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The document highlights the economic and environmental advantages of electric vehicles (EVs) over gasoline-powered cars, noting that fuel savings can offset higher purchase prices and that EVs produce fewer global warming emissions regardless of the electricity grid's composition. It positions EVs as a central pillar of the 'Half the Oil' plan to reduce U.S. oil dependency through efficiency, biofuels, and advanced vehicle technology.

The document examines the challenges of African regional economic integration, highlighting the failure of the EU-modeled Abuja Treaty due to political tensions and infrastructure deficits. It compares the 'traditional' donor approach—focused on institutional support and soft infrastructure—with the 'emerging' partners' project-based, resource-driven approach. The author argues that while emerging partners fill critical hard infrastructure gaps, their tied-aid models can limit local skill transfer. The paper concludes that Africa must define its own strategic development agenda to effectively leverage competition between these partners and avoid 'incentive wars'.

The statement denounces the persecution of Berta Cáceres and other activists in Honduras, attributing the violence to a 'model extractivo minero' and 'energías sucias' driven by international financial capital and neoliberal globalization. It highlights the systemic impunity for officials who militarize indigenous territories while defenders of Lenca, Garífuna, and Miskito lands are targeted by state forces and private security for multinationals in the mining, oil, and hydroelectric sectors.

The report assesses the economic and environmental impacts of UK biofuel policies in 2011, highlighting the financial support provided to the industry, the varying carbon abatement costs between ethanol and biodiesel, and the range of jobs created by the sector.

The report assesses the economic and environmental impact of Spain's biofuel industry in 2011, finding high carbon abatement costs for ethanol and net emission increases for conventional biodiesel. It highlights a significant reliance on imported biodiesel and feedstock, primarily from Argentina and Indonesia, which undermines energy security. Additionally, it notes a wide variance in employment estimates for the sector.

The report finds that Spain's biofuel policies, particularly for biodiesel, have often resulted in marginal benefits and net emission increases due to a high reliance on imported fuels and feedstocks. While ethanol provided modest emission savings, the overall sector saw a GDP contraction in 2011. The study highlights that conventional biodiesel is a costly and environmentally damaging option compared to other renewable energy technologies, and recommends phasing out support for first-generation biofuels in favor of low-carbon alternatives.

The report analyzes the costs and benefits of U.K. biofuel policies, focusing on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) for the 2011/2012 period. It finds that total support for biofuels ranged between £359 million and £445 million, with biodiesel receiving the bulk of this support due to excise tax exemptions for used cooking oil (UCO). While UCO-based biodiesel offers the lowest carbon abatement costs, conventional biodiesel can lead to net emission increases due to indirect land-use change (ILUC). The report also notes that employment gains are difficult to quantify and that the U.K.'s reliance on U.S. corn for bioethanol may pose energy security risks.

The report finds that EU biofuel policies have significantly increased palm oil consumption, with the biofuels sector accounting for 80% of the total increase in EU palm oil use between 2006 and 2012. It argues that the low cost and high yield of palm oil make it a 'marginal vegetable oil' that replaces domestic feedstocks like rapeseed. The authors warn that without reducing subsidies for food-based biofuels, the EU will likely see a 40% increase in palm oil consumption by 2020, potentially exacerbating deforestation and carbon emissions in tropical forests and peatlands.

The document assesses the G-20's food security commitments from an African perspective, focusing on food-price volatility, agricultural productivity, and nutrition. While it finds broad alignment in rhetoric and focus areas, it argues that the G-20 fails to implement critical regulatory reforms in financial markets and trade that would meaningfully benefit Africa.

The report analyzes the energy landscape of Central America, noting a contradictory trend where the region leads in geothermal and hydroelectric power but faces increasing dependence on imported fossil fuels. It argues that while the region has the potential to meet 100% of its electricity needs through renewables, significant gaps in data, administrative inefficiency, and fossil fuel subsidies hinder progress. The document recommends integrating technical resource assessments with socio-economic analysis (LCOE+), simplifying bureaucratic processes through 'single-window' permitting, and strengthening regional interconnection via SIEPAC to manage variability in wind and solar power.

