Climate Resilience Programs

Energy efficiency isn’t just about reducing costs; it’s about building resilience and competitive advantage in a volatile energy world. The latest IEA report shows a paradox: global investment in efficiency is rising, yet progress is only 1.8% annually, less than half the COP28 target of 4%. This gap is a massive opportunity for businesses ready to act. Efficiency is no longer an operational detail; it is a boardroom priority. Organizations that treat it as strategic infrastructure, not overhead, are gaining margins competitors cannot match. Companies implementing energy management systems achieve 11–30% savings in their first year. Industrial motor upgrades boost performance by 40%. Heat pumps cut process energy demand by 75%.  Payback periods run 3 to 5 years for buildings and under 10 for industry. Emerging markets like India and Africa are embedding efficiency into growth strategies, while mature markets offer advanced tech and financing ecosystems. Success means adapting to local dynamics. Digital intelligence is transforming energy audits into real-time decision tools. Efficiency is now risk management, resilience, and a signal of maturity to investors. The companies that act today will define competitive advantage for the next decade.  Let’s accelerate together. 

What works—and what doesn’t—in efforts to address land degradation in Africa? A recent study in Sustainability Science identifies key success factors and lessons learned. Efforts to reverse land degradation and improve human well-being in Africa succeed when they manage to balance competing demands and engage local stakeholders effectively. The most successful projects share key characteristics: 💵 Economic incentives matter: Tangible benefits, such as increased income or resource security, keep communities motivated and invested in long-term success. 🤝 Engaging communities is essential: Inclusive governance structures that empower local populations, including women and marginalized groups, build legitimacy and trust. 🫴 External support is crucial: Financial aid, technical expertise, and material resources reduce the risks associated with adopting new practices, particularly in low-income settings. 🌍 Governance must be adaptive: Community-based management (CBM), backed by external guidance, often delivers better outcomes than top-down interventions, which can alienate local stakeholders. 🌈 Short-term gains and long-term goals must align: Addressing immediate needs, such as food security, while building toward broader ecological and social improvements ensures sustained engagement. 💪 Commitment and flexibility are key: Projects must maintain long-term support and adapt strategies as circumstances evolve, ensuring that initial successes are not squandered. However, the path to sustainability is littered with missteps. Projects stumble when: ⚠️ Incentives are unclear: Without tangible benefits, enthusiasm wanes, and participation falters. ⚠️ Communities are excluded: Top-down approaches, conceived in distant capitals, often fail to resonate with those most affected. ⚠️ Resources are insufficient: Inadequate funding or technical support shifts the burden to impoverished communities, stalling progress. ⚠️ Local dynamics are overlooked: Ignoring traditional governance systems or social structures undermines legitimacy and fuels resistance. ⚠️ Short-termism takes hold: Premature withdrawal of funding or oversight leaves projects vulnerable to collapse. ⚠️ Risk aversion prevails: In poverty-stricken contexts, populations are understandably hesitant to adopt new practices without guaranteed benefits. ⚠️ Political instability disrupts progress: Conflicts, as seen in Tigray and Burkina Faso, can undo decades of work in a matter of months. ⚠️ One-size-fits-all solutions fail: Projects that ignore the complexities of local contexts rarely achieve lasting success. The lessons are clear: sustainable development requires patience, pragmatism, and a commitment to long-term adaptation. Striking the right balance between immediate needs and future benefits is the only way to achieve resilience in Africa’s varied and challenging landscapes. Ruth Kamnitzer reports for Mongabay News: https://mongabay.cc/STkZpj

