In a deal announced this week, creditors—with support from the U.S. government—will refinance a portion of El Salvador's debt in exchange for the Central American country committing $350 million to conservation projects benefiting the Lempa River. “You’ve figured out a way to help them out by reducing the amount of money that they’re having to pay and shifting it over to something that everybody agrees would be a good thing,” Elizabeth Losos, Nicholas Institute executive in residence, told The Associated Press about the debt-for-nature swap.

Climate Week NYC 2024, held Sept. 22-29, gathered hundreds of business and political leaders across the globe to address the need for climate action. Among the distinguished voices included Duke University, whose lineup of climate experts shared their insights and research at several key events as part of Duke's Climate Commitment. A photo essay from Duke Today showcased the involvement of Duke scholars, including several from the Nicholas Institute.

The federal government in the United States is increasingly taking action to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. But how do we know what’s working? A group of Duke University experts partnered with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a framework for assessing progress toward goals laid out in agencies’ 2024–2027 climate adaptation plans.

Debt-for-nature swaps were conceived nearly 40 years ago to help financially struggling nations get relief from their foreign debt payments in exchange for their commitment to carry out conservation and climate activities. Ahead of moderating a Climate Week panel on the subject, Nicholas Institute expert Liz Losos spoke with Duke Today about reforming these transactions to ease post-COVID debt crises while helping meet international biodiversity and climate targets.

At Climate Week NYC (September 22-29, 2024), influential leaders from multiple sectors will exchange ideas and collaborate on plans to accelerate climate action. A delegation of Duke University scholars will help drive dialogue at this annual convening, which drew more than 6,500 attendees last year. In addition to organizing three public events, Duke University experts will be facilitating closed-door conversations and networking with decision-makers and with current and potential external partners.

Duke experts Elizabeth Losos, Alex Pfaff and Stuart Pimm argue in an op-ed for Foreign Policy that improved debt-for-nature swaps on a substantial scale will help break the downward cycle created by the interlinked debt, climate and biodiversity crises. Smart debt relief will reduce climate change effects and increase economic growth, particularly in the Global South, they write.

Debt distress, biodiversity loss and climate change are intertwined crises for developing countries. In a Policy Forum for Science, Duke University experts Elizabeth Losos, Alex Pfaff and Stuart Pimm propose four reforms to debt-for-nature swaps to help countries tackle these daunting challenges.

World leaders—along with government officials, nongovernmental organizations, researchers and activists—gathered in Dubai for the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference to discuss ways to advance climate action. Experts from the Nicholas Institute attended the conference, released publications or announced initiatives tied to it and/or followed the proceedings closely.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Learning (ISLe) Initiative aims to accelerate the development of climate-smart infrastructure through virtual knowledge exchange and problem-solving among infrastructure practitioners and experts.

Toddi Steelman, Duke’s vice president and vice provost for climate and sustainability, will travel to Singapore and China from Nov. 6–18 to meet with Duke partners to discuss climate and sustainability efforts. Duke representatives joining Steelman for the Duke International Forum on Nov. 17 include Nicholas Institute experts Brian Murray, Jackson Ewing, Jonathan Phillips and Elizabeth Losos.