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The report analyzes EGS programs in the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, the US, and Canada, emphasizing the shift from regulatory approaches to economic incentives. It highlights the importance of multifunctionality, geographic targeting, and public accountability. For Manitoba, it recommends a consolidated, watershed-based approach incorporating performance measurement and adaptive management.

The report examines seven transboundary river basins—Congo, Okavango, Red, La Plata, Danube, Mekong, and Jordan—to evaluate how ecosystem services (ES) are integrated into Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). It finds that while IWRM planning is common, actual implementation is weak and often focuses on traditional services like hydropower and navigation, neglecting critical ES such as carbon sequestration and flood regulation. The authors argue that moving toward an ES-based 'benefit-sharing' model, supported by economic instruments like Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), can overcome political, institutional, and financial barriers to sustainable transboundary water management.

The report evaluates information tools used to encourage residential energy retrofits, categorizing them by the stage of the decision-making process they target: creating awareness, assisting in planning, and supporting professional implementation. It finds that while individual tools like detailed billing or energy audits can trigger savings, their effectiveness often depends on implementation design, such as 'opt-out' participation and the communication skills of professionals. The document highlights that in Germany, the government aims to reduce buildings' primary energy demand for thermal use by 80% by 2050, requiring a significant increase in the annual retrofit rate.

China is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of seafood, meaning its supply chain practices significantly impact global aquatic resource sustainability. While the Chinese system excels in aquaculture scale and value addition, it faces weaknesses in traceability and sustainable harvesting of live coral reef fish. The report analyzes three specific supply chains—tilapia, cod, and grouper—and provides recommendations to the Chinese government to address sustainability needs.

Sierra Club CDM Watch submitted a letter to the CDM Executive Board arguing that Project 4629 in India is non-additional. The authors contend that the project would proceed regardless of CDM support because the Government of India mandates supercritical technology and the owner, Reliance Power, has already committed to such technology through a US$10 billion order. They further argue that the project's baseline scenario is flawed, fails to consider energy efficiency alternatives, and uses an unrealistically narrow coal price sensitivity analysis. If registered, the project could receive over 21 million CERs, potentially providing a windfall of approximately €257 million.

The document analyzes the transition to nodal pricing, noting that US Independent System Operators (ISOs) typically recover implementation costs within one year through efficiency gains. It details the use of Financial Transmission Rights (FTRs) and Auction Revenue Rights (ARRs) to hedge locational price risks and maintain market liquidity. The paper compares the US ISO model with European TSO structures, arguing that ISOs provide a more transparent framework for information sharing and system security, particularly as renewable energy penetration increases. It also highlights the Iberian experience in optimizing day-ahead and intraday markets to accommodate wind power forecasts.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is implementing a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. These initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower long-term costs, and enhance mission effectiveness by decreasing dependence on liquid fossil fuels. Key goals include achieving 'net-zero' energy for numerous installations by 2020 and 2030, increasing the use of alternative fuel blends for aviation and naval vessels, and deploying diverse renewable technologies—such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass—at domestic and overseas bases. The DoD's efforts are guided by internal strategies, a 2010 Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy, and federal mandates including Executive Orders 13423 and 13514.

The document argues that the international community's approach to Somali piracy has prioritised military deterrence and legal accountability over human rights, leading to a 'catch and release' policy or the rendering of suspects to regional courts with inadequate legal frameworks. It specifically examines Kenya's role as a primary prosecution hub, highlighting a lack of domesticated maritime law, systemic corruption, and appalling prison conditions. The author contends that these failures, combined with the failure to prosecute onshore sponsors of piracy, undermine the credibility of counter-piracy efforts and may fuel further instability.

A formal request by Sierra Club and CDM Watch to the CDM Executive Board to review the additionality of Project 4533 in India. The authors argue that the project does not meet CDM rules because the Government of India mandated supercritical technology, financing was already secured, and the project sponsor's own shareholder communications describe CDM credits as a 'new revenue stream' rather than a necessity for implementation. They further contend that the project's baseline assumptions regarding coal prices are unrealistically low and that alternative energy efficiency scenarios were ignored.