🌍 Disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies are increasingly urgent. To meet this challenge, the 𝐂𝐑𝐌-𝐍𝐛𝐒 Toolkit has been developed to help countries embed nature-based solutions. It brings together environmental knowledge, policy alignment, practical interventions, inclusive governance, and integrated planning. Through this approach, it provides a clear pathway for building resilience while safeguarding ecosystems and human well-being. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸. 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 1: 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Countries collect and compile data on environment, climate, hazards, and vulnerabilities to build a risk profile. - Using IPCC’s risk approach and Indigenous knowledge, the stocktake highlights where NbS can deliver the strongest impact. 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 2: 𝐍𝐛𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: - National plans and strategies are screened for NbS references through targeted keyword checks. - This process identifies entry points, exposes policy gaps, and ensures new NbS reinforce existing frameworks. 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 3: 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐛𝐒 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - The toolkit provides categories and options for selecting NbS tailored to hazards and ecosystems. - Selected measures balance risk reduction with co-benefits such as biodiversity, resilience, and livelihoods. 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 4: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - Countries are supported to mobilize stakeholders across institutions, sectors, and governance levels. - It promotes transparent participation that empowers communities and ensures NbS are inclusive and fair. 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 5: 𝐍𝐛𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - Countries are guided to embed NbS within DRR strategies, adaptation plans, and cross-sector policies. - Global examples and templates illustrate how integration turns scattered efforts into coherent strategies. 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 - A checklist aligns the five tools in sequence to help countries track their progress. - It ensures a logical, stepwise approach that moves from risk profiling to policy integration. In essence, the CRM-NbS Toolkit is a structured pathway to mainstream nature-based solutions in #disaster and #climaterisk management. By moving from stocktake to integrated planning, countries can build resilience, safeguard ecosystems, and protect people’s well-being against climate change.

Corporate Carbon Management 🌎 Effective carbon management is paramount for businesses committed to significantly reducing their environmental impact. Below is an elucidated overview of the structured, strategic approach companies can adopt to meet and excel in their sustainability goals: 1. Leadership Decision: Solid commitment from senior management to achieve carbon neutrality, demonstrating strong leadership in sustainability efforts. 2. Initial GHG Inventory: Establish a thorough baseline of emissions for Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 to understand and quantify current impacts. 3. Mitigation Goals: Define clear, actionable targets for tangible reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across all operational aspects. 4. Transition Plan/Low-Carbon Strategy: Develop a comprehensive strategy outlining actionable steps towards shifting to lower emissions, incorporating technology and innovation. 5. Budgeting and Resources: Secure and allocate adequate funding and resources, emphasizing capacity building for implementation. 6. Mitigation Actions and Insetting: Execute targeted internal changes and initiatives to effectively reduce emissions at source. 7. Final GHG Inventory (Post): Conduct a detailed assessment of emissions post-intervention to measure the impact and efficacy of the implemented strategies. 8. Compensation of Residual Emissions: Strategically address any unavoidable emissions through well-selected offsetting methods. 9. Communication of Actions and Results: Maintain transparency by consistently reporting progress and results to stakeholders, fostering trust and support in the company’s environmental initiatives. These phases form a robust framework for companies aiming to systematically diminish their carbon footprint, tackling both direct and indirect emissions. As businesses forge ahead in this complex landscape, strategic planning coupled with meticulous execution of these phases will be critical for achieving long-term environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility. Source: International Institute for Sustainable Development #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #carbon #emissions

"One of the key ways to make energy systems more reliable is by maximizing flexibility — improving how well the system can adapt in real time to changes in supply and demand. The more flexible the system, the better it can handle sudden demand spikes in the event of extreme weather, such as cold snaps or heat waves, or respond to supply disruptions such as plant outages. Improving flexibility includes upgrading aging infrastructure. Much of the U.S. grid was built decades ago under different demand patterns. Modernizing the grid — by updating substations and transmission equipment, deploying advanced sensors and incorporating advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), for example — can reduce failure rates during extreme heat and cold. These technologies help operators detect problems quicker, reroute power if equipment is damaged and restore service fast. Modernization not only improves reliability but also reduces expensive emergency interventions and lowers long-term maintenance costs. Increasing grid capacity, both through deployment of ATTs and building regional and interregional transmission lines, can reduce the risk of a local weather event turning into a widespread outage. Creating a more interconnected grid allows regions to share power during shortages. Having this greater transmission capacity also help keep prices down by allowing lower-cost electricity to reach areas facing higher demand. Demand-side management options can help ease pressure on the system during extreme weather events. These include encouraging customers and large users to reduce or shift electricity use during peak periods in exchange for lower bills or leveraging distributed energy resources to help prevent shortages. Systems that rely too much on a single fuel are more vulnerable to disruption. Diversification across energy sources and technologies helps reduce the risk of issues related to fuel shortages, infrastructure failures and localized weather impacts. Finally, policy is also critical. It’s vital that incentives are properly aligned with modern needs for flexibility and preparedness. This can help utilities make system investments that really work in extreme weather and minimize costs to consumers in both the short and the long run." Kelly Lefler World Resources Institute https://lnkd.in/e5syqXQp

