Search Climate Insights Directory

The document establishes a two-component eligibility framework for hydropower certification: a Mitigation Component and an Adaptation & Resilience (A&R) Component. The Mitigation Component uses a 'predictive screen' based on power density to identify low-risk assets, while others must undergo a GHG assessment using the G-res tool or on-site studies to meet emissions intensity thresholds of 100g CO2e/kWh (pre-2020) or 50g CO2e/kWh (post-2020). The A&R Component requires assets to be assessed via the ESG Gap Analysis Tool, with strict limits on the number of 'significant gaps' allowed and a requirement for an Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) to close those gaps within 24 months. Additionally, the criteria mandate Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for indigenous peoples and public disclosure of compliance data.

The policy brief examines the regional dynamics surrounding Afghanistan, arguing that the country often serves as an arena where neighbors project their own existential security concerns and rivalries. It highlights the risks associated with the US military withdrawal in 2021, noting that while global powers like Russia and China have interests in the region, there is a critical lack of a credible multilateral platform for neighbors to coordinate. The author analyzes specific tensions, including the Iran-Saudi rivalry in the Gulf, the lead taken by Uzbekistan in Central Asia, and the deep-seated India-Pakistan conflict in South Asia, concluding that any Afghan normalization not endorsed by both India and Pakistan will be unsustainable.

The report analyzes the integration of climate and disaster risk finance and insurance (CDRFI) within National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, finding that while insurance is widely mentioned—particularly for agriculture—there are significant opportunities to better utilize risk analytics, adaptive social protection, and diverse financial instruments to enhance climate resilience in developing countries.

A review of snow leopard research from 1904 to 2020 reveals that while publications have increased exponentially since the 1970s, knowledge is concentrated in a few hotspots, covering less than 23% of the species' range. Research is heavily skewed toward ecological surveys of abundance and distribution, with significant gaps in social science, disease ecology, and empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of conservation interventions.

The proposal outlines a 24-month program implemented by the FAO to support the Republic of Tajikistan in enhancing its climate finance infrastructure. Key objectives include developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for climate projects, updating the national Country Work Programme for 2022-2025, and identifying and supporting the accreditation of national Direct Access Entities (DAEs). The project also aims to develop two project concept notes and analyze regulatory barriers to private sector investment in climate mitigation.

The report examines the 'adaptation gap,' noting that annual costs for adaptation in developing countries could reach USD 500 billion by 2050, while current flows remain insufficient and skewed toward mitigation. It analyzes how MDBs are transitioning from stand-alone climate projects to a 'Paris alignment' paradigm where all development finance is climate-resilient. Key barriers identified include a lack of technical expertise in developing countries, the high upfront costs of climate-proofing (10-20% of finance), and the difficulty of attracting private sector investment due to a lack of immediate revenue streams. The document recommends increased technical assistance for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and the use of innovative blended finance instruments to catalyze private capital.

The document examines the global issue of CITES document abuse, where permits and certificates are falsified or obtained corruptly to legalize the trade of endangered species. It identifies key methods of abuse, such as counterfeiting and mis-declaration, and highlights the role of corrupt officials as gatekeepers. To mitigate these risks, the brief recommends a combination of prosecuting corrupt officials, implementing e-permitting systems (eCITES), enhancing technical capacity for inspectors, and improving the security of paper documents.

Civil society organizations have urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to extend the Phase 1 consultation deadline for its Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) review from February 28 to the end of March 2020. The CSOs argue that the current timeframe is too short to provide informed inputs based on field data and that the bank has failed to clarify its theoretical approach and methodology for the review. Additionally, they note that a scheduled workshop on March 9, 2020, organized by the German government, should be allowed to inform the consultation process.

The document examines the impact of COVID-19-related food export restrictions on vulnerable importing nations. It identifies high-risk areas in Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, noting that many affected countries already suffer from high undernourishment and calorie production deficits. The authors argue that because global food stocks remain plentiful, countries should refrain from banning staple food exports to prevent hunger and potential famines.

The document examines the material risks climate change poses to global supply chains and the current state of private sector adaptation. It argues that while companies recognize climate risks, they often misdiagnose them by focusing on exposure rather than underlying vulnerability. Using the cotton industry as a detailed example, the paper proposes a resilience framework based on six capital assets—natural, human, social, physical, financial, and political—and provides recommendations for companies to commit to science-based resilience strategies and gender-transformative empowerment of women workers.

