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A statement by South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota outlining the South African Navy's role in supporting an 'African Renaissance' through secondary functions such as peace support, environmental protection, border control, and disaster relief.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement 2008 from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) discusses South Africa's evolving role in global affairs as it approaches the 2009 elections. The statement emphasizes the link between domestic governance and international credibility, outlining three critical tests for the state: responsible leadership during political transition, the resilience of democratic institutions, and the quality of policy implementation in areas such as climate change and conflict resolution. It further addresses regional instability in Africa, the influence of emerging powers like China and India, and the necessity of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the extent and cost-effectiveness of government support for the ethanol and biodiesel industries in Australia. It analyzes various subsidies, including excise tax rebates, capital grants, and research funding, concluding that the level of assistance is high relative to other industries and often fails to deliver cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions or energy security compared to alternative policy options.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an interpretive analysis of three major international scientific assessments—the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IAASTD, and GEO-4—to determine their implications for the policy goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The analysis focuses on 11 key themes, including climate change, biotechnology, and energy production, evaluating how these global trends affect Canada's agricultural competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management.

This report, prepared by the FiFo Institute of Public Economics for the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), tests a proposed standardized notification template for subsidies to be used by World Trade Organization (WTO) Members. Using Germany as a case study, the authors demonstrate a significant discrepancy between official WTO notifications and the actual volume of specific subsidies granted by the federal government and the sixteen Länder (states). The report proposes technical improvements to the notification process, including a unique subsidy identifier, to increase transparency and compliance with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM).

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the evolution of integrated peacebuilding strategies in post-conflict Liberia between 2003 and 2008. It analyzes the collaboration between the Government of Liberia (GoL) and the United Nations (UN), specifically UNMIL and the UN Country Team, to move from tenuous security to a sustainable peace. The document details the process of identifying 'conflict factors', infusing conflict sensitivity into national policy frameworks like the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), and the challenges of balancing security-oriented benchmarks with long-term peacebuilding goals.

This report documents a scoping workshop held in April 2008 by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). The workshop aimed to develop a framework for civil society organizations (CSOs) to monitor the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and its National Programmes of Action (NPoA), specifically focusing on the creation of the APRM Monitoring and Advocacy Template (AMAT).

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the economic, social, and political barriers preventing the adoption of clean cooking fuels in sub-Saharan Africa. It contrasts traditional biomass fuels with modern alternatives like LPG, ethanol, and biogas, highlighting how high capital costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and socio-cultural norms sustain dependence on inefficient fuels. The authors propose a policy framework involving national bureaus, targeted subsidies, and community-led design to facilitate a transition to cleaner energy.

A formal complaint submitted to the Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman on March 31, 2008, by community members and former employees regarding the operations of Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, S.A. (NSEL). The complainants allege that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) failed to comply with its own social and environmental sustainability policies when approving a $55 million loan (Project 25331) to NSEL for sugarcane production and ethanol plant construction.

A group of civil society organizations wrote to the WIPO Coordination Committee on 19 March 2008, inviting candidates for the WIPO Director-General position to a meeting in Geneva on 15 April 2008. The organizations requested written responses to eight questions regarding the integration of civil society, the mainstreaming of development, and the impact of intellectual property rights on sustainable development and access to essential technologies and medicines.

Judge Daniel D Ntanda Nsereko's 2008 welcome address highlights the ICC's role in combating impunity in Africa, noting that while 30 African states ratified the Rome Statute, gross human rights violations persist. He identifies four ICC situations in Africa (DRC, Uganda, Sudan, and CAR) and emphasizes that the African Union's own Constitutive Act mandates a commitment to the rule of law. The address calls for collaboration between the ICC, the AU, civil society, and regional bodies to achieve substantive justice.

This 2008 report evaluates transport interventions to reduce carbon emissions in the Yorkshire and Humber region. It finds that current regional strategies are insufficient to meet 2010 and 2015 GHG reduction targets. Using the REAP model, the report tests various 'best practice' measures—such as Bus Rapid Transit, smartcards, and teleworking—to determine how the region might achieve a 'Stabilising Carbon Trends' scenario, which requires a 35% reduction in transport CO2 emissions through significant behavioural changes in travel distance and vehicle occupancy.

A case study by Earthjustice regarding a United States District Court ruling that required the EPA to establish financial assurance regulations for mining companies to prevent taxpayers from bearing the cost of environmental cleanup.

This research paper by Romy Chevallier of the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the shift in French foreign policy toward Africa under President Nicolas Sarkozy. It describes a transition from 'la Françafrique'—characterized by colonial ties and personal relationships with corrupt elites—toward a multilateral 'Eurafrique' model based on economic partnerships and European integration.

This briefing serves as a 'Thought Starter' for the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS). It examines whether the international trade of lead and cadmium—as commodities, products, and wastes—creates environmental and health risks that necessitate a coordinated international response rather than isolated national actions.

This report explores the development of environment and sustainable development (ESD) policies in K–12 schools in Manitoba and across Canada. It identifies three primary approaches to policy development: government-led "whole school" initiatives, independent certification and award programs, and individual school district policy development. The document highlights a gap between the advanced sustainability policy frameworks in the tertiary education sector and the more sporadic, often fragmented approach in K–12 education, particularly in Manitoba where many schools act without district-level mandates.

This research paper examines how agricultural producers and organizations in the Coaldale and Foremost regions of Southern Alberta respond to extreme weather events and other systemic shocks. Through 40 semi-structured interviews conducted between November 2007 and February 2008, the study identifies common weather stressors—specifically the 2001 drought, 2002 flooding, and 2007 extreme heat—and evaluates the effectiveness of short-term coping mechanisms and long-term adaptation strategies, such as no-till farming and irrigation efficiency.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides a progress update on the establishment of the African Standby Force (ASF), a multidisciplinary force designed to enable the African Union (AU) to respond to conflicts through peace support missions and interventions.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs assesses South Africa's foreign policy, economic relations, and security role within Africa since 1994. It highlights the transition from the 'principled' approach of the Mandela era to the 'pragmatic' African Renaissance agenda under Thabo Mbeki, while noting the tensions between South Africa's regional economic dominance and its desire to avoid being perceived as a 'big brother'.

This strategy report, prepared following a February 2006 meeting in Nairobi, examines the intersection of biodiversity conservation and social-political conflict within the Albertine Rift. It advocates for adaptive conservation interventions to minimize risks and address root causes of threats, while analyzing seven conflict assessment tools to help practitioners avoid or mitigate conflict in project areas.