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The seminar, co-organized by the Institute for Security Studies and the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development, highlighted Africa's vulnerability to climate change and the necessity of a united African position for the Copenhagen talks. Key discussions centered on the EU's commitment to a 30% emission reduction by 2020 and a pledge of 100 billion Euros for developing countries, as well as the need for technology transfer and financial compensation for Africa. The event also detailed the institutional framework of the African Union's common position, including the role of a ten-country committee headed by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Friends of the Earth criticizes Chrysler for scrapping its plans to produce large volumes of electric vehicles after receiving $15.3 billion in government bailout funds. The organization notes that Chrysler's revised sales targets for 2014 are significantly lower than the 500,000 vehicles promised by 2013, potentially leading to over one million extra tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions starting in 2014.

The research employs a three-dimensional binomial lattice and real options analysis to determine the trigger investment cost for energy efficiency projects. It finds that the 'energy efficiency paradox'—where worthwhile projects are not undertaken—can be explained by the value of the option to wait, particularly when the remaining useful life of a facility is short.

Amory Lovins argues that nuclear power is an obsolete and costly technology that retards climate protection by diverting resources from more effective alternatives. He challenges the 'baseload' myth, asserting that grid reliability is a collective attribute of all plants rather than an individual requirement. He further disputes the 'footprint' myth, providing evidence that nuclear power's total land use—including the fuel cycle—is significantly higher than that of wind and solar. Lovins contends that a diverse portfolio of energy efficiency and distributed renewables is more cost-effective and faster to deploy than nuclear power, which he claims is failing in the global marketplace due to a lack of private investment and escalating costs.

The briefing concludes that the European Parliament's proposals to require Member States to implement national financial incentives and for the Commission to propose Community financial instruments are legally acceptable, though they may face political opposition due to perceived infringements on national sovereignty.

The document argues that South Africa's international credibility in climate negotiations is undermined by a domestic reliance on fossil fuels and a slow integration of climate considerations into economic policy. Using Robert Putnam's 'two-level game' framework, it highlights the tension between Level I (international negotiations) and Level II (domestic interests), particularly the influence of the coal and oil industries. While South Africa champions developing nations' interests globally, its domestic energy strategy continues to favour coal-fired power and coal-to-liquids technology. The paper suggests that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region offers untapped renewable energy potential that could help reconcile these competing imperatives.

The document argues that replacing approximately 16 million inefficient agricultural pump sets in India, combined with the adoption of High Voltage Distribution Systems (HVDS) and mandatory metering, can significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. It identifies financing as the primary barrier, driven by high upfront costs of efficient pumps and flat electricity tariffs that remove incentives for conservation. The author proposes a phased policy approach moving from pump replacement to metered tariffs, suggesting that international cooperation is most effective for financial support and capacity building rather than technology transfer. The paper also provides a framework of indicators to monitor program initiation, pump deployment, and tariff reform.

The report details a systemic failure of governance in Ketapang District, West Kalimantan, where oil palm expansion—driven by EU biofuel targets—has led to widespread illegal land clearing, deforestation of protected forests, and severe social conflicts. It highlights that the Ketapang government issued permits for approximately 40% of the district's land in just three years, often bypassing legal requirements for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and forestland release approvals. The document argues that voluntary certification schemes like the RSPO and the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED) are insufficient to prevent these abuses, as they lack rigorous legality checks and fail to address 'replacement effects' where certified oil is diverted to energy, pushing the food sector toward unsustainable sources. Socially, the expansion has resulted in land grabs from indigenous communities and precarious labor conditions, including the non-payment of smallholders and chemical poisoning of workers.

The report argues that the increasing commercialisation of science and technology, driven by government policy in the UK and USA, has eroded the traditional academic ethos of openness and objectivity. Through case studies of the pharmaceutical, tobacco, military/defence, oil and gas, and biotechnology sectors, the authors demonstrate that corporate funding often leads to 'sponsorship bias', where results are skewed to favour funders. The document highlights the marginalisation of public-interest research—such as disease prevention, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy—in favour of profit-driven goals. It concludes with recommendations for universities to adopt ethical standards for partnerships and for the UK government to decouple science policy from purely economic objectives.

This appendix lists 'off-the-shelf' vehicle technologies from 2008 models that reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption. It categorizes these into engine technologies (such as cylinder shutoff control, direct injection, turbocharging, and variable valve control), transmission technologies (including automatic manual, continuously variable, and six-speed automatic transmissions), and accessory technologies (specifically electric power steering). The document notes that while some designs offer modest gains individually, combining multiple fuel-efficient technologies can lead to greater reductions in carbon emissions and increases in fuel economy.

The report examines how sustainable development issues are increasingly integrated into Brazil's trade and investment agendas despite official government resistance to linking these issues in multilateral negotiations. It highlights the role of agro-industrial sectors, international investment, and domestic political evolution in driving this shift, while noting the pressure from developed countries' unilateral standards.

The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States requires federal legislation to overcome barriers in the planning and siting of transmission lines, which currently hinder the deployment of renewable energy. The document advocates for 'Green Energy Superhighways' to connect remote renewable resource areas to population centers, while emphasizing that federal authority should act as a backstop when states cannot agree on facilities of national interest. It warns that without a federal cap-and-trade system, transmission expansion in the Northeastern United States could inadvertently increase carbon emissions by allowing coal-based power to flow from non-RGGI states to those with emission caps.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in Florida, potentially saving the state $14 billion and creating nearly 20,000 jobs by 2020.

A national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) in Georgia could save $6.3 billion and create nearly 9,000 jobs by 2020, while reducing electricity consumption by 13% by 2015.

A national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) in Mississippi could save nearly $2 billion and create 2,700 new jobs by 2020, while reducing electricity consumption by 11% by 2015.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in North Carolina. By 2015, the state could reduce electricity use by 13%, which would offset approximately 90% of the projected increase in demand. Based on a 2009 ACEEE analysis for 2020 targets (15% for electricity and 10% for natural gas), the implementation of an EERS would result in $3.017 billion in energy savings, the creation of 6,426 net jobs, and a reduction of 11.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, alongside annual electricity savings of 13,840 GWh and peak demand savings equivalent to 15 300 MW power plants.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) would provide South Carolina with significant electricity savings, job creation, and CO2 emission reductions by 2020, while noting that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) would provide significant benefits to Tennessee, including $3.5 billion in energy savings and the creation of over 5,000 jobs. It highlights that Tennessee could reduce electricity consumption by 11% by 2015, effectively offsetting 100% of the expected increase in demand through efficiency gains, which is identified as the cheapest option for meeting new energy needs.

The document argues that a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) is the most cost-effective way to meet new energy needs in Virginia. By 2020, such a standard could result in $2.3 billion in energy savings, the creation of over 3,700 jobs, and a reduction of 7.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, Virginia could reduce electricity consumption by 13% by 2015, which would cover 62% of the projected increase in demand.

The report examines China's transition toward a low-carbon economy, highlighting how energy security and the 'Scientific Development Concept' drive its climate policies. It analyzes China's emissions trends, its dependence on coal, and its strategic positioning in international negotiations, arguing that China's domestic economic stability and the global 2°C target are inextricably linked.