Last week, I presented my doctoral research on how pastoralist communities in northern Kenya anticipate climate shocks and what their experience teaches us about building more adaptive, inclusive, and forward-looking systems of response. Too often, pastoralism is described as vulnerable or outdated. In reality, it is one of Africa’s most knowledge-rich and adaptive systems, supporting millions of livelihoods, sustaining regional trade, and contributing up to 80 percent of agricultural GDP in some countries. Beyond its economic role, pastoralism regenerates ecosystems, maintains wildlife corridors, and conserves biodiversity across vast drylands. What I found in my fieldwork is that anticipation is not an abstract concept; it is a daily practice. Pastoralists interpret signs in the stars, clouds, intestines, and animal behaviour. They read the texture of the wind and the flowering of trees. Increasingly, they complement these Indigenous indicators with radio updates and mobile-based forecasts. The result is a plural and locally led early warning system that is fluid, situational, and deeply attuned to uncertainty. The lesson for anticipatory action is clear: Systems must be flexible, open-ended, and grounded in how people already anticipate and act. Rigid, trigger-based frameworks cannot capture the nuance of lived adaptation in dynamic environments like the Horn of Africa. Building anticipatory systems that listen to local logics is not just about inclusion; it is about effectiveness. True resilience grows from the ability to navigate uncertainty, not to eliminate it.

"Did you know 🤔 that prior to Nov. 15, 2023, you couldn't install solar ☀️ on the Big Island 🏝️ without a design review and approval by a licensed electrical engineer, regardless of system size? This regulation exemplifies the systemic barriers ⛔ impeding rural LMI communities from harnessing solar energy. The necessity of professional installation, compounded by the costs 💸 of compliance with stringent regulatory standards, significantly inflates the overall expense of transitioning to solar power. Given the typically lower household incomes in these areas compared to urban centers, the additional financial burden can render solar systems an unattainable luxury, despite their potential for long-term savings 💰 and energy independence 🍃. Equitable access to sustainable tech is crucial. Particularly for low-to-moderate income (LMI) rural communities. Case in point: Solar Bill 66 on Big Island. Not just an environmental commitment 🌳, it's a mission for societal transition. It shows the path to reducing energy costs, creating green jobs 🛠️, and shrinking carbon footprints. All while fostering social equity 🤝. The task is huge. Collective effort? Needed. There's an opportunity here beyond environmental impact - a societal transformation 💫. Economic resilience and better quality of life for LMI communities are at stake. Join the Solar Energy Equity Movement ⚡ As industry pros, we can make the shift towards a sustainable, inclusive future real. Solar Bill 66 isn't just a local victory - it's attainable nationwide 🇺🇸 with dedication and teamwork 🤲. We're calling all innovators, investors, policymakers, and leaders to back LMI rural communities. Be it tech development, investments, or advocacy, your support matters. Here's how: 1. Advocate for similar policies locally and nationally. 2. Invest in renewable energy projects that support LMI accessibility. 3. Partner with non-profits to educate rural communities on solar benefits. 4. Provide long-term support and training. Together, we can make renewable energy accessible to all, building a sustainable future where every community thrives. Let's back initiatives like Solar Bill 66 for a brighter, equitable renewable energy future 💡. #EnergyEquity #RenewableEnergy #LMI #JEDI #AJPerkins #MicrogridMentor

