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This chapter from the GEO-5 report argues that the Earth System's complexity and non-linear interactions, combined with human pressures, limit predictability and threaten life-support functions. It asserts that traditional top-down problem-solving is inadequate and calls for an integrated Earth Systems approach based on basic research, long-term monitoring, and regular evaluation to address the drivers of environmental pressure.

This chapter from the Global Environment Outlook 5 (GEO-5) report evaluates the environmental governance and policy effectiveness in Europe, highlighting the role of the European Union (EU) and pan-European initiatives in managing climate change, air quality, water resources, waste, and biodiversity.

This book chapter from the Global Environment Outlook 5 (GEO-5) analyzes the environmental challenges and policy needs of the Asia and Pacific region, emphasizing its role as a global engine of economic growth and its critical impact on global climate goals.

This research paper examines how assumptions regarding income growth in low-income countries within climate-economics models affect global emissions reduction goals, arguing that underestimating the development potential of the poorest nations leads to weaker mitigation targets.

This synthesis paper, prepared for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), examines the intersection of agriculture, food security, and climate-compatible development (CCD) through case studies in Kenya, Bangladesh, and Honduras. It identifies systemic barriers to integrating climate adaptation and mitigation within agricultural sectors and provides global recommendations for policymakers and the international community to support small-scale farmers in developing countries.

This discussion guide was created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in June 2012 to encourage debate at the Rio+20 conference regarding the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Internet in sustainable development.

The Green Economy Pocketbook advocates for a transition to a green economy to address economic recession and environmental degradation, proposing a re-orientation of the economy to deliver wellbeing within natural limits through changes in measurement, finance, sector management, and human investment.

This briefing describes a risk management approach to decision-making in the Caribbean, as outlined in the Implementation Plan (IP) for the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. The document emphasizes the need for a transformational change in policy setting to build low-carbon, climate-resilient economies by integrating risk management into national planning and sustainable development goals.

This policy brief describes Grenada's 2011 Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR), a national strategy developed under the Pilot Program for Climate Change Resilience (PPCR) to transition the country toward low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The document outlines the SPCR's focus on physical infrastructure and forestry, its funding through the Climate Investment Funds, and the lessons learned from its participatory design process.

This policy brief examines the integration of climate change considerations into the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of Cape Town and eThekwini municipalities in South Africa. It highlights that while mainstreaming climate change into these statutory planning instruments is a critical step for local governance, it must be supported by technical expertise, political leadership, and sectoral measures to achieve climate-compatible development.

This policy brief describes the South African Renewables Initiative (SARi), a government-led effort launched in December 2011 to establish financing arrangements for scaling up renewable energy. The initiative aims to achieve a target of 19 GW of renewable electricity by 2030 while managing the incremental costs compared to coal-fired power to avoid unacceptable economic burdens on the public.

This policy brief examines Viet Nam's efforts to design a benefit distribution system for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) scheme. It draws on the country's history of decentralized forest management to identify design options, such as performance-based payments and dedicated national funds, while highlighting critical challenges regarding land tenure, carbon rights, and the legal status of village communities.

This research paper evaluates various cost-limiting tools used in U.S. state renewable energy policies—including alternative compliance payments, contract price caps, and retail rate impact caps—to provide recommendations for California's RPS cost limitation. The analysis finds that while cost limits can insure against extreme costs, they often create market uncertainty, may be set based on political rather than economic data, and can inadvertently act as price floors, potentially hindering the achievement of renewable energy targets.

The Prosol program in Tunisia successfully scaled the adoption of solar water heaters (SWHs) by combining capital subsidies, concessional credit, and a strategic risk-sharing mechanism. Between 2005 and 2010, it leveraged USD 24.2 million in public funds to attract USD 110 million in private investment, installing approximately 119,000 systems. A critical success factor was the involvement of the state utility, STEG, which acted as a debt collector and guarantor, reducing credit risk for commercial banks and lowering interest rates for households. The program not only reduced CO2 emissions by 715 Kt over the systems' lifespans but also generated a net fiscal gain for the Tunisian government by reducing fossil fuel subsidy expenditures by an estimated USD 101 million over the long term.

This research paper evaluates the MRV systems of China, Germany, Italy, and the United States, finding that while emissions tracking is generally robust and standardized due to international frameworks (UNFCCC/IPCC), the tracking of mitigation actions is fragmented, less transparent, and lacks consistent methodologies. The report highlights that mandatory and international policies have stronger MRV than voluntary domestic ones and emphasizes the need for better cost-effectiveness analysis to inform policy design.

This briefing describes the proposed Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), a legislative initiative designed to provide low-interest loans to rural homeowners for energy efficiency improvements via on-bill financing through the USDA's Rural Utilities Service.

The Standing Rules of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) establish the governance, composition, and operational procedures for the EC, which serves as the executive organ of the Conference of the Parties (CoP). The rules detail the management of regular and special meetings, the election of the Bureau, the formation of committees, and the protocols for voting and agenda setting.

This briefing describes the outcomes of the May 2012 Bonn Climate Change Conference, focusing on the initialization of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) and ongoing tensions regarding the Kyoto Protocol's second commitment period and climate financing.

This briefing from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes two distinct security and political crises: the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) involving the M23 rebel group and Rwandan influence, and the economic instability and civil unrest in Sudan under President Omar al-Bashir.

This policy briefing examines the rapid expansion of economic and political ties between Chad and China since 2006, centered primarily on oil investment and the Rônier project. It analyzes how President Idriss Déby has integrated Chinese assistance into his domestic political strategy and the resulting tensions over oil pricing and regional security.