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The document outlines the limitations and complexities of reforestation as a climate strategy, emphasizing that avoiding deforestation is generally faster and cheaper than planting new trees. It highlights the importance of using native species, the role of indigenous peoples in carbon sequestration, and the physical limits of available reforestable land. The guide advises journalists to scrutinize survival rates and land ownership rather than relying on the number of trees planted.

Colombia's 2025 NDC shifts to an absolute emissions limit for 2035, targeting between 155 and 161 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. The plan emphasizes 'Peace with Nature' to reduce deforestation, a just transition away from fossil fuels including a roadmap by 2029, and urban decarbonization through electric mobility and black carbon reduction. However, the transition faces challenges from economic dependence on oil and coal exports and upcoming 2026 elections.

The paper evaluates eight water funds in the Andean region against EbA principles, finding that while they effectively promote ecosystem resilience and multi-sector governance, they lack intentional focus on climate science, social vulnerability, and gender equity. It recommends integrating gender, social, and climate vulnerability analyses and strengthening monitoring and evaluation to better align with broader adaptation policies.

The study analyzed rainfall events in Colombia and Venezuela, finding that the June 2025 floods were not meteorologically extreme, with return periods of 10 and 3 years respectively. While some data suggests a slight decrease in rainfall likelihood and intensity in a cooler climate, high uncertainty remains due to model disagreement and a lack of high-quality in-situ weather data in northern South America. The report emphasizes that vulnerability is exacerbated by informal urbanization, deforestation, and socio-economic instability, necessitating increased investment in weather monitoring and climate resilience to manage both droughts and intense downpours.

The document outlines a five-step process for assessing nature-based solutions (NbS), moving from system mapping and climate analysis to the quantification of benefits and the identification of financing structures. It emphasizes the use of systems thinking to capture multifunctional co-benefits that traditional 'grey' infrastructure often overlooks. The guide provides a toolbox of quantification and risk assessment tools and illustrates the application of the SAVi methodology through case studies in the Netherlands, Burkina Faso, Italy, Greece, Belgium, and Colombia.

The document asserts that Johannesburg's efforts to implement 4IR initiatives, such as its Smart City Strategy, are hindered by systemic governance weaknesses, including political instability and administrative inefficiency. It highlights specific urban challenges in transport, pedestrian safety, and waste management, proposing 4IR solutions like real-time data analytics and blockchain transparency. Drawing on a case study of Medellín, Colombia, the brief recommends shifting toward participatory budgeting, digital land registries, and integrated transport systems to ensure technological advancements reduce inequality and improve urban resilience.

The report evaluates the revitalization of Sherwan Hill Adventure Park in Abbottabad, Pakistan, as part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project. Using the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, the analysis compares a nature-based infrastructure scenario—including reforestation and expanded green areas—against a business-as-usual scenario. The findings indicate that the project provides a significant return on investment, with every USD 1 spent yielding USD 2.49 in benefits over 30 years, totaling PKR 1.8 billion in avoided costs and gains across health, employment, property values, and climate resilience.

The document serves as an educational tool to explain the technical and economic aspects of Colombia's energy system and the transition toward a low-carbon economy. It distinguishes between energy sources and forms, details the electricity value chain, and explains the environmental necessity of decarbonization and 'Net-Zero' goals. The guide emphasizes that a 'just energy transition' requires both a shift in energy sources and a parallel economic transition to ensure labor reconversion and regional sustainability.

The ADAPTE project uses GIS to map the intersection of air pollution, extreme weather, and social vulnerability in Latin American cities. Findings indicate that PM10 and NOx levels in Mexico City, Santiago, and Bogota significantly exceed WHO standards. The research highlights that respiratory and cardiovascular mortality risks vary by city, season, and age group, with children in Bogota showing higher respiratory risk during cold seasons and elderly populations showing higher cardiovascular risk during the same period.

The report evaluates the expansion of Parques del Río Norte in Medellín, Colombia, finding that the project generates a return of USD 1.67 for every dollar invested over 30 years. These benefits stem from reduced flood risk, improved air quality, and economic gains in property values and retail revenue. The document recommends investing in nature-based infrastructure (NBI) and ensuring continuous maintenance to combat urban heat islands, water pollution, and river erosion.

