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The report assesses the economic and environmental impact of Spain's biofuel industry in 2011, finding high carbon abatement costs for ethanol and net emission increases for conventional biodiesel. It highlights a significant reliance on imported biodiesel and feedstock, primarily from Argentina and Indonesia, which undermines energy security. Additionally, it notes a wide variance in employment estimates for the sector.

The report analyzes the energy landscape of Central America, noting a contradictory trend where the region leads in geothermal and hydroelectric power but faces increasing dependence on imported fossil fuels. It argues that while the region has the potential to meet 100% of its electricity needs through renewables, significant gaps in data, administrative inefficiency, and fossil fuel subsidies hinder progress. The document recommends integrating technical resource assessments with socio-economic analysis (LCOE+), simplifying bureaucratic processes through 'single-window' permitting, and strengthening regional interconnection via SIEPAC to manage variability in wind and solar power.

The paper argues that South Africa's National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 target of 5.4% average annual GDP growth is 'very ambitious' and unlikely to be met under current trends. Using the International Futures (IFs) model, the authors find a 'Base Case' average growth of 3.4% for 2014-2030, significantly lower than the NDP target and regional peers. While the 'Highway' scenario shows that combining aggressive interventions—such as reducing corruption, curbing HIV/AIDS, and increasing foreign direct investment—could push growth above 5%, such a path requires systemic structural change. Conversely, the analysis suggests that targets for education and infrastructure are 'eminently achievable' even with lower economic growth, indicating a potential lack of integration in the NDP's sectoral planning.

The report examines the tension between environmental restoration and energy production in Sweden's mature hydropower sector. It finds that production gains from renovating 39 stations (2003–2012) were approximately 24 times larger than production losses from concession reviews (1990–2010), suggesting that significant river restoration can occur without compromising overall energy capacity. Through case studies of the Edensforsen, Furudal, and Hedefors stations, the author analyzes the legal and institutional hurdles of modifying and reviewing hydropower concessions under the Swedish Environmental Code (SEC) and EU directives. The report concludes that the current legal framework often leads to inefficiencies and adversarial processes, recommending the creation of a common compulsory fund for hydropower producers to finance restoration measures and streamline the review process.

The document examines Mongolia's Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) project, which provides financial security to herders facing 'dzuds' (extreme weather events). Unlike traditional insurance, IBLI triggers payouts based on aggregated mortality rates rather than individual losses, reducing transaction costs and moral hazard. The project, supported by the World Bank, integrates market-based insurance with government catastrophic coverage to protect against mass livestock losses. The brief emphasizes that for such programs to be sustainable, they require high-quality mortality data, affordable premiums, and integration into a broader risk management strategy that includes sustainable grazing practices and veterinary services.

Institutional investors manage approximately $71 trillion in OECD assets, but their ability to fund renewable energy is constrained by liquidity needs, fund size, and policy barriers. While they could potentially cover all corporate equity and debt needs for renewables, their capacity for direct project investment is limited to roughly 24% of equity and 49% of debt requirements. The report suggests five steps to unlock this potential: fixing policy barriers, improving investor practices, modifying regulatory constraints, developing better pooled investment vehicles, and encouraging corporate investors.

The paper evaluates the Spanish "Renove" plan, which provides rebates for A+ labelled energy-efficient appliances. Using a model of close substitutes, the authors find that a standalone 80€ subsidy for dishwashers in the Basque Autonomous Community increases total market demand by 1.5%, leading to a "rebound effect" that increases the total energy bill by 197,399€ and costs the government over 1 M€. In contrast, a 40€ tax on non-efficient appliances reduces total appliance demand by 1.6%, generates approximately 0.8 M€ in revenue, and saves nearly 300,000€ in energy costs. The authors argue that combining taxes and subsidies can optimize outcomes; for example, a 40€ subsidy paired with a 20€ tax avoids a deficit, prevents the rebound effect, and reduces deadweight loss compared to single-instrument policies.

The report details climate finance in Germany across five key sectors. In 2010, the energy sector saw EUR 10.3 billion in climate-specific investment, dominated by private funding (98%) and renewable energy. The buildings sector received at least EUR 16.3 billion, primarily from households. The agriculture sector saw EUR 5.4 billion, almost entirely in renewables. Industry climate-specific investment was EUR 579 million in 2009, mostly for energy efficiency. Transport climate-specific investment averaged EUR 559 million, focused on energy-efficient vehicles. The report highlights the critical role of the public bank KfW in providing concessionary loans and the influence of the Feed-in Tariff on private investment.

The report examines the vulnerability of Peru's agricultural sector to climate variability and change, focusing on the Junín and Piura regions. It identifies key threats such as El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), droughts, floods, and frosts, and analyzes their impacts on priority crops like maize, potatoes, and mangoes. The document evaluates Peru's institutional capacity for risk management, noting a disconnect between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation frameworks. It recommends improving agricultural practices, water management, and data collection, while calling for a comprehensive national program to integrate climate risk management into development planning.

