Search Climate Insights Directory

The Strategic Collaborative Fund Phase 2 (SCF2), implemented by SEI Asia and funded by Sida, operated from 2018 to 2023 to advance the 2030 Agenda in Asia. The programme focused on four components: inter-regional cooperation (ASEAN, China, and Europe), regional cooperation in Asia on transboundary issues, learning and capacity development via MOOCs, and programme management. Key achievements include the support of the China-ASEAN Environment Cooperation Forum and the Asia-Europe Environment Forum, the development of courses on human rights and gender equality, and the promotion of inclusive climate finance and nature-based solutions in South and Southeast Asian cities.

The document details the methodological framework for conducting a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of hydropower development in Vietnam. It outlines scenario development techniques, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analysis, and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) for weighting alternatives. The text provides a comprehensive environmental and social baseline for Vietnam, including data on river basins, forest types, and the socio-economic status of ethnic minorities. It specifically analyzes the impacts of hydropower on displaced populations and local communities through the creation of 'Social Impact Coefficients' and adjusted social mitigation costs. Additionally, it presents power demand forecasts and the 'Least Cost Expansion Plan' from Power Development Plan VI, comparing various energy supply scenarios from 2006 to 2025.

The report examines the relationship between water productivity, water flows, and ecosystem services, emphasizing that narrow agricultural efficiency often creates trade-offs with broader landscape health. It advocates for an integrated approach to water resource management that values regulating and supporting services alongside provisioning ones.

The document examines water scarcity in the Mekong Region, highlighting a governance structure often dominated by top-down authority and a lack of enforceable water allocation rights. It notes that urban and industrial needs are typically prioritized over agriculture, leaving vulnerable groups—particularly women and the rural poor—at higher risk. The briefing also discusses the influence of international financial institutions and political motivations on irrigation infrastructure and the projected impacts of climate change, including increased temperature and seasonal rainfall uncertainty, which threaten agricultural productivity and food security.

The report examines the critical but marginalised role of informal waste workers (IWWs) in Asian cities, highlighting their contribution to resource recovery and the circular economy. Through a multi-stakeholder dialogue called the 'Waste Hero Alliance,' youth activists and IWWs identified systemic challenges—including poverty, health risks, and gender-based exclusion—and proposed five key policy visions: standardised waste disposal, official recognition of workers, access to education, affordable healthcare, and cross-sector collaboration. The document argues that a just transition to a circular economy requires integrating these workers into formal municipal systems to ensure decent work and poverty reduction.

The document identifies a significant global trend toward expanding coal-fired power capacity, with 1,199 new plants proposed across 59 countries. China and India are the primary drivers of this expansion, accounting for 76% of proposed new capacities. The analysis also highlights a shift in the global coal trade from Atlantic to Pacific markets, prompting infrastructure expansions in countries like Australia.

This World Resources Institute working paper reports on three workshops held in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to identify challenges developing countries face in monitoring and tracking climate finance. It details nine primary technical, political, and capacity barriers, ranging from inconsistent definitions and lack of institutional coordination to the limited transparency of development partners and the difficulty of tracking private financial data.

Ecological connectivity allows animals to move freely to find food and breed, sustaining natural processes that provide clean air, soil, and water. Human activities—including infrastructure development, deforestation, and overfishing—fragment these habitats, leading to human-wildlife conflict and ecosystem breakdown. Climate change further necessitates connectivity as species must move to adapt to shifting environments. WWF implements restoration strategies such as wildlife corridors and sustainable land-use planning, exemplified by projects in Borneo, Southern Africa, the Mekong region, and the Terai Arc. To scale these efforts, WWF co-created the Wildlife Connect initiative with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation and the IUCN WCPA.

The 'Food is Local' fellowship by WWF International provides funding for master's and PhD students from 32 eligible countries to conduct interdisciplinary research on transforming food systems to be more sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient. Eligible applicants must be citizens of the listed countries, have two years of conservation experience, and plan to start their studies by January 2024. Research proposals are encouraged to cover themes such as agroecological practices, gender equity, and the role of food systems in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The document examines the challenges Chinese transnational corporations face in managing environmental and social risks during overseas expansion, particularly in extractive and infrastructure sectors. It introduces a 4x4 conceptual matrix to identify key stakeholders across host countries, investor countries, third countries, and international regimes. Through case studies of the Rio Blanco mine in Peru and the Myitsone Dam in Myanmar, the report illustrates how reliance on central government relations often leads to conflicts with local communities and environmental degradation. It argues for a shift toward comprehensive stakeholder engagement and the implementation of mandatory domestic regulations to ensure sustainable overseas investment.

The document examines how roads, railways, and canals fragment Asian elephant habitats and increase mortality through vehicle and train collisions. It advocates for the 'mitigation hierarchy'—prioritizing avoidance over minimization and compensation—and details structural solutions such as underpasses, overpasses, and viaducts. The guide highlights specific case studies from India, China, Malaysia, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, while recommending the adoption of emerging detection technologies and standardized monitoring to ensure ecological connectivity.

WWF reports progress in combating wildlife crime through the 'Silence of the Snares' analysis in Southeast Asia and the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, which has removed over 7,000 prohibited listings. The organization is also addressing zoonotic disease risks by advocating for the closure of unregulated wildlife markets. Species-specific successes include a 16% increase in Nepal's rhino population, the reintroduction of plains bison to the Wolakota Buffalo Range in South Dakota, the installation of a solar-powered borehole to reduce human-elephant conflict in Zambia, and the development of lightweight satellite ear tags for polar bears.

The report details various wildlife conservation initiatives, including the restoration of plains bison in the Northern Great Plains of North America and the monitoring of elephant populations in southern Africa's KAZA region. It highlights population increases for tigers in India and Bhutan, as well as the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and air-sampling technology to monitor rare species and combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

The document provides a comprehensive safeguards framework for a GEF-funded project in Central Vietnam aimed at biodiversity conservation and climate vulnerability reduction. It outlines procedures for managing environmental and social risks, specifically addressing the rights of ethnic minorities and the potential for restricted access to natural resources. The framework mandates the use of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for ethnic minority groups and the development of site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs) to ensure that local communities do not become worse off due to project activities. It also integrates gender-responsive strategies and a grievance redress mechanism to handle complaints, including those related to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH).