Search Climate Insights Directory

The document examines the 'Sustainable Urban Tourism through Low Carbon Initiatives' project in Hue, Vietnam. It identifies that the tourism sector emitted approximately 492,200 tons of CO2e in 2011, with travel being the largest source. The city promoted 'garden houses' as a viable mitigation strategy because they act as carbon sinks, reduce waste through composting, and lower freight emissions by producing local food. This approach also supports local employment, particularly for middle-aged women and non-motorised transport operators. While the initiative reduced in-situ emissions and strengthened the city's commitment to sustainable tourism, the document notes a trade-off: increased tourist attraction may lead to higher overall emissions from travel to the city, which exceeds local reductions.

The document examines the disconnect between India's national and state-level disaster and climate policies, which often operate in silos. Through research in Barmer and Leh, it highlights how climate change is increasing the frequency of flash floods and 'invisible disasters'—small-scale events that go unreported. The briefing argues that local multi-stakeholder platforms, community-led knowledge sharing (such as 'weather schools' and radio programmes), and the use of post-disaster 'windows of opportunity' can help harmonise DRR and adaptation efforts and influence national policy.

The Western Province of Sri Lanka is utilizing urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry to enhance climate resilience, specifically through the rehabilitation of abandoned paddy lands and the intensification of home gardening. Pilot projects in Kesbewa demonstrate that these interventions can reduce flood risks by improving storm water infiltration and lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing food transport needs. The document argues for a 'green mosaic' urban design and the alignment of local, provincial, and national policies—including the revision of the Paddy Act—to scale these low-cost adaptation strategies.

The report identifies a critical lack of institutional and individual capacity for climate compatible development (CCD) in Angola, particularly within universities, which are largely disconnected from national climate research. While the government has established policy frameworks and some international projects (such as those by UNDP and GEF) employ transdisciplinary approaches, university-level research and curriculum integration are nearly non-existent. The report highlights urgent needs for meteorological data, skilled researchers in hydrology and agro-meteorology, and the development of CCD materials in Portuguese. Potential pathways for improvement include the newly established Centre of Excellence for Sciences Applied to Sustainability (CESSAF) and the Climate Change and Tropical Ecology Research Centre at José Eduardo dos Santos University.

The report identifies Tanzania's high vulnerability to climate change, particularly in agriculture and coastal zones, and assesses the capacity of its universities to support climate compatible development (CCD). It highlights significant gaps in baseline data, specialized technical skills, and institutional coordination, while noting the potential for interdisciplinary research and the need for curriculum innovation to integrate CCD into higher education.

The report identifies Zambia's high vulnerability to climate change, specifically in agriculture and water security, and assesses the role of higher education institutions in addressing these challenges. It highlights significant gaps in climate modelling, carbon marketing, and the integration of CCD into national curricula, while identifying strengths in solar energy research and disaster management training.

The report assesses Zimbabwe's capacity for climate compatible development (CCD), identifying significant research and institutional gaps despite a strong tradition of academic publishing. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary research, curriculum innovation, and better integration of indigenous knowledge to address vulnerabilities in agriculture, water, and health.

The report identifies Botswana as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly regarding water shortages and agricultural yields. It finds that while universities like the University of Botswana and Botswana College of Agriculture possess significant individual expertise, there is a critical lack of overarching national CCD policy and institutional coordination. The document argues for a shift toward transdisciplinary research and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems to build climate resilience.

The report identifies a significant gap between Malawi's high vulnerability to climate change and its institutional capacity to respond. While universities are increasingly integrating CCD into curricula and research—particularly in agriculture, water, and forestry—these efforts are heavily dependent on donor funding and often remain fragmented. The document calls for a national research strategy, increased budgetary allocations, and a shift toward transdisciplinary knowledge co-production involving government, academia, and the private sector.

The report identifies Mauritius as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in its coastal zones, and maps the role of higher education institutions in addressing these risks. While universities show strength in mitigation and renewable energy research, there are significant gaps in adaptation research, long-term baseline data, and transdisciplinary collaboration. The document argues for a more integrated approach to CCD, emphasizing the need for curriculum innovation, improved data sharing through a national repository, and stronger partnerships between academia and government.