The document outlines a strategic roadmap for the Green Climate Fund's Private Sector Facility (PSF), based on demand and supply analyses of climate finance. It identifies significant barriers to private investment in developing countries, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). To address these, the Secretariat proposes five new modalities: targeted endowments for adaptation, local currency funding pilots, climate-focused centres of excellence for early-stage innovation, co-investment solutions for institutional investors, and a direct investment approach to bypass accreditation bottlenecks.

The study finds that internal armed conflict generally leads to a net negative change in women's labour rights during and immediately after conflict. While some qualitative literature suggests conflicts can create opportunities for women's employment, this large-n analysis indicates that negative mechanisms—such as post-conflict insecurity, violence, and a return to traditional gender roles—outweigh potential gains.

The report promotes agroecology as a holistic science, practice, and social movement that offers a sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture. It argues that agroecological systems provide stable yields, enhance biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change and disasters. The document contrasts this with 'false solutions' like Climate-Smart Agriculture and sustainable intensification, which it claims maintain corporate dependencies. It concludes with policy recommendations centered on food sovereignty, gender justice, and the protection of small-scale producers' rights to land and seeds.

The document advocates for agroecology—defined as a science, a set of practices, and a social movement—as the essential approach to eradicating hunger and combating climate change. It contrasts this holistic model with 'false solutions' promoted by agribusiness, such as Climate-Smart Agriculture and sustainable intensification, which it claims maintain the industrial status quo. The report provides a comprehensive set of 13 criteria for evaluating sustainable innovations and offers policy recommendations centered on food sovereignty, gender justice, and the protection of small-scale producers' rights to land and seeds.

The document advocates for agroecology as a holistic science, practice, and social movement led by small-scale food producers. It contrasts this approach with industrial models like 'climate-smart agriculture' and 'sustainable intensification,' which it labels as false solutions. The report provides a framework for evaluating agricultural innovations and offers policy recommendations to support food sovereignty, gender justice, and the rights of small-scale producers.

The assessment finds that Kyrgyzstan has a generally favourable fiscal regime and updated primary mining laws, but suffers from outdated Soviet-era technical instructions, an unpredictable tax administration, and significant gaps in mine closure legislation and artisanal mining regulation. While socioeconomic and environmental impacts are nominally integrated into permitting, the report identifies a lack of integrated understanding and inconsistent community engagement. The government is actively managing uranium legacy sites with international support, but lacks a comprehensive framework for the post-mining transition of active sites.

The Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) report details its operational progress between February and May 2018, focusing on staffing, outreach, and the development of procedures. The IRM is now fully staffed and operational, though it received no new complaints or reconsideration requests during the reporting period. Key activities included civil society outreach in Mongolia, participation in Structured Dialogues in Mali and Vietnam, and the development of a custom Case Management System. The IRM is currently finalizing its Procedures and Guidelines for Board adoption in October 2018 and has provided capacity-building training to 84 participants from direct access entities.

The OSCE has struggled to implement its 2004 Gender Action Plan due to increased political polarisation, a consensus-based decision-making rule that grants all 57 participating States veto power, and budget constraints. While conservative states and the Holy See have resisted the 'gender' agenda, the document argues that the OSCE's field missions provide a critical opportunity to implement gender-oriented policies on the ground, provided their autonomy is protected from political turmoil.

The AHM Project implemented an integrated model of biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation across 10 demonstration sites in Bhutan, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan. Key achievements include bringing 1.4 million hectares of land under improved management, training 26,966 people in conservation and adaptation, and supporting the 12-nation Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program. The project focused on reducing threats like poaching and pasture degradation while addressing climate-driven risks to water security and rural livelihoods through interventions such as water-smart irrigation, predator-proof corrals, and alternative income generation.

The 2017 AdaptationWatch report argues that the Paris Agreement has shifted climate policy into an era of implementation, yet significant gaps remain in adaptation finance and transparency. It highlights that adaptation funding is overwhelmingly lower than mitigation funding and is often difficult for the most vulnerable nations to access due to complex accreditation processes and a lack of clear definitions distinguishing adaptation from general development. The report examines regional experiences, noting that while Latin American and Caribbean countries have made progress in institutional frameworks and GCF Readiness, Southeast Asia faces a disconnect between global finance scales and local needs. It also identifies a critical lack of compliance and standardized methodology in the Biennial Update Reports (BURs) of non-Annex I Parties, which obscures the actual amount of finance received. The document concludes with ten recommendations, emphasizing the need for increased adaptation finance, co-designing actions with local communities, and reorienting capacity building toward long-term, in-country ownership.