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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.

The document outlines Grenada's approach to strengthening climate resilience following significant damage from Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Hurricane Emily (2005). It highlights the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) as a mechanism for mainstreaming resilience and sustainable development. Key lessons identified include the need for country-specific responses that prioritize resilience in highly vulnerable Small Island Developing States, the adoption of comprehensive rather than piecemeal approaches, and the importance of cross-sectoral, participatory design. The text also notes the role of the Climate Investment Funds in supplementing domestic funding for the Disaster Vulnerability and Climate Risk Reduction Project and the potential for SPCR technical assistance to attract further international or private finance.

The document examines Grenada's transition from fragmented, project-by-project climate actions to a comprehensive national strategy called the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR). Funded by the Pilot Program for Climate Change Resilience (PPCR) and Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), the SPCR prioritizes climate resilience over emission reductions due to Grenada's high vulnerability and low global emissions. Key initiatives include the Disaster Vulnerability and Climate Risk Reduction Project and the Forest Rehabilitation Project, alongside technical assistance for water and coastal management. The brief highlights the importance of participatory design, regional synergies within the Caribbean, and the necessity of multilateral finance to address projected sea-level rise costs that could reach $801 million by 2050.

The report highlights that disaster risk in Latin America and the Caribbean is increasing due to heightened exposure and vulnerability, even independent of climate change. It details observed and projected trends in temperature and precipitation extremes across the region and argues for the integration of disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) to build long-term resilience.

The report argues that many climate-economics models rely on a 'no-development' assumption for the poorest countries, which underestimates future emissions and weakens the urgency for rich countries to reduce their own emissions. By comparing three scenarios—'Without Development', 'Development with Carbon', and 'Development without Carbon'—the author demonstrates that if low-income countries achieve rapid economic growth similar to India's, the global emissions budget will be exhausted much faster unless aggressive decarbonization policies and financial support from wealthy nations are implemented. A case study of Latin America and the Caribbean illustrates these dynamics, showing that cumulative regional emissions could double if growth accelerates without policy intervention.

The document argues that Caribbean states are highly vulnerable to ecological limits, climate change, and economic instability, necessitating a shift toward a 'green economy'. It identifies systemic barriers such as political disincentives, brain drain, and outdated regulations, while proposing a foundation based on human security, good governance, and pan-Caribbean cooperation. The proposed green economy model emphasizes reducing dependency on high-carbon energy imports, optimizing domestic supply chains, and implementing 'triple bottom line' business principles to ensure long-term prosperity and social equity.

The Reefs at Risk Revisited analysis finds that approximately 75 percent of global coral reefs are threatened by local and global pressures, with local threats affecting over 60 percent. Without intervention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local pressures, threatened reefs could increase to over 90 percent by 2030 and nearly all reefs by 2050. While over 25 percent of reefs are in marine protected areas, only 6 percent are effectively managed. The report identifies 27 nations as most vulnerable to reef degradation, including Haiti, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The report examines flood risk in Jamaica, noting that while tropical cyclones cause the largest losses, flooding is not strictly related to storm intensity but often to preceding rainfall. It highlights that public infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, suffers the most damage. Despite repeated recommendations for hazard mapping and watershed management, the report finds a persistent lack of enforcement regarding 'no build zones' and a critical shortage of digital spatial data for planners.

The document highlights the critical need for climate-resilient investment in the Caribbean water sector to mitigate high economic losses from hazards like hurricanes and droughts. Between 2010 and 2012, USD 8.3 billion in ODA was disbursed to the Caribbean, with USD 172 million allocated to the water sector; of this, only USD 12 million was tagged as climate change relevant. In contrast, global climate funds provided USD 14 million to the water sector during the same period, showing a stronger focus on strategy development and technical studies compared to the infrastructure focus of traditional ODA. The brief identifies five key global climate funds that disbursed a total of USD 44 million to the Caribbean, with 32% targeted at water. It recommends that water sector planners use online platforms like Climate Finance Options to identify funding and suggests matching specialist climate finance with traditional sources to leverage larger investments.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for accreditation as a regional entity for 'small' projects (up to USD 50 million) with a high environmental and social risk category (Category A/I-1). The CDB demonstrated strong fiduciary standards, a track record of mobilizing approximately USD 200 million for climate action, and a robust gender equality policy. However, accreditation is conditional upon the CDB establishing a public system for reporting the progress of grant-funded projects and finalizing a permanent external communications mechanism for environmental and social complaints.

