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This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes Environment Canada's 2014 report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trends. It highlights a significant gap between Canada's projected 2020 emissions and its Copenhagen Accord pledge, noting that while some sectors show mitigation, growth in the oil sands and general economic expansion continue to drive emissions upward.

This research paper argues that using land for bioenergy creates intense competition with food, feed, and carbon storage, potentially widening the global crop calorie gap. The authors contend that most bioenergy is land-inefficient compared to solar energy and that current greenhouse gas accounting often 'double counts' biomass, erroneously suggesting that bioenergy is carbon-free. The paper recommends phasing out bioenergy from dedicated land use and prioritizing biomass derived from true wastes.

The 2015 GreenCape Market Intelligence Report provides an overview of the energy efficiency sector in South Africa, with a specific focus on the Western Cape. It details the drivers for energy efficiency—including constrained power supply and rising electricity costs—the roles of various service providers, the regulatory landscape, and the potential market size for Energy Service Companies (ESCos).

This research synthesis brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute summarizes findings from the 2008–2015 Mistra-SWECIA programme regarding climate change adaptation in the Swedish forestry sector. It examines the driving forces, risks, and social barriers affecting the roughly 330,000 individual forest owners who manage about half of Sweden's forests. The document highlights the tension between scientific climate projections and the practical, often gradual, perceptions of forest owners, while also analyzing indirect global climate risks to Sweden's export-dependent forestry economy.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute evaluates UNFCCC practices and proposes a set of architectural options to enhance the effectiveness of the post-2020 international climate agreement.

This report examines the cost-effectiveness of biomass power deployment subsidies in Germany and the United Kingdom, aiming to develop a multi-criteria framework for evaluating renewable energy subsidies by considering all costs and potential benefits.

This briefing describes the Government of Kenya's efforts to expand geothermal power production to support low-carbon development through a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA), focusing on the challenges of private sector mobilization and the lessons learned during the NAMA's development.

This consultation background paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in December 2014, outlines the context for developing a new provincial climate change and green economy plan for Manitoba. It specifically focuses on the role of peatlands in emissions reduction, climate resilience, and economic development, while reviewing Manitoba's previous emissions performance and comparing climate policies across other jurisdictions.

This research paper examines the potential for the Nordic countries to cooperate on climate adaptation and the development of a regional adaptation strategy, noting the region's strong institutional capacity and relative resilience compared to other global regions.

This report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) provides a critical review of the Zero Draft of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The authors argue that while the draft has advanced in areas like the inclusion of vulnerable groups, it remains disjointed in its organising logic and fails to sufficiently integrate DRR with sustainable development, climate change, and conflict.

The CFAS Guide, published in November 2014 by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, provides a comprehensive overview of climate finance negotiations leading up to the COP20 in Lima, Peru. It details the status of long-term finance goals, the operationalization of the Green Climate Fund, the challenges facing the Adaptation Fund, and the technical work of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding the monitoring, reporting, and verification of climate funds.

This report assesses the state of knowledge regarding climate change vulnerability and adaptation preparedness in Zimbabwe, highlighting a lack of specific policy responses and weak implementation capacity.

This policy brief examines the relationship between global food demand, meat production, and the opportunity costs associated with deforestation, specifically questioning whether REDD+ can compete with the profitability of land use for livestock and grain.

This background paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2014, provides a framework for consultations regarding Manitoba's transportation and infrastructure sectors as part of the 'TomorrowNow—Manitoba’s Green Plan'. It outlines the province's current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile, the vulnerabilities of its infrastructure to climate change, and examples of climate policies from other jurisdictions to inform a new provincial climate change and green economy action plan.

This policy brief discusses the Technology Mechanism established by the UNFCCC under the 2010 Cancún Agreements to facilitate technology development and transfer for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. It aims to suggest ways the mechanism can support activities by reviewing literature on international technology interventions and innovation systems.

This policy brief describes a study titled 'Heat-Related Mortality in India: Excess All-Cause Mortality Associated with the 2010 Ahmedabad Heat Wave,' which analyzed deaths during the May 2010 heat wave in Ahmedabad to determine if extreme heat leads to excess mortality. The brief highlights that while India has national climate change programs, it has lacked specific strategies to adapt to increasing heat, leading the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to develop the first comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat in an Indian city.

This policy brief examines the political economy of low carbon energy in Kenya, exploring how national energy security goals align with renewable energy technologies to address energy price volatility and climate vulnerability, while noting the potential complicating influence of recent oil and gas discoveries.

This document provides an overview of several reports and case studies concerning government subsidies and fiscal transitions in Russia and other BRICS nations, specifically focusing on upstream oil and gas projects in the Russian Arctic and coal subsidies.

This document consists of the annexes to a July 2014 report by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI). It provides detailed data on the use of public climate finance in Indonesia for 2011, including budget expenditure tables, definitions of climate finance by sector, a comparison of budget line markings, a list of relevant laws and regulations, and a review of climate-related activities by state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

This briefing describes how the Western Province of Sri Lanka is integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry into its climate change adaptation strategies to mitigate flood risks, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve food security.