Environment

How can the EU’s border carbon adjustments avoid unintended consequences for LDCs?
On avoiding risks and challenges for countries striving to reduce poverty and tackle climate change

What role can sustainability standards play in the post COVID-19 recovery?
Adopting such standards in LDC production offers promise, but work remains

Rising heat and snow-bare peaks chill Nepal's mountain economy
Originally published by Thomson Reuters Foundation, Tuesday, 9 February 2021 03:30 GMT

How businesses can build resilience to climate impacts and protect the vulnerable throughout value chains
Companies have a key role to play in building societal resilience to crises, including the current pandemic and climate impacts, across their value chains.

Rwanda setting example for electronic waste recycling
Government and private sector worked together to create jobs in new ‘industry’

Seeing the silver lining in shea - Kora’s story
Shea is critical to the income of rural communities, and a new effort across four shea-producing countries in West Africa is looking to boost those incomes

COVID-19 and tourism in Africa’s protected areas: Impacts and recovery needs
COVID-19 has led to a steep decline in business for operators in protected areas, coupled with a substantial drop in future booking requests.

Protecting trees, empowering women, ensuring incomes – suggestions for a just shea story
How to ensure the women who collect shea benefit from being part of the global marketplace

West Africa's (eco)tourism initiative: Last chance to protect African biodiversity
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel impacts, West Africa’s objectives remain valid

A traded tree: What rosewood means for Africa
Following research into the mukula value chain, recommendations to preserve livelihoods and landscapes

Time for bold initiatives to tackle inequalities and climate change
Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 31 January 2020

Benefits and challenges of automated processes for wildlife trade in poor countries
Efforts towards the automation of the CITES permitting system is an example of how trade facilitation could be applied in the wildlife sector.

Trade policy and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework
Mainstreaming biodiversity across economic sectors is a key issue to be discussed at the CBD COP15 in China in 2020, where the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is due to be agreed upon.

“Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing” in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
A Global Multilateral Benefit-Sharing Mechanism is the appropriate vehicle by which biodiverse rich countries can be compensated for genetic resources utilised in intellectual property.

Breaking silos between trade and climate for the world’s most vulnerable countries
There is urgent need to better understand trade and climate change linkages in the context of least developed countries (LDCs).

Learning from least developed countries on effective climate adaptation and resilience
Some of the key elements characterising effective adaptation and resilience to climate change are a long-term perspective, coordinated and coherent action, and a socially just and inclusive approach.

Trade in wildlife as a pathway to sustainable development in poor countries – critical assumptions
Well-managed trade in wild animals and plants can contribute to the conservation of the species.

How trade can assist least developed countries hit by natural disasters
Many least developed countries are vulnerable to recurrent natural disasters, which exacerbate existing challenges, disrupt long-term investments and divert resources away from development to reconstruction.

EIF covering environment, 4IR and global trade climate in new analyses
The Enhanced Integrated Framework’s Trade for Development News is launching a new series of articles focusing on three major trade conversations happening today.

Ethical trade in natural products based on traditional knowledge
There are examples of sustainable, fair and ethical trade in products based on natural, biological resources and traditional knowledge.

How can we protect African biodiversity via LDC ecotourism?
Solutions, pitfalls and priorities to stimulate ecotourism, preserve wildlife and develop, sustainably

New WTO research puts spotlight on natural disasters and trade
How can countries use trade to promote resilience?

Protecting an enigmatic commodity with enormous potential – gum arabic
For an arid swath of Africa, a sap-like substance offers income possibilities for the poorest of the poor, along with environmental benefits

Renewables in Least Developed Countries: More arrows in the quiver?
Originally published in Bridges Africa

Six key factors in formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining
Working in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)—informal mining activities carried out using minimal technology or machinery—provides livelihoods for millions of people

Wanjira Mathai on women's renewable energy entrepreneurship in LDCs
EIF Coordinators Hang Tran and Simon Hess interview Wanjira Mathai of wPOWER partnership on women's entrepreneurship in renewables

How Zambia's rural communities are taking beekeeping to the next level
Recognising that traditional honey harvesting damages the forest, Zambia’s rural communities are using modern beekeeping practices that value trees and produce better quality honey.

From hunting to harvesting: Zambia’s eco-friendly approach to beekeeping
Recognising that traditional honey harvesting damages the forest, Zambia’s rural communities are using modern beekeeping practices that value trees and produce better quality honey.

Trade and eco-friendly business solutions
Developing eco-friendly business solutions for rural households

Fighting to maintain ecosystem balance and halt the advancing Sahara desert
Oumar is one of the 370,500 people in Mali producing gum arabic, among which 80% (296,400) are women.