The document provides a multi-dimensional analysis of COVID-19 in Ethiopia, covering the health system's response, macroeconomic shocks, social vulnerabilities, and the intersection of the pandemic with political instability. It details government measures such as the state of emergency, financial support for banks, and public health campaigns, while highlighting critical gaps in digital governance and the risk of increased poverty.

The report finds that the implementation of Indonesia's National Action Plan Addressing Climate Change (RAN-PI) has been generally poor, particularly at the local and community levels, due to a lack of national legal foundations and poor vertical communication. While some provincial and district offices report adaptation activities like reforestation and coral transplantation, village-level communities often remain unaware of national policies and struggle with immediate climate impacts such as water scarcity, crop failure, and coastal erosion. The assessment emphasizes the need for a bottom-up approach that integrates traditional indigenous knowledge with modern science and calls for the empowerment of 'local champions' to build community resilience.

The report examines Sweden's experience with wetland implementation, noting that the country achieved only 60% of its target to add 12,000 hectares of wetlands between 2000 and 2010. While the primary focus has been on nutrient reduction (nitrogen and phosphorus), the study argues for a 'multifunctional' approach that includes flood risk reduction, irrigation, biodiversity enhancement, and biomass production. Key barriers identified include complex water legislation, insufficient financial compensation for farmers' income loss, and a restrictive regulatory focus on nutrient retention. Conversely, successful large-scale projects are characterized by a river basin approach, strong local leadership, and comprehensive support systems.

The document assesses Sweden's progress in constructing wetlands to make agriculture more sustainable, noting that the country achieved only 60% of its 12,000-hectare target between 2000 and 2010. It argues for a shift from a narrow focus on nutrient retention toward a multifunctional approach that includes flood control, biodiversity, and irrigation. Key barriers identified include complex water legislation, insufficient financial compensation for farmers, and coordination challenges. Conversely, enabling factors include strong political priority, inter-institutional collaboration, and a robust knowledge base. The paper recommends adopting a water basin approach and involving local actors to foster long-term relationships with landowners.

The document analyzes the divergent paths taken by Canada and Australia to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. While Australia implemented a unified national carbon pricing system (transitioning from a carbon tax to cap-and-trade), Canada adopted a decentralized, sector-by-sector regulatory approach utilizing provincial equivalency agreements. The authors argue that Canada's fragmented system is likely to result in higher regulatory costs for emitters compared to Australia's streamlined national approach, although the actual emission reductions of both schemes remain uncertain.

The report argues that South African institutional investors, as 'universal owners', face material financial risks from climate change and water scarcity, which are currently underpriced in securities markets. It highlights that listed coal reserves exceed scientific carbon budgets and that water scarcity poses significant operational risks to water-intensive sectors. The document recommends a shift toward low-carbon and water-responsible investments, calling for regulatory interventions to create investment-grade green financial products and mandatory ESG disclosures to avoid stranded assets and systemic market shocks.

This report evaluates the first year of the Indian Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) market, launched in March 2011 to help meet the National Action Policy on Climate Change target of 15% renewable electricity by 2020. The authors find that the market has failed to attract significant investment or drive cost reductions due to low participation, poor enforcement of Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) by states, and a lack of long-term price signals. While the conceptual design is deemed adequate in some areas, the execution is hampered by the financial instability of State Electricity Boards and a preference among developers for traditional feed-in-tariffs.

The report examines Ukraine's 'Green Investment Scheme', which was established to manage 470 million euros earned from selling 'hot air' emission quotas between 2009 and 2012. It highlights a significant gap between the funds received and the actual implementation of projects, noting that by the end of 2011, only 37 projects were completed, resulting in a disproportionately high cost per ton of CO2-eq reduced. The document criticizes the scheme for lack of transparency, bureaucratization, and potential corruption, arguing that project selection may be driven by political reasons rather than environmental or economic viability.

Ecuador's Socio Bosque programme provides annual per-hectare payments to private and communal landholders who maintain forest cover. While not originally designed for REDD+, it supports Ecuador's climate strategy by reducing deforestation and increasing the resilience of the rural poor. After three years, the programme covered 881,933 hectares through 1,566 agreements, though it faces challenges regarding land titling and high monitoring costs.

CCAP and CDM Watch support the G77 proposal to cancel 13Gt of AAU surplus by the end of the second commitment period (CP2) in 2017 or 2020. While the proposal allows for the carryover of AAUs for domestic compliance, it prohibits their trading. The organizations further welcome the proposal's aim to prevent a new surplus after 2012 by cancelling the difference between CP2 targets and actual 2012 emissions if emissions are lower than the target, which may require some EU Member State targets to be strengthened.

The report finds that federal incentives were critical for the viability of U.S. wind and solar projects in 2010, bridging roughly half the gap between generation costs and market prices. While cost reductions have made wind nearly viable with federal support alone by 2013, the report argues that current tax-based incentives are inefficient because project developers often lack the tax liabilities to fully utilize them, necessitating costly tax-equity financing. The authors propose replacing the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind with a Taxable Cash for Production (TCP) incentive and offering solar PV projects a 20% 1603 Cash Grant instead of a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to maintain support while significantly reducing costs to federal and state governments.