This overview of climate change
activities in Kazakhstan is part of a series of country
notes for five Central Asian countries that summarize
climate portfolio of the major development partners in a
number of climate-sensitive sectors, namely energy,
agriculture, forestry, and natural resources, water, health,
and transport. Recognizing the nature and significance of
climate change contribution to an increase in disaster risk,

In many Pacific island countries,
meeting non-food basic needs is a growing challenge and
further complicated by substantial economic and
environmental risks. Hardship and vulnerability are
increasingly prominent concerns in Pacific island countries,
but the knowledge base to guide policymaking is limited.
Family and community networks are central to life in most
Pacific island countries, providing critical support to

Agricultural growth rates in the Latin
America and the Caribbean (LAC) region have been much slower
than the rest of the developing world. In the regions of
East Asia, South Asia and Middle East and North Africa, the
annual growth of agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
in 1980-2004 exceeded 3 percent, while growth in Sub-
Saharan Africa averaged almost 3 percent. This paper
attempts to present an overview of the agricultural sector

The global dialogue surrounding the
United Nations framework convention for climate change has
focused on two strategies for addressing challenges
associated with climate change: (1) mitigation (reducing the
accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere);
and (2) adaptation (reducing the vulnerability of societies
and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change). Forests
feature in both of these strategies. The role of forests as

The energy sector rapid assessment was
conducted by the World Bank for the Government of Romania,
as part of an advisory services program on climate change
and low carbon green growth. The objective of this
assessment is to identify climate change related investment
priorities and necessary implementation support for the
2014-2020 operational programs, with a view to achieving the
European Union (EU) 2020 targets and laying a foundation for

Pakistan experienced severe flooding
after torrential monsoon rains hit southern Sindh and the
adjoining areas of Punjab and north-eastern Balochistan in
August 2011. Flash floods triggered by the monsoon rain
caused severe damage to infrastructure in the affected
areas. Entire villages and urban centers have been flooded,
homes have been destroyed, and over a million acres of crops
and agricultural lands have been damaged. A Damage and Needs

This report is based on seven background
papers comprising household studies, national level
analyses, and technical assessments. Household studies were
undertaken in Mozambique and Zambia to develop a clearer
picture of the role of Miombo woodlands in household
consumption. These studies were an outcome of intensive,
seasonal structured household surveys, which have formed the
core of the original work supported by this project

Although urbanization is frequently
cited as a major cause of greenhouse gas and local air
pollution emissions growth, it could be better understood as
one of the crucial links between climate and development.
Urbanization is a major driver of development, and once in
cities, people tend to increase their mobility dramatically,
driving an increase in greenhouse gas and other emissions
from transport. The demand for transport is not limited only

A decline in organized public transport
systems has led to rapid growth in non-conventional means of
public transport, initially provided by minibuses and shared
taxi/vans, and more recently by commercial motorcycles.
Unlike cities in South and East Asia, ownership and use of
motorized two-wheelers as a personalized vehicle is very
small in sub-Saharan cities. However, over the past decade
there has been a significant growth in the use of

A pro-growth, pro-poor transport
strategy (PGPTS) responsive to the second generation poverty
reduction strategies (SGPRSs) and the millennium development
goals (MDGs) are essential instruments to promote transport
development that facilitates economic growth and poverty
reduction. However, the national poverty reduction and
transport strategy reviews, undertaken by Sub-Saharan Africa
Transport Policy Program (SSATP) member countries, and the

Liquid biofuels made from biomass are
attracting increasing interest worldwide. Industrial
countries see biofuels as a way of reducing greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions from the transport sector and diversifying
energy sources. Developing countries see biofuels as a way
to stimulate rural development, create jobs, and save
foreign exchange. Both groups view biofuels as a means of
increasing energy security. These concerns, taken together

This report addresses the issues
associated with trade in liquid biofuels is a second Energy
Sector Management Assistance Program report on biofuels, and
part of a broader assessment of bioenergy undertaken by the
World Bank. The report asks how liberalizing trade in liquid
biofuels might affect biofuel production and consumption.
Bioenergy is playing an increasingly important role as an
alternative and renewable source of energy. Bioenergy