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This briefing note from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines institutional and policy processes (IPPs) that can facilitate a transition to a green economy, using case studies from Ontario and Manitoba to illustrate their application and limitations.

This 2013 issue brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the funding crisis of the U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), noting that federal fuel taxes have not been adjusted in 20 years. The document analyzes the resulting infrastructure deterioration, the reliance on General Fund transfers to maintain solvency, and various policy options—including inflation indexing, fuel tax increases, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees—to close a $112 billion annual funding gap.

This issue brief from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the role of energy storage technologies in mitigating electricity industry challenges, integrating renewable energy, and improving grid reliability. It details various storage technologies—ranging from pumped hydro and compressed air to advanced batteries and flywheels—and analyzes the impact of U.S. federal policies, specifically FERC orders and Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives, in overcoming implementation barriers.

This report by Terry Townshend and Adam Matthews argues that ambitious domestic climate change legislation, specifically targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enables countries to champion more ambitious collective action within the UNFCCC international negotiations.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the role of climate diplomacy in securing a global climate agreement by 2015. It argues that integrating climate change into foreign policy and building diplomatic capacity—particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)—is essential for advancing multilateral action both within and outside the UNFCCC process.

This policy brief examines the funding crisis facing the U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), noting that federal fuel taxes have not been adjusted since 1993. It details the resulting infrastructure deterioration, the reliance on General Fund transfers to maintain solvency, and various proposed solutions including inflation indexing, fuel tax increases, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees.

This policy briefing examines the state of small-scale fisheries in Mozambique, highlighting their critical role in the rural economy and food security. While the government has implemented co-management structures and provided technical support, the sector faces significant threats from overfishing, illegal practices, climate change, and conflicts arising from the expansion of tourism and extractive industries.

This case study examines the funding landscape for infrastructure development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the critical funding gap and the complementary roles of traditional donors, new development partners, and private investors. It emphasizes the need to transition from aid-dependency to 'bankable' projects that can attract private capital to support regional integration and economic growth.

This case study examines the complexities of regional infrastructure planning in Southern Africa, focusing on the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP). It analyzes the roles of various stakeholders—including governments, development finance institutions, donors, and the private sector—and discusses the challenges of financing, coordination, and the socio-environmental impacts of large-scale projects, using the Lesotho Highlands Water Project as a specific example.

This case study examines the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), a large-scale transboundary water transfer scheme between Lesotho and South Africa. While praised for its engineering, the project has faced significant challenges regarding corruption, social displacement, and the long-term impact of climate change on water security.

This report, part of the Political Economy of Regional Integration in Southern Africa (PERISA) project, examines regional integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through the lens of public goods rather than trade. It analyzes four case studies—water resource management, forestry (REDD+), transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)—to identify drivers of success and institutional barriers to integration.

Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on July 24, 2013, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The statement argues that TTIP could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly in the chemicals sector, by prioritizing the removal of regulatory barriers over safety standards. Muffett advocates for the retention of national rights to determine health protection levels and the exclusion of investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms.

Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on July 24, 2013, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Representing CIEL, Friends of the Earth, and the Sierra Club, Muffett argued that the agreement's focus on reducing regulatory barriers could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly in the chemicals sector, by favoring industry interests over safety standards.

Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 24, 2013, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Representing CIEL, Friends of the Earth, and the Sierra Club, Muffett argued that the U.S. chemical regulation system is inadequate and that TTIP risks weakening existing environmental and health standards in the EU and U.S. states rather than improving them.

This statement from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute argues that U.S. forests are increasingly transitioning from carbon sinks to carbon emitters due to climate change, droughts, and wildfires. It highlights a critical funding gap for hazardous fuel reduction and ecosystem restoration, suggesting that expanding markets for wood products and bioenergy could provide a sustainable financial model for forest management.

This briefing paper examines the socio-economic impacts of migration influenced by climate change in Bangladesh, discussing its role as both a development tool and an adaptation strategy while highlighting the need for protective policies for internal migrants.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in July 2013, examines the relationship between climate change and migration in Bangladesh. Based on research from the Sussex Centre for Migration Research and the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, the document argues that migration should be viewed as a proactive adaptation tool rather than a failure of local interventions or a social threat. It identifies significant gaps in existing national policies and provides recommendations to integrate migration into climate resilience strategies, protect migrant rights, and improve access to financial and vocational resources for climate-vulnerable populations.

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 report analyzes the strategic importance of President Barack Obama's June 2013 visit to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. It frames the visit as part of a broader shift in US-Africa relations, moving from the strategic indifference of the 1990s toward a partnership focused on economic growth, democratic strengthening, energy security, and youth leadership development, while competing with China's significant trade presence on the continent.

This policy brief examines the mechanisms for direct access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), distinguishing between 'direct access' and 'enhanced direct access'. It analyzes the experiences of the Adaptation Fund and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to identify barriers for developing countries—particularly regarding fiduciary standards—and provides recommendations for the GCF Board to streamline accreditation and support country ownership.