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The analysis finds that bioenergy projects relying on on-farm residues claim the highest number of sustainable development benefits, while those using industrial forestry residues claim the fewest. Most projects focus on economic and environmental benefits, with very few social benefits beyond stakeholder participation.

The document presents a framework for a global energy assessment to support the Rio+20 Earth Summit, focusing on a 'triple global energy challenge': providing affordable energy for all, phasing out fossil fuels to stabilize the climate, and operating within Earth system boundaries. It proposes a 'new model' of development where all countries reach a GDP per capita equivalent to current middle-income levels by 2050, requiring a massive transition to renewable energy and efficiency. The authors recommend the adoption of strategic principles, including a transparent global investment fund for renewables in poor economies and the use of the planetary boundaries framework to manage environmental risks.

The report argues that the Levy and Vogtle nuclear projects carry significant financial risks for ratepayers and taxpayers due to potential cost escalations and delays. It finds that both Florida and Georgia could meet their projected energy demand growth more cost-effectively through aggressive energy efficiency targets and the development of renewable energy resources, which are presented as lower-risk and lower-cost alternatives to the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design.

The report examines the role of US forests and forest products in mitigating climate change, emphasizing that a rational policy must look beyond simple sequestration to include the carbon storage and substitution benefits of harvested wood. It analyzes forest carbon stocks and flows, the impact of climate-driven disturbances like wildfire and pests, and the life-cycle carbon benefits of using wood instead of steel or concrete. The authors critique the high transaction costs and measurement uncertainties of project-based carbon offsets, suggesting alternative policies such as information disclosure and updated building codes to promote the use of sustainable forest products.

The study uses the POLES model to assess how different levels of economic growth and convergence between developed and developing nations affect the energy mix and abatement costs required to reduce global CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050. It finds that low stabilisation is technically feasible and economically viable across all scenarios, with total abatement costs representing less than 2% of global GDP by 2050. However, the results highlight that high convergence increases the reliance on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and places a higher absolute burden on developing countries, while developed nations continue to bear the majority of the costs.

The forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suffers from systemic governance failures, including corruption, institutional incapacity, and a significant gap between policy and practice. Despite a title conversion process that left the country with 80 logging concessions covering less than 20% of forested areas, illegal logging persists due to weak deterrents and state harassment. Local communities are largely marginalized in decision-making and benefit-sharing, often lacking the capacity to negotiate 'cahiers des charges' (social contracts) with logging companies. Financially, the sector contributes only 1% to the national GDP, far below the 5% average for other COMIFAC countries, with tax reforms stalled by officials benefiting from unofficial levies. Strategic threats include the 'Asian rush' of new market players and a rise in informal artisanal exploitation by those whose titles were cancelled.

The report argues that transitioning the Midwest to a clean energy economy through renewable electricity and energy efficiency standards would create 85,700 net new jobs, save consumers $42.8 billion on energy bills, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions by 2030.

The report criticizes the World Bank for its continued investment in 'dirty energy' and its leadership in expanding carbon markets. It highlights specific projects, such as the Medupi coal plant in South Africa and the Nam Theun 2 dam in Laos, as evidence of environmental and social harm. The document further contends that the Bank's promotion of REDD and carbon offsets leads to the privatization of forests and the marginalization of indigenous rights, while its role as an interim trustee for the Green Climate Fund is viewed as undemocratic and conflicted.

The report criticizes the World Bank for its continued funding of coal-fired power plants and large hydropower projects, which it claims lock developing nations into high-carbon futures and cause significant social and environmental harm. It specifically highlights the Medupi plant in South Africa and the Tata Mundra plant in India as examples of 'dirty energy' investment. The document also attacks the Bank's role in expanding carbon markets and REDD schemes, arguing that these mechanisms privatize forests, marginalize Indigenous peoples, and allow rich nations to avoid real emission cuts. Finally, it expresses concern over the Bank's role as the interim trustee of the Green Climate Fund, citing a lack of democratic accountability and a poor track record on social justice.

