Topic: sustainable development

Using case studies primarily from developing countries, this report outlines the key building blocks towards creating a shared agenda for more inclusive and sustainable human development.

It demonstrates how strategic investments in growth industries, and in the ecosystem services that account for up to 89 percent of the so-called “GDP of the poor”, can reduce social inequity, boost employment and promote environmental sustainability.

The Open Climate Network (OCN) is an independent, international partnership that tracks and reports on the progress of key countries on climate change. OCN analysis is prepared by partners around the world covering climate finance, mitigation policy, and clean technology.

This WRI/Sekala Working Paper demonstrates how to implement a quick and cost-effective method for identifying potentially suitable “degraded land” for sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia and presents results from the application of the method in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. The method consists of a desktop analysis as well as field assessments. The desktop portion of the method will be made easily replicable through an interactive Kalimantan-wide “Suitability Mapper” website.

Laporan WRI/Sekala ini memuat sebuah metode cepat dan murah untuk mengidentifikasi kawasan-kawasan berpotensi cocok untuk budidaya kelapa sawit dan hasil yang didapat setelah diterapkan di Kalimantan Barat dan Tengah. Metode ini terdiri dari analisis desktop menggunakan data yang telah tersedia dan juga peninjauan lapangan. Metode ini terdiri dari sejumlah indikator yang mempertimbangkan faktor lingkungan, ekonomi, sosial dan hukum. Analisa desktop dari laporan ini dapat direplika menggunakan aplikasi “Suitability Mapper” yang dapat di akses disini.

In an effort to ensure that the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) generates meaningful outcomes, governments and other stakeholders increasingly support using the Conference to announce specific and time-bound commitments and to use a “Compendium of Commitments” to hold each other accountable for results. This working paper describes WRI’s review of six past and current commitment-based partnerships, some considered more successful than others, and makes recommendations to improve the credibility of the Compendium concept.

This paper examines the role the auto-rickshaw sector can play in promoting sustainable urban transport in India. It develops a policy vision for this sector and presents recommendations on reforms to address sustainability challenges.

Challenging climatic conditions, limited arable land, intense population pressures and a history of political upheaval have undermined Niger’s development prospects – 60% of its people live on less than $1 per day. Over the past twenty years, however, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), in combination with other improved soil and water conservation practices, has helped improve the plight of Nigerien farmers. Local communities are moving from vulnerability towards greater resilience as FMNR brings increased crop production, income and food security to impoverished rural communities.

Climate change vulnerability and food insecurity often have common root causes. Accordingly, measures that address these causes can reduce both problems at once. This is especially important for the many countries in sub-Saharan Africa that face truly daunting agricultural challenge.