration. The document argues for a shared responsibility model across the value chain to ensure living wages and sustainable production.

Ecuador developed a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for 2023–2027 through a four-year collaborative process led by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition. Supported by the UNDP and Green Climate Fund, the process engaged over 2,000 stakeholders to integrate climate adaptation into national and local territorial planning, focusing on climate justice and ecosystem protection.

The author distinguishes the 'right to communication' from the 'right to information,' arguing that while the latter focuses on the flow of data, the former emphasizes reciprocal human dialogue, participation, and the collective management of media. The text traces the historical evolution of this concept from the MacBride Report and the work of Jean D’Arcy, positioning it as a tool for social change and the inclusion of marginalized groups. It highlights Latin American experiences with community media and provides a detailed examination of Bolivia's 2009 Constitution and Law 223, which legally guarantee communication rights for the general population, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

Ecuador is highly vulnerable to climate-related events, such as El Niño, but lacks an official economic quantification of loss and damage to effectively participate in international negotiations. This proposal, implemented by the Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) and the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE), aims to create a national L&D framework. The project will focus on establishing an intersectoral working group, developing standardized methodologies for quantifying economic and non-economic losses, creating a national L&D evaluation, and building technical capacity through training and a communication strategy. The total requested amount is USD 499,952 over a 24-month period.

The document argues that the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is an underutilized platform for conservationists to drive transparency, participation, and accountability in natural resource governance. It provides three specific templates for creating OGP commitments: beneficial ownership transparency to combat deforestation, openness and integrity in wildlife law enforcement, and participatory governance for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The guide emphasizes that these reforms help prevent 'open washing' by using multi-stakeholder forums and independent reporting to track government progress.

The report examines climate misinformation surrounding extreme weather in Latin America, focusing on case studies in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. It finds that highly visible, multi-causal, and emotional events are frequently weaponized by political figures to assign blame to scapegoats or promote conspiracy theories, thereby obscuring the scientific drivers of the climate crisis.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is seeking concept notes for projects in Africa that leverage local and indigenous knowledge for climate resilience. Up to five projects will be selected for grants of up to $150,000 over a maximum of three years. Projects must align with themes such as gender equality, social inclusion, resilience financing, ecosystem-based approaches, climate knowledge, and youth empowerment. Priority is given to organisations founded and led within Africa, with a strong emphasis on locally-led adaptation and the inclusion of marginalised groups.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) issued a call for concept notes in 2023 to fund projects led by African organisations that use Indigenous and local knowledge to drive inclusive, locally-led climate-resilient action.

The Centro de Movilidad Sostenible (CMS) is a non-profit technical partner providing expertise in transport decarbonization across Latin America and the Caribbean. The organization focuses on public policy development, electrification roadmaps, and technology evaluations for fleets and infrastructure. CMS manages several high-profile international projects, including the GEF 7 Electric Mobility Programme's LATAM platform, the ZEBRA initiative in Chile, and the Drive Electric campaign. Its technical capabilities include big data analysis for vehicle modelling, emission inventories, and the design of fuel economy standards.

The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that global finance for forests is severely inadequate, with 'gray' finance (subsidies driving deforestation) vastly outweighing 'green' finance. Public green finance averages USD 2.2 billion annually, less than 1% of estimated needs. Private financial institutions continue to provide trillions in financing to high-risk companies, while the voluntary carbon market faces declining demand and pricing due to integrity concerns. The report highlights a critical funding gap for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who receive only 3% of the finance needed for tenure reform.

The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that while global protected area coverage is increasing, significant gaps remain in the legal recognition of Indigenous and local community lands, with 1.375 billion hectares still unrecognized. The report highlights a sharp contrast in Brazil, where political leadership under President Lula da Silva led to a 42% drop in Amazon deforestation in early 2022, while other regions face high risks of illegal logging due to corruption. It notes the emergence of demand-side measures like the EU's Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) and a global rise in climate litigation to protect forests. However, environmental defenders remain the most targeted human rights defenders, with 194 killings recorded in 2022.

The document outlines best practices for integrating public engagement into the entire mine life cycle, from exploration to closure. It emphasizes the use of grievance mechanisms, multistakeholder oversight, and participatory monitoring to build trust. It specifically highlights the necessity of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples, providing case studies from British Columbia, Canada, and Peru to illustrate the implementation of consent-based decision-making and community-led environmental monitoring.