
Alberta’s climate is changing: temperatures are rising, particularly in the winter; heat waves have become more frequent; and the growing season has become longer. These trends are expected to continue into the future. Alberta’s mean annual temperature could rise by 2.0°C by the 2030s and 4.0°C by the 2060s (compared...

In recent decades, Alberta has experienced significant changes in its climate as well as its economy, population and environment. The province’s mean annual temperatures are increasing and projected to continue to rise in the coming decades—potentially by 2.0°C by the 2030s and 4.0°C by the 2060s (compared to the 1990s)—should...

Through in depth case studies in Mexican cities, the Mario Molina Center proposed the location of social housing as an indicator of urban sprawl. Together with the government and construction companies, the Mario Molina Center has developed a tool to change incentives in the market so that development of future social housing...

Agriculture is an important engine for economic growth in Africa, but effective agricultural strategies to support rural development and poverty alleviation are scarce. State investment in the small-scale farming sector is minimal and the entrepreneurial family farm sector remains underrepresented. Meanwhile, large-scale land investments are advocated as means to bring...

The ways in which people obtain land in Uganda are changing fast. Land that used to be secured through inheritance, gifts or proof of long-term occupancy is now more commonly changing hands in the market. Those with wealth and powerful connections are frequently able to override local rules and gain...

The Testing REDD+ in the Beira Landscape Corridor of Mozambique initiative closed in December. Over nearly four years, a consortium of public academic and research institutions, NGOs and social enterprises, supported by the Government of Norway, has explored what drives deforestation and forest degradation. The programme trialled four interventions: to...

Despite its Least Developed Country status, Ethiopia has played a leading role in climate diplomacy. This briefing explores the factors behind Ethiopia’s success in order to draw lessons for other nations. Meles Zenawi, the late former prime minister, has left a legacy of strong political will and leadership that has...

Although forest covers 40 per cent of Nepal, the forestry sector’s potential to generate huge employment opportunities is largely untapped. Private sector involvement and investment could create 1.38 million work days a year. But certain policies and administrative hurdles hinder both community and private investment in the sector. The lack...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set a new agenda for development, with the ambitious aim of eradicating extreme poverty within the next 15 years while also recognising environmental limits.
This new post-2015 agenda exposes the shortfalls of current approaches and demands a new approach to economic development. African countries are...

When five per cent of milk fails to meet standards, you have a problem with milk. When 50 percent does not meet standards, you have a problem with standards. In developing countries, perishable food is mostly sold in informal markets and often does not meet national food safety standards. Government...