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The report categorizes German residential building policies into financial instruments, information tools, and performance standards. It argues that these tools are complementary; for example, financial incentives require information tools to be effective. Key financial mechanisms include KfW loans and the Heating Cost Ordinance, while information tools range from energy audits to mass media. Performance standards like the EnEV primarily target new constructions, with the report noting significant non-compliance rates for new buildings, estimated between 25% and 35%.

The document examines the risk of carbon leakage and the use of Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs) to mitigate cost asymmetries created by carbon pricing. It specifically analyzes the exposure of Chinese exports to these measures, noting that the impact varies significantly based on the products included, the CO2 price applied, and the method used to assess CO2 content.

The research examines the historical demand for lighting in the UK, finding that income and price elasticities peaked during the late 19th century, leading to 'backfire' where efficiency gains increased total energy use. In the 20th century, elasticities declined, meaning efficiency improvements began to yield net energy savings, though significant rebound effects persist.

The document explains the methodology of the Green Footstep tool, which calculates the net carbon flow of building projects by analyzing site development, construction, and operation. It defines carbon neutrality as achieving a net carbon storage level equal to or greater than the site's native state. The paper provides specific formulas for calculating native site carbon storage, emissions from site development, and operational emissions. For construction emissions, it details an Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO LCA) approach based on 1997 US economic data, offering coefficients for residential, multifamily, manufacturing/industrial, and commercial/institutional sectors. It also includes a historical validation comparing 1997 energy intensity coefficients with 1967 data, noting a general decrease in energy intensity for most sectors except commercial and institutional buildings.

The report analyzes the potential for the Midwest to transition to a clean energy economy by adopting the Midwestern Governors Association's (MGA) targets: reducing electricity use by 2% annually and sourcing 30% of electricity from renewables by 2030. Using a modified National Energy Modeling System (NEMS), the Union of Concerned Scientists finds that these goals are achievable and would lead to significant job creation, consumer savings, and carbon emission reductions. The analysis highlights wind and biopower as the most competitive resources, while noting that transmission capacity remains a primary barrier. The report argues that regional targets would complement a federal carbon policy, making such a policy more affordable for consumers.

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 document argues that large-scale commercial agriculture and timber enterprises, rather than subsistence farming, are the leading drivers of tropical deforestation. It highlights the role of cattle ranching in the Amazon, palm oil plantations in Southeast Asia, and the global demand for timber and paper. The text emphasizes that tropical deforestation accounts for approximately 15 percent of global warming pollution due to the release of carbon stored in trees. It cites the Brazilian soybean moratorium as a successful example of how industry can grow without further forest clearing through societal pressure and improved land-use practices.

The report analyzes the sustainability of China's role as a global leader in seafood production and processing, focusing on tilapia, cod, and live reef food fish (LRFF). It identifies critical gaps in traceability, the prevalence of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the environmental impacts of intensive aquaculture. The document recommends that China establish a national traceability system, adopt international sustainability certifications, and develop a long-term trade policy that aligns with the 12th Five Year Plan's goals for a low-carbon, green economy.

The report evaluates South Africa's progress on governance themes identified by the APRM, noting that while institutional frameworks exist, implementation is often lacking. Key areas of concern include corruption, party-state blurring through 'cadre deployment', and high levels of poverty and unemployment. While elections are rated highly, the report highlights significant challenges in the justice system, service delivery, and the protection of media freedom.

In this 2011 commencement speech at the University of California at Berkeley, Amory Lovins advocates for "applied hope"—a pragmatic, action-oriented approach to solving global crises. He argues that the most effective way to improve the future is through tangible, scalable solutions that leverage resource efficiency to turn scarcity into abundance. Lovins envisions a future where oil, coal, and nuclear energy are phased out in favor of energy efficiency, distributed renewables, and combined-heat-and-power, leading to stabilized global climates and the end of energy-driven conflicts.

The Policy-Adjusted IRP 2010-2030 outlines South Africa's strategy for electricity generation expansion and demand-side management. It recommends a diversified energy mix including 9.6 GW of nuclear, 6.3 GW of new coal, and 17.8 GW of renewables (wind, solar PV, and CSP) to balance security of supply, economic growth, and carbon emission constraints. The plan emphasizes accelerating renewable energy to foster local industry and includes a Medium Term Risk Mitigation Project to address anticipated supply shortfalls between 2011 and 2016 through demand response and increased generation availability.

