FEATURES

A “Running Start” Through Country Platforms
For nations on the frontlines of the climate crisis, vulnerabilities stem not just from exposure to climate impacts, but also the high debt burdens and

World’s First Blue-Carbon Sovereign Carbon Securities Launched in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has undertaken a ground-breaking initiative to use “Sovereign Carbon Securities” to generate revenue from their seagrass beds. Seagrass beds are underwater vegetation that

Elevating Oceans to Stand Beside Forests in the COP30 Agenda
By His Excellency Dr. James Fletcher, CARICOM Climate Envoy As the CARICOM Climate Envoy, I join colleagues in the wider community of Small Island Developing

WHO Approves Climate Change and Health Action Plan
On 27 May, the World Health Assembly (WHA) – the decision making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), attended by delegates from member states

Bhutan’s Green Leap: 5000 MW Hydropower Deal with Adani
Bhutan | May 8, 2025—Bhutan is poised to dramatically expand its renewable energy capacity and deepen regional energy ties, having recently sealed a landmark partnership

Malawi gears up to unlock access to Global Shield
Lilongwe, Malawi | April 30, 2025—The Republic of Malawi continues its groundwork to develop an evidence-based Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) support

Loving Nature through Restoration, Strengthening Communities in Timor-Leste
In Timor-Leste, a new climate initiative is working to restore ecosystems while strengthening rural resilience. The project, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with national partners, aims to help communities adapt to climate change by rebuilding the natural systems they depend on.

When Climate Vulnerability Becomes Personal
Damage to infrastructure and agriculture, disruptions to transport and services, and the costs of emergency response ripple across the economy. When such shocks recur year after year, recovery becomes partial and fragile. Each rebuilding effort begins before the last has fully ended.
From the outside, climate impacts are often described as temporary setbacks. On the ground, they feel structural. Resources that could support education, healthcare, industrial development, or job creation are repeatedly redirected toward response and repair. Public debt grows not through poor decisions, but because climate shocks leave governments with few alternatives.

When Climate Reality Hits Home: CVF-V20 Secretariat in Madagascar as a Category 4 Cyclone Makes Landfall
As a Category 4 cyclone slams into Madagascar’s coastline, the force of climate change is no longer abstract, it is immediate, physical, and deeply human. The CVF Secretariat team on the ground is witnessing firsthand how climate vulnerability translates into real-time emergency response, institutional coordination, and community resilience under pressure.

High Seas Treaty Enters Into Force
The first legally binding ocean instrument to provide for inclusive ocean governance, known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, entered into force on January 17, 120 days after at least 60 countries have ratified the treaty.

Liberia to Implement Carbon Levy on Maritime Shipping
The Republic of Liberia becomes the third African country to introduce a carbon levy on maritime shipping, after Djibouti’s and Gabon’s domestic implementation. Starting on March 1 this year, the country will impose a USD 25 per tonne fee on CO2 emitted by ships entering and leaving its ports.

Marshall Islands Pioneers Climate Resilience Strategy for Atoll Nations
The Blue-Green Atolls Project by the Republic of Marshall Islands begins its preparation phase after securing approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund. Initial stages include technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the mobilization of complementary public and private finance. With the United Nations Development Programme as the implementing agency, the project receives USD 38.5 million from co-financing and USD 8.537 million from the GEF Project Grant.



