Actions to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems, such as NbS and EbA, can support climate adaptation and resilience, while NAPs offer a strategic framework for mainstreaming, mandating, and scaling up these actions. 

This infographic highlights key findings from the NAP Global Network's synthesis report, Tracking Progress on the Integration of Nature-Based Solutions and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in National Adaptation Plan Processes. It outlines how biodiversity, ecosystems, NbS, and EbA are being integrated into NAP documents and provides a set of action points to further strengthen the integration of NbS and EbA into NAP processes. The findings are the result of a desk-based review of 57 multi-sector NAP documents that were submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as of July 31, 2024.

Meeting agricultural electricity needs—mostly for irrigation—from solar power can improve energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate the cost-effective integration of renewable energy, and reduce state subsidy obligations and power procurement costs. Solarizing agricultural power demand can be achieved by requiring farmers to draw electricity for productive purposes during solar peak hours and adding solar power installations to relevant feeder stations. 

Recognizing the benefit of solarization, the Government of India launched the PM-KUSUM scheme in 2019. Two of the components (A and C-FLS) incentivize the installation of medium-scale distributed solar power plants (1 to 10 MW) connected to the distribution substations to cater to agricultural power demand. 

However, progress under the scheme has been slow. Key challenges include lack of buy-in to the idea of solarizing irrigation power demand within various state administrations, unviable tariffs offered by the state regulators for solar projects, and difficulty in financing projects. 

The Tariff Analysis and Cost-Benefit Tool for Solarizing Irrigation (TACTS) aims to help policy-makers, distribution companies, and developers tackle three of these barriers. The Excel-based spreadsheets draw on the most recent data. The Tariff Calculation section estimates viable tariffs for projects under different deployment models. The Financing section projects the potential impact of different financial instruments in improving the ease of financing projects. And the Costs and Benefits section quantifies the pros and cons of solarizing agricultural power demand to encourage policy-makers to accelerate the implementation of the scheme. 

Instructions before opening the workbook

1. This file has macros. Please download and save the file—do not open it yet.

2. Macros for files from external sources may be blocked in your system due to admin settings. Follow the next steps before using the file: 

   Right-click on downloaded file --> Properties --> In the dialogue box: General tab --> At the bottom, there will be a Security section; select the box next to Unblock --> Apply --> OK.

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5. Macros may be disabled in your Excel by default. If so, you will receive a prompt stating that Excel has blocked macros from running. Follow the next steps to enable macros. 

   File --> Options (at the bottom of the left panel) --> Trust Centre --> Trust Centre Settings --> Macro Settings --> Enable Macros.

6. Some calculations have circular referencing. Enable iterative calculation by: 

   File --> Options (at the bottom of the left panel) --> Formulas --> Calculation Options --> Enable Iterative Calculation.

Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Kigali, Rwanda

Johannesburg, South Africa

Governments have implemented, or are implementing, institutional frameworks that aim to encourage businesses to perform better—for instance, by identifying risks, mitigating and responding to them, and holding the private sector accountable for the impacts of its practices. In that context and specifically in the last 2 decades, due diligence regulations have taken centre stage, with several regulations being adopted by governments, mainly in the Global North, that promote responsible business conduct and respect for human rights and environmental standards.

This workbook aims to provide a systematic overview and analysis of due diligence regulations by mapping their main provisions against common themes, serving as an initial step toward promoting interoperability. Importantly, this workbook should not be regarded as legal advice or an exhaustive resource. Instead, it is intended as a starting point for understanding the compliance landscape.

This workbook uses the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) definition of due diligence. Specifically, it draws on the OECD Review of G7 Government-led Voluntary and Mandatory Due Diligence Measures for Sustainable Agri-food Supply Chains (2024) to identify relevant regulations and develop the analytical framework for mapping them. According to the OECD, responsible business conduct due diligence "helps companies to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for potential and actual adverse environmental and social risks and impacts of their operations, supply chains, and other business relationships." This workbook focuses on 12 mandatory public policy measures that incentivize due diligence practices:

1. U.S. Lacey Act
2. California Transparency Act
3. UK Modern Slavery Act
4. Japan Clean Wood Act
5. French Duty of Vigilance
6. EU Conflict Minerals Regulation
7. Swiss Ordinance on Due Diligence and Transparency in Relation to Minerals and Metals From Conflict-Affected Areas and Child Labour
8. UK Environment Act
9. U.S. Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act
10. German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act
11. EU Deforestation-Free Regulation
12. EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

The requirements of these selected regulations are shown under the following common themes: risk management, transparency, traceability, accountability, stakeholder engagement, and legality.

