Search Climate Insights Directory

This 2012 CDKN fact sheet details technical assistance provided to Bangladesh to lead international climate negotiations on 'Loss and Damage' and the development of a participatory M&E tool for community-based adaptation that has since been replicated in Africa.

This chapter from the GEO-5 report analyzes the state of the global atmosphere, highlighting that while ozone depletion and lead in petrol have been successfully addressed, climate change remains the most critical issue. Greenhouse gas concentrations are currently on track to exceed the 2°C warming limit, with a significant gap remaining between emission pledges and necessary targets. The report notes mixed progress in air quality, with high particulate matter levels persisting in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and advocates for an integrated policy approach to address climate change, air quality, and ozone depletion simultaneously.

This research paper examines the politicization of rice in Southeast Asia and argues that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should strengthen existing information-sharing and reserve mechanisms to improve regional food security and market stability, rather than attempting full trade liberalization.

This report presents the results of a three-year investigation into the triple bottom line (TBL) performance of 1,337 small, medium-sized and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in developing countries. Conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the SEED Initiative, the study analyzes the social, environmental, and business targets of these enterprises across three cohorts of applicants. It highlights the critical role of technology, skills training, and research partnerships in the 'green economy,' while identifying significant barriers such as lack of financing, inadequate local environmental enforcement, and gender-based disparities in business management capacity.

This policy brief, produced by Energeia and supported by CDKN and Fundacion Futuro LatinoAmericano, analyzes the outcomes of the COP17 meeting in Durban (December 2011) and the resulting Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, focusing on the role and future strategy of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses the Climate and Regional Economics of Development (CRED) model to analyze the gap between current climate-economic policy recommendations and the emission reductions required to limit global warming to 2°C. The authors argue that conventional models, such as DICE, often underestimate climate damages and ignore international equity and the needs of future generations. By incorporating updated science, lower discount rates, and cross-regional investments from rich to poor countries, the CRED Optimal scenario demonstrates that it is possible to achieve a high probability of staying below 2°C while simultaneously reducing global income inequality.

This research paper evaluates the air quality and health co-benefits of 14 emission control measures targeting black carbon, methane, and ozone precursors, finding that full implementation could significantly reduce global PM2.5 and ozone concentrations and prevent millions of premature deaths by 2030, with the majority of benefits occurring in Asia.

This report provides a global and national knowledge review to assist the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab, Pakistan, in incorporating climate compatibility and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into reconstruction and village planning. It synthesizes experiences from Europe and Asia, focusing on adaptation and low-carbon construction to improve resilience against flooding and extreme temperatures.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is a South and North-led alliance that provides research, advisory services, and knowledge sharing to help developing countries implement climate compatible development. The network focuses on bridging climate change and development policy to achieve low-carbon, climate-resilient futures while reducing poverty.

This briefing synthesises the IPCC SREX report's findings on climate extremes and the agriculture sector. It highlights that disaster risk is increasing due to higher exposure and vulnerability, particularly in developing countries. Key threats include intensified droughts, heatwaves, and flooding, which cause significant economic losses and threaten food security. The document advocates for 'climate-smart' agriculture, improved disaster risk management, and a combination of short-term coping strategies and long-term structural adaptations to build resilience.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises key findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for ecosystem management. It examines the interplay between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and ecosystem resilience, advocating for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as a cost-effective strategy to reduce disaster risk and support sustainable development.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC SREX report specifically for the health sector. It examines how climate extremes—such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts—interact with human vulnerability and exposure to create disaster risks, and provides a framework for health policy-makers to integrate disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA).

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC SREX report specifically for the water sector. It examines how climate extremes—such as floods and droughts—interact with human vulnerability and exposure to create disaster risk, and provides a framework for integrating disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) to build long-term resilience in water management systems.

A vision statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlining the goal to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030 through universal energy access, improved energy efficiency, and an increased share of renewable energy.

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2011, provides a framework for conservation professionals and NGOs to integrate conflict sensitivity into their work. It outlines how conservation activities can inadvertently trigger or exacerbate conflicts, how they are affected by violent conflict, and how they can be leveraged to support peacebuilding. The manual offers a three-step process for organizational adoption and a practical methodology for analyzing and responding to conflicts in the field.

This report documents the proceedings of the Fifth Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators, held in Kampala, Uganda, from October 17–19, 2011. The event, co-organized by the Government of Uganda, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the South Centre, brought together 79 participants from 40 countries to discuss how developing nations can align foreign direct investment (FDI) with sustainable development goals. The forum focused on the risks of existing bilateral investment treaties (BITs), the importance of regulatory space for host states, and regional cooperation in investment policy.

This 2011 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, on behalf of the UNEP Bilateral Finance Institutions Climate Change Working Group (UNEP BFI CCWG), maps the public financial flows for climate change mitigation and adaptation to developing countries in 2010. It focuses on the commitments of four primary bilateral finance institutions (BFIs): Agence Française de Développement (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and KfW Entwicklungsbank.

This document is a formal response by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to critiques of a working paper concerning Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects for adipic acid. The authors, Anja Kollmuss and Michael Lazarus, defend their findings regarding the competitive advantages provided by Certified Emission Reductions (CER) revenues and the resulting risk of carbon leakage.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that tree plantations are monoculture agricultural systems, not forests, and that they cause significant biological, social, and cultural damage globally. The document criticizes the use of plantations as carbon sinks under the Kyoto Protocol and denounces the role of international organizations like the FAO in legitimizing these systems.

This policy brief examines the potential and limitations of using private sector finance to support climate change adaptation in developing countries. It argues that while private finance has historically focused on mitigation, there is an emerging market for adaptation-specific products like 'climate bonds'. The document highlights that debt is a more versatile instrument than equity for adaptation projects and suggests that public finance is essential to bridge gaps in project visibility and to ensure funds reach the poorest countries, which are often overlooked by private investors.