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201 results
OVERVIEW OF COMPETITIVENESS ISSUES IN POLAND
The report assesses the impact of carbon pricing on Poland's industrial competitiveness, noting that while Poland has benefited from a favorable 1990 emissions baseline and the EU ETS, certain carbon-intensive sectors remain at risk. Due to significant data constraints, the authors identify six specific sectors for further detailed analysis to prevent carbon leakage and economic loss.
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Document type: Report
WRI_Overheating-cover.indd
The report examines the intersection of water scarcity and power generation in South and Southeast Asia, arguing that while regulatory protections have historically shielded shareholders, increasing water stress driven by climate change and demographic pressure creates material financial risks. It introduces a risk exposure framework based on business models, water dependency, and water security, and highlights that a significant portion of existing and planned capacity in the region is located in water-stressed areas.
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Document type: Report
The Economics of Climate Change in Kenya
The report finds that existing climate variability already costs Kenya up to 2% of GDP annually, with future climate change potentially adding a loss of 2.6% of GDP per year by 2030. Adaptation needs are estimated at $500 million per year for 2012, rising to $1-2 billion per year by 2030. The study also identifies significant opportunities for low-carbon growth, noting that over 80% of selected energy-related emission reduction options can be realized at a net negative cost.
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Document type: Report
OVERVIEW OF COMPETITIVENESS ISSUES IN JAPAN
The document examines how a hypothetical carbon price of 3000¥/t would affect Japanese industry, identifying 17 subsectors at risk. While findings align with similar studies in the UK, Germany, and USA, the Japanese pig iron subsector is noted as being disproportionately affected. However, the overall impact on the competitiveness of final products like flat steel is expected to be minimal compared to other trade influences.
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Document type: Research paper
TACKLING LEAKAGE IN A WORLD OF UNEQUAL CARBON PRICES
The report examines carbon leakage risks for energy-intensive industries—specifically cement, steel, and aluminium—when facing unequal global carbon prices. It evaluates tools such as free allocation of emission rights and border adjustments, noting that while free allowances can reduce leakage, they may distort carbon price signals and reduce incentives for low-carbon investment. The analysis suggests that border adjustments are particularly suitable for the cement sector due to the homogeneity of production technologies and carbon intensity across regions.
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Document type: Executive summary
science and corporate agenda
The report examines the increasing links between commercial sectors and science, arguing that the commercialisation agenda leads to negative outcomes such as research bias and conflicts of interest across five specific industries.
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Document type: Report
Science and the corporate agenda
The report examines how commercial involvement in science and technology introduces bias, marginalises public-interest research, and erodes academic objectivity. It focuses on the pharmaceutical, tobacco, military/defence, oil and gas, and biotechnology sectors, arguing that the 'corporate' mindset encouraged by UK policy undermines the traditional ethos of openness and objectivity in universities.
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Document type: Executive summary
Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) / Evaluación rápida sobre comercio y ambiente - Informe Nacional de Ecuador
The report identifies a systemic conflict in Ecuador between export-led economic growth and environmental preservation. While the country possesses immense biodiversity, its economic model relies heavily on the intensive extraction of natural resources, often leading to severe ecosystem degradation. The analysis of five key sectors reveals that while trade liberalization and preferential access to markets (such as the US and EU) drive growth, they frequently exacerbate pollution and habitat loss. The document argues for a transition toward 'green markets' and the internalisation of environmental costs to ensure long-term sustainability.
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Document type: Report
The ICT Sector and the Global Connectivity System
The report argues that while ICT innovation is a primary driver of global economic growth and productivity, it creates significant sustainability challenges through rapid hardware obsolescence, increasing energy demands of data centres, and a global e-waste crisis. It proposes viewing the sector as a 'Global Connectivity System' that includes not only manufacturers but also standards bodies, civil society, and end-users. The document highlights the tension between the Internet's origins as an open, participatory tool for social organization and emerging trends toward corporate control, government surveillance, and restrictive intellectual property rights.
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Document type: Report
Impacts of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on the industrial competitiveness in Germany
The report identifies a small number of German industrial sectors—specifically basic iron and steel, fertilizers and nitrogen compounds, aluminium and aluminium products, paper and paperboard, and other basic inorganic chemicals—that face both high carbon-related costs and high international trade intensity. It argues that these sectors are most susceptible to competitiveness distortions and carbon leakage. The analysis distinguishes between direct costs (emissions from production) and indirect costs (increased electricity prices), noting that for some sectors, indirect costs are the primary burden. The document also evaluates various policy mechanisms to mitigate these effects, such as free allocation of allowances, border tax adjustments, and sectoral agreements.
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Document type: Report
Sustainable Sustainable Development and China: Recommendations for the Forestry, Cotton and E-products sectors.
The report analyzes three specific sectors in China—forestry, cotton, and e-products—to identify gaps between current practices and international sustainability standards. It recommends the adoption of certification schemes, the reduction of chemical inputs in agriculture, and the implementation of waste management frameworks for electronics to mitigate environmental degradation and improve global market competitiveness.
