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This paper by Simon Maxwell of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) proposes a five-point strategic plan to secure public and policy support for climate change action, acknowledging that such policies are contested due to the existence of winners and losers.

The document argues that climate change and development are inextricably linked, as climate impacts threaten to undermine poverty eradication and sustainable development goals. It suggests that the post-2015 framework should be 'climate-smart,' incorporating targets that simultaneously address poverty, low-carbon development, and resilience. The briefing explores two primary integration options: mainstreaming climate-related targets across various goal areas or establishing a stand-alone climate change goal. It highlights that people living in poverty are disproportionately affected by climate change, particularly through impacts on agriculture, water security, health, and infrastructure. The document concludes that the success of the post-2015 agenda depends on its ability to foster policy coherence and encourage private sector and sub-national engagement.

The report argues that climate policy is often contested because it creates winners and losers, necessitating a strategic communication and policy plan. The proposed five-point plan includes: simplifying the narrative through relatable examples and imagery; creating a positive message focused on the transformational benefits of a low-carbon transition; designing policy packages that compensate 'losers' (such as through payments for ecosystem services); building broad, long-term political consensus to avoid policy reversals; and maintaining a relentless focus on implementation. The author emphasizes 'climate compatible development,' where mitigation, adaptation, and development goals are integrated to ensure climate action does not hinder poverty eradication.

The document argues that while gender mainstreaming is embedded in international policies, a significant gap remains in national and local implementation of disaster risk reduction. It highlights that disasters often result in higher mortality for women and exacerbate existing inequalities, such as the wage gap seen after Hurricane Katrina. However, it also emphasizes that women possess unique capacities and leadership skills in disaster recovery, such as organizing emergency kitchens in Jakarta. The brief warns against treating women as a homogenous vulnerable group and criticizes the assumption in some industrialized nations that existing equality laws automatically ensure gender-sensitive DRR. It recommends that the next international framework (HFA2) utilize an independent institution for monitoring and prioritize the collection of gender-disaggregated data.

The document argues that while international policies have increasingly adopted gender mainstreaming, a significant gap remains in national and local implementation of disaster risk reduction (DRR). It highlights that women are often incorrectly viewed as a homogenous vulnerable group, overlooking their specific capacities and leadership in disaster recovery. The brief provides evidence of gender-differentiated impacts from events like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, and recommends that the next international framework include independent monitoring and the systematic collection of gender-disaggregated data.

The author argues that climate policy is inherently contested because it creates winners and losers, necessitating a strategic approach to communication and implementation. The proposed plan includes simplifying the climate narrative through personal and emotional storytelling, framing action as a transformational economic opportunity (green growth), designing policy packages that compensate those negatively impacted, building cross-party long-term consensus to avoid policy reversals, and focusing on rigorous implementation. The text highlights various international examples, such as Rwanda's green growth strategy and Bolivia's payments for ecosystem services, to illustrate how climate action can be integrated with development goals.

The document argues that market forces alone are insufficient to drive the uptake of low carbon energy in low-income countries and recommends that governments build 'innovation systems' through stakeholder networks, public market research, shared visions, and funded experimentation. These lessons are derived from the growth of Kenya's off-grid solar market, where an estimated 300,000 homes have PV systems and over 100,000 solar portable lights are in use.

The report examines the vulnerability of Kenya's private sector to climate change, specifically highlighting risks to hydropower, agriculture, and tourism. It evaluates fifteen risk assessment tools based on cost, complexity, and applicability, recommending four specific frameworks for Kenyan businesses. The document also identifies gaps in private sector adaptation, such as lack of specific geographic data and cost-benefit information, and suggests the development of a Kenyan-specific climate risk assessment tool.

The paper uses the Sesheke district in Western Zambia as a case study to analyze how climate variability affects the livelihoods of men and women dependent on natural resources. It evaluates the extent to which gender considerations were integrated into the formulation of agriculture and environmental policies and assesses the practical implementation of these policies, focusing on whether government funding for local adaptation activities is gender-responsive in its allocation and disbursement.

