Search Climate Insights Directory

The Adapta Sertão programme employs a community-based adaptation (CBA) approach to help small farmers in Brazil's semi-arid region increase yields and resilience through a combination of low-cost technology, micro-credit, and market access. The programme argues that a systemic approach, which uses partnerships to link fragmented public policies regarding finance, technology, and technical assistance, is more effective than relying solely on slow government interventions.

The document analyzes climate vulnerability in the Bacia do Jacuípe, a poor region in the Brazilian Sertão, where temperatures have risen by approximately 2 °C and rainfall has decreased by about 350 mm since 1962. This environmental shift has led to a decline in average milk productivity, contrasting with overall increases in Bahía and Brazil. To address this, the Adapta Sertão coalition tested various farm-level interventions, finding that efficient irrigation systems and balanced animal diets can reduce production's dependence on climate, suggesting these are viable adaptation strategies for larger-scale implementation in semi-arid regions.

A 2011 survey in Ahmedabad, India, investigated heat vulnerability among slum dwellers using randomized cluster sampling. The study identified that self-reported heat illness was associated with age, preexisting medical conditions, work location, and access to health information and resources.

The document identifies five priority policy intersections for the SADC region, noting that over half of the region's countries have economies where fewer than eight sectors account for 75 per cent of exports, primarily focusing on minerals or agriculture.

The document outlines the 'Green Guide' project, funded by the Climate Development Knowledge Network, which aims to conduct action-oriented research on the political complexities of transitioning economies toward greener and more inclusive growth, specifically focusing on the SADC region.

The document highlights the threats climate change poses to Belize's coastal ecosystems and the need for resilient economic development. It introduces a 'triple wins matrix' methodology to identify policies that balance economic growth with climate concerns, arguing that the protection and conservation of mangroves in Belize can achieve these simultaneous goals.

The document examines the tension between economic growth driven by extractive industries in the SADC region and the resulting social and environmental harms. It argues that because a shift away from extractive-dependent growth is unlikely to happen immediately, the effective management of this sector is the primary lever for achieving a transition toward inclusive green growth that benefits rural poor populations.

The document explores the concept of 'climate compatible development' or 'triple wins,' which refers to policies that simultaneously achieve climate adaptation, mitigation, and development goals. It notes a lack of empirical evidence regarding the costs and benefits of these policies and describes a project aimed at helping coastal planners identify investment strategies that reduce emissions, enable adaptation, and enhance local livelihoods. The analysis utilizes four developing country studies to evaluate these policies through the framework of 'no-regrets', 'low regrets', and 'with regrets' decision-making.

The document introduces a study that combines a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model with a spatially explicit land use model to analyze the interconnectedness of socio-economic development, land use, climate change, and food security in Vietnam from 2010 to 2030. It aims to provide decision-makers with insights into the spatial patterns of land use change and the resulting implications for greenhouse gas emissions and food security under three different scenarios.

The 'A Green Guide (GG)' project seeks to provide accessible strategic thinking and communication tools to help generalists understand the practical links between climate change and development. It frames the green economy and climate change as opportunities for inclusive development, aiming to 'climate-proof' national policies and mainstream climate compatible development (CCD) to benefit the poor.

The report examines the intersections of climate change, agriculture, and development, focusing on how conceptual frameworks inform interventions in the agriculture sector. It highlights the tension between the need for increased agricultural productivity and the preservation of ecosystem services, which are defined as "the benefits people obtain from ecosystems". The work is part of a broader project investigating the application of climate compatible development (CCD) principles within agricultural research and advisory services in Africa.

The document argues that agriculture is both a driver of and a victim of global warming, necessitating a shift from project-based activities to coordinated, integrated government policy-making. It emphasizes that climate responses must account for trade flows, production impacts, and interactions with development processes such as urbanization and migration. The paper is part of a broader project examining the application of climate compatible development (CCD) principles within African agricultural research and advisory services.

The report examines the cost-effectiveness of typhoon-resilient housing in Da Nang, Vietnam, testing the hypothesis that such construction provides positive economic returns for households despite rapid urban change and increasing climate risks.

The report examines the intensifying flood risk in Da Nang, Vietnam, driven by a combination of rapid urbanization, land-use change, tidal flooding, and heavy rainfall. It specifically analyzes how climate change is expected to alter the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events—currently caused by typhoons or localized storms—and increase sea levels, potentially leading to unprecedented flooding levels when coupled with continued urban development.

The document examines the vulnerability of Gorakhpur, India, to flooding and temperature increases due to its bowl-shaped geography and high groundwater tables. It argues that while flood-resilient housing is a priority and offers economic benefits, access to construction measures for resilience is not universal, necessitating policy interventions to improve access and promote innovative housing models.

Rapid urban development in Da Nang's floodplains is increasing the frequency and severity of floods during extreme rain events. Climate change is projected to further increase rainfall intensity, potentially raising the intensity of events similar to the 2007 storms by 3 to 24% by the end of the 2020s. The document warns that construction standards based on historical data, including the 1999 storm, are insufficient for future risks, and that continued expansion into low-lying areas without multi-hazard resilient construction could lead to severe damage and loss of life.

The report examines how the combination of rapid urbanization and climate change is increasing flood risks in Gorakhpur. It highlights that the loss of water bodies and construction in the floodplains of the Rapti and Rohini rivers have reduced drainage capacity. Projections indicate that climate change will increase the intensity of rainfall events by the 2050s, potentially increasing the intensity of small rain events by 10 to 20% and more severe 24-hour events by 2 to 25%.

The document identifies typhoons as the most dangerous climate hazard in Da Nang, noting that housing vulnerability is driven by both climate extremes and poor construction techniques. It evaluates three risk-reduction options—rebuilding homes, repairing homes, and building public shelters—finding that rebuilding is the most preferred approach among local households and governments, while public shelters are the least preferred. Barriers to safe construction include financial constraints, limited awareness, social pressures for more living space, and a lack of technical assistance.

The document identifies typhoons as the most dangerous climate hazard in Da Nang, specifically impacting housing. It highlights that semi-permanent housing is particularly vulnerable due to technical structural weaknesses, with roof damage often leading to further destruction of walls, doors, and windows. The brief argues that these homes can generally be reinforced or renovated for disaster resistance and calls for research into the costs and benefits of alternative designs to reduce future risks.

The report examines temperature resilience in Pakistan's urban areas, highlighting the critical role of minimum temperature (T-min) in shelter design and the disproportionate impact of heat on the poor, gender, and occupation. It advocates for passive heat reduction technologies over concrete to ensure urban affordability and resilience.