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3,213 results
South Africa and the Utility of Naval Power
This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies in February 1997, examines the strategic utility of naval power for South Africa in the post-Cold War era. It consists of several papers discussing the renewal of the South African Navy (SAN) fleet, the evolving nature of global security, and opportunities for maritime cooperation in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean rims. The document highlights the SAN's struggle with obsolete equipment and funding shortages while arguing that naval power remains a flexible, benign tool for diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and the protection of marine resources and economic interests.
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Document type: Report
ECOLABELLING: ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINA
This 1996 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the development and implications of China's national ecolabelling program. It details the program's structure, its role in reducing domestic environmental stress, and the potential for environmental labels to act as trade barriers for developing countries. The document evaluates the impact of foreign ecolabelling on Chinese exports—specifically in the textile and refrigerator sectors—and provides recommendations for strengthening China's program through increased transparency, the adoption of life-cycle analysis, and international cooperation to achieve mutual recognition of standards.
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Document type: Report
CHLORINE AND THE PAPER INDUSTRY
This case study examines the conflict between the U.S. pulp and paper industry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Greenpeace over the use of chlorine in bleaching processes. The central tension involves the production of toxic organochlorines, specifically dioxins, and the debate over whether the industry should move toward elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF) technologies. The document details the 'cluster rule' regulatory approach and the economic and environmental trade-offs associated with different bleaching standards.
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Document type: Case study
EUROPEAN UNION CARBON TAX
This teaching note, prepared by Scott Barrett for the World Resources Institute's Sustainable Enterprise Program, provides a framework for a classroom negotiation exercise regarding a proposed European Union carbon tax. It combines negotiation theory with a case study on the economic and environmental challenges of implementing regional climate policies, specifically focusing on the risks of 'leakage' and loss of competitiveness.
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Document type: Guide
Interbasin Water Transfers After NAFTA
This briefing discusses the risk of diverting Canada's fresh water resources to the southwestern United States and Mexico due to increasing water scarcity and the influence of trade agreements like NAFTA and the 1988 FTA, which may limit Canada's ability to restrict water exports.
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Document type: Briefing
Frictions Between International Trade Agreements and Environmental Protections: The Greening of World Trade
This memorandum examines the conflicts between free trade policies, which aim for efficient resource allocation by markets, and environmental policies, which aim to manage and maintain the earth's resources. It specifically analyzes the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and other trade agreements to identify frictions with international environmental agreements and domestic laws, seeking options to reconcile these legal relationships.
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Document type: Report
Green Industrialization
This fact sheet from the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines the potential for green industrialization in Africa, emphasizing the need to move from raw material extraction to value-adding industries through integrated policy, finance, and digital infrastructure.
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Document type: Fact sheet
ENERGY TRANSITIONS, REGIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKETS AND INDUSTRIALISATION PROSPECTS IN AFRICA
This policy brief by the African Climate Foundation examines how African nations can leverage renewable energy transitions and regional electricity market integration to drive industrialisation. It highlights the potential of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to overcome national energy deficits and create a sustainable development pathway through 'green industrialisation'.
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Document type: Policy brief
escalating-20debt-20burden-20in-20africa-20and-20its-20human-20rights-20implications-aafc74d78102e85a.pdf
This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) examines the relationship between escalating sovereign debt in Africa and the subsequent erosion of human rights. The authors argue that high debt-servicing obligations force governments to implement austerity measures and cut spending on essential public services, thereby compromising basic needs and hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper analyzes debt trends, the impact of various relief initiatives, and the role of civil society, ultimately calling for a human rights-based approach to debt management and the cancellation of debts for highly indebted countries.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Change Solutions with Immediate Health Benefits
This fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines how transitioning to a low-carbon economy in Canada can provide immediate health benefits. It argues that current government commitments are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets and advocates for a shift toward renewable energy, plant-based diets, and active transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health outcomes.
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Document type: Fact sheet
A live debate: Could Indian cities boost resilience by embracing native trees?
This research paper by Pratibha Caleb and Rithika Fernandes of ICLEI South Asia examines the debate between using native versus introduced tree species to enhance urban resilience in Indian cities facing increasing climate-related disasters.
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Document type: Research paper
Enhancing direct access to the Green Climate Fund
This policy brief examines the 'direct access' and 'enhanced direct access' modalities for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), analyzing the institutional capacities required for developing countries to manage climate finance independently. It draws on the experiences of the Adaptation Fund and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to identify barriers to accreditation—such as fiduciary standards and project management track records—and provides recommendations for the GCF Board to streamline access and support country ownership.
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Document type: Policy brief
Mainstreaming adaptation to climate change - what hope for Ethiopia’s water sector?
This briefing by Naomi Oates of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the challenges and progress of mainstreaming climate change adaptation within Ethiopia's water sector, highlighting the tension between 'add-on' international finance and the need for integration into core development planning.
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Document type: Briefing
Priority CCD actions for Pakistan
This briefing by the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) outlines priority actions for Pakistan to enhance its readiness for climate change adaptation and mitigation. It details the country's vulnerability despite low emissions, evaluates international UNFCCC mechanisms for funding and planning, and suggests aligning climate actions with national development goals to secure high-level political and private sector support.
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Document type: Briefing
National action is key to accelerating international progress on climate change
A statement by members of the Global Legislators’ Organisation (GLOBE) and other UK officials arguing that national and sub-national climate legislation is progressing faster than international negotiations and is essential for creating the political conditions necessary for a comprehensive global agreement in 2015.
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Document type: Statement
The Challenge of a Low Carbon Economy
A statement by Sunita Narain of the Center for Science and Environment detailing India's national action plan for climate change, the specific missions established to reduce emissions, and the systemic challenges India faces in transitioning to a low-carbon economy while maintaining equity in global negotiations.
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Document type: Statement
10 propositions for success
This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) proposes ten propositions to help countries integrate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into national development planning. Drawing on evidence from seven countries—Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Peru, and Uganda—the paper argues that successful integration requires a combination of policy coherence, institutional leadership, and transparent resource management to ensure climate actions are not isolated from mainstream economic development.
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Document type: Report
2givrapd_policy_brief-multi-level-governance-e78ea9fd69ba051a.pdf
This policy brief from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network argues that climate change adaptation in the Caribbean is fundamentally a governance challenge requiring a multi-level approach. It advocates for the creation of networks and hybrid partnerships between state and non-state actors to bridge jurisdictional scales and sectors, using case studies from St. Lucia and Jamaica to illustrate how community-based organizations and public-private partnerships can enhance adaptive capacity.
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Document type: Policy brief
4givrapd_policy_brief_reconciling_national_adaptation_policies-28643e3440775dc2.pdf
This policy brief from the GIVRAPD project examines the disconnect between national climate adaptation policies and local-level implementation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It highlights the need to reconcile top-down national planning with local community needs through participatory planning and collaborative governance to overcome adaptation barriers.
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Document type: Policy brief
5givrapd_policy_brief_lessons_from_seychelles_coastal_planning_and_micro-finance-36209b195358aa6c.pdf
This policy brief from the GIVRAPD project examines climate change vulnerability in Seychelles, focusing on the intersection of integrated coastal planning and micro-finance. It details coastal vulnerability assessments on Mahe and La Digue, the role of participatory planning in overcoming adaptation barriers, and the potential for micro-insurance to support resource-dependent communities facing increasing weather-related disasters.
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Document type: Policy brief