Environmental imbalance has cost the world much more than it can comprehend. Carbon Credit Trading Schemes are floated to remove or reduce carbon emissions. Such credits can be purchased, sold, transferred exchanged due to the existence of carbon markets. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme i.e. CCTS is a program that aims to reduce carbon emissions by establishing a domestic carbon market in India. It is a strong National Framework for the Indian Carbon Market -ICM via dependable national carbon credit electronic platform that is being established in light of necessity for the nation to achieve its ambitious climate goals. By pricing its additional actions towards reducing greenhouse gas -GHG emissions, this framework seeks to assist and complement various organizations that are working on programs to decarbonize the Indian economy. A comprehensive approach to decarbonize economy is provided by the two main mechanisms of Indian Carbon Market Framework: the Compliance mechanism, which attempts to address emissions from the country's energy use and industrial sectors, and Offset mechanism, which encourages voluntary actions for GHG reduction from entities not covered by compliance. India is taking a step toward lowering greenhouse gas emissions in line with its obligations under the Paris Agreement with CCTS 2023. This plan developed by the Ministry of Power's Bureau of Energy Efficiency will control carbon emissions by establishing a market-based system that allows businesses to exchange carbon credits. A permit that gives one ton of carbon dioxide emissions a monetary value is called carbon credit. The government sets quota on total emissions permitted in the nation, and CCTS works on the cap-and-trade basis. Companies are granted carbon credits depending on this cap, with each credit representing one ton of CO2 emissions. Companies that lower their emissions might provide financial incentive to do so by selling their extra credits to other businesses that need them. In the current year 2024, India made a bold move by updating its CCTS to allow non-obligated companies to participate in the carbon credit market. These new rules represent major step forward in India's developing carbon pricing regime by outlining the essential components of compliance mechanism under the CCTS. This initiative enables businesses and individuals to voluntarily reduce their emissions that contribute to global warming. With the introduction of an offset system, these entities can now register projects and obtain marketable carbon credit certificates. The goal of this update is to expand voluntary carbon market and effectively price emissions through trading of carbon credit certificates. In conclusion, the global push for carbon pricing and India's aggressive reforms of the carbon market are essential milestones in the direction of a sustainable future. Contribution by: Devanshi S. Jain I ANB Legal #carboncredits #environment #trading

Across the globe, climate change is revealing critical vulnerabilities in energy systems— particularly in countries that depend heavily on hydropower, as the frequency and intensity of droughts continue to increase. Nowhere is this challenge more pressing than in Africa, where prolonged droughts are putting at risk the reliability and resilience of power systems. Yet, there is also opportunity. Countries such as Kenya have demonstrated that bold investments in solar, wind, and geothermal energy can drive lasting change. The call to action is continent-wide. Zambia is a powerful case in point. In 2024, the country faced its worst drought in over four decades. With more than 80% of its electricity sourced from hydropower, the resulting energy shortfall disrupted healthcare, education, food systems, and livelihoods. Power outages lasting up to 21 hours a day impacted millions—highlighting the urgent need for change. That’s why Zambia’s shift toward a diversified, renewable energy mix is not just a climate strategy: it’s a lifeline. With support from UNDP and partners, Zambia is promoting productive uses of energy through solar-powered distributed renewable energy systems, reaching rural and remote communities with minigrids and crucially, making the energy transition inclusive for women and underserved groups. When women gain access to reliable, clean energy, they gain the power to lead businesses, feed communities, and strengthen resilience where it’s needed most. The energy transition must work for everyone. Read how Zambia is lighting the path forward in our new blog by Chibulu (Lulu) Luo, Ph.D. & Liza Kiwara: https://go.undp.org/3vv UNDP Climate UNDP Africa UNDP Zambia

In Southern Africa, climate risk financing is helping build resilience to shocks. These innovative solutions need to be scaled up. When El Niño triggered one of the worst droughts on record, threatening the region’s food security, the World Food Programme and partners stepped in with climate-sensitive financing to activate early response and minimize the impact on lives and livelihoods. Here are some of the key lessons learned: ◾ 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: smallholder farmers were supported through financial services such as insurance, savings and loans. For example, in Malawi, more than 52,000 farmers received microinsurance payouts, totalling $1.27 million. ◾ 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 to support governments and partners through the Arc Replica programme, which triggered disbursements in Zambia and Zimbabwe to fund early response and recovery. These cost-effective solutions allowed a quick response and facilitated a stronger recovery. However, the scale of need far exceeds available resources. As the climate crisis worsens, scaling up and diversifying these mechanisms is essential to protect more lives and livelihoods. Climate risk management can mitigate the worst impacts of climate-related disasters while empowering communities and governments to build resilience. It's time to invest in these solutions and replicate them globally. #ClimateAction #RiskFinancing #ElNiño #ClimateStories 🔗 More on the lessons learned from World Food Programme Southern Africa : https://lnkd.in/dBKaMiqE