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The document presents a screening exercise that identified 26 NAMA concepts for Trinidad and Tobago across six UNFCCC sectors. It analyzes the country's high per-capita emissions driven by the petrochemical industry and proposes specific mitigation measures in energy, industry, transport, agriculture, forestry, and waste to support a transition to a low-carbon economy.

The document analyzes the mismatch between the stated environmental goals of biofuel policies and their actual political objectives, such as supporting agricultural constituencies. It argues that subsidies often create market distortions and unintended consequences, such as increasing food prices and harming the environment. The authors recommend phasing out support for food-based biofuels, adopting carbon pricing and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies as 'first-best' alternatives, and adhering to good governance principles and the Precautionary Principle to manage uncertainty regarding indirect land use change and food security.

The study identifies significant community grievances in Central Kalimantan regarding water pollution and scarcity caused by oil palm plantations, including the release of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) and the degradation of peatlands. It argues that current governance is failing due to a lack of trusted water data, conflicting land-use maps, and weak enforcement of environmental laws. Furthermore, it critiques the EU Renewable Energy Directive (EU-RED) for its 'water blindness,' focusing almost exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions while delegating local environmental protections to voluntary standards like the RSPO, which the study finds are inconsistently implemented.

The document addresses the tension between the pursuit of a green economy and the existing international trade system. It argues that while Rio+20 provided general guidance, it failed to establish what constitutes 'appropriate state behaviour' regarding green industrial policies, such as subsidies and local content requirements. The author highlights a rise in trade frictions—including disputes between the U.S., China, and the EU over solar and wind technology—and asserts that the WTO's Dispute Settlement Mechanism is ill-suited to resolve these issues because they stem from a lack of international consensus on policy propriety rather than simple rule breaches. The text advocates for the creation of an institutional space, such as through UNCTAD, to evaluate the effectiveness of green tools and their impacts on trading partners, particularly developing nations, to ensure a just transition.

The paper analyzes the evolution of energy and climate change economics, noting a massive increase in research output since 2005. While quantity has surged, the author suggests a potential relative decline in originality compared to the 1990s.

The document argues that low-carbon innovation is a systemic process involving networks of actors and institutional environments, rather than just technical hardware. It highlights that developing countries have a unique opportunity to bypass high-carbon 'lock-in' due to less established energy infrastructures. The authors recommend a 'socio-technical' approach that considers local cultural practices and 'fit-stretch dynamics' to ensure technology adoption. Strengthening indigenous capabilities and aligning international initiatives, such as the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, with national policies are presented as essential for sustainable transition.

The report outlines the progress of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, highlighting over 100 commitments from governments and businesses, including more than USD $50 billion from the private sector. It details a four-step country-action process adopted by 55 developing countries and identifies 50 high-impact opportunities across 11 action areas. The document also proposes a distributed global network for future implementation and a baseline report to track progress toward 2030 goals.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) estimates that 677 million tons of sustainable biomass could be available in the U.S. by 2030, enough to produce 54 billion gallons of ethanol or 732 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The report advocates for a shift toward non-food biofuels and biopower sources—such as perennial energy crops, agricultural residues, and waste materials—while explicitly excluding whole trees due to concerns over carbon storage loss. It emphasizes that bioenergy must be scaled appropriately to avoid competing with food production and causing indirect land-use changes that could eliminate climate benefits.

The document examines requests from livestock producers and state governors to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to lower corn feed prices during a drought. It argues against a waiver, noting that ethanol production has already decreased, tradable credits provide flexibility, and a waiver would only marginally lower corn prices while severely harming the biofuels industry and its investments.

The author contends that the 2012 Farm Bill's energy title is critical for reducing U.S. oil dependence and stimulating rural economic growth through bioenergy investments. While the Senate version provides mandatory funding, the House version does not, which the author describes as a "death sentence" for these programs. The text highlights that in 2011, oil accounted for 93 percent of transportation fuel, creating a vulnerability exacerbated by volatile global prices and a $331 billion petroleum import spend. The author advocates for continued support of programs like the Biomass Crop Assistance Programs and the Biorefinery Assistance Program to develop feedstock systems and commercial-scale biorefineries.