The report evaluates the institutional and legal framework for sustainable public procurement (SPP) in Vietnam, identifying the timber industry as a viable starting point. While Vietnam has high-level political commitment and existing environmental laws, the report highlights significant gaps in enforcement, inter-ministerial coordination, and specific guidelines for sustainable alternatives.

The research paper argues that South Africa's trade protectionism creates a net negative effect on social welfare by distorting the economy through four main channels: exchange rate, input demand, purchasing power, and retaliation. It highlights that while specific industries gain, the broader economy suffers from reduced GDP, higher costs for downstream industries, and lower productivity. The author criticizes recent government industrial policies for relying on interventionist tools and 'picking winners,' suggesting instead a shift toward unilateral liberalisation, a rule-based tariff structure using the Swiss formula, and the opening of service markets.

The document details WWF's progress in operationalizing its indigenous peoples' policy through the creation of focal point networks, the adoption of new social policies on poverty and human rights, and the establishment of the Social Development for Conservation (SD4C) team. It highlights specific country-level initiatives in regions such as the Amazon, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia, while noting that the implementation of an internal complaints resolution process remains a priority for 2011.

The Obama administration's FY 2012 budget proposal emphasizes investments in clean technology, energy efficiency, and renewable energy to drive economic growth. Key funding increases are proposed for the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, bioenergy RDD&D, and transportation infrastructure, while funding for fossil energy and the EPA's overall budget is reduced. The proposal also introduces new initiatives such as the Better Buildings Initiative and a National Infrastructure Bank.

The document examines the Indian Ocean as a critical space for energy security and maritime trade, where global powers like the US, China, India, and Russia compete for influence. It argues that while these powers employ strategies such as 'lily pads' or 'string of pearls' to secure sea lines of communication, continental Africa has remained passive, lacking the political will and resources to proactively manage its own maritime domain.

The report analyzes Belgium's 2002 Model BIT, finding that it follows a traditional European model that prioritizes extensive investor protection over host-state regulatory autonomy. It highlights significant risks in the treaty's broad definitions of 'investment' and 'investor', the lack of transparency in investor-state dispute settlement, and the aspirational nature of its environmental and labour clauses. The author argues that Belgium needs to modernize its model to safeguard its right to regulate and to ensure that investment treaties support sustainable development.

The document analyzes the Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) clauses in 68 Indian International Investment Agreements (IIAs). It finds that 66 of these agreements include FET obligations, though most fail to define the normative content of the term, leaving interpretation to arbitral tribunals. The author categorizes these provisions into model-IIA, modified-model IIA, and content-indicative types, noting that only a small minority link FET to the customary international law minimum standard of treatment.

The report outlines the foundational research for a decision support system (DSS) to facilitate ecological infrastructure investments in the Red River Basin. It identifies critical data gaps, particularly in high-resolution elevation data for Canada, and evaluates existing hydrological and ecosystem models. The project emphasizes the need for harmonized transboundary data and a common vision for basin management to address chronic flooding and the eutrophication of Lake Winnipeg.

The report examines the state of ICT and Internet policy in West Africa, highlighting the transition from state-led telecommunications to private-sector-driven growth. It details a survey conducted across seven West African countries and Kenya, which reveals overwhelming support for national multi-stakeholder Internet governance forums (IGFs). The findings emphasize that while mobile penetration has grown rapidly, significant gaps remain in broadband access, digital literacy, and regional interconnectivity. The document argues for a holistic policy approach that integrates Internet governance with sustainable development goals, including environmental stewardship and e-governance, while advocating for a shift from top-down government control to inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The report examines China's position as the world's largest producer and consumer of refined copper, detailing the supply chain from extraction to recycling. It highlights the industry's significant economic contribution and employment generation, while addressing environmental risks such as heavy metal pollution and toxic gas emissions. The document also outlines the Chinese government's regulatory framework, including the 'Admittance Qualification of Chinese Copper Smelting Industry', which sets strict energy, resource recovery, and environmental standards for smelters.

The document analyzes the growth and modification of International Investment Agreements (IIAs), noting a trend toward more precise treaty language to preserve state regulatory space, particularly regarding environmental and labor standards. It also details the rise in investor-State disputes, highlighting that while states and investors have similar win rates in concluded cases, the financial stakes and costs of defense are increasing, with developing countries frequently appearing as respondents.