The document serves as a guide for the Kenyan private sector to access climate finance, specifically highlighting funds that support innovation in greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies, while noting a scarcity of funding for climate risk assessment and adaptation.

The report assesses Bangalore's vulnerability to climate change, water scarcity, and rising carbon emissions, highlighting that rapid, unplanned urbanisation has degraded natural resources and increased the vulnerability of the urban poor. It identifies fragmented governance and limited operational capacity as key barriers to resilience, recommending priority action in water and energy systems.

The document introduces the CaRROT toolkit, an MS Excel-based tool for Kenya's flower industry to account for GHG emissions, energy, and water consumption. It outlines the assessment methodology based on ISO, IPCC, and GHG Protocol standards, and identifies climate-related business opportunities such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and voluntary carbon markets. The report recommends establishing sectoral baselines and enhancing capacity building to transition the industry toward a low-carbon model.

The document outlines that Africa is experiencing significant warming and increased extreme weather, which threatens food security, health, and economic growth. It argues that while Africa has contributed little to historic emissions, it is highly vulnerable and must integrate adaptation and mitigation into long-term development planning. Key opportunities for the region include adopting decentralized renewable energy, implementing conservation agriculture, and planning low-carbon urban growth to avoid fossil fuel lock-in.

The document examines how marginalized groups—including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—are disproportionately affected by disasters due to systemic vulnerabilities and are frequently excluded from disaster risk reduction (DRR) decision-making. It argues that these groups should be viewed as active agents of change rather than passive victims, leveraging their local and traditional knowledge to enhance community resilience. The authors critique the 'Zero Draft' of the post-2015 DRR framework for lacking enforceable language on social inclusion and recommend that future frameworks mandate disaggregated data collection and the promotion of human rights to address the root causes of vulnerability.

The document outlines the observed and projected climate impacts in South Asia, emphasizing the region's vulnerability to flooding, heat-related mortality, and food insecurity. It argues that while further warming is inevitable, integrated adaptation and low-carbon development can reduce risks and provide economic opportunities, provided there is strong international cooperation and financial support.

The document outlines how climate change poses an existential threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through sea level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather. It emphasizes that while adaptation can reduce risks, SIDS face high economic costs due to a lack of economies of scale and limited resources. The briefing advocates for the integration of adaptation, mitigation, and development strategies, highlighting the potential for renewable energy to enhance energy security and the necessity of international cooperation to avert dangerous climate change.

The report identifies Belize's tourism sector as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly due to its reliance on the Belize Barrier Reef and coastal assets. It details the risks posed by rising sea temperatures, sea level rise, and intense storms, while providing a comprehensive portfolio of technical, managerial, and policy adaptation options to build resilience.

The study finds that current climate variability already costs Nepal 1.5–2% of its annual GDP, with future climate change projected to add another 2–3% of current GDP per year by mid-century. The most significant drivers of these costs are water-induced disasters, particularly floods. Sectoral analysis indicates that while agriculture faces net losses of approximately 0.8% of current GDP per year by the 2070s, the hydroelectricity sector faces high uncertainty, with projections ranging from increased investment costs of US$2.6 billion due to decreased dry season flows to potential savings of US$170 million if flows increase. To address these risks, the study recommends an iterative adaptation pathway, estimating a need for US$2.4 billion in additional investment by 2030 to mainstream resilience.

The study finds that current climate variability already costs Nepal 1.5–2% of its annual GDP, with future climate change projected to add another 2–3% of current GDP per year by mid-century. Key risks include significant agricultural losses in the Terai region, highly uncertain impacts on hydroelectricity investment costs depending on river flow projections, and a 20–100% increase in the intensity and frequency of high river flows. To address these, the report recommends an iterative adaptation pathway, estimating a need for US$2.4 billion in additional investment by 2030 to mainstream resilience.

The document advocates for 'no and low regrets' investments in the Caribbean water sector, which provide benefits regardless of climate change uncertainty. It highlights Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the CCORAL platform as key tools for identifying and implementing these resilient strategies across policy, legislative, planning, budget, and project levels.