Search Climate Insights Directory

The Lima Declaration is a statement issued by the People's Summit against Climate Change in December 2014. It denounces the capitalist system and 'green economy' initiatives as false solutions to the climate crisis, demanding instead a transition based on social justice, the recognition of indigenous territorial rights, and the historical responsibility of developed nations toward the Global South.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the underperformance of land rental markets in Brazil and argues that deregulation could improve agricultural productivity and environmental protection by enabling more efficient land use.

This executive summary from the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the underdeveloped state of land rental markets in Brazil. It argues that restrictive legislation and land tenure insecurity hinder the efficient use of land, which could otherwise increase agricultural productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by repurposing degraded pastures.

This 2013 report by the Climate Policy Initiative proposes a 'Production and Protection' (P&P) strategy for Brazil to simultaneously grow its rural economy and protect natural resources. The analysis finds that agricultural productivity can be increased without further deforestation by addressing non-geographical barriers such as poor infrastructure, limited access to credit for small farmers, and underdeveloped land rental markets. While Brazil has succeeded in reducing large-scale Amazon deforestation, the report highlights new challenges, including small-scale forest clearing and the need for better protection of the Cerrado biome through incentive-based policies.

This executive summary outlines a 'Production and Protection' (P&P) framework for Brazil, aiming to balance economic growth in agriculture with the conservation of natural resources. The document identifies opportunities to increase agricultural productivity through improvements in finance, technology, land rental markets, cooperatives, and infrastructure, while simultaneously strengthening environmental protections through better monitoring and market-based incentives.

This research paper examines the tension between the 'green growth' agenda promoted by Mexico and the 'sustainable development' concept advocated by Brazil during the 2012 G-20 summit. It analyzes how Brazil's domestic industrial and energy policies often conflict with green economy goals due to a preference for autonomous industrialization and short-term economic growth, while also assessing Brazil's diplomatic coordination with other BRICS nations on climate issues.

This resource book, published by the Government of Nepal's Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in November 2012, serves as a guide for climate change negotiators. It details the institutional and procedural framework of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, analyzes the specific climate vulnerabilities of Nepal—particularly in its mountain regions—and outlines national policy responses, including the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and REDD+ initiatives. The document emphasizes the need for increased international climate finance, technology transfer, and gender-sensitive policies to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This report synthesizes findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Promote Adaptation to Climate Change (SREX), specifically focusing on the implications for Latin America and the Caribbean. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human factors, and the environment, emphasizing that disaster risk is increasing due to rising vulnerability and exposure, even independent of climate change.

The document contains the minutes of the Seventeenth IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP), held on June 9-10, 2010, in Brasilia, Brazil. The meeting focused on the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research's (IAI) financial status, the approval of its 2010-2011 core budget and annual program, and the election of members to its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and Executive Council (EC). It also details national reports on climate change mitigation and adaptation from member countries and discusses the development of a new strategic plan and potential involvement in REDD+ initiatives.

This 2010 policy report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the relationship between international trade and food security in Brazil. It concludes that while Brazil has become a major global food exporter and maintains sufficient national food availability, chronic food insecurity persists due to income inequality and poverty rather than trade-driven shortages. The report details the role of government price supports, the impact of fertilizer costs, and the transition of the Brazilian diet due to urbanization.

This report by Friends of the Earth International critiques the World Bank's role in international climate finance, arguing that the institution's history of financing fossil fuels and deforestation contradicts its claims of leading climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

This policy briefing examines the evolving relationship between the United States and Brazil, noting that while the US now recognizes Brazil as a genuine emerging power and a vital player in global politics, translating this awareness into a concrete 'special relationship' is hindered by divergent priorities in security, trade, and regional leadership.

The report details the second year of project CRN-2094, which investigates how land cover and land use changes (LCLUC) affect the hydroclimate and extreme weather events in the La Plata Basin. Key activities include the development of a Land Data Assimilation System, the use of Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) to improve regional climate models, and the implementation of agricultural monitoring tools in Paraguay.

This 2010 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the challenges and opportunities for energy security and integration in South America, focusing on the pivotal role of Brazil. The author argues that while the region possesses vast energy resources, national regulations and a lack of multilateral frameworks create insecurity and underutilization of low-cost resources. The report proposes a Multilateral Energy Security Reserve (RMSE) treaty to stabilize supply and suggests that Brazil's market size and leadership in renewables make it the ideal coordinator for a secure, competitive regional energy market.

This 2010 policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines Brazil's climate change strategy, noting a transition from treating the issue as an international relations matter to a central domestic political priority. While Brazil possesses a low-carbon energy matrix and has reduced deforestation, rapid economic growth and the discovery of pre-salt oil reserves threaten to increase energy-related emissions.

This report examines the integration of sustainable development—specifically environmental, labor, and social concerns—into Peru's trade and investment agenda. It analyzes the shift from a 1990s policy of prioritizing foreign investment with minimal standards to a current framework where sustainable development commitments are largely driven by external requirements from free trade agreements (FTAs) and international trade partners.

This report examines how sustainable development issues are integrated into Brazil's international trade and investment agenda, noting a shift from official government resistance to practical adaptation by economic actors due to international pressures and domestic political evolution.

This 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) for Ecuador. It analyzes the intersection of international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and environmental sustainability, focusing on five key sectors: flowers, shrimp, timber, tourism, and mining. The document highlights a systemic tension where economic growth driven by raw material exports often occurs at the expense of critical ecosystems, such as mangroves and native forests, and notes a lack of coordinated state policy to integrate environmental costs into productive models.

This report by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for financing large-scale, export-oriented agrofuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document argues that these projects exacerbate social and environmental inequities, threaten biodiversity, and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use changes, rather than serving as a viable climate solution.

This strategy report, prepared following a February 2006 meeting in Nairobi, examines the intersection of biodiversity conservation and social-political conflict within the Albertine Rift. It advocates for adaptive conservation interventions to minimize risks and address root causes of threats, while analyzing seven conflict assessment tools to help practitioners avoid or mitigate conflict in project areas.