Search Climate Insights Directory

The report analyzes the critical role of sediment in the Mekong River Basin and the threats posed by human activity and climate change. It finds that hydropower dams and riverbed mining are drastically reducing sediment loads, which threatens the productivity of the Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap, impacts fisheries and agriculture, and increases coastal erosion. The authors recommend enhanced regional monitoring, better data sharing between China and Lower Mekong countries, and the integration of sediment management into the entire hydropower lifecycle.

The analysis identifies women as central actors in Cambodian agricultural value chains, particularly in rice and cassava, though they face systemic barriers in literacy, technical training, and access to extension services. While women often control household finances and run a majority of micro-enterprises, they are more vulnerable to climate shocks and labor shortages caused by rural-urban migration. The report recommends a Gender Action Plan (GAP) to increase women's participation in agricultural machinery operation, infrastructure construction, and value chain management, leveraging the Women Farmers Network for outreach.

The document examines the intersection of gender equality and renewable energy in the Lower Mekong region and other ASEAN states. It notes that while hydropower and solar energy are growing due to private sector investment, biomass and wind power are lagging. Although national governments have established gender equality plans and long-term renewable energy targets, these two policy areas remain separate, leaving it unclear how women will be integrated into energy transition efforts.

The report finds that while most legal ivory stores complied with the phased shutdown of the domestic market, illegal trade persists through physical outlets, websites, and social media. Physical illegal markets have seen a decline in the average number of items per outlet since 2007, but trade has shifted toward second-tier cities and encrypted social media platforms. Prices in illegal markets remain significantly lower than in legal markets, and there is a noted lack of clear government policy regarding the management of unsold ivory stockpiles following the ban.

The Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for USAID Clean Power Asia provides a framework to address gender disparities in the renewable energy sector of Southeast Asia. It identifies key gender issues, such as the male-dominated nature of energy institutions and limited female access to resources, and proposes a 'twin-track approach' that combines gender mainstreaming across the project cycle with targeted activities to foster 'gender champions.' The strategy includes specific action points for leadership, planning, policy, investments, and communication, alongside a checklist to ensure gender-sensitive design, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and equitable benefit sharing.

The report inventories over 125 submissions of digital technologies designed to build resilience, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. It categorizes these tools by technology type, scale of impact, supported systems, and primary focus (preparedness, recurring event response, or catastrophic event response). The inventory details specific projects, such as the use of satellite data for flood risk in India, mobile health programs in India, and 3D printing for medical supplies in Nepal, highlighting a strong trend toward pro-poor focus and the use of mobile-based communication (SMS, IVR) and geospatial data (GIS, remote sensing) to support vulnerable populations.

The assessment found that 89% of 80 reviewed products were sourced in alignment with the SSC Sourcing Code, and 85% of 52 products with environmental claims adhered to the Labelling Code. While SSC members generally showed high compliance, non-members were more likely to use misleading terminology or lack verifiable sourcing data. The report notes a 15% improvement in the prevalence of misleading claims since 2011, though it recommends better on-pack catch area and method information to help consumers use seafood guides.

The report highlights that illegal harvesting of CITES-listed species occurs in over 25% of all natural and mixed World Heritage sites, threatening biodiversity and the 'outstanding universal value' of these areas. It identifies a gap in the current approach: the World Heritage Convention is site-focused, while CITES operates at the national level. To address this, the report proposes a coordinated value-chain response involving source, transit, and consumer countries, alongside the integration of monitoring and reporting systems. Case studies from Indonesia, Madagascar, the DRC, and Thailand illustrate the devastating impact of poaching and illegal logging, as well as the potential for success through community engagement and inter-agency cooperation.

The report analyzes the climate pledges of 18 Asian countries, finding that while energy and transport are primary mitigation focuses, there are significant gaps in quantified climate finance requirements and the integration of gender and social inclusion. It highlights a regional disparity in disaster risk reduction planning, with South Asian countries generally showing higher levels of integration than their South-East Asian counterparts.

The Global NDC Conference 2017 brought together over 250 participants from 80 countries to exchange best practices on advancing low-carbon resilient development. The report identifies integrated governance, multi-dimensional financing strategies, and the Enhanced Transparency Framework as the three pillars necessary for the successful implementation of NDCs. Key recommendations include the need for high-level leadership to break down sectoral silos, the translation of NDCs into bankable project pipelines to attract private investment, and the institutionalization of data systems to build trust and accountability.

The document argues that climate action must be integrated into macroeconomic planning and sectoral policies to achieve 'triple wins' for mitigation, adaptation, and poverty eradication. It highlights the necessity of political leadership, cross-government coordination, and the use of 'knowledge brokers' to translate scientific data into actionable policy. The report emphasizes that while international finance is a catalyst, domestic resource mobilisation and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies are critical for long-term sustainability. Case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America illustrate the importance of gender-sensitive approaches, participatory planning, and the role of non-state actors in scaling up local innovations to national levels.

