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This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the impact of international greenhouse gas offsets on the fulfillment of emission reduction pledges under the Cancún Agreements. It specifically examines the risk of 'double-counting'—where both the buyer and seller count the same emission reduction toward their targets—and how this could dilute global climate ambition and hinder the pursuit of a 2°C pathway.

This report analyzes the implementation of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RES) and Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Sweden, specifically focusing on the hydropower sector. It examines how the Swedish judicial concession system, which governs hydropower operations, creates conflicts between renewable energy production goals and aquatic biodiversity requirements. The author argues that the current system's lack of incentives and high level of distrust between operators and authorities hinder both the efficiency gains from hydropower refurbishments and the timely implementation of water quality improvements.

This policy brief examines the tensions between South Africa's domestic economic priorities and its international climate diplomacy. It highlights how the country's reliance on a coal-based 'minerals-energy complex' and the need to expand energy access conflict with its desire to be seen as a 'responsible' global actor and a 'bridge builder' in climate negotiations.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the prevalence of fraud and corruption within agricultural and energy subsidy programs, noting a disparity between the high funding of these programs and the low resources allocated for their monitoring.

This research paper examines the challenges of mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development finance, highlighting the risks of diverting existing aid and the implications of the Copenhagen Accord on funding and trust between developed and developing nations.

This briefing outlines the implications of the United Nations Secretary’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Finance (AGF) recommendations for Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on private sector mobilization, emission reduction frameworks, and the reliability of climate finance revenues.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines how developing countries can plan Climate Compatible Development (CCD) by balancing domestic priorities with the requirements of international funding and accountability frameworks. Drawing on lessons from the Rio Conventions and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) processes, the document provides recommendations for multi-stakeholder engagement, evidence-based planning, integrated policy frameworks, and effective monitoring and evaluation to ensure that climate adaptation and low emissions development (LED) are successfully institutionalized.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that Jatropha is neither a profitable nor a sustainable investment for biofuel production. It challenges the 'miracle crop' narrative, providing evidence that the plant requires significant inputs to be viable, often competes with food production, and leads to the displacement of local communities and the destruction of biodiversity.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that large-scale jatropha plantations are neither economically viable nor sustainable, contradicting claims by investment companies that the crop is a solution for the energy crisis, climate change, and poverty.

This WRI fact sheet argues that EPA regulations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) will likely drive energy efficiency investments and improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers rather than harming them. It contends that the costs of environmental compliance are relatively low compared to other business expenses and that the initial rollout of GHG rules will affect only a small fraction of facilities.

This executive summary outlines the implications for Africa of the United Nations Secretary’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) report, which proposes methods to raise US$100 billion annually by 2020 for climate investment in developing countries.

This briefing analyzes the implications of the Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Africa, focusing on the mobilization of US$100 billion per year in climate finance from developed countries. It highlights Africa's extreme vulnerability to climate change, its significant investment needs for adaptation and mitigation, and the necessity of public grants and regulatory reforms to attract private investment.

This executive summary outlines the implications of the United Nations Secretary’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Asia, focusing on the goal of raising US$100 billion annually by 2020 for climate change investment in developing countries.

This briefing examines the implications of the Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. It details the region's specific climate vulnerabilities, its unique emissions profile dominated by land-use change, and the significant funding gaps for both mitigation and adaptation. The document argues that while the AGF's proposed public and private funding mechanisms offer opportunities, the LAC region must actively ensure it receives an equitable share of resources, particularly for adaptation grants, to avoid being overlooked by existing official development assistance patterns.

This précis outlines the implications of the United Nations Secretary’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), focusing on the goal of raising US$100 billion per year for climate change investment in developing countries by 2020.

This briefing, written by Vivid Economics and funded by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), analyzes the implications of the Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It evaluates the investment needs for adaptation and mitigation in SIDS, the potential for public and private funding sources, and the specific risks and opportunities these financial mechanisms present for island nations.

This policy brief describes the development of the Orissa Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), the first comprehensive state-level climate plan in India. It details the rapid six-month process used to create the blueprint, the tools employed—specifically Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)—and the lessons learned regarding political leadership, stakeholder engagement, and the management of information gaps in climate planning.

This policy brief examines whether REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) can support climate compatible development in developing countries. It discusses the mechanism's potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic opportunities, while warning of risks to forest-dependent communities and the need for robust institutional frameworks to manage financial flows and monitor performance.

This report, prepared by EnviroEconomics Inc. for the International Institute for Sustainable Development's Global Subsidies Initiative, estimates the value and impact of government subsidies for upstream oil activities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and at the Canadian federal level. Using a definition based on the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the study identifies 63 subsidy programs totaling approximately $2.8 billion annually. The report analyzes the distribution of these subsidies, their financial impact on well-level production, and their broader macroeconomic and environmental effects through 2020.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the need for harmonized accounting rules for developed country (Annex I) emissions reduction pledges in a post-2012 climate agreement. It argues that without consistent rules for greenhouse gas coverage, land use (LULUCF), offsets, and surplus allowances, it will be impossible to accurately assess the ambition of national pledges or track global progress toward temperature targets.