For many years, scientists have been predicting the impact of climate change. In Latin America and the Caribbean, predictions range from water shortages to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. The effects of climate change could significantly reduce the ability of ecosystems to operate properly, threatening development projects throughout the region.A report from
the Working Group on Climate Change and Development in the UK describes the
effects of climate change and environmental degradation in Latin
America and the Caribbean.

This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of climate change adaptation in the context of social networks, and asks why some people are better able to cope than others. It examines recent economic and social developments in Cuba, and how these impact on vulnerability. The processes of climate change and economic changes are forcing Cubans to adapt and cope, and this research indicates that social networks are an important part of these strategies.Cuba is heavily affected by global change processes, including the various impacts of climate change.

This report presents an overview of the campaign “Disaster risk reduction begins at school” and the lessons learned from good practice in different countries affected by various natural and man-made disasters. Children are the most vulnerable age group during any disaster, especially those attending school, as school buildings are often destroyed. In keeping with the Hyogo Protocol and achieving the MDGs, the UN/ISDR secretariat and its partners made disaster risk education and safer school facilities the two critical themes of the 2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign.

This guide, aimed at climate change negotiators, gives synopsis of the key elements in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Biennial Assessment (BA) of climate finance flows. It also provides an overview of recommendations of the UNFCCC’s Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) to the Conference of Parties. The guide also provides some views on how the identified recommendations can support future international negotiations.

Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) are vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea level rise, invasive species, ocean acidification, changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures and changing hazard regimes. Many livelihoods in the Caribbean SIDS are dependent on natural resources; therefore, a focus on ecosystems and their interaction with people is essential for climate change adaptation.

This report reviews existing environmental, social and climate safeguard systems developed and adopted by multilateral and bilateral development agencies. The aim of the report is to assess the potential for the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to adopt or rely on these systems. This will help guide the application of DFID’s new SMART rules, which include a commitment to ensuring sustainability and resilience, and to avoid doing harm such as creating or exacerbating resource scarcity, climate change and/or environmental damage.

Amidst rapid urbanisation, Latin American countries have been scaling-up green building, in some cases achieving significant reductions in energy consumption, water use, carbon dioxide emissions, and solid waste. This Brief explores how.

Lack of access to electricity is seen as a major constraint to economic growth and increased welfare in developing countries. In this report, the authors conducted a review of the evidence that investments in electricity-generating capacity have benefits for poor people, and what factors influence that relationship. The review analyzes a large and diverse range of literature dealing with the poverty impacts of increased generation capacity.

Sattherwaite and Dodman’s editorial is an introduction to a special issue of environment and urbanisation which focusses on climate change responses in cities. It usefully summarises the state of debates about the meanings and complexities of the resilience and transformation concepts, pointing to the latest literature. It focuses on the following areas:

The present report was prepared in response to General Assembly resolution 64/205, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-sixth session on the status of sustainable development in mountain regions.