The report evaluates the Bogota MRT system using the SAVi methodology, which integrates externalities like health, carbon emissions, and retail growth into a cost-benefit analysis. The analysis considers two demand scenarios (8% and 16% modal shift from private transport) over a 35-year period (2022–2058). While conventional benefit-cost ratios (BCR) are low (0.4 to 0.6), the sustainable BCR (S-BCR) ranges from 1.5 to 2.9, indicating the project is highly profitable from a societal perspective. Key benefits include significant retail revenue increases, health improvements from walking and reduced pollution, and a reduction in CO2 emissions by up to 10.79 million tonnes in the high-demand scenario.

The report applies the SAVi methodology to analyze two scenarios for Bogota's transport infrastructure: a current scenario (20102022) focusing on BRT and NMT, and a future scenario (20102058) including the MRT system. The analysis finds that while conventional benefit-cost ratios (BCR) are low (0.3 to 0.6), the sustainable BCR (S-BCR), which incorporates externalities like health, retail revenues, and CO2 emissions, is significantly higher (3.8 to 6.1). The most substantial added benefits are identified as retail revenues and property value increases, while the only negative value is the time lost due to increased walking and cycling. The report concludes that the strategy is an attractive investment that improves quality of life and supports climate targets.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of Colombia's sustainable debt market, which reached USD 2.4 billion by the end of 2022. It details the dominance of green bonds, the emergence of sustainability-linked bonds, and the role of the Colombian Green Taxonomy in guiding investments. The document also examines the country's climate vulnerability, the policy framework for adaptation and resilience, and specific opportunities across economic sectors such as energy, transport, and construction to support a low-carbon transition.

As of the end of 2022, Colombia's GSS+ debt market totaled USD 2.4 billion, with green bonds being the most prominent segment at USD 1.3 billion. The market is characterized by a strong sovereign presence and a growing regulatory framework, including the pioneering Colombian Green Taxonomy. While the market is primarily domestic, there is significant potential for growth in hard-to-abate sectors through sustainability-linked bonds and in nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. The report recommends scaling sovereign issuance, establishing green securitization facilities, and expanding the taxonomy to include biodiversity and circular economy objectives.

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 Fair Cooling Fund provided USD 600,000 in grants to seven organizations to develop sustainable cold chain and cool home solutions. These investments unlocked an additional USD 1.37 million and supported projects in India, Ghana, Colombia, Egypt, and Rwanda, focusing on increasing incomes for smallholder farmers and reducing indoor and outdoor temperatures for low-income urban residents.

The document analyzes the trajectory of sustainable urban development, noting that while urban populations are projected to reach 68% by 2050, cities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. It highlights a divide between the Global North's focus on infrastructure transformation and the Global South's need to 'jump start' sustainable development. The paper identifies key trends such as nature-based solutions, multimodal transportation, and a growing emphasis on equity and inclusive planning to address environmental racism and green gentrification.

The study identifies fuel type, kitchen volume, cooking methods, and ventilation as the primary drivers of in-kitchen particulate matter exposure in low-income homes across 12 global cities. The highest concentrations were found in Dhaka, driven by small kitchen size and extensive frying, while the lowest were in Medellín. The research highlights that charcoal use significantly increases PM2.5 levels compared to natural gas or LPG, and that dual ventilation (mechanical and natural) is more effective at reducing pollutants than natural ventilation alone.

The report argues that insurance is an underutilized tool for urban climate resilience, providing not only financial recovery but also risk awareness and incentives for mitigation. It details various insurance mechanisms—micro, meso, and macro—and the roles municipal governments can play as consumers, stewards, and conveners. The document highlights a significant 'protection gap,' noting that 76% of natural catastrophe losses were uninsured in 2020. Key barriers to scaling include a lack of technical capacity in city governments, behavioral biases among urban dwellers, and the difficulty of incorporating long-term climate projections into short-term insurance products. It recommends increased investment in risk assessment, the development of integrated resilience plans with the insurance sector, and the use of concessional finance from development finance institutions to support vulnerable cities.

The Green Corridors programme in Medellín has significantly reduced urban temperatures and air pollution while creating employment and public spaces.