The report presents wind power as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in the U.S., highlighting its competitiveness with natural gas and its ability to reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption. It details economic advantages such as job creation and local tax revenue, while addressing environmental impacts on wildlife and human concerns regarding noise and aesthetics. The document concludes that reaching a target of 20 percent wind electricity by 2030 is feasible and affordable, provided the U.S. adopts stable long-term policies like a national renewable electricity standard.

The report examines the World Bank's 3.75 billion dollar loan to Eskom for the Medupi coal-fired power plant, asserting that the Bank's Economic Analysis ignored critical environmental and social costs. It highlights failures to assess transboundary impacts on Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, as well as domestic risks regarding water scarcity, water quality, and air pollution. The authors argue that this pattern of under-valuing externalities leads to over-investment in large-scale centralized fossil fuel projects at the expense of decentralized renewables.

The document provides a comparative analysis of U.S. renewable energy resources—including hydropower, wind, biomass, geothermal, and solar—alongside conventional coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. It details installed capacities, capital costs per kilowatt, and carbon displacement estimates as of 2009-2010, noting that renewables are generally lower in carbon emissions, more flexible in scale, and faster to construct than conventional plants.

The report details a 2011 survey of 1,010 American adults, analyzing how political affiliation and movement membership influence perceptions of climate change. It finds a sharp divide between the Tea Party and other political groups, with Tea Party members significantly more likely to deny global warming, distrust government-led climate policies, and hold strong individualistic values. Conversely, Democrats show the highest levels of concern and support for regulatory climate action.

The report examines the state of ICT and Internet policy in West Africa, highlighting the transition from state-led telecommunications to private-sector-driven growth. It details a survey conducted across seven West African countries and Kenya, which reveals overwhelming support for national multi-stakeholder Internet governance forums (IGFs). The findings emphasize that while mobile penetration has grown rapidly, significant gaps remain in broadband access, digital literacy, and regional interconnectivity. The document argues for a holistic policy approach that integrates Internet governance with sustainable development goals, including environmental stewardship and e-governance, while advocating for a shift from top-down government control to inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The guide outlines a comprehensive checklist for public-sector entities to transition from a 'best value for money' approach to 'best value across the project/product life cycle'. It emphasizes the importance of legal mandates, life-cycle costing (LCC), and e-procurement in integrating environmental and social risks into purchasing decisions. The document argues that the public sector's significant spending power—representing 13-17% of GDP in high-income countries and up to 47% in Brazil—can trigger private sector innovation and the commercialization of green technologies. Key recommendations include using performance-based specifications, negotiating bulk discounts or leasing to offset higher upfront costs, and maintaining dialogue with suppliers to foster green competitiveness.

The report documents a 2010 conference of the South African Civil Society Energy Caucus, focusing on the lack of transparency and public participation in the development of the second Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2). It critiques the government's continued reliance on coal and nuclear power, highlighting the failures of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) and the environmental risks of radioactive waste in the Witwatersrand goldfields. The document advocates for a 'just transition' toward renewable energy, specifically wind and solar, while calling for an independent system operator to resolve conflicts of interest within Eskom.

The document describes the framework for 'Reinventing Fire', a roadmap to shift the U.S. energy system to efficiency and renewables by 2050. It emphasizes a business-led, profit-driven approach that integrates transportation, buildings, industry, and electricity. The methodology relies on a base case from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), utilizes stock-and-flow models for technology adoption, and applies sector-specific real hurdle rates for investment screening. The analysis is intentionally conservative, assuming only technologies already entering the market and ignoring positive externalities to ensure a rigorous, independent perspective.

The report assesses the Swedish biofuels innovation system from 1990 to 2010, finding that while it functioned well overall—increasing the market share of first-generation biofuels—it remained heavily dependent on public governance. The analysis highlights a strategic imbalance where over-attention to market formation for first-generation fuels (ethanol and biodiesel) may have hindered the research and development of more sustainable second-generation alternatives. External factors, including oil price fluctuations and evolving climate debates, significantly moderated the effectiveness of governance policies.