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This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes Ethiopia's economic trajectory, focusing on its massive infrastructure investments, its strategic regional position, and the challenges it faces in business competitiveness and trade integration compared to Kenya.

This case study examines the experiences of Jamaica and Senegal in accrediting National Implementing Entities (NIEs) to gain direct access to the Adaptation Fund, highlighting challenges in fiduciary management, institutional capacity, and the implications for future access to the Green Climate Fund.

This document is an address by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) delivered to the 49th Session of UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board on September 25, 2012. Cosbey argues that the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference are insufficient for guiding states through the trade tensions arising from the transition to a green economy. He highlights the conflict between the use of green industrial policies—such as subsidies and local content requirements—and their impact on the multilateral trading system, particularly for developing countries. Cosbey calls for a non-legal, non-negotiating framework, potentially led by UNCTAD, to determine the propriety and effectiveness of these measures before they escalate into formal trade disputes.

This research paper introduces a three-step analytical framework for evaluating policy coherence within the European Union, focusing on the interactions between sector-specific and environmental policies.

This case study examines how China leveraged the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol to build expertise in carbon markets and prepare for a domestic emissions trading system. It highlights the role of powerful government ministries, coordinated capacity building, and specific regulatory controls used to ensure local sustainable development benefits and protect national economic interests.

This briefing examines the debate over whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should waive the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) following a severe heat wave and drought in the United States that reduced corn yields and increased prices. While livestock and poultry producers argue a waiver would lower corn prices and food costs, the document suggests that such a move could increase gasoline prices, heighten dependence on imported oil, and discourage investment in advanced biofuels.

A statement by Jose Manuel Martín Pérez, presented in both Spanish and Tzotzil, contrasting the life-sustaining benefits of natural forests with the destructive impact of plantations, concluding with a call to stop plantation activities.

The Socio Bosque programme is a voluntary, incentive-based conservation scheme managed by Ecuador's Ministry of Environment (MAE). It provides annual per-hectare payments to private and communal landholders, including indigenous groups, in exchange for maintaining forest cover. While not originally designed for REDD+ funding, the programme aligns with climate mitigation goals by reducing deforestation and improving the socioeconomic resilience of the rural poor.

This case study examines rice production in Mozambique to demonstrate how climate change adaptation can be integrated into development policies. It highlights the role of National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) and suggests a Sustainable Development Policies and Measures (SD-PAM) mechanism to identify and finance adaptation through development activities.

This policy brief examines the successful adoption of solar water heater (SWH) technology in Barbados, detailing how a combination of early entrepreneurial leadership, consistent government fiscal incentives, and strategic consumer marketing created a thriving industry that reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels.

This report details the lessons learned from REDD+ readiness activities in the Republic of Congo, focusing on technical capacity, institutional strengthening, and the necessity of early stakeholder engagement to integrate REDD+ into sustainable development.

A statement by Friends of the Earth Argentina detailing the expansion of large-scale mining in Argentina and the subsequent repression of environmental activists and local populations who oppose the extractivist model.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International detailing human rights violations and state repression of anti-mining protests in Argentina, highlighting the conflict between large-scale extractive projects and the rights to water and a healthy environment.

Briefing on the election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as President of Somalia on 10 September 2012, detailing his background in civil society and the significant state-building and security challenges he faces.

This research paper examines how community based natural resource management (CBNRM) can contribute to community based adaptation (CBA) in southern Africa. It highlights that while local incentives drive initial action, scaling up requires an enabling environment of policies and institutions. The paper identifies governance, poverty reduction, and ecosystems as the key overlapping drivers for both CBNRM and CBA.

This policy brief summarizes research conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), and The Energy Resource Institute (TERI) regarding the reform of fossil-fuel subsidies in India.

This policy brief examines the successful adoption of solar water heaters (SWHs) in Barbados, where over 50,000 units have been installed. The success is attributed to a combination of early entrepreneurial 'champions', consistent government fiscal incentives (such as the Homeowner Tax Benefit and the Fiscal Incentives Act of 1974), and strategies to reduce consumer risk through performance guarantees and credit schemes. The document highlights that these incentives provided high value, costing the government a small fraction of revenue while saving consumers millions of dollars annually. It concludes that the Barbados experience can be replicated in other sun-rich countries with high fossil fuel imports, provided there is long-term regulatory certainty and local sensitivity in implementation.

This 2012 case study examines the integration of Climate Compatible Development (CCD) in Bangladesh's agricultural sector to ensure food security. It highlights the country's extreme vulnerability to climate change, the prioritization of food security in the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), and the need for a balanced approach between adaptation (e.g., resilient crop varieties) and mitigation (e.g., reducing GHG emissions from livestock and fertilizers). The report identifies significant funding gaps, with a total Country Investment Plan cost of USD 7.8 billion, and notes institutional barriers, including a perception that as an LDC, Bangladesh has minimal mitigation obligations.

This case study examines the implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) in Honduras, focusing on its integration with agriculture and food security. It evaluates the institutional frameworks, such as the Climate Change Inter-institutional Committee (CCIC), and identifies significant barriers—including financial constraints and limited institutional empowerment—that hinder the transition toward Climate Compatible Development (CCD).

This policy brief examines how China successfully leveraged the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote sustainable development. It highlights the role of powerful government ministries, coordinated capacity building, and the implementation of specific market restrictions to protect national interests and ensure local benefits.