Search Climate Insights Directory

A case study on Bogor City's integration of low-carbon strategies into local development plans through the Urban Low Emission Development Strategies (Urban-LEDS) project since 2013.

The 'Scaling-up of climate-smart agriculture in Nepal' project, funded by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), aims to increase farming resilience by promoting climate-smart agricultural technologies. The project focuses on developing 'champion' initiatives and assessing the factors necessary for scaling these approaches across diverse agro-ecosystems. Key findings emphasize the importance of using socially disaggregated vulnerability assessments, promoting technology packages with multiple benefits, and leveraging partnerships between the private sector, government extension offices, and non-governmental organisations.

The 'Watershared' model uses reciprocal agreements between upstream land managers and downstream water users to protect watersheds through economic and non-economic incentives. These agreements avoid national bureaucracy and formal land title requirements, allowing for the participation of poor populations and the provision of development tools like beehives and irrigation systems. Financed by households and private sector entities, the model supports multiple goals including climate adaptation, mitigation, and the reduction of local conflicts.

The report identifies that while climate change acts as a stressor to existing business risks, it also creates opportunities for Bangladeshi companies to develop new products, access new markets, and achieve cost savings. It highlights specific opportunities in the energy, agriculture, insurance, and banking/finance sectors, such as solar home systems and climate-resilient seeds. To overcome scaling challenges, the report recommends utilizing the Green Climate Fund's Private Sector Facility (PSF) and building strategic partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and international development partners.

The document argues that private sector engagement is essential for scaling up climate compatible development in Bangladesh due to public budget constraints and the private sector's own exposure to climate risks. While the Green Climate Fund (GCF) provides financial opportunities, the private sector is hindered by information gaps, capacity constraints, and limited access to low-cost finance.

The document outlines the necessity of climate compatible development to align the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It argues that while theoretical pathways to zero poverty and zero emissions exist, achieving them requires policy leadership, design, and implementation to overcome significant economic and social trade-offs.

The report investigates how gender relations influence vulnerability to climate risks and the ability to adapt in urban settings, specifically focusing on the People’s Plans into Practice (PPP) project in Kisumu, Kenya. It explores the meaning of gender-sensitive approaches in this context, their impact on empowerment, and the associated constraints and opportunities for achieving climate compatible development outcomes.

The document emphasizes that gender perspectives are often missing from climate change policies and that most existing research focuses on rural areas. It argues that urban settings in India require a distinct gender-sensitive approach due to complex social dimensions and specific vulnerabilities, such as weaker social cohesion and higher risks of flooding and food insecurity. To address this, the brief suggests adapting project activities and participatory methods, such as using Participatory Urban Appraisals, to better suit urban contexts and the availability of different genders.

The document argues that gender-sensitive approaches lead to more sustainable climate and development outcomes by recognizing different needs and addressing power imbalances. It notes that while international frameworks are improving, women's views and leadership are often excluded, and they are frequently viewed only as victims. Based on case studies from Peru, India, and Kenya, the guide emphasizes that gender inequalities exacerbate vulnerability to urban risks and that promoting gender equality must be an explicit goal from the start of any project.

The brief examines gender-sensitive approaches to climate compatible development in urban Peru, specifically focusing on Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation Networks (GRIDES). It finds that while women's leadership in these networks leads to implicit gender approaches in local government proposals, a lack of explicit understanding of gender results in a failure to include concrete measures for tackling gender inequality.

The brief examines gender-sensitive approaches to climate compatible development in urban Kenya, focusing on the 'People’s Plans into Practice (PPP)' project in Kisumu. It finds that including vulnerable groups and women in decision-making improves the addressing of practical needs and enables women to assume leadership roles, although cultural attitudes continue to allow men to dominate planning processes.

