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The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in North Carolina. By 2015, the state could reduce electricity use by 13%, which would offset approximately 90% of the projected increase in demand. Based on a 2009 ACEEE analysis for 2020 targets (15% for electricity and 10% for natural gas), the implementation of an EERS would result in $3.017 billion in energy savings, the creation of 6,426 net jobs, and a reduction of 11.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, alongside annual electricity savings of 13,840 GWh and peak demand savings equivalent to 15 300 MW power plants.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) would provide South Carolina with significant electricity savings, job creation, and CO2 emission reductions by 2020, while noting that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs.

The report examines the history and legal mechanisms used to construct barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically focusing on the 'Real ID Act' and 'Secure Fence Act'. It details how these laws allowed the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive nearly all federal and state laws, including environmental and historic preservation statutes, to expedite construction. The author highlights the resulting environmental damage in areas like the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the disruption of Native American sacred sites, and the high financial costs of the project. It concludes by calling for a suspension of construction and a legislative review of the wall's effectiveness and constitutionality.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of GM crops, specifically focusing on the dominance of a few corporations like Monsanto. It argues that GM technology does not solve hunger, as most crops are used for animal feed or biofuels in wealthy nations. The document highlights a trend of increasing pesticide use and the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds in the US, Argentina, and Brazil. It further claims that GM crops often result in lower yields than conventional varieties and suggests that agroecological and organic farming are more effective alternatives for food security.

The report contends that GM crops fail to alleviate hunger or poverty, instead increasing pesticide use and corporate control over seeds. It highlights that most GM crops are used for animal feed and biofuels in rich nations, while farmers in producer countries face rising costs and herbicide-resistant weeds. The document advocates for agro-ecological and organic farming as sustainable alternatives.

The report identifies a systemic conflict in Ecuador between export-led economic growth and environmental preservation. While the country possesses immense biodiversity, its economic model relies heavily on the intensive extraction of natural resources, often leading to severe ecosystem degradation. The analysis of five key sectors reveals that while trade liberalization and preferential access to markets (such as the US and EU) drive growth, they frequently exacerbate pollution and habitat loss. The document argues for a transition toward 'green markets' and the internalisation of environmental costs to ensure long-term sustainability.

The report examines the emerging bauxite mining sector in the Mekong region, focusing on the strategic interests of China in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It details the investment landscape, where Chinese firms dominate in Laos and provide engineering for Vietnam, while Australian firms lead in Cambodia. The document highlights critical constraints, such as the massive energy requirements for aluminum smelting and the lack of cheap hydropower. It further argues that existing environmental and social regulatory frameworks in these countries are poorly implemented, leading to transparency gaps and risks to indigenous communities and transboundary water systems, particularly the Sekong River.

The 2009 Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) for Namibia argues that the country should pivot from a bulk export model toward high-value niche sectors based on its comparative advantages in biodiversity and dryland landscapes. The report identifies significant opportunities in carbon markets, ecotourism, and indigenous natural products, while warning against 'green protectionism' and technical barriers to trade, such as EU sanitary requirements for red meat. It highlights the vulnerability of Namibia's water and agricultural sectors to climate change and recommends the establishment of a national forum on trade and environment to coordinate inter-ministerial policies and international negotiating positions.

The report analyzes China's biofuels sector, focusing on the transition from grain-based ethanol to non-grain feedstocks grown on marginal land. It finds that government subsidies, including direct payments and tax exemptions, are essential for the industry's viability but may undermine food security, increase food prices, and cause environmental degradation. The authors conclude that biofuels have a negligible impact on China's energy security and recommend eliminating direct production subsidies.

The report examines the 'Global Connectivity System' and the policy tensions surrounding the Internet's evolution. It highlights risks to sustainable development stemming from the potential loss of net neutrality, restrictive intellectual property rights, and the shift toward 'tethered' closed devices. It also analyzes infrastructure challenges, such as the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 and the lack of universal broadband in Africa. Governance concerns focus on the internationalization of ICANN and the sustainability of the IETF's volunteer-led model. Finally, it addresses the Internet's ecological footprint, specifically the high energy demands of data centers and the environmental costs of e-waste and mineral extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The report assesses the environmental consequences of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) on the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). It finds that while trade has increased, a third of the trade volume involves highly polluting sectors, with much of this pollution originating in China. In Cambodia, imports of polluting goods from China have improved the local environment at the expense of China's, while the increase in natural resource-based exports threatens resource sustainability due to weak regulation. The author concludes that the ACFTA's lack of environmental cooperation provisions is a significant policy shortcoming.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that the United States must stop building new coal plants without carbon capture and storage (CCS) to avoid locking in decades of high carbon emissions. The report recommends funding 5 to 10 commercial-scale CCS demonstration projects, implementing a strong economy-wide cap-and-trade program, and shifting federal R&D funding toward energy efficiency and renewable energy. It also highlights the severe environmental and health costs of the coal fuel cycle, specifically calling for a ban on mountaintop removal mining and the elimination of subsidies for coal-to-liquid technology. Internationally, the report advocates for sharing CCS technological lessons with developing nations, particularly China and India, to curb their expanding use of conventional coal.