The report outlines a pathway for Seattle to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By implementing aggressive strategies across transportation, buildings, and waste, the city could reduce per capita core emissions by 91% relative to 2008 levels. Key drivers include a massive shift toward electric vehicles, deep energy efficiency retrofits in the built environment, and a transition to low-carbon energy sources like biomass-fired district energy. While the scenario achieves a 90% reduction in core emissions, the report notes that the final 10% may require offsets or sequestration.

The BIO-EARN programme (1999–2010) aimed to empower Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to utilize agricultural, environmental, and industrial biotechnologies for sustainable development. Funded by Sida and coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute and later the Inter-University Council for East Africa, the programme focused on human capacity building, infrastructure development, and the creation of an enabling policy environment. Key achievements include the training of 30 PhD and 30 MSc students, the upgrading of 17 laboratories with over SEK 25 million in investment, and the development of stress-tolerant sorghum and disease-resistant root crops. The programme also pioneered biosafety risk assessment and intellectual property management in the region, facilitating the transition of research from laboratories to pilot-scale applications in waste water treatment and agro-processing.

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 Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), brought together 150 stakeholders to address the eutrophication of Lake Winnipeg. The summit shifted the narrative from viewing nutrient loading as a purely environmental crisis to an economic opportunity for Manitoba to develop a 21st-century bioeconomy. Participants developed a vision for 2040 centered on sustainable development, emphasizing the link between the health of the lake and its broader basin. Key outcomes include the establishment of a five-year action plan, the Lake Winnipeg Bioeconomy Initiative, and the creation of Technical and Strategic Advisory Committees to coordinate governance and policy reform.

The document evaluates 76 CDM bioenergy projects to determine which types offer the most sustainable development benefits. It finds that projects using agricultural residues, particularly on-farm residues, claim the highest benefits, while forest residue projects claim the fewest. The analysis highlights a lack of verification systems for these claims and notes that very few projects improve rural energy access.

The report advocates for Zero Net Deforestation and Forest Degradation (ZNDD) by 2020 to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Using the Living Forests Model developed with IIASA, it analyzes various scenarios, including a 'Do Nothing' baseline and a 'Target' scenario. The findings suggest that while ZNDD is technically possible in the short term, maintaining it beyond 2030 will require unprecedented increases in agricultural productivity and significant shifts in global consumption patterns, particularly regarding animal calories. The document highlights critical trade-offs, such as the risk of shifting environmental pressure to non-forest biomes like grasslands and the potential for increased agricultural pollution due to intensification.

The report evaluates 'post-harvest to grave' emissions for woody biomass residues in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. It finds that alternatives displacing fossil fuels—such as industrial boilers, biochar, and integrated gasification—significantly reduce greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter compared to on-site burning. Conversely, residential wood stoves and fireplaces often increase local air pollutants.

The review concludes that the Manomet study likely underestimates the net carbon emissions of biomass energy due to overly optimistic assumptions regarding forest regrowth, soil carbon, and fuel sourcing. While the Manomet study suggests utility-scale biomass emissions are higher than coal and natural gas, the review argues that the perceived benefits for small-scale thermal and CHP plants are likely illusory. Key criticisms include the model's reliance on harvesting large trees to maximize regrowth, the omission of soil carbon losses, and the failure to account for indirect land-use effects such as firewood leakage.

The report analyzes the financial burden on U.S. states that rely on imported coal, identifying those with the highest spending and per capita costs. It highlights a trend of increasing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that these states can redirect funds from coal imports toward energy efficiency and homegrown renewables to create local jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

The report identifies 38 U.S. states as net importers of coal in 2008, with 11 states spending over $1 billion each on these imports. It highlights a growing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that states can mitigate these economic losses and environmental damages by investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables.

In 2008, Alabama imported 79% of the coal used for its electricity generation, resulting in a net expenditure of $1.39 billion. The state's electricity mix was dominated by coal (51.1%) and nuclear (26.7%). Alabama spent the most per person ($297) and the most relative to gross state product (0.82%) on net coal imports compared to other US states. To reduce this dependence, the document suggests investing in energy efficiency—noting that Alabama spent only 49 cents per person on such programs in 2007—and utilizing renewable resources which could technically meet 56% of the state's 2008 power demand.