The report identifies Mozambique as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly regarding agriculture, coastal areas, and disaster risk. It finds significant gaps in technical capacity, research funding, and the integration of CCD into university curricula. While some research exists at institutions like Eduardo Mondlane University, there is a lack of international publication and a need for transdisciplinary approaches to knowledge co-production.

The report identifies Namibia as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in agriculture and water resources. It finds that while national policies like the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2012) are strong, there is a significant gap in translating these into university curricula and coordinated research. The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of Namibia are key partners, with UNAM's Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC) emerging as a hub for interdisciplinary work. However, the report highlights a lack of dedicated CCD postgraduate degrees, insufficient institutional coordination, and a need for greater transdisciplinary research that engages local communities and indigenous knowledge.

The report identifies Seychelles as highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and ocean warming, which threaten its fisheries, tourism, and water security. It finds that while the University of Seychelles is in its infancy and has limited research output, there is significant potential for it to lead a national CCD framework. Current climate research is primarily driven by NGOs and international agencies. The document recommends the establishment of a strategic national research framework and the integration of CCD into higher education curricula to address critical gaps in technical expertise and evidence-based policy making.

The report assesses South Africa's readiness for climate compatible development (CCD), defining it as low-carbon, climate-resilient development. It identifies significant research needs across eleven themes, including water security, food security, and health. While South Africa possesses a strong, networked research infrastructure led by the DST and NRF, the report highlights critical gaps in individual skills (such as systems thinking), institutional funding cycles that are too short for complex social-ecological research, and an uneven distribution of capacity across the 23 public universities. It emphasizes the need for transdisciplinary approaches and a shift from 'siloed' sectoral planning to integrated CCD strategies.

The report identifies Swaziland as highly vulnerable to climate change, with observed temperature increases exceeding 3°C between 1961 and 2000. It assesses the role of higher education institutions, such as the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), in addressing these risks through research, teaching, and community outreach. The analysis reveals significant gaps in observational data, a lack of postgraduate research (Masters and PhDs), and a need for transdisciplinary approaches that integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific methods. While some initiatives in agriculture, water, and energy are active, the report argues for a more coordinated national strategy and the mainstreaming of CCD into university curricula and government policy.

The report estimates that current climate variability costs Nepal 1.5% to 2% of its annual GDP, with future climate change potentially adding another 2% to 3% by mid-century. Analysis of three key sectors reveals significant risks: agricultural losses are projected at US$140 million per year by the 2070s, hydroelectricity may require an additional US$2.6 billion in investment by 2050 due to decreased dry season flows in some models, and water-induced disasters could cost an additional US$100–200 million annually by mid-century. To address these risks, the study estimates a total investment requirement of US$2.4 billion by 2030 across these sectors.

The study found a high, statistically significant correlation between indigenous knowledge estimates of groundwater levels and actual recorded levels at three sites in Zaka district, Zimbabwe, suggesting that indigenous knowledge can reliably inform groundwater resources development and management when hydrological monitoring is unavailable.

The guide argues that mainstreaming disaster risk management (DRM) is essential to prevent development policies from increasing vulnerability to climate-related disasters. It identifies six core requirements for effective mainstreaming: a supportive policy environment, leadership, risk knowledge, context-appropriate management techniques, consistent financing, and innovation. The document provides a framework for governments focusing on four areas: reforming institutional practices to reduce compartmentalisation, enhancing risk understanding through inclusive and non-data-intensive methods, managing the political nature of mainstreaming, and building vertical and private-sector partnerships.

The document discusses the necessity of localised adaptation to climate change and the potential to 'scale out' community-based adaptation (CBA) solutions. It defines scaling out as providing "more quality benefits to more people over a wider geographical area, more equitably, more quickly, and more lastingly". Rather than focusing on high-level policy, the paper examines how local actors can pilot and showcase innovations until they are replicated. Based on CDKN's work in Bangladesh, Colombia, and eastern and southern Africa, the paper identifies four key elements common to successful scaling: networks and partnerships, documenting evidence and learning, adaptive capacity, and institutional channels and finance mechanisms.

This guide by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the technical, operational, and institutional barriers that prevent disaster risk assessments from effectively informing public policy and investment decisions. Drawing on research from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as case studies from Ghana, India, and Pakistan, the document provides a framework for improving the 'uptake' of risk information to support the successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA2).