The report examines China's agricultural investment strategy, noting a transition from market dependence to foreign direct investment. While China remains largely self-sufficient in staple grains, it requires imports of soybeans, cotton, and palm oil for its industrial and energy sectors. The document details various investment models, including aid-driven demonstration farms, joint ventures, and direct land acquisitions. It confirms 54 Chinese projects covering 4.8 million hectares across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while cautioning against the social and environmental risks associated with large-scale land acquisitions.

The research paper develops a methodology for scenario analysis of consumption-based GHG emissions, moving beyond traditional production-based accounting. It introduces a framework using a modified Kaya Identity to forecast emissions by analyzing population, consumption activity, and GHG intensity. The authors provide a catalogue of low-GHG behavioral measures across food, goods, services, construction, transport, and home energy. Piloting the method in Seattle and the U.S., the study finds that while aggressive behavioral shifts and production improvements can reduce consumption-based emissions by 47% by 2030, the resulting levels remain significantly above the global average required to limit warming to 2°C.

The study evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions of various biodiesel and bio-ethanol feedstocks compared to fossil fuels. It finds that waste cooking oil and sugarbeet offer the highest emissions savings, but the current feedstock mix would require a 23.8% market share by 2020 to meet the LCTP's 6% emissions saving goal.

The brief highlights the role of the 2008 Farm Bill in stimulating the U.S. biofuels industry and reducing oil dependence. It details specific programs like the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) and the Biorefinery Assistance Program, noting that while initial investments of less than $2 billion have shown promise, significant further investment is required to meet Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets for 2022. The author emphasizes that shifting to biofuels can improve energy security, support rural economic development, and mitigate climate change.

The report examines foreign investment in agriculture across MERCOSUR, identifying three primary models: state-level cooperation agreements, direct private land purchases, and foreign direct investment in production via contract farming. It highlights a general lack of reliable data, though estimates suggest foreign ownership varies significantly, from 1.7% of arable land in Brazil to 19.4% of national territory in Paraguay. While Brazil and Argentina have implemented laws to restrict foreign land ownership, Uruguay is debating similar measures, and Paraguay has seen little public discussion on restrictions despite high foreign ownership. The document recommends the establishment of national land registries and clear definitions of 'foreign stakeholders' to better manage and monitor these investments.

The document examines the State of São Paulo's approach to integrating environmental, social, and economic criteria into public procurement. It details the use of the 'Selo Socioambiental' (Socio-Environmental Seal) to identify sustainable products in the electronic procurement system (BEC/SP) and the standardization of sustainable requirements for outsourced services via the Cadterc system. The report highlights the role of electronic auctions (pregão eletrônico) in increasing efficiency and reducing costs, while noting challenges in contract monitoring and the need for life-cycle analysis in product selection.

The IAI Executive Council met on June 26, 2012, to address operational budgets, scientific research grants, and governance restructuring. Key outcomes include the recommendation of a tripartite headquarters model distributed across Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, and the approval of eight research projects under the third round of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN3) program. The Council also reviewed financial reports for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, noting a total of US$1.3 million in pending member contributions.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute advocates for mandatory funding within the energy title of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 to support sustainable bioenergy. The organization argues that investing in biofuels, biomass heating, and bio-based products will enhance national energy security, create rural jobs, and mitigate climate change by reducing reliance on petroleum fuels.

The document analyzes how population growth, economic development, and globalization intensify pressures on land resources, leading to ecosystem degradation and resource depletion. It highlights the conflict between perpetual economic growth and biophysical limits, noting that land-use decisions often ignore non-economic ecosystem functions. The text identifies competing demands for food, feed, fuel, and fiber as primary drivers of land conversion and degradation, exacerbated by climate change. It argues that sustainable land management requires improved governance, capacity building, and the engagement of local communities, mentioning strategies such as REDD and community-based resource management.

The study assesses four scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Tallinn's bus fleet by 2020, finding that while biodiesel and bioethanol offer the highest emission reductions, they are significantly more expensive per ton of CO2e reduced than other transport or energy sector measures.