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1,237 results
Recognition and reward programmes that support entrepreneurship for sustainable development
The report analyzes 10 award programmes (including the Goldman Prize, Ashoka, and Echoing Green) to understand how they support sustainable development entrepreneurs. It finds that while these programmes provide critical cash, prestige, and support services, there is a systemic lack of rigorous monitoring and evaluation regarding the long-term impact of awards and the effectiveness of scaling up and replicating successful projects.
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Document type: Report
The Challenge of Moving from Acknowledgement to Action: A Review of Vulnerability to Environmental Stresses and Natural Hazards in PRSPs
The report finds that while PRSPs acknowledge vulnerability, they often treat it as a static dimension of poverty rather than a dynamic process. There is a significant gap between the acknowledgement of vulnerability and the implementation of specific, targeted reduction measures, with a tendency to overemphasize exposure over sensitivity and resilience.
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Document type: Report
Getting There Greener
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that motor coaches and trains are generally the lowest-emission travel options, while first-class flights and large SUVs produce the highest carbon footprints. The guide emphasizes that the greenest choice depends on the number of travelers and the distance of the trip; for example, while solo travelers are encouraged to avoid cars, cars become a low-carbon option for larger groups. To further reduce emissions, the document recommends nonstop flights, fuel-efficient rental cars, and avoiding peak traffic periods.
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Document type: Guide
Vacation Traveler Carbon Guide
The Vacation Traveler Carbon Guide ranks transportation options by carbon emissions for solo travelers, pairs, and families of four across distances of 100, 500, and 1,000+ miles. Motor coaches are consistently ranked as the best option across all categories, while first-class flights and SUVs generally represent the worst options, depending on the distance and group size.
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Document type: Guide
Southeast Electricity Generation by Source, 1997 and 2006
Between 1997 and 2006, fossil fuel consumption in the Southeast grew by approximately 14 percent, significantly exceeding both the national average growth rate of 5 percent and the regional growth of non-fossil energy sources, which was less than 1 percent.
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Document type: Fact sheet
2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR
The document outlines the potential for synergy between Korea's technological and management expertise and Africa's abundant natural resources. It contrasts Africa's current economic struggles—including infrastructure deficits and the HIV/AIDS epidemic—with Korea's transition from a war-ravaged nation in the 1950s to an OECD member by 1996. The speaker emphasizes that Africa can learn from Korea's state-led industrialization and rural development initiatives, such as the Saemoul Undong, to achieve sustainable growth and poverty eradication.
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Document type: Statement
JOINT IMPLEMENTATION IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE: REVIEW OF PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO JISC
The document analyzes 38 Russian and 15 Ukrainian JI projects submitted to the JISC by September 2007. It finds that while Russia has a larger total volume of projected emission reductions, Ukraine's portfolio is more diverse and shows a higher rate of technology transfer and foreign investment relative to its economy. Russia's portfolio is heavily dominated by gas pipeline refurbishment, whereas Ukraine's is led by industrial energy saving and coal mine methane projects. The author attributes these differences to institutional readiness, with Ukraine having established a more effective project approval system than Russia.
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Document type: Briefing
wipo_gap_sept07-2b64dbd2db3d792a.pdf
The report examines the gap between the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) framework for protecting traditional knowledge (TK) and the actual needs of indigenous peoples. It argues that the current approach remains too anchored in conventional intellectual property (IP) systems, which indigenous groups view as tools for misappropriation. Key points of contention include the lack of recognition for customary laws, the insistence on state sovereignty over resources, and the inadequacy of IP's individualistic and time-limited nature for communally owned, trans-generational knowledge. The document concludes that while the IGC is a vital platform, it has failed to meet core demands due to the dominance of Member State interests and the reluctance of some industrialized nations to commit to a legally binding instrument.
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Document type: Report
Our health, our environment: The Ecological Footprint of what we eat
The research demonstrates that transitioning from an average UK diet to one based on nutritional recommendations can reduce the Ecological Footprint by 22%. Further reductions are possible through vegetarianism, sourcing local food, and choosing organic produce, with a 'best diet' combining all four criteria achieving a 44% reduction. The study also highlights the high environmental burden of livestock production and the potential for school meal programs, such as Scotland's 'Hungry for Success', to provide both health and environmental benefits.
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Document type: Research paper
Automaker Rankings 2007
The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2007 rankings identify Honda as the 'Greenest Automaker' and DaimlerChrysler as the most polluting based on 2005 emissions data. The analysis evaluates eight companies representing 96 percent of the U.S. vehicle market, using a 50/50 weighting of smog-forming pollutants (NOx and NMOG) and global warming pollutants (CO2-equivalent). While Honda and Toyota lead in consistency across vehicle classes, the report notes that conventional technologies could reduce global warming emissions by 40 percent, and hybrids could offer further reductions.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Wind Power in New England
The document advocates for wind power as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear energy, particularly in New England. It details the severe environmental and health costs of conventional energy—including CO2 emissions, air pollution, water consumption, and land degradation—while positioning wind energy as a low-impact solution with minimal land footprints and no operational emissions.