The document updates the 2011 subsidy estimates for EU biofuels, reducing the total estimated support from €9,272–€10,653 million to €5,515–€6,896 million. This correction stems from an overestimation of the volume of biofuels eligible for fuel excise tax exemptions. While budgetary support figures for bioethanol and biodiesel were lowered, other support elements, such as market transfers, remain unchanged. The report also details the calculation methodologies for excise tax exemptions and market price support via blending mandates.

The report examines the 'land question' in Ghana, identifying a weak institutional base and the political manipulation of land as primary drivers of insecurity. It details how these issues lead to violent disputes, the rise of 'land guards', and economic instability. The document also addresses the impact of large-scale land grabbing by foreign corporations and the systemic marginalization of women and the poor in land access. It concludes that these problems are mirrored across other ECOWAS member states and calls for regional policy leadership and greater accountability for traditional chiefs.

The Southern African sugar sector is a vital agricultural industry characterized by high levels of state involvement and concentrated private ownership, particularly by South African firms. While the SADC region accounts for approximately 54% of African sugar production, the sector operates within a highly distorted global market marked by heavy subsidies and dumping. Regional cooperation is managed through the SADC Protocol on Trade (Annex VII), which establishes import quotas for surplus producers to access the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) market. The industry faces significant risks from the reform of the EU's preferential trade scheme for ACP countries, which threatens the value of exports for several regional producers.

Brazil provides technical assistance to Africa primarily through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), focusing on South-South solidarity and the transfer of domestic expertise in agriculture, health, and social policy. While Brazil has established flagship projects like ProSavana in Mozambique and 'Cotton-4' in West Africa, the rapid expansion of these commitments has led to institutional overstretch, a lack of monitoring mechanisms, and a need for greater transparency and civil society involvement.

The report finds that current algal biofuel technologies are not yet economically or environmentally superior to fossil fuels, citing low energy return on investment (EROI) and high greenhouse gas emissions. While theoretical yields are high, large-scale commercialization is estimated to be years or decades away. The document argues that viability depends on integrating production with wastewater treatment, industrial flue gas for CO2, and the development of marine algae strains via molecular engineering to reduce freshwater and land demands.

The document compiles job data from various government and industry sources to estimate employment in the U.S. clean energy economy. It highlights that as of 2011, there were 3.4 million green jobs in the U.S., and that the 'clean economy' employed 2.7 million people in 2010, surpassing the 2.4 million employed in the fossil fuel industry. The report details specific employment figures for sectors such as biofuels, hydropower, solar, and wind, while projecting significant future job growth in energy efficiency through 2050.

The report analyzes the energy landscape of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, noting a growing dependence on imported fossil fuels despite significant renewable potential. It highlights that while the region leads in hydropower and geothermal energy, resources like wind and solar remain underutilized. The document identifies critical gaps in resource data, socioeconomic assessments, and administrative efficiency, while recommending a 'long, loud, and legal' policy approach to attract investment and achieve a 100 percent renewable electricity grid.

The document details employment figures for the U.S. green economy, noting that the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated 3.4 million green jobs in late 2011. It provides a granular breakdown of jobs in energy efficiency, which totaled 823,105 direct jobs according to a Brookings-Battelle study, and renewable energy, where total estimates range from 903,536 to 1,055,536 jobs across various technologies including biofuels, hydropower, solar, and wind.

The paper examines the early stages of biofuel production in Tanzania, specifically in Rufiji and Bagamoyo, highlighting significant failures in land acquisition and governance. It finds that discrepancies between national policy and local implementation led to conflicts of interest, inadequate compensation for farmers, and unfulfilled community benefit promises. The study argues that the Tanzanian government's drive for foreign investment has outpaced its capacity to protect citizen rights, creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited by resource-rich investors.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) argues that the U.S. can cut its projected oil use in half by 2035 compared to a 'do-nothing' baseline. By implementing technology and policy advances across transportation, buildings, and industry, the plan estimates a reduction of 11 million barrels per day (mbpd), resulting in gross cost savings of more than $550 billion and the creation of over 1 million net new jobs by 2035.