The report finds that Malaysia's ambitions to become a global biodiesel producer have been undermined by volatile feedstock prices and the high cost of production relative to petroleum diesel. While the government provided limited support through soft loans and tax incentives, a proposed B5 blending mandate would likely increase the national subsidy burden. The industry's profitability is precarious, relying heavily on exports to the EU and US, where it may benefit from subsidy loopholes. Environmentally, the report argues that the presumed carbon benefits of biodiesel are offset by greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and peatland conversion, while socially, global biofuel demand has contributed to rising food prices.

The document examines the high social, economic, and environmental costs of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the U.S., contrasting them with 'smart pasture operations' (SPOs) and other mid-size alternatives. It highlights how federal subsidies for grain and waste management have artificially supported CAFOs while externalizing costs such as water pollution, antibiotic resistance, and diminished rural property values. The Union of Concerned Scientists advocates for policy shifts, including the elimination of CAFO waste subsidies and stricter enforcement of the Clean Water Act and antitrust laws, to promote a more sustainable food system.

The report criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for promoting a 'flawed model' of large-scale, export-oriented agrofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean. It argues that these projects, driven by demand from the US and Europe, lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human rights abuses, such as violent land grabs in Colombia. The document asserts that agrofuels are not a viable climate solution due to land-use emissions and calls for the IDB to shift funding toward small-scale, local energy projects and truly clean renewables like wind and solar.

The document critiques the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for promoting large-scale biofuel monocultures as a 'clean energy' solution. It argues that these projects, particularly in Brazil and Colombia, lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and rural displacement while failing to provide significant greenhouse gas reductions. The report calls for a shift toward small-scale, decentralized energy systems that support local food security and rural development.

The document details the conservation values of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and the surrounding Crown of the Continent ecosystem, specifically the transboundary Flathead River basin. It assesses the risks associated with two primary industrial threats: coalbed methane (CBM) extraction, exemplified by BP Canada's Mist Mountain Project, and open-pit coal mining, specifically the Lodgepole Coal Mine proposed by Cline Mining Corp. The paper argues that these activities would cause severe, irreversible damage to water quality, critical fish spawning habitats for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, and migratory corridors for rare carnivores like grizzly bears and wolverines. It emphasizes a critical lack of baseline environmental data and highlights the cumulative stress from other external threats such as highway expansion and logging.

The report examines China's role as a global leader in electronics manufacturing and a primary destination for electronic waste (e-waste). It utilizes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to show that the production and use phases—particularly for high-energy appliances like air conditioners—cause the most significant environmental damage. The document highlights the severe health and pollution risks associated with China's informal e-waste recycling sector, particularly in Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. It argues that while the industry drives economic growth and employment, it creates critical occupational hazards and public health threats. The report concludes with a three-pronged strategy: implementing a national sustainable electronics strategy focused on eco-design, strengthening national e-waste management legislation, and establishing an international action plan to regulate the transboundary movement of e-waste.

The report evaluates the proposed EU Directive's 10% biofuels target for 2020, arguing that sustainability depends on precise GHG accounting and the use of productive feedstocks. It highlights that tropical regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, have a significant comparative advantage in biofuel productivity over temperate regions. The authors caution against rigid land-use definitions that could disadvantage Least Developed Countries and emphasize the need to account for indirect land use change (iLUC) to avoid 'carbon debt'. The document recommends harmonizing EU methodology with IPCC guidelines and exploring the use of degraded lands for bioenergy to minimize food-security conflicts.

The document analyzes the wood and wood products sector in Lao PDR, highlighting how illegal logging and an underdeveloped processing industry contribute to forest decline and biodiversity loss. It emphasizes the need to shift from low-value exports to value-added domestic processing and improved forest management to ensure sustainability.