The document highlights that 70% of Belize's tourism sector is vulnerable to climate change, specifically through coastal erosion, floods, and coral die-off. It details a multi-stakeholder initiative by WWF and partners that led to the adoption of an integrated coastal zone management plan in February 2016, which uses economic valuation of marine resources to justify coastal protection. Key recommendations include mainstreaming adaptation into national policy, tailoring climate information to different stakeholders, and ensuring inclusive consultation to secure private sector and community buy-in.

The document outlines a CDKN-supported initiative in Quito, Ecuador, to address climate vulnerabilities such as landslides and wildfires affecting low-income hillside communities. Through a vulnerability study and a five-year Action Plan, the project promoted ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, and the integration of climate resilience into municipal development planning.

The document details a CDKN-supported project in Belize that identified up to 70% of the coastal tourism sector as vulnerable to climate-related impacts, including coastal erosion, flooding, and biodiversity loss. It highlights the role of 'grey-green' infrastructure and the adoption of a national integrated coastal zone management plan in February 2016 to enhance resilience. The study emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement, the use of interactive mapping tools, and the integration of ecosystem services into national policy to protect critical natural assets like mangroves and coral reefs.

The document examines the financing gap for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), noting that demand for implementation funding far exceeds available dedicated supply. It identifies several barriers to investment, including a narrow focus on specific donor requirements, a lack of financial planning expertise in project design, and misalignment with the investment logic of multilateral development banks. The paper argues that NAMAs must diversify their funding sources and integrate with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to achieve transformational impact, while recommending early engagement with finance ministries and the private sector to improve project bankability.

The document details how GreenCape, a nonprofit sector development agency, acts as an independent bridge between the public and private sectors to drive green growth in South Africa's Western Cape. Established in 2010, it initially focused on renewable energy before expanding into energy efficiency, water, waste, and agriculture. The agency's success is attributed to its legal independence, strong government support, and a multidisciplinary approach to removing market barriers. Between 2010 and 2015, GreenCape facilitated ZAR 17 billion in renewable energy project investments and created over 2,000 associated jobs.

The document details the development of the Madurai Action Plan for Blue-Green Infrastructure, a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to mitigate climate-related hazards like flooding and extreme heat. It emphasizes the role of intermediary organisations, such as the DHAN Foundation, in bridging the gap between government authorities and local communities through participatory methods like 'water walks'. The plan consists of 14 projects across six themes, focusing on sanitation, waste management, and the restoration of water bodies. The case study highlights the importance of integrated, long-term planning over sector-specific approaches and suggests that this model can inform the development of 'smart cities' in India by prioritising natural and cultural heritage alongside urban growth.

The report identifies that while West Nusa Tenggara has significant renewable energy potential, particularly in mini-hydro, development is hindered by a combination of governance issues, technical gaps, and financing barriers. Key challenges include land acquisition volatility, slow asset transfer, and a lack of coordination between on-grid and off-grid electricity supply. The document argues for a 'Public–Private–People Partnership' (PPPP) approach, emphasizing the need for provincial-level leadership, capacity building for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and the strategic use of village-level funds to scale up renewable energy infrastructure.

The document details Bogor City's transition toward a low-carbon development trajectory from 2013 to 2016. By utilizing the GreenClimateCities framework, the city established a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and integrated low-emission development strategies (LEDS) into its Regional Medium Term Development Plan for 2015–19. Key initiatives include the revitalization of the Transpakuan bus rapid transit system using compressed natural gas, a 'Walkability Campaign' to expand pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and streetlight retrofitting. The case emphasizes the necessity of political leadership, technical coordination, and international peer-to-peer learning to move from planning to implementation.

The document details a CDKN-supported project (2013–14) that used Regional Climate Models (RCM) to assess future flood risks in Jamaica. Key findings include the high vulnerability of coastal tourism infrastructure in Negril to sea-level rise and the critical intersection of major roadways with high-likelihood floodplains. The study emphasizes that current risk assessments are hindered by low-resolution climate models (50 km) and a lack of high-quality topographical and hydro-meteorological data. It recommends the adoption of laser technology for terrain mapping and continuous GIS training for local government staff to improve disaster management.