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This policy brief analyzes Thailand's pioneering approach to renewable energy through the implementation of Small Power Producer (SPP) and Very Small Power Producer (VSPP) programs. By utilizing a feed-in premium known as the 'Adder,' Thailand successfully attracted private investment and rapid growth in solar and biogas. The document highlights the crucial role of civil society in policy design and the government's current shift toward a feed-in tariff to manage costs and ensure a more balanced renewable energy portfolio.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluates the impact of command-and-control policies on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, specifically focusing on the role of the Real-Time Deforestation Detection System (DETER). The study finds that DETER-based enforcement was the primary driver of deforestation deceleration in the 2000s, preventing significant forest loss without negatively impacting local agricultural production.

This executive summary describes a study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) on the impact of the Real Time System for Detection of Deforestation (DETER) and associated law enforcement on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. The analysis concludes that satellite-based monitoring and targeted enforcement by Ibama were the primary drivers of the deforestation slowdown in the 2000s, preventing significant forest loss without negatively impacting agricultural production.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the financing gaps and technical barriers facing K-12 school districts in California to recommend strategies for allocating Proposition 39 funds. The authors argue that because private capital is currently available at low interest rates, Proposition 39 funds should be used as supplemental grants for deep energy-saving projects and as technical assistance, rather than as primary financing for short-payback projects that districts can already afford.

This EESI fact sheet examines the role of landfills as a major source of anthropogenic methane in the United States and discusses strategies for mitigating these emissions. It highlights the EPA's regulatory role and the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), which helps convert landfill gas (LFG) into energy. The document provides economic comparisons between electricity-generation and direct-use LFG projects, noting that while existing capture systems make projects more profitable, new installations may require additional revenue streams like tax credits to be viable.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) describes the technology, benefits, and potential of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems in the United States. It highlights how CHP increases energy efficiency, reduces emissions, and provides resilient power during grid failures, while identifying regulatory barriers and the specific advantages of biomass-fueled systems.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International examines the financial backers of Wilmar International and contrasts the company's corporate social responsibility claims with reports of environmental destruction and human rights violations in Indonesia, Nigeria, and Uganda.

This fact sheet describes a paleotempestology project (SGP-CRA 2050) led by Louisiana State University to analyze long-term hurricane activity variability in the pan-Caribbean region and the Pacific coast of Mexico using proxy data from sediments, stalagmites, tree-rings, and corals.

This fact sheet describes the SACC project, an international consortium studying ocean-related global and climate changes in South America, specifically focusing on the exchange processes between the deep ocean and the continental shelf of eastern South America.

This report provides a critical commentary on the February 2013 draft Investment Chapter of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The author argues that the draft largely ignores concerns from the European Parliament and civil society, particularly regarding the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) and the use of broad, open-ended definitions that may limit the policy space of governments to regulate in the public interest.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes four proposed regulatory scenarios for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada's oil and gas sector. The authors evaluate the trade-offs between emission-intensity targets and price ceilings, concluding that a 40 per cent intensity standard with a two-tiered price ceiling offers a balanced approach to environmental performance and economic competitiveness.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political environment in Zimbabwe leading up to the 2013 general elections. It examines the impact of the March 2013 constitutional referendum, the role of international bodies like SADC and the UN, and the risks of electoral violence given the country's history and the partisan nature of its security sector.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the mobilisation of private sector finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a particular focus on developing countries and the role of the Green Climate Fund.

This report summarizes a two-day charrette held in November 2012 to address challenges in planning, investment, and execution of energy efficiency and renewable energy for Fort Collins Utilities and the FortZED net zero energy district project.

This research paper examines why South Africa is a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) but remains absent from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The author argues that South Africa's reliance on general domestic transparency laws is insufficient for the specific needs of the extractive sector and suggests that the government's reluctance is tied to geopolitical perceptions of double standards between the global North and South.

This research paper describes a cost-effective community engagement model implemented in York, UK, which used a targeted social marketing approach to reduce carbon footprints through neighborhood-level initiatives.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) submitted comments to the U.S. House of Representatives advocating for the maintenance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as written. EESI argues that the RFS is critical for reducing petroleum dependence, improving urban air quality by reducing aromatic air toxics, and fostering rural economic development. The document contends that factors other than the RFS—such as extreme weather, global meat demand, and commodity speculation—are the primary drivers of corn and soybean price volatility.

This fact sheet describes the environmental and health impacts of landfill methane in the United States, the regulatory frameworks governing its capture, and the economic viability of converting landfill gas (LFG) into energy.

This research paper details a water resources management model using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system to assess how temperature increases (up to 6°C) through 2100 affect hydropower in the upper west slope Sierra Nevada. The study finds that while the northern and southern watersheds see decreases in hydropower generation, central watersheds are more resilient to changes in runoff timing.

This briefing reports on a roundtable workshop held in Beijing on April 24, 2013, convened by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Global Environmental Institute (GEI). The event brought together representatives from the Chinese government, academia, and enterprises to discuss reforming the international investment treaty framework to better balance investor protections with the policy space of host states and the goals of sustainable development.