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Document type: Report
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Hydropower, Mining and Constuction Materials Sectors of the Lao PDR
The paper analyzes how trade liberalization and increased foreign direct investment (FDI) affect the environment in Lao PDR, focusing on hydropower, mining, and construction materials. It highlights risks such as deforestation, water pollution from mining, and habitat loss, while noting opportunities for 'green' growth and renewable energy exports. The author argues that while the government is committed to sustainable development, institutional capacity for implementing environmental safeguards and coordinating Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) remains insufficient.
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Document type: Research paper
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR
The document examines the Lao PDR's silk handicrafts sector, noting its potential for sustainable growth through 'green' niche markets but highlighting risks related to wastewater and land use as production scales up. It emphasizes the need for quality certification and improved water management to maintain the sector's competitive advantage.
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Document type: Research paper
Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) National Report for Lao PDR
The Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) for Lao PDR examines the intersection of trade liberalization—driven by ASEAN, WTO accession, and GMS integration—and environmental sustainability. The report identifies that while resource-intensive sectors like hydropower, mining, and forestry drive GDP growth, they place significant pressure on forests, water, and biodiversity. Conversely, 'green' niche sectors such as organic agriculture, ecotourism, and silk handicrafts offer sustainable export potential. The assessment emphasizes that the net environmental outcome depends on the government's ability to implement and enforce regulatory frameworks, strengthen institutional capacity, and engage the private sector in corporate social responsibility (CSR).
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Document type: Report
INVESTMENT DECISIONS UNDER CLIMATE POLICY UNCERTAINTY
The document analyzes the impact of climate policy uncertainty on investment decisions, highlighting how different actors—such as oil majors, utilities, technology developers, and banks—respond to CO2 price volatility and regulatory ambiguity. It explores various economic appraisal methods, including real options and risk premiums, to demonstrate how uncertainty can delay investments or bias them toward fossil fuels. The author argues that while governments value policy flexibility, stronger commitments and intermediary targets are necessary to provide the credibility required for private sector investment in low-carbon technologies.
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Document type: Research paper
Differentiation and Dynamics of EU ETS Industrial Competitiveness Impacts
The report assesses how the EU ETS affects industrial competitiveness, identifying that while most sectors can profit in the short term through free allowances and cost pass-through, a small number of carbon-intensive subsectors face significant risks. Using UK and German data, the authors develop 'Value at Stake' indicators to screen for exposed activities. The analysis concludes that leakage concerns are concentrated in a few subsectors, particularly cement and blast furnace steel, where high direct emissions and international tradeability create vulnerability. The report argues that free allocation can mitigate these risks but may create perverse incentives, suggesting that targeted policies or harmonized allocation across EU Member States are necessary to maintain economic performance while achieving emission reductions.
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Document type: Report
Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) National Report for Thailand
The Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) for Thailand examines the intersection of trade liberalization and environmental sustainability. It identifies that while trade agreements like AFTA and JTEPA expand market access and attract foreign direct investment (FDI), they also risk increasing pollution, deforestation, and resource depletion. The report emphasizes that Thailand possesses a comprehensive regulatory framework, but suffers from a critical lack of implementation and enforcement. Sectoral analysis highlights specific risks, such as e-waste in electronics, wastewater in textiles, and overfishing in fisheries, while noting opportunities for 'green' niche markets in organic agriculture and sustainable seafood.
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Document type: Report
The Aerospace Industry: Prospects for Strategic Co-operation among the IBSA Countries
The report assesses the potential for aerospace co-operation between India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA). It details South Africa's aerospace and defence capabilities, the government's Aerospace Industry Support Initiative (AISI), and the role of industrial participation policies in integrating firms like Aerosud and Denel into global supply chains. While identifying three key areas for IBSA collaboration—expanding supply chains, strategic defence systems, and small satellites—the report highlights significant barriers, most notably corruption allegations against Denel by the Indian government and the challenge of balancing South-South co-operation with existing partnerships with 'first-tier' global contractors.
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Document type: Report
Environmental Improvements without Environmental Policies
The document analyzes the impact of 1990s trade liberalization on Argentina's environment, finding a divergence between sectors. In manufacturing, liberalization did not shift the export pattern toward cleaner industries, though some firms improved management to reduce costs. In contrast, the agricultural sector in the Pampas region experienced a 'virtuous cycle' where growth and the adoption of technologies like direct sowing and GMOs led to environmental benefits, such as reduced soil erosion and carbon fixation, despite a lack of formal environmental policies.
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Document type: Research paper
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan
The document analyzes energy demand and GHG emissions in Pakistan's residential, commercial, and agriculture (RCA) sectors, which accounted for roughly 9 per cent of national emissions in 2012. It identifies 12 mitigation options, prioritizing nine based on abatement potential and cost-effectiveness. Key measures include replacing inefficient lighting, stoves, and cooling appliances, as well as improving irrigation pumps. The report projects that without intervention, RCA sector emissions will grow from 29 MtCO2e in 2012 to 61 MtCO2e by 2030. The most significant abatement potential in 2030 is attributed to efficient stoves (12.86 MtCO2e) and efficient lighting (2.19 MtCO2e).
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Document type: Fact sheet