The document explores the role of citizen science in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), categorizing projects into contributory, collaborative, and co-created models. It argues that citizen science can fill critical data gaps, particularly for marginalized groups, and foster public engagement and behavioral change. While acknowledging challenges regarding data quality and statistical bias, the brief asserts that well-designed projects produce data comparable to professional science. It provides a detailed matrix of potential applications across various SDG targets, including energy affordability, water sanitation, and biodiversity monitoring.

The 5th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO5) analyzes energy trajectories for 10 ASEAN Member States through 2040. It compares a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario with two target-based scenarios: the AMS Targets Scenario (ATS) and the ASEAN Progressive Scenario (APS). The report finds that while the region is on track to meet energy intensity targets, achieving the 23% renewable energy share by 2025 requires significantly more ambition than current national targets provide. It highlights a continuing heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal in the power sector, and projects increasing import dependency for natural gas and crude oil. The report recommends strengthening energy efficiency and renewable energy policies, including the use of auctions and expanding renewables beyond the power sector, to improve energy security and reduce CO2 emissions.

The document argues that while agricultural insurance can provide quick financial support after sudden disasters, it is ill-suited for slow-onset events like sea-level rise and gradual temperature increases. In Viet Nam and Thailand, insurance programmes have struggled with financial sustainability, low voluntary uptake, and high compensation rates. The brief suggests moving toward holistic risk management, including micro-finance, sovereign risk sharing, and transformative agricultural adaptations.

The Reducing Disaster Risk Cluster at SEI Asia focuses on the intersection of development and disaster risk across Asia. Its work is organized into four thematic areas: regional cooperation, disaster recovery and resilience, empowering vulnerable groups, and the role of culture in risk. The cluster supports the implementation of the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals through research, policy engagement, and capacity-building, with specific projects targeting disability-inclusive DRR and long-term recovery analysis in Southeast Asia.

The report assesses the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of the northern Nelson-Churchill River Basin (NCRB) in Manitoba, highlighting the economic value of its provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting ecosystem services. It identifies a lack of basin-wide planning and fragmented monitoring as key challenges. Drawing on case studies from the Fraser Basin, Mekong River Basin, and Quebec's Plan Nord, the document recommends establishing a multi-party, basin-level organization that includes Indigenous communities in shared decision-making, securing consistent funding through innovative mechanisms like trusts and user fees, and enhancing centralized data sharing and reporting to support sustainable development.

The report highlights that while global wild tiger populations increased to approximately 3,890 by 2016, this progress is threatened by an estimated 11,000 kilometres of planned roads and railways across tiger landscapes. Linear infrastructure causes habitat fragmentation, increases human-tiger conflict, and facilitates poaching. Through case studies in the Dawna Tenasserim Landscape, the Terai Arc Landscape, and Sumatra, the document demonstrates how infrastructure projects can isolate populations and degrade ecosystems. WWF calls on governments and investors to adopt long-term spatial plans, protect critical habitats as inviolate areas, and implement wildlife crossings to maintain connectivity.

The paper finds that climate actions across examined INDCs align with 154 of the 169 SDG targets, demonstrating significant potential for mutual benefits between climate and development agendas. While global alignment is high, the authors note that few countries explicitly referenced SDGs in their INDCs, often due to separate institutional oversight between environment and development ministries. Case studies of Colombia and Uganda show high goal-level alignment, though target-level alignment varies based on national priorities. The document advocates for a 'whole-of-government' approach to maximize resources and avoid implementation silos.

The document argues that dual pricing of fuel is generally difficult to implement due to high levels of leakage, illegal diversion, and shortages. It highlights that fuels easy to adulterate or smuggle, such as diesel, gasoline, and kerosene, are the hardest to dual price. The briefing examines various delivery mechanisms, noting that 'one-brand' systems using electronic transfers are generally more robust than 'two-brand' systems. Case studies from India, the Philippines, and El Salvador illustrate these challenges and potential technological solutions, such as smart cards and mobile phone-based subsidy transfers.

The document establishes a framework of 14 conservation standards to prevent human rights abuses during site-based conservation interventions. It argues that while states are primary duty bearers, non-state actors—including NGOs and philanthropic foundations—have a 'responsibility to respect' human rights. The standards are divided into rights most likely to be directly infringed (such as self-determination, free, prior and informed consent, and land rights) and those indirectly infringed (such as education and non-discriminatory employment). The authors emphasize that these standards should serve as minimum requirements for all conservation activities to avoid forced evictions, cultural deterioration, and the marginalization of indigenous governance systems.