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This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) details eight case studies of deep energy retrofits implemented via Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) in federal and municipal settings. It identifies six best practices for achieving significant energy reductions—averaging 58% across the highlighted projects—without upfront capital costs or Congressional appropriations.

This report analyzes Energy Savings Insurance (ESI), a financial instrument developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and BASE to mitigate the risk of underperformance in energy efficiency projects for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in developing countries.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the health impacts and adoption rates of improved cookstoves in Central America. It highlights a gap between laboratory emission reductions and actual personal exposure reductions, identifies key drivers for successful technology uptake, and recommends the establishment of standardized performance measures and national certification bodies to improve public health outcomes.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) proposes the use of process-based indicators to improve the design and implementation of food security policies amidst climate change. Using the Food Security Indicator & Policy Analysis Tool (FIPAT) applied in Central America, the authors argue that moving beyond traditional output and outcome indicators to process-based indicators allows policy-makers to monitor decision-making, institutional capacity, and inclusivity.

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adaptation Facility (ASCAF) is a proposed 'value chain financing' mechanism designed to catalyze private investment in climate resilience for small- and medium-sized agricultural producers in low- and middle-income countries. Administered by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and backed by donor-funded first-loss guarantees, the facility aims to enable agribusiness corporations to provide medium- to long-term loans and technical assistance to their suppliers for climate-adaptive investments.

An open letter from a coalition of social movements, NGOs, and activists to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, urging a revision of the official definition of 'forests' to better reflect the biological diversity and the needs of forest-dependent communities.

The Manual del Usuario de la Herramienta CRiSTAL Seguridad Alimentaria 2.0 describes a community-based tool for identifying climate risks to food systems. It uses a five-ring conceptual framework (utilization, access, availability, supporting resources, and supporting organizations) to analyze resilience. The tool guides users through a process of contextual analysis, resilience questioning, and the selection of SMART indicators to monitor food security in the face of climate variability.

This research synthesis brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) outlines the organization's work on climate change adaptation and vulnerability. It emphasizes that vulnerability is primarily driven by socioeconomic and political conditions rather than climate exposure alone, and argues that adaptation and development are inextricably linked. The document details SEI's technical support, capacity-building initiatives like weADAPT, and regional projects across Asia and the Nordic countries, while highlighting the inherent limits of adaptation.

Scott Vaughan's keynote address at the Ontario Climate Consortium’s Inaugural Climate Change Research Symposium discusses the urgent need for integrated climate adaptation strategies, the economic risks of non-linear temperature increases, and the necessity of policy coherence in government spending.

This fact sheet describes a paleotempestology project (SGP-CRA 2050) led by Louisiana State University to analyze long-term hurricane activity variability in the pan-Caribbean region and the Pacific coast of Mexico using proxy data from sediments, stalagmites, tree-rings, and corals.

This report, commissioned by the UNDP and implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), assesses climate risks for smallholder agriculture in Honduras. It identifies a high vulnerability to droughts, tropical storms, and floods, which threaten food security and national development goals. The report recommends a combination of local adaptive actions—such as improved water and soil management—and institutional reforms to mainstream climate risk into national agricultural policy.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), evaluates climate risks and management capacities for small-scale agriculture in Honduras. It identifies the sector's high vulnerability due to economic poverty, environmental degradation, and reliance on rain-fed crops. The document analyzes current climate threats—such as droughts, hurricanes, and floods—and projects a hotter, drier future that threatens national development goals, food security, and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. It concludes with recommendations for local practical measures, institutional governance reforms, and further research to enhance adaptive capacity.

This report, commissioned by the UNDP and implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), assesses climate risks and risk management capacity within Nicaragua's health sector. It identifies a strong link between climate variability—specifically heavy rainfall, floods, and droughts—and the prevalence of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, exacerbated by systemic vulnerabilities in water and sanitation infrastructure.

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the UNDP, evaluates climate risks and management capacities within Nicaragua's health sector. It identifies a strong correlation between extreme weather events—such as floods and droughts—and the prevalence of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, while highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in water access, sanitation, and health infrastructure. The document recommends integrating climate risk management into national health policies and improving inter-institutional coordination to protect public health and achieve broader development goals.

This policy brief examines the necessity and challenges of regulating and supervising the microfinance sector. It argues that while a 'one-size-fits-all' approach is inappropriate, appropriate oversight is critical for financial stability and consumer protection. Using Indonesia as a case study, the document highlights the balance between enabling growth through deregulation and implementing corrective prudential measures.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the allocation of resources by the Adaptation Fund as of June 2012. It argues that the lack of a clear, agreed-upon definition of "particularly vulnerable" undermines the fund's ability to ensure equity and efficiency in distributing scarce adaptation finance.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the need for a robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verifying (MRV) framework for climate finance provided to developing countries. It argues that while current systems are fragmented and inconsistent, establishing transparency is essential for building trust between donors and recipients and ensuring funds are used effectively.

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of safeguards and the pursuit of 'multiple benefits' within the REDD+ mechanism established by the Cancun Agreements. It explores how safeguard systems can move beyond a 'do no harm' approach to actively promote sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. The document analyzes various international safeguard standards, reviews how developing countries are integrating these into their Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs), and discusses the institutional and financial challenges of creating a transparent information-sharing system for monitoring compliance.