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This discussion note, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Pan African Parliament, examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to food security, land rights, and the environment, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This briefing note, prepared for a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan-African Parliament and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to local food security, gender equality, and environmental standards, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role that parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This briefing proposes the "Deep Energy Efficiency Pays" (DEEP) program, a new demand-side management (DSM) approach designed to encourage whole-building retrofits over single-measure upgrades. By offering additional incentives for projects that meet a specific energy savings threshold, the program aims to align the interests of utilities, building owners, and energy service providers to achieve significant energy reductions and market transformation.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in Lesotho as of September 2011. Using the APRM Monitoring and Advocacy Template (AMAT), the study assesses 13 substantive issues across four themes: vulnerable groups, socio-economic issues, governance, and service delivery. The report finds that while Lesotho has established necessary legal and policy frameworks, actual implementation remains weak and is rarely linked to the APRM process, resulting in an overall rating of 'orange minus'.

This research paper examines how the shared history of liberation struggles and personal ties between former liberation movements influence the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) mediation efforts in Zimbabwe. The author argues that these historical linkages create a 'club of brother presidents' that protects ZANU–PF and marginalizes post-liberation political entities like the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

This technical policy briefing note describes the climate change projections used in the ClimateCost project, focusing on temperature and precipitation changes globally and across Europe. It evaluates three emission scenarios—A1B (medium-high), E1 (mitigation), and RCP8.5 (high)—using a combination of Global Climate Models (GCMs) and Regional Climate Models (RCMs) to assess future impacts and the associated uncertainties.

This technical policy briefing note from the ClimateCost project assesses the potential economic impacts of river flooding in the European Union (EU27) under different climate and socio-economic scenarios. Using the LISFLOOD model, the study evaluates expected annual damage (EAD) and the number of people affected (EAP), while analyzing the costs and benefits of maintaining flood protection levels. The findings emphasize that socio-economic growth is as significant a driver of future flood costs as climate change, and that adaptation can significantly reduce direct damages.

This research paper analyzes the marginalization of the African Union (AU) during the 2011 Libyan crisis, arguing that the organization lost a critical opportunity to lead the peace process due to a lack of diplomatic escalation, insufficient political will, and the prioritization of Western and Arab League interests under UN Resolution 1973.

This research paper reviews a 'final draft' White Paper dated 13 May 2011 titled 'Building a Better World: The Diplomacy of Ubuntu', which outlines South Africa's foreign policy objectives. The author characterizes the document as a 'mechanical rehash' of existing policy that relies on clichés and platitudes without specifying how its objectives will be achieved.

This research paper evaluates the biofuels components and sustainability criteria of the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive, analyzing how they align regional energy-economic goals with global environment, climate, and development policies.

This research paper uses WEAP and SALMOD models to analyze the impact of climate change on spring-run Chinook salmon (SRCS) in Butte Creek, California, concluding that simple water operation changes are unlikely to prevent their extinction.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) calling on President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline and urging a global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

A statement by R. Andreas Kraemer arguing that Germany's transition away from nuclear power has been characterized by long-term policy continuity rather than sudden shocks, contradicting claims that recent policy decisions caused industry instability.

This report, based on a study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) at DIW Berlin, evaluates the effectiveness of the energy performance certificate (Energieausweis) in influencing home-buying decisions in Germany. Based on a survey of 662 home buyers, the report finds that while the certificate is widely known, it currently has a low impact on purchase decisions due to poor communication of ancillary costs, low availability during the selection process, and the low priority buyers place on energy efficiency compared to other property features.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) at DIW Berlin analyzes the challenges and policy instruments required to meet the German government's goals for energy-efficient building renovations. Based on a survey of 2,000 households, it identifies barriers across three phases of the decision-making process—initial interest, planning, and implementation—and suggests improvements in information delivery, financial incentives, and craftsman certification to increase both the rate and scope of renovations.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) maps the policy landscape for thermal energy efficiency in Germany's residential building sector. It categorizes policies into financial instruments, information tools, and performance standards, analyzing how they interact to drive energy demand reductions. The document details specific federal programs, their objectives, and their estimated impacts on building owners and contractors.

The Stockholm Environment Institute critiques the EPA's cost-benefit analysis for cooling water intake regulations, arguing that monetized benefits are severely underestimated due to the exclusion of non-use values and errors in baseline mortality data. The authors suggest that when benefits are properly calculated and costs are reassessed, the regulations yield positive net benefits with minimal impact on electricity rates and a positive effect on employment and GDP. They strongly advise against site-specific calculations, recommending instead a national standard with a higher threshold for compliance.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement mourning the death of Leon "Lee" Schipper on August 16, 2011, highlighting his role as a co-founder of EMBARQ and his contributions to sustainable transportation research.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a letter to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) on 12 August 2011, reporting on a series of community workshops regarding Shell's shale gas exploration applications in the Karoo. The CER highlights significant gaps in public participation, reports widespread community concerns regarding water and food security, and urges PASA to require additional consultation with disadvantaged communities before recommending a decision on the Environmental Management Programme (EMP).

A statement by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) commemorating the life and environmental achievements of Ray C. Anderson, founder of Interface, Inc.