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A 2014 report by the Climate Policy Initiative finds that the 'Municípios Prioritários' policy reduced deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by 35% between 2008 and 2011, preventing 11,359 km2 of forest loss. The reduction was driven by increased enforcement and fines by Ibama, rather than economic pressures or credit restrictions, which showed no significant impact on agricultural production or GDP.

This background paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2014, provides a framework for consultations regarding Manitoba's transportation and infrastructure sectors as part of the 'TomorrowNow—Manitoba’s Green Plan'. It outlines the province's current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile, the vulnerabilities of its infrastructure to climate change, and examples of climate policies from other jurisdictions to inform a new provincial climate change and green economy action plan.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the integrity of South Africa's 2014 national and provincial elections. It examines the performance of the Electoral Commission (IEC), instances of political violence and intimidation, the use of state resources for campaigning, and the role of media coverage in informing voters.

The August 2014 Peace & Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's (AU) response to crises in Mali and Nigeria, the operationalization of the PSC's counter-terrorism sub-committee, and ongoing reviews of the Council's internal working methods.

This RMI research paper argues that traditional bundled, volumetric electricity rates are inadequate for a grid with increasing distributed energy resources (DERs). It proposes a transition toward more sophisticated pricing across three dimensions: attribute unbundling, temporal granularity (e.g., real-time pricing), and locational granularity (e.g., 'hot spot' credits). The authors recommend a staged implementation using default and opt-in rates, supported by third-party technologies to maintain a simple customer experience, and call for greater data transparency and improved valuation methodologies for regulators.

The document argues that traditional bundled, volumetric electricity pricing is outdated and fails to incentivize the efficient deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs). It proposes a transition toward more sophisticated pricing based on attribute unbundling, temporal granularity, and locational granularity. Six evolutionary pricing options are suggested, ranging from Time-of-Use pricing to Distribution Locational Marginal Pricing, noting that technology can manage the resulting complexity for the end customer.

The report details the outcomes of the General Services Administration's (GSA) National Deep Energy Retrofit (NDER) program and a subsequent stakeholder workshop held in April 2014. It compares the energy savings of GSA's deep retrofits against other federal agencies and identifies systemic barriers and best practices in the Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC) process, focusing on project delivery, team dynamics, integrative design, operations and maintenance (O&M), and project economics.

This research paper by Ivan Crouzel, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2014, examines the relationship between electoral processes and political instability in Africa. It argues that elections often become critical moments of tension because they are primarily viewed as a means of accessing state resources. The author advocates for a shift from purely technical electoral support to a broader approach based on inclusive political settlements, multi-actor dialogue, and the strengthening of credible electoral management bodies and domestic observation networks to ensure legitimacy and peace.

This 2014 report by WWF South Africa evaluates the adherence of Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) to the 2013 Mining and Biodiversity Guidelines (MBG) within the Enkangala Grasslands. The study found that approximately 30% of sampled applications failed to adhere to key MBG principles, with particularly low adherence to best practice EIA standards. The report highlights a critical need for the formal registration and regulation of EAPs through EAPASA to ensure objectivity, competence, and the protection of South Africa's vital water-producing grasslands from unsustainable mining.

This policy brief discusses the role of technological innovation and policy in providing modern, clean energy to the 'bottom of the pyramid' population, focusing on household energy and rural electricity to achieve climate-compatible development.

This policy brief discusses the Technology Mechanism established by the UNFCCC under the 2010 Cancún Agreements to facilitate technology development and transfer for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. It aims to suggest ways the mechanism can support activities by reviewing literature on international technology interventions and innovation systems.

This policy brief examines the role of innovation and technology policies in steering the rising middle class in developing countries toward low-carbon lifestyles to avoid the high-carbon patterns of industrialized nations.

This document describes a report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) that examines how national climate change strategies can integrate food security with mitigation and adaptation to better access international climate finance. It identifies the goal of helping policymakers in developing countries navigate the complexities of food availability, stability, accessibility, and utilization while addressing climate risks.

A fact sheet by the South African Institute of International Affairs explaining the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a US-Africa trade deal active since 2001 that provides duty-free US market access to qualifying sub-Saharan African states.

This research paper explores the use of bilateral agreements as a strategic alternative to voluntary certification schemes for securing sustainable biofuels in Europe under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

This policy brief describes a study titled 'Heat-Related Mortality in India: Excess All-Cause Mortality Associated with the 2010 Ahmedabad Heat Wave,' which analyzed deaths during the May 2010 heat wave in Ahmedabad to determine if extreme heat leads to excess mortality. The brief highlights that while India has national climate change programs, it has lacked specific strategies to adapt to increasing heat, leading the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to develop the first comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat in an Indian city.

This research paper discusses the use of participatory games and simulations as tools to help humanitarian and development professionals manage climate risks by reflecting complex systems and promoting dialogue among stakeholders.

This report examines the use of social strategy games as a research and communication tool to help people understand the complex trade-offs and synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in urban environments.

This policy brief describes the Adapta Sertão programme, an initiative designed to strengthen the adaptive capacity of small family farmers in Brazil's semi-arid region through community-based adaptation (CBA) and integrated partnerships.

This policy brief examines climate vulnerability and adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers in the Bacia do Jacuípe region of the Brazilian Sertão. It highlights the impact of rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall on milk productivity and evaluates the effectiveness of pilot projects implemented by the Adapta Sertão coalition to improve adaptive capacity through improved animal diets and irrigation.