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This 2005 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that fuel cells can be cost-effective distributed energy resources (DER) by capturing economic benefits beyond simple energy generation, such as deferring utility distribution investments and providing premium reliability for the digital economy.

This report, based on a 2004 conference hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs, examines the impacts of the Trade, Development, and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Union. It analyzes the TDCA as a potential benchmark for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated between the EU and other Southern African states, while highlighting the systemic challenges posed by overlapping regional memberships (the 'Spaghetti Bowl') and the legal complexities of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

This report assesses progress toward the human development Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) between 2000 and 2005, focusing on the challenges of scaling up skilled providers, ensuring sustained financing, and improving governance to translate resources into effective service delivery in health, education, water, and sanitation.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes Chile's economic and political transition from a military dictatorship (1973–1989) to a stable democracy. It highlights how Chile combined liberal market reforms with progressive social policies and pragmatic leadership to achieve high GDP growth and human development, offering these as potential lessons for African nations seeking to improve economic growth and reduce poverty.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the development of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Brazil, focusing on the role of SEBRAE as a model for public-private partnership. It contrasts the Brazilian approach—which emphasizes logistical support, training, and clear categorization over direct financing—with the strategies used in South Africa and Lesotho.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolution of corporate governance in South Africa, focusing on the influence of the King Reports and the country's role as a model for other African nations. It details the transition from a closed, racially-exclusive economy to a liberalised market with sophisticated governance codes, while highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcement capacity and the complexities of black economic empowerment.

This research paper argues that the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are insufficient for developing Africa because they focus on the symptoms of poverty rather than the underlying causes of economic stagnation. The author contends that the MDGs act as a 'political camouflage' that diverts resources away from growth-oriented investments. To address this, the paper proposes a comprehensive set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on commercial infrastructure, rural economy investment, technical skills, financial reform, and the removal of bureaucratic and corrupt obstacles to business.

This report, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre for the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, examines the results of Ecological Tax Reforms (ETR) in selected European Union countries, specifically Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. It analyzes how shifting the tax burden from labour to consumption and resource use can simultaneously improve environmental quality, reduce unemployment, and increase economic competitiveness. The document provides detailed case studies of these four nations and offers specific policy recommendations for implementing a similar green tax reform in Estonia.

This document consists of remarks by World Resources Institute President Jonathan Lash, delivered during a National Press Club briefing on December 21, 2004, regarding anticipated environmental issues for 2005.

This research paper, presented at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2004, proposes a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) against the United States. The authors argue that the U.S., as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has violated the human rights of the Inuit and other Arctic indigenous peoples by failing to curtail emissions, leading to the destruction of homes, loss of vital resources, and the potential erasure of ancient Inuit culture.

This research paper analyzes the internal dynamics of the Zanu (PF) party in Zimbabwe, focusing on the challenges of leadership succession and the significance of Joyce Mujuru's appointment as vice-president within a patriarchal society and a party dominated by the Karanga clan.

This RMI guide explains how to improve a home's building envelope to reduce energy costs by up to 50%. It details the mechanisms of heat loss and gain and provides specific recommendations for insulation materials, air sealing techniques, and window upgrades to enhance thermal efficiency and indoor comfort.

This briefing from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides guidance on improving home lighting energy efficiency. It advocates for a 'whole-system' approach—combining efficient bulbs like Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and LEDs with dedicated fixtures, lighting controls, and daylighting strategies—to reduce electricity costs and improve lighting quality.

This RMI briefing provides strategies for reducing energy and water consumption in home cleaning appliances. It highlights that heating water is the primary energy driver for washers and dishwashers and recommends high-efficiency models, such as front-loading washers and Heat Pump Clothes Dryers. The document also suggests behavioral changes, such as using cold water and full loads, and discusses the environmental impact of dry cleaning chemicals and detergents.

A joint statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and other civil society organizations expressing opposition to the U.S. Trade Representative's proposed appellate mechanism for the investment chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central American-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), arguing it fails to address underlying problems and could undermine public interest and domestic oversight.

This research paper examines the history of violence and instability within South Africa's minibus taxi industry, tracing its origins from apartheid-era deregulation to post-1994 conflicts. It analyzes the failures of government attempts to re-regulate and recapitalize the industry, highlighting disputes over funding, vehicle specifications, and industry representation.

This executive summary details a project conducted between October 2002 and December 2004 by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Climate Change and Development Consultants (CC&D), and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP). The project explored the use of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Chile's transportation sector, specifically focusing on three case studies in Santiago: bicycle infrastructure, bus technology, and location efficiency.

This briefing paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that the US government is implementing a policy to make the contamination of the food supply with experimental genetically modified (GM) crops 'acceptable.' The document details the risks of such contamination, the lack of rigorous regulation for field trials, and the potential for these traits to spread globally through US food exports.

This briefing reports on a November 2004 workshop organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) during the 3rd World Conservation Congress in Bangkok. The session focused on the challenges facing conservation efforts in Nepal due to the ongoing conflict between the government and Maoist rebels, drawing on global strategies to sustain environmental protection during armed conflict.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the potential for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Mercosur. It argues that while static economic gains from tariff reduction are limited and may reinforce South Africa's reliance on primary product exports, significant dynamic opportunities exist through intra-industry specialization, institutional collaboration, and the disciplining of dominant domestic firms to benefit downstream manufacturing.