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The study evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions of various biodiesel and bio-ethanol feedstocks compared to fossil fuels. It finds that waste cooking oil and sugarbeet offer the highest emissions savings, but the current feedstock mix would require a 23.8% market share by 2020 to meet the LCTP's 6% emissions saving goal.

The study finds that CCS deployment in Germany would lower spot market electricity prices and reduce imports from France, Belgium, and Poland, while increasing producer and consumer surpluses.

The research paper evaluates the economic and emissions impacts of increasing the EU's 2020 GHG reduction target to 30%. Using the E3MG model, it focuses on three energy-intensive sectors: iron and steel, aluminium, and cement. The findings indicate that while a 30% target significantly increases EU ETS allowance prices, there is no evidence of substantial carbon leakage through import substitution. Border adjustment measures partially protect EU output but have a negligible macroeconomic impact, as the affected sectors collectively account for less than 1% of EU GDP.

The Bottom-Up Energy Analysis System (BUENAS) is a policy analysis tool developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to model energy demand for appliances and equipment in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. It projects energy consumption from 2005 to 2030 across 12 individual countries and the European Union, covering approximately 62% of global final energy demand (increasing to 77% if China is included). The model utilizes a modified Kaya identity—Energy = (Activity × Intensity) / Efficiency—and is implemented via the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) system. BUENAS evaluates three scenarios: Business As Usual (BAU), Recent Achievements (modeling MEPS implemented or announced between 2010 and 2011), and Best Practice (assuming the adoption of the world's most stringent standards by 2015). Results indicate that the Best Practice scenario could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 988 mt by 2030, with the most significant electricity savings projected in the residential (27%) and commercial (22%) sectors.

The document assesses 'extreme outcomes'—near-catastrophic climate events and socially contingent responses—that are often underrepresented in economic assessments. It identifies key biogeophysical tipping elements, such as the melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, and evaluates their potential to trigger severe economic losses and social instability. A high-end sea level rise scenario of 1.65m by the 2080s is estimated to cost approximately $1 trillion per year and displace millions. The brief also explores the nexus of climate change, state fragility, and forced migration, particularly in South Asia and Bangladesh, arguing that these 'wicked problems' require multiple lines of evidence and a shift toward building resilience rather than simple prediction.

The document argues that road traffic accidents are a critical development issue in Africa, with fatalities forecast to rise as motorisation increases without corresponding infrastructure improvements. By comparing a 'base case' forecast with an 'improved scenario' where death rates are stabilised at the current continental average of 32 per 100,000 people, the authors estimate that Africa could prevent 4.2 million deaths and add US$ 234 billion to its GDP by 2050. The brief highlights that the economic gains, primarily driven by a larger labour force, would far outweigh the estimated costs of intervention, which range from US$ 1.7 billion to US$ 24 billion.

The report uses the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and a lumped groundwater model to evaluate the Jaldhaka watershed's current hydrology and the effects of shifting land use or increasing groundwater pumping. It finds that while both a deforestation scenario and an electrification scenario increase rice production, deforestation significantly raises flood risks. Electrification increases productivity but may lead to groundwater depletion of up to 8 meters in downstream areas under a 100% adoption scenario, though this may be partially offset by induced recharge from perennial rivers.

The document uses the POLES energy system model to assess how varying levels of economic growth and convergence between developed and developing nations affect the cost of climate stabilisation. It finds that limiting warming to 2°C is technically feasible and economically viable across all tested scenarios, with global abatement costs remaining below 2% of GDP by 2050. While modest growth makes stabilisation more likely, high convergence increases the absolute and relative economic burden on developing countries and increases reliance on future technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

The report investigates the feasibility of producing biomethane from organic waste and energy crops in Harju County, Estonia. It compares two primary scenarios for the Hinnu pig farm: using biogas for combined heat and power (CHP) or upgrading it to biomethane for transport fuel. The analysis concludes that while CHP may offer higher immediate business profitability due to feed-in tariffs, upgrading to biomethane provides greater overall social and environmental benefits, particularly when considering the EU Emissions Trading System.

The report evaluates three AWM scenarios in Tanzania's Mkindo watershed: expanding small-scale irrigation and livestock storage, intensifying agriculture via pumps and drainage channels, and large-scale cash crop expansion. It finds that while technological interventions can increase yields and incomes, they often introduce conflicts between farmers and livestock keepers, environmental pollution, and social displacement.

The report examines how rural electrification and expanded independent tea production would affect stakeholders in the Jaldhaka watershed. Electrification is expected to increase crop yields and income but risks groundwater depletion and excludes those unable to afford installation. Expanded tea growing offers higher cash income but threatens food security, worker health due to chemical exposure, and downstream water availability.