The document outlines mandatory requirements and recommendations for various GCF funding proposals. General requirements for all proposals include signing a funded activity agreement (FAA), completing legal due diligence, and providing certification of the accredited entity's capacity. Specific conditions are detailed for several projects, including requirements for water reduction strategies in Barbados, technology procurement for pond water treatment in Bangladesh, and GHG emission analysis for cookstoves in Bangladesh. Additionally, the document provides recommendations for project implementation, such as ensuring O&M financing in Tajikistan and strengthening community knowledge management in Zambia.

GEEREF NeXt adopts the EIB Group’s Gender Strategy to address the gendered nature of energy poverty in developing countries. The fund focuses on the upstream renewable energy value chain, aiming to avoid aggravating existing inequalities while promoting female entrepreneurship and representation in the energy workforce. It identifies specific risks associated with on-grid projects, such as discriminatory land-use norms and limited female employment, and plans to require Investee Funds to conduct project-specific gender assessments supported by the GEEREF NeXt Technical Assistance Facility.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate from June 1, 2024, to April 2025. It focuses on implementing decisions from the 32nd Conference of the Parties (CoP-32), expanding institutional partnerships, advancing transdisciplinary research on climate, health, and oceans, and strengthening science diplomacy through the IAI Science Diplomacy Center and the STeP Fellowship program.

The NAP Global Network's South–South Peer Exchange Awards support the exchange of technical expertise on national adaptation planning (NAP) between developing countries. The program provides funding for flights, accommodation, and logistics for experts to either host or attend peer exchanges lasting between one and five days. Eligibility is limited to registered NAP Global Network participants from developing countries who work for their government or a key national organization. Past exchanges have focused on topics such as integrating coastal issues into planning, climate change adaptation in national budgets, and developing communications strategies for the NAP process.

The NAP Global Network's South-South Peer Exchange Awards support the exchange of technical expertise on national adaptation planning between developing countries. The program provides funding for travel, accommodation, and logistics for experts to either host or attend exchanges, which can range from one to five days. Eligibility requires registration with the NAP Global Network, residency in a developing country, and a role in the NAP process within government or a key organization. Past exchanges have focused on coastal issues, national budgeting, communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement in countries including Senegal, Togo, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Peru, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Albania.

The NAP Global Network provides South-South Peer Exchange Awards to support technical exchanges between adaptation planners from developing countries. These awards cover financial costs for flights, accommodation, and meals for experts to either host or attend exchanges lasting between one and five days. Eligible participants must be registered with the Network, originate from a developing country, and work on the NAP process within a government or key organization. Examples of past exchanges include collaborations between Senegal and Togo on coastal issues, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica on climate budgeting, Peru and Saint Lucia on communication strategies, and Grenada and Albania on NAP assembly planning.

The NAP Global Network's Targeted Topics Forums (TTFs) are a series of workshops that bring together representatives from developing countries and development cooperation agencies to exchange lessons on technical aspects of the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process. Unlike one-off workshops, TTFs use a sustained peer learning model, reconvening the same cohorts of international specialists to build a supportive community. Each forum is structured around three pillars: technical inputs from experts, relational opportunities for peer sharing, and reflexive opportunities for countries to apply inputs to their own contexts. Current focus areas include building political support, cross-sectoral integration, financing implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The Network also provides a Country Support Hub for submitting questions and advice on the NAP process.

The report finds that the majority of the world's coral reefs are threatened by human activities and climate change, with projections that nearly all reefs will be threatened by 2050 if current trends continue. While 27% of reefs are in marine protected areas, only 6% are in effectively managed areas. The document emphasizes that reducing local pressures like overfishing and pollution is critical to increasing reef resilience against warming seas and ocean acidification.

The document argues that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are underutilized for climate change adaptation because policy makers and practitioners often perceive them only as biodiversity measures rather than critical tools for flood control, drought mitigation, and coastal protection. It identifies several barriers, including institutional silos, a lack of robust performance metrics, and the prioritization of familiar engineered solutions. To address these, the briefing recommends cross-sectoral communication, the use of participatory and inclusive approaches, and the integration of NbS into educational curricula. It highlights successful initiatives such as the Nature-based Solutions Initiative (NBSI) and specific projects in Grenada, Peru, and Sub-Saharan Africa as models for increasing awareness and mainstreaming NbS.