Responsible investment is crucial to long-term success in food and agriculture. Businesses that neglect sustainability and social impact face higher costs and lower returns.

This screening tool helps agribusinesses assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of potential investments, ensuring alignment with CFS-RAI and other international standards. It covers key areas such as food security, land rights, employment, gender inclusion, child labour, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.

By using this tool, companies can strengthen feasibility studies, impact assessments, and compliance with global regulations, including the European Union's deforestation law and human rights due diligence legislation.

The chemical constituents measured in these samples include:

• anions (Cl and SO4),
• cations (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, and Fe),
• carbon speciation (dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, absorbance scan to assess dissolved organic carbon quality, and particulate carbon),
• chlorophyll-a,
• conductivity,
• dissolved oxygen,
• gran alkalinity,
• nitrogen speciation (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, total dissolved nitrogen, and particulate nitrogen),
• particulate iron,
• pH,
• phosphorus speciation (total dissolved phosphorus and particulate phosphorus),
• soluble reactive silicon, and
• turbidity.

In addition to the analytical methods used, the publication also provides guidance on quality assurance and quality control protocols used for labware cleaning, calibration and verifications, sample tracking and data recording, as well as sample preparation, filtration, and storage.

Climate change affects our natural environment and can result in the loss of nature. These changes impact people in different ways depending on who they are and how their identity influences their position in society. Recent evidence shows that NbS for adaptation are more effective when gender issues are considered and delivered in a gender-responsive and socially inclusive manner. This booklet provides practical tips on how to recognize differences in needs and priorities to ensure that everyone can benefit from NbS for adaptation.

This guide is a knowledge product of the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative.

Manitobans are experiencing warmer temperatures, severe wildfires, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent floods and droughts. Without adaptation planning, watershed residents face greater risk to their property, livelihoods, and mental and physical health.

Watershed districts must consider how to incorporate climate adaptation in their management plans and programs to maintain the health of the watershed and the delivery of ecological, economic, and social benefits that residents enjoy and rely upon, all while facing an uncertain future.

In Manitoba there are 27 integrated watershed management planning areas, all responsible for water-related issues, water management programs, and finding a balance between ecosystem, community, and economic health. Each produces an integrated watershed management plan (IWMP) to act as a guiding document, which are periodically reviewed and updated. With the renewals, there is a great opportunity to incorporate more climate adaptation planning entry points in the process.

The guidebook is structured to incorporate climate adaptation planning into the existing IWMP processes by identifying entry points at different stages of the IWMP process.

This guidebook includes

• ways to help assess how anticipated impacts of climate change will affect the watershed and identify actions that will reduce the risk and severity of these impacts;
• ways to increase knowledge about climate change risks within watersheds and suggest how to build capacity to manage these risks;
• suggestions on how to ensure that investments in watersheds are appropriate to the changing climate in the long term;
• an easy-to-follow guide for using the Climate Atlas of Canada for accessing and interpreting climate data;
• five worksheets to help with adaptation planning; and
• an extensive list of helpful resources.

Agribusinesses and investors in the food and agriculture sector are increasingly motivated to ensure their operations and investments generate positive social and environmental outcomes. But they need support to translate these aspirations into responsible business practices and responsible investments.

The RAI Tool for Agribusiness is a reference tool developed by IISD, Cerise+SPTF, and partner organizations with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. It aims to help agribusinesses assess how well aligned their practices and operations are with international principles for responsible business conduct, such as the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems, the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry, and the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards.

The RAI Tool for Agribusiness provides a framework that integrates these high-level principles into the language of agribusiness operations, structures, procedures, and management practices. Such a framework makes it easier for agribusinesses to understand responsible business practices, to identify where their existing practices fall short of international principles and best practice, and to prioritise steps to apply these principles in their operations.

The development of the RAI Tool for Agribusiness builds on existing best practice and performance indicators. The Tool has been tested by agribusinesses in Africa and Asia and refined based on their input and feedback. A Guidance Document and Reporting Template have also been developed to facilitate use of the Tool.