The document argues that while biomass is not a 'silver bullet' for climate change, it is a promising low-carbon energy source if managed within physical limits. It compares four scenarios—Single Bottom Line, Meeting the Climate Challenge, Feeding the Planet, and Sustainability Transition—concluding that a transition focusing on both sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation offers the most benefit. The brief emphasizes that biomass production is constrained by land, water, and soil health, and calls for a focused agricultural research programme to increase yield potential and close yield gaps through both genetic modification and conventional breeding.

The document identifies severe long-term supply risks for indium and tellurium, and moderate to severe risks for neodymium, which could hinder the deployment of photovoltaics, wind power, and electric vehicles. It argues that while governments often treat mineral scarcity as a technological issue, economic and political risks are significant drivers of future deficits. Businesses are responding through recycling, vertical integration, and material substitution, though the effectiveness of these measures varies by metal and technology.

The document analyzes the water-energy nexus, highlighting that while low-carbon technologies are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, some may require as much or more water than fossil-fuel generation. It distinguishes between water withdrawal and consumption, noting that cooling systems (once-through, wet-recirculating, and dry) significantly influence water demand. A California case study demonstrates that a standard Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) can reduce emissions and withdrawals but may increase water consumption; however, a strategic 'RPS+Technology' approach—prioritizing solar PV over solar thermal and adopting dry-cooling and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)—can simultaneously reduce emissions and water use.

The document argues that providing basic energy access is insufficient; instead, global energy systems must be transformed to support long-term economic development while limiting global temperature increase to below 2°C. Using three scenarios—Baseline, Basic Energy Access (BEA), and Shared Development Agenda (SDA)—the authors demonstrate that reaching a per capita income of USD 10,000 by 2050 requires a massive scale-up of renewables, nuclear power, and energy efficiency, alongside the virtual phase-out of fossil fuels. The brief concludes that market-based instruments alone are inadequate, necessitating a more active state role in investment and innovation, as well as a structural transformation of international governance through the UN and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report assesses four fleet scenarios for the Tallinn Bus Company (TAK) up to 2020: continuing with conventional diesel, or transitioning to bioethanol (ED95), biodiesel (B100), or diesel-electric hybrids. While alternative fuels significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and external costs, they are more expensive to operate than conventional diesel. The study finds that the most cost-effective way to reduce local air pollution (PM and NOx) is simply replacing old buses with new Euro V and VI diesel models, as the emission gap between new diesel and alternative technologies has narrowed. Biodiesel offers the highest CO2 reduction potential, while hybrids provide the best fuel economy. The report recommends a diversified technology approach to mitigate risks associated with fuel prices and supply.

The report analyzes three global energy scenarios—Baseline, Basic Energy Access (BEA), and Shared Development Agenda (SDA)—to determine the pathways required to provide sustainable energy for all while limiting global warming to 2°C. It argues that achieving these goals requires a massive socio-technical transformation, including the virtual phase-out of conventional fossil fuels for electricity by 2050 and a significant increase in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through 20 case studies, the document identifies barriers such as vested interests, high entry costs for the poor, and institutional inertia, while proposing a multi-level governance framework to coordinate innovation, mobilize finance, and align national policies with global sustainable development goals.

The report analyzes the 'water-energy nexus,' highlighting how the transition to low-carbon electricity can create new pressures on water resources. It compares the water withdrawals and consumption of conventional fossil-fuel plants, nuclear power, and various renewables. A case study of California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) demonstrates that while shifting to renewables can reduce emissions, certain choices—like solar thermal—can increase water consumption. The authors argue for integrated planning that prioritizes low-water technologies, efficiency improvements, and water recycling to ensure energy security without compromising water availability.

The document argues that climate, water, and energy are intricately linked, requiring integrated modeling tools to understand cross-sectoral tradeoffs. To address this, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) linked its WEAP and LEAP systems. A California case study shows that meeting 5% of Southern California's urban water demand via desalination by 2049 could reduce water imports by 300 million cubic meters per year in normal years, but would increase the water sector's electricity use by approximately 3 TWh and GHG emissions by 1.4 million tonnes of CO2e per year.

The report identifies significant risks of cumulative supply deficits for indium, tellurium, and neodymium by 2035, which could hinder the deployment of low-carbon technologies like photovoltaics and electric vehicles. Using a scenario calculator based on IEA and WEF frameworks, the study finds that indium and tellurium face severe risks, while cobalt and lithium show limited risk. The photovoltaic industry is highlighted as particularly vulnerable, specifically second-generation thin-film technologies. Proposed mitigation strategies include material substitution, vertical integration, and increased recycling, though the latter faces technical and economic hurdles. The report argues that current government policies often treat scarcity as a technological issue, neglecting the geopolitical and economic risks that can exacerbate supply bottlenecks.