Search Climate Insights Directory

This report details a 27-month pilot project using a conflict-sensitive approach to conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Albertine Rift. By implementing participatory mapping, multi-stakeholder monitoring committees, and dialogue-based resolution strategies, the project achieved reductions in illegal fishing in Virunga National Park and illegal woodcutting in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. It also established a collaborative framework for the creation of the Itombwe Reserve and the proposed Ngamika National Park in Misotshi-Kabogo. The findings emphasize that while dialogue and awareness are critical, long-term sustainability requires addressing root causes like poverty through alternative livelihoods and securing political and military support.

This report outlines the history and evolution of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), from its origins as a UN Type II partnership in 2002 to its current status as a member-led forum of over 80 countries focused on sustainable mining governance.

This guide outlines the process for issuing green bonds in China, detailing the identification of eligible assets, the role of independent reviews, and the necessity of tracking and reporting procedures to ensure transparency and investor confidence.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development provides a step-by-step framework for issuing green bonds in China. It outlines the requirements for qualifying green assets, the necessity of independent verification, the processes for tracking and reporting proceeds, and the specific regulatory bodies responsible for approving different types of bonds. The document emphasizes that any bond type can be 'green' if the proceeds are earmarked for qualifying environmental projects, and it highlights the potential for re-labelling existing bonds in China that already fund green assets.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the implications of the July 2025 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, specifically regarding environmentally harmful subsidies. It argues that the ICJ's findings transform the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies from a political commitment into a legal imperative, potentially exposing states to international and domestic litigation.

This research paper reviews the current and planned climate change adaptation actions in Ghana. It identifies the northern regions and the agricultural sector as the most vulnerable and the primary focus of adaptation projects. While Ghana has established national policies and strategies, the report notes a gap in concrete actions within sectoral policies and a need for a more robust evidence base through monitoring and evaluation.

Mali is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its economic dependence on agriculture, political fragility, and low development levels. While the government has developed a comprehensive suite of climate policies and a pioneering national climate fund, actual integration into sectoral and sub-national planning remains weak. Adaptation efforts are heavily skewed toward agriculture, leaving other vulnerable sectors like fishing and specific groups like northern pastoralists underserved.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reviews the current and planned climate change adaptation actions in Senegal. It identifies the country's high vulnerability due to its dependence on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and fisheries, and its exposure to sea level rise and droughts. While Senegal has established a governance framework including a National Climate Change Committee and a National Adaptation Programme of Action, the report finds that mainstreaming climate risk into national and subnational development planning remains modest.

The IEA Training Manual is a capacity-building guide developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It provides a structured, participatory methodology for conducting Integrated Environmental Assessments (IEA) at subglobal levels, based on the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) approach. The manual is designed to help practitioners move from reactive crisis management to forward-looking, policy-relevant environmental reporting.

The Integrated Environmental Assessment (IEA) Training Manual is a comprehensive guide developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It provides a modular framework for conducting forward-looking environmental assessments at subglobal levels, utilizing the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) approach to link environmental data with public policy and human well-being.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the integration of biodiversity protection into mining governance, focusing on the application of the Mitigation Hierarchy (MH) in Senegal and Turkey. It provides a framework for governments to balance economic development with environmental preservation, detailing how avoidance, minimization, rehabilitation, and compensation can be used to achieve No Net Loss (NNL) or a Net Positive Impact (NPI) on biodiversity.

This executive summary describes a guidance document developed by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) to help governments improve legal frameworks for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and associated management plans in the large-scale mining sector.

This meeting report details a training workshop on gender in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) held in Abuja, Nigeria, from April 22 to 26, 2024. Organized by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) at the request of the Nigeria Ministry of Solid Mineral Development (MSMD), the workshop aimed to impart basic gender concepts in ASM and support the Ministry's Gender and Child Labour Division.

This briefing note outlines a three-stage guidance process developed by RCS Global and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF) to help governments in developing countries manage the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. The framework aims to improve miners' quality of life and the sector's contribution to sustainable development while mitigating environmental harm.

This report is a response from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to the United Nations Secretariat regarding the mandate review of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). IISD recommends renewing the IGF's mandate for a second five-year term but argues that the forum must evolve from a general discussion space into a multi-function body with greater analytic capacity, increased transparency in its governance, and stronger linkages to global policy issues such as sustainable development and climate change.

The document outlines the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) 'CREATE' strategic framework for 2020-2025. This strategy focuses on five priority areas—Climate, Resources, Economies, Act Together, and Engage—to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resources, and fair economies in response to global disruptions including the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) submitted a consultation response regarding the 2022 Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (API) between Switzerland and Indonesia. While IISD acknowledges innovations in the treaty—such as stricter investor definitions to prevent 'treaty shopping' and the exclusion of speculative profits from expropriation compensation—it argues that several provisions remain problematic. Key concerns include a climate-neutral definition of investment, the persistence of unpredictable 'legitimate expectations' in the Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) standard, and the lack of a requirement to exhaust local remedies before pursuing international arbitration. IISD recommends that Switzerland adopt more sustainable investment definitions and strengthen the right to regulate in the public interest in future treaties.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes a watershed-scale bioeconomy that utilizes naturally occurring plant materials and agricultural by-products to create sustainable industries. By bundling tangible products (like bioenergy and bioplastics) with ecosystem services (such as nutrient recovery and carbon credits), IISD aims to improve water quality and rural economies. Examples include using cattails in the Lake Winnipeg region of Canada and common reeds at Wuliangsuhai Lake in China to remove excess nutrients from the environment while generating commercial revenue.

The document is a brochure describing CRiSTAL (Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods), a project-planning desktop application designed to help project planners and managers integrate climate adaptation into community-level activities. It outlines the tool's objectives, its three-phase analytical approach, and the support services provided by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and its partners.

This brochure describes the activities and focus areas of the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) Economic Law and Policy Program, which provides technical expertise and policy advice to government officials in developing countries to foster equitable and environmentally sustainable economic development.