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Document type: Fact sheet
IP QUARTERLY UPDATE
The document analyzes the gap between the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) framework on traditional knowledge (TK) and the demands of indigenous peoples, while reporting on IP negotiations at the WTO, WIPO, WHO, and UNCTAD, as well as various bilateral trade agreements.
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Document type: Research paper
Sharing Climate Adaptation Tools: Improving decision-making for development
The report details a workshop where 40 participants discussed a variety of climate adaptation tools, ranging from information databases to computer-based decision tools and qualitative risk management processes. It identifies a general trend of integrating climate impacts as additional stressors into existing decision-making structures and highlights a gap in tools targeting the middle ground between grassroots communities and senior officials. The document also lists specific tools such as PRECIS, CRiSTAL, and ADAPT, comparing their audiences, spatial scales, and data types.
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Document type: Report
Greener Eggs and Ham
The report argues that transitioning from conventional confinement systems to pasture-based production for pigs, chickens, and eggs reduces environmental pollution and improves animal welfare. While it notes that non-ruminants cannot derive as many nutritional benefits from grass as cattle do, it highlights that pasture systems lower production costs for farmers and reduce public health risks associated with antibiotics and arsenic. The document identifies challenges such as seasonality and the need for hardier breeds, while calling for clearer labeling standards and increased technical assistance for producers.
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Document type: Report
International Experience in Establishing Indicators for the Circular Economy and Considerations for China
The report provides a framework for China to move from the rhetoric of a circular economy (CE) to implementation by establishing a robust system of indicators. It argues that material flow analysis (MFA) is the most relevant tool for this purpose, as it allows for the monitoring of physical material and energy flows across macro, meso, and micro levels. The document details key MFA indicators—such as Direct Material Input (DMI) and Total Material Requirement (TMR)—and examines how the European Union, United States, and Japan have institutionalized these measures to track eco-efficiency and the decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressure. It concludes with recommendations for China to integrate CE indicators into national accounts and collaborate with international practitioners.
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Document type: Report
Governance Structures for National Sustainable Development Strategies Study of Good Practice Examples
The study evaluates twenty-one jurisdictions on six governance elements: strategy coordination, placement of responsibility, legislative underpinning, integration with budgeting, stakeholder involvement, and local linkages. While most jurisdictions pursue top-down strategies and use advisory councils, the report finds significant weaknesses in legislative mandates and integration with national planning and budgeting processes. Norway is highlighted as a leading example of integrating SD into national budgets, while Sweden is noted for creating a dedicated Ministry of Sustainable Development. The authors argue that the most effective governance occurs when NSDS are seamlessly integrated into government accountability systems managed by finance departments.
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Document type: Research paper
An Analysis and Comparison of Armed Groups in Somalia
The author argues that the common use of blanket terms like 'militia' or 'warlord' in Somalia is analytically misleading. By examining the roles of clan loyalty, economic incentives, and the emergence of 'mooryaan' (freelance gunmen), the paper distinguishes between groups that represent clan interests, those serving personal political ambitions, and those protecting commercial or religious goals. It concludes that these distinctions are essential for formulating effective security policies.
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Document type: Research paper
How grass-fed beef and milk contribute to healthy eating
The report finds that pasture-raised beef and milk generally contain lower total fat and higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, such as omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), compared to conventional products. It argues that shifting toward pasture-based systems would improve human nutrition, animal welfare, and environmental quality while reducing antibiotic resistance.
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Document type: Report
Towards Departmental Stewardship Planning in the Saskatchewan Government
The report investigates stewardship planning for the Saskatchewan government, focusing on two modes of influence: internal operations (e.g., green procurement, energy use) and external influence (e.g., legislation and policy). It analyzes case studies from the United Kingdom, Canada, Manitoba, and Oregon, as well as corporate reporting frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and PotashCorp. Key findings emphasize the need to integrate stewardship planning with existing budgeting and accountability frameworks to ensure effectiveness and organizational capacity.
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Document type: Report
Nuclear power: economics and climate-protection potential
The paper asserts that nuclear power is a 'market loser' compared to windpower, cogeneration, and energy efficiency. It claims that nuclear power's high costs and long lead times result in a high opportunity cost, where investments in nuclear power displace far more carbon-reducing capacity than they provide. The author argues that a diversified portfolio of decentralized resources is faster, cheaper, and larger in potential than nuclear power, and that government subsidies for nuclear energy retard overall climate protection efforts.
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Document type: Research paper