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The report analyzes the South African waste sector, which is worth approximately R15 billion and employs 29,000 people. It highlights the Western Cape's higher recycling rates (14%) compared to the national average (9.8%) and examines various waste streams, including plastics, paper, glass, metals, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste. The document identifies significant barriers to waste-to-energy (WtE) projects, such as complex municipal procurement processes and regulatory hurdles, while outlining potential for biogas generation from agricultural and organic waste. It also details GreenCape's initiatives, such as the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), to promote a circular economy.

The document examines the use of improved cookstoves in Central America, noting that while many models meet WHO emission targets in labs, they often fail to significantly reduce personal pollutant exposure in the field due to 'stove stacking' and improper use. It identifies the 'plancha' as the most common model and highlights that successful adoption depends on user-centered design, training, and cost-sharing. The report calls for standardized performance measures and national certification bodies to ensure health benefits are actually realized.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of 'green jobs' in the U.S. and internationally, highlighting the impact of energy efficiency and renewable energy on employment. It notes a significant gap in reliable U.S. data following the elimination of the BLS Green Careers program. Key findings include the dominance of solar and wind in global renewable energy employment, with China as the largest employer, and the high job-creation potential of energy efficiency investments in buildings and transportation.

The document compiles job statistics for clean energy sectors, noting a lack of standardized measurement in the U.S. following the end of the BLS Green Careers program. It details employment figures across energy efficiency (buildings, vehicles, smart grids) and renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biofuels), while providing global context with a focus on China, Brazil, and the European Union.

The document analyzes the evolving energy partnership between the US and South Africa, framed by the US's shift toward energy independence via shale gas and its 'Power Africa' initiative. While South Africa is interested in the US model for shale gas and renewables, the briefing argues that South Africa must remain cautious regarding hydraulic fracturing due to severe water constraints and infrastructure gaps. It highlights the US-South Africa Strategic Dialogue as a mechanism for cooperation on clean energy, carbon capture, and hydrocarbon development, while noting that US initiatives in Africa have targeted a limited number of countries.

Mike Shinoda describes how Music for Relief has raised over $6 million USD and implemented sustainable energy projects in Haiti, Uganda, and Nepal through the 'Power The World' initiative. He argues that global leaders must move beyond fear-based rhetoric and 'clunky' terminology to earn the trust of a cynical youth population to achieve universal energy access by 2030.

The report assesses the feasibility of a greentech SEZ in Atlantis, South Africa. It identifies high-potential opportunities in wind turbine components, solar PV components, and solar water heaters, driven largely by government programs like the REIPPP. The study recommends a business case that prioritizes refurbishing existing industrial property over greenfield development to reduce costs and risk. It projects that a moderate demand scenario could create 1,440 direct permanent jobs and attract R650 million in FDI by 2030.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) identifies a significant opportunity for the United States to utilize agricultural residues and manure to reduce oil and coal dependence. By 2030, the U.S. could tap 155 million tons of residues and nearly 60 million tons of manure, which could generate over 10 billion gallons of ethanol or 166 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The document emphasizes that sustainable use requires balancing energy needs with soil health, suggesting that no-till farming and cover crops can mitigate erosion. Geographically, a small number of states, led by Iowa, hold the majority of this potential, with specific opportunities identified in Arkansas, Texas, and California based on their dominant crops and livestock.

The report identifies Botswana as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly regarding water shortages and agricultural yields. It finds that while universities like the University of Botswana and Botswana College of Agriculture possess significant individual expertise, there is a critical lack of overarching national CCD policy and institutional coordination. The document argues for a shift toward transdisciplinary research and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems to build climate resilience.

The South African waste economy, valued at R15.3 billion, is transitioning from 'end of pipe' to 'cradle to cradle' solutions under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. While the recycling rate stands at 19.6%, the sector faces significant hurdles in municipal procurement, feedstock security, and legal authorisation backlogs. In the Western Cape, municipalities like Cape Town, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch are pursuing waste-to-energy and organic waste treatment to address critical landfill airspace shortages, with some landfills estimated to have less than 3 years of capacity remaining.

