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This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development reviews the role, composition, and effectiveness of National Councils for Sustainable Development (NCSDs) over the past 25 years. It identifies success factors for these bodies as countries prepare to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the potential role of National Sustainable Development Councils (NCSDs) in designing and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on a survey of 12 countries, it examines existing national strategies, the challenges of monitoring progress, and the varying responsibilities of NCSDs in advising and implementing sustainable development policies.

The 2012 Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute, analyzes emissions from 1990 to 2012. It distinguishes between 'core' emissions (road transportation, building energy, and waste) and 'expanded' emissions (including industry, air, marine, and rail travel). The report finds that while absolute core emissions declined slightly, per person emissions dropped significantly despite population and job growth.

This report provides a comparative analysis of the trade policies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It examines their political coordination, their specific roles and proposals during the Doha Round negotiations, and their use of trade instruments such as tariffs, subsidies, and anti-dumping measures. The document highlights areas of convergence, particularly in defending the interests of developing countries, and areas of divergence stemming from different economic growth models.

This policy brief describes the results of the GES-REG project (2011-2013), which aimed to harmonize the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) among Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Sweden. The document focuses on improving socio-economic analysis (SEA) capabilities and regional cooperation to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) in the Baltic Sea by 2020.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews global studies to estimate the international finance required for climate change mitigation, specifically for a warming trajectory of no more than 2°C. It distinguishes between various metrics—such as total, incremental, and net climate-relevant investment—and highlights a significant gap between current funding and the needs of developing (non-OECD) countries.

This policy brief summarizes the findings of the GES-REG project, which aimed to harmonize the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in the central and north-eastern Baltic Sea. The project focused on improving Economic and Social Analysis (ESA) to help Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Sweden develop cost-effective Programmes of Measures to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020.

This research paper analyzes the shifting landscape of maritime piracy in Africa, contrasting the decline of Somalia-based piracy with the significant rise of attacks in the Gulf of Guinea. It examines the different tactics used in these regions, the impact on Africa's 'blue economy', and the regional security strategies being implemented by West African states and the African Union.

This briefing paper evaluates three global mitigation pathways—the 1.5°C marker, the 2°C marker, and the G8 marker—against the carbon budgets provided in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report to determine their likelihood of limiting global surface temperature increases to 2°C by the end of the century.

This research paper compares the socio-economic profiles and disaster coping mechanisms of low-income persons in the agriculture and tourism sectors across the Caribbean (Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Lucia) and the South West Indian Ocean (Mauritius and the Seychelles). The study evaluates the demand for microinsurance as a tool to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events.

This research paper compares the transition to alternative transport fuels, specifically ethanol, in Brazil, Malawi, and Sweden, analyzing these nations as pioneers in developing the necessary physical and institutional infrastructure.

The NewClimate Institute analyzed how different calculation methods for historical greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions affect the relative contributions of countries to cumulative global emissions, finding that results vary significantly based on the parameters used.

This briefing describes a workshop and project phase conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Low Carbon Promotion Center of the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) in August 2013. The initiative focuses on using low-carbon standards to develop competitive green enterprises within economic and technological development zones in China.

This research paper evaluates the sustainable development benefits of 77 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) bioenergy projects across India, Brazil, and sub-Saharan Africa, finding that projects utilizing agricultural farm residues claim the most benefits, while those using industrial forest residues claim the fewest.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes President Obama's June 2013 climate change action plan. It examines the shift toward Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sector-regulation for electricity, the potential for alignment with subnational carbon pricing systems, and the implications for Canada's own regulatory approach and the Keystone XL Pipeline approval.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explores options for establishing a voluntary peer-review process within the G-20 to advance the phase-out and rationalization of inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies. It analyzes the benefits of peer review as a 'soft law' tool, compares existing mechanisms in other international forums, and proposes specific structural options and reporting frameworks to balance mutual learning with accountability.

This research paper evaluates the consistency of carbon offset credits across five different programs in the U.S. carbon market, specifically focusing on landfill methane, manure management, and afforestation/reforestation projects.

This document consists of several distinct text fragments. The primary section is an introduction to a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development that compares climate change vulnerability assessments (VAs) in Tunisia and Indonesia using a four-component framework (Framing, Process, Inputs, and Outputs). Additional fragments discuss nature-based solutions for road resilience in Indonesia and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a $20 billion financing mechanism aimed at accelerating the retirement of coal plants and the development of renewable energy in Indonesia and South Africa.

This policy briefing analyzes the proposed corporate governance framework for Uganda's forthcoming national oil company (NOC), comparing it with the state-owned enterprise (SOE) model in Norway. The author argues that Uganda's current legislative approach is insufficient and recommends adopting stakeholder-oriented guidelines and a centralized supervisory body similar to Norway's Department of State Ownership to prevent corruption and government interference.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) analyzes trends in the disclosure of environmental information in South Africa for 2012, comparing them to 2010-11. It finds that while public bodies are more actively responding to requests under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), actual disclosure has decreased and active refusals have increased. Private companies have shifted from ignoring requests to actively opposing disclosure, often through legal proceedings.