Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper examines how national governments can engage the private sector to support climate change adaptation. It argues that private sector participation depends on a strong business case for long-term resiliency and suggests that governments must identify specific business sectors and align public and private interests to promote the public good while discouraging activities that harm vulnerable populations.

This research paper by Oxfam America, published as part of the 2010 World Resources Report, examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) can support and hold national governments accountable in integrating climate change risks into policy. The authors argue that while CSOs are vital for emergency disaster response, their most significant contribution lies in addressing long-term climatic risks through mutual partnership with states and communities. Using research from seven countries, including Cambodia, the paper highlights the risks of top-down fund management and advocates for transformative citizen participation to ensure climate finance reaches the most vulnerable populations.

This policy briefing evaluates the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Forum six years after its 2003 launch. It argues that while the forum has a mixed record regarding commercial outcomes and market integration, it has successfully fostered political coordination and development cooperation. The author recommends that IBSA prioritize development efforts and the expansion of its development fund to distinguish itself from economic-centric groupings like BRIC.

This policy brief examines China's strategic investments in bauxite mining and infrastructure within Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting the lack of regulatory oversight and the potential for significant transboundary environmental impacts.

This research paper examines the rapid growth of the plantation industry in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, driven by overseas investment, and analyzes the role of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) in managing the environmental and social impacts of this sector.

This report examines China's economic engagement with Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting a trade structure dominated by Chinese imports of natural resources and exports of manufactured goods, and the increasing role of Chinese state-owned enterprises in the region's extractive sectors.

This report presents a pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of hydropower development in Viet Nam, conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) for the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). The study evaluates the hydropower plans within the context of Power Development Plan (PDP) VI, comparing the base scenario against alternatives where hydropower is replaced by thermal power. The SEA concludes that while hydropower is the least-cost option for meeting energy demands, current mitigation measures for social and environmental impacts are inadequate. It proposes a comprehensive mitigation framework based on international best practices, including the Impoverishment, Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) model for displaced people and community forestry for the zones of influence. The report recommends the full institutionalization of SEA into the PDP VII process to internalize external costs and ensure sustainable development.

This 2009 report by the National Economic Research Institute, commissioned by the IISD and IUCN, examines the role of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) in managing the rapid growth of the plantation industry in Lao PDR. It highlights a critical gap between the MPI's role as the final investment decision-maker and its limited capacity to integrate environmental and social considerations into that process, recommending stronger inter-agency coordination and the establishment of monitoring systems.

This policy brief examines China's increasing influence in the agribusiness, hydropower, and mining sectors of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, driven by China's demand for inexpensive natural resources.

The Poznan Declaration is a statement issued on December 9, 2008, by a coalition of international organizations opposing the World Bank Group's involvement in the international climate change convention regime under the UNFCCC. The signatories argue that the World Bank is an inappropriate leader for climate action due to its continued financing of fossil fuels, contribution to deforestation, and lack of democratic governance.

This report analyzes the environmental impacts of the 2004 ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) on the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), specifically focusing on trade flows and pollution levels between China and Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The research paper examines the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) trilateral coalition, highlighting its shift from purely political goals, such as UN Security Council reform, toward pragmatic economic and social cooperation. While the coalition seeks to enhance south-south trade and technology exchange, the author notes that these countries remain heavily dependent on northern markets and investment.

This report examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization in the wood and wood products sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between high regional demand and the challenges of low-value exports, illegal logging, and inefficient processing infrastructure.

This report examines the growth of the tourism industry in Lao PDR, analyzing its economic contributions and the environmental risks associated with trade liberalization. It provides strategic policy recommendations to ensure the sector remains sustainable and supports conservation efforts.

This report examines the environmental and social implications of trade liberalization within the bio-diesel sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between energy security goals and potential ecological degradation.

This research paper examines the environmental and economic potential of the organic agriculture sector in Lao PDR, noting that while the industry is inherently environmentally friendly, significant growth could lead to negative impacts like deforestation and increased carbon emissions.

This research paper examines the environmental implications of the growing silk handicrafts sector in the Lao PDR, noting that while the industry is inherently environmentally friendly, scaling up production to meet international demand creates risks of water pollution and increased water consumption.

This research paper examines the environmental implications of rapid Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) growth in Lao PDR's hydropower, mining, and construction material sectors, highlighting the gap between the scale of investment and the government's capacity to regulate it.

This report examines the environmental implications of trade liberalization within the medicinal plants and spices sector of the Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between economic growth from regional demand and the risk of resource depletion.

This fact sheet describes the scoping phase of a programme titled 'Building Long-Term Capacity for Managing and Adapting to Climate Change in Asia and Africa', funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and partnered with Global Change Systems for Analysis, Research and Training (START). The initiative aims to enhance the capacity of universities, research institutes, government, industry, and NGOs in selected least developed countries to manage risks associated with climate variability and change.