The South African waste economy is valued at R15.3 billion, representing approximately 0.51% of GDP. While the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM:WA) has shifted the sector toward 'cradle-to-cradle' solutions, developers face significant hurdles, including complex municipal procurement processes, long legal authorisation backlogs, and difficulties in securing long-term feedstock agreements. In the Western Cape, limited landfill airspace—with some sites having less than three years of capacity—is driving a need for decentralized waste-to-energy and recycling projects.

The report details South Africa's transition toward renewable energy, highlighting the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Procurement Program and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It examines four market segments: utility-scale projects, the Small Projects Bidding Programme, Eskom's Standard Offer Programme, and the growing private market. The document emphasizes the importance of local content and the Western Cape's role as a hub for renewable energy manufacturing and development.

The report examines South Africa's renewable energy landscape in 2014, detailing the regulatory framework, utility-scale and private markets, and the manufacturing of components. It highlights the role of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in driving capacity, while noting grid constraints and the importance of the Western Cape as an industry hub.

The roadmap proposes two visions for Colombia's bioenergy sector: one focusing on new technologies (biomethane and biomass-based power/CHP) and another combining these with the expansion of first-generation biofuels. Modeling indicates that while both scenarios increase the bioenergy share in power and gas supply, they cannot prevent an overall decline in bioenergy's share of primary energy demand due to rapid GDP growth and urbanization. The most effective emissions reductions come from power generation and CHP, particularly by avoiding methane release from landfills and animal waste. Scenario I is identified as the most efficient in terms of emissions reduction per additional hectare of land, whereas Scenario II's ambitious biofuel targets would require significant imports as domestic land is insufficient.

The report argues that feeding a projected global population of 9 billion by 2050 requires 'sustainable intensification'—producing more food with fewer resources to 'freeze the footprint of food'. Based on expert interviews, it identifies key opportunities in precision agriculture, soil health, genetics, and waste recovery. It highlights the US dairy industry as a potential leader in demonstrating closed-loop systems, particularly through the use of anaerobic digesters to convert manure into renewable energy. The document emphasizes that while incremental improvements are necessary, breakthroughs in technology and data sharing, supported by public and private investment, are essential for systemic change.

The paper examines the gap between Ethiopia's large-scale grid expansion and the needs of the rural poor, proposing a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to integrate decentralized renewable energy into national policy.

A coalition of national and regional organizations is advocating for the re-authorization and funding of the Farm Bill's energy title to support the growth of clean energy industries, rural jobs, and agricultural diversification in the United States.

A coalition of organizations urges the UN Special Rapporteur to recommend that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) integrate human rights protections into its governing policies. The request is driven by documented abuses associated with the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam in Panama and other CDM projects in Honduras and India. The authors propose four specific reforms: establishing international safeguards, strengthening stakeholder consultation, creating a project de-registration process for human rights violations, and implementing a grievance mechanism for affected communities.

Thailand has achieved rapid growth in renewable energy, particularly solar power, through a combination of incentive policies, simplified regulations, and civil society engagement. Key mechanisms include the Small Power Producer (SPP) and Very Small Power Producer (VSPP) programmes, and the 'Adder' feed-in premium. While these policies attracted significant private investment and increased capacity, the government is now transitioning toward a more sophisticated feed-in tariff to manage costs and balance the energy portfolio, as solar growth has significantly outpaced other renewable sources.

The document details Nepal's approach to integrating economy, society, and environment through District Climate and Energy Plans (DCEPs). It highlights a pilot process in three districts—Ilam, Makwanpur, and Mustang—which led to the creation of a 'DCEP Preparation Guideline' to be scaled across all 75 districts. Using Ilam as a primary example, the text describes how multi-stakeholder task forces use data and scenario analysis to prioritize renewable energy technologies (RETs) such as solar, biogas, and micro-hydro based on mitigation potential and local vulnerability. This bottom-up planning is supported by the national Climate Change Policy (2011) and the forthcoming Low Carbon Economic Development Strategy (LCEDS).