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Ülevaade Euroopa Liidu riikides läbi viidud rohelise maksureformi tulemustest
The report examines the shift of tax burdens from labour to consumption and natural resource use, known as Ecological Tax Reform (ETR). It analyzes how EU nations have used energy, transport, and pollution taxes to internalize environmental costs while maintaining economic competitiveness. The document highlights that successful ETRs often combine tax increases on pollutants with reductions in social security or income taxes, creating a 'double dividend' of environmental improvement and increased employment. Based on these international experiences, the report suggests that Estonia should phase out subsidies for its oil-shale energy sector, introduce carbon-based energy taxes, and implement differentiated vehicle taxes to stimulate resource efficiency and sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
Career choice and climate change
The document outlines the causes and consequences of global climate change, highlighting the role of greenhouse gas emissions and the influence of the fossil fuel lobby. It categorizes career paths for scientists and engineers into four areas of positive contribution: understanding the problem, technological solutions, economic solutions, and social/political solutions, while warning against the influence of vested interests.
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Document type: Briefing
Insurmountable Opportunities?
The document evaluates the state of global sustainability in 2001, highlighting a severe decline in ecosystem services and the rise of 'overshoot.' It identifies five key achievements since the Rio Summit—including the growth of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), civil society, and socially responsible investing—while warning of imminent climate instability, water shortages, and health crises. The authors advocate for 'Natural Capitalism,' a shift toward resource productivity and whole-systems governance, to replace the current industrial model that prioritizes labor productivity over natural capital.
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Document type: Briefing
ASSESSING GOOD PRACTICES IN POLICIES AND MEASURES TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
The document describes a project to evaluate climate change mitigation policies and measures (PAM) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) using a specific framework of six criteria: environmental outcomes, economic/social outcomes, technical outcomes, institution building potential, project sustainability, and dissemination/replication potential. Applying these criteria to case studies in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia revealed that while quantitative project data is accessible, qualitative factors like institutional development are harder to measure but critical for scaling. Findings varied by country, highlighting the effectiveness of small-scale municipal energy efficiency in Bulgaria, the limitations of planned transport measures in the Czech Republic, and the role of soft financing in Hungary and Poland to overcome economic barriers to renewables and efficiency.
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Document type: Research paper
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: SOUTH AFRICAN CASE-STUDIES
The report analyzes how South Africa's export-led growth strategy interacts with global environmental standards and regulations. It focuses on three sectors: coal, where the Kyoto Protocol threatens global demand; steel, where low environmental investment and cheap energy may be viewed as unfair subsidies; and citrus, which has successfully adapted to stringent EU and US market demands. The document argues that while formal WTO-legal green trade barriers are unlikely, informal pressures like eco-labeling and buyer specifications are increasing. It recommends better information gathering, stronger international representation, and government support for small exporters to meet international environmental standards.
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Document type: Report
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
The proceedings of the Trade and Sustainable Development Workshop, held in July 1999 in Midrand, South Africa, detail discussions between government, business, and NGO representatives on the intersection of international trade and environmental protection. The workshop focused on preparing South Africa for the WTO Millennium Round in Seattle, examining the risks of 'green protectionism' and 'eco-imperialism' versus the opportunities of 'greening' trade. Key analyses included case studies on the South African coal, steel, and citrus sectors, as well as the potential of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and ISO 14001 certification. The participants identified significant research gaps in the impact of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and the need for a coordinated national mechanism to support trade negotiators with empirical evidence.
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Document type: Report
CLIMATE: Making Sense and Making Money
The document challenges the assumption that climate protection is a financial burden, asserting that energy-efficiency investments often yield returns exceeding 100% per year. It identifies eight categories of market failures—including capital misallocation, organizational failures, and perverse regulatory incentives—that cost the American economy approximately $300 billion annually. By shifting focus from theoretical economic models to empirical business evidence, the authors demonstrate that 'whole-system engineering' and 'barrier-busting' policies can reduce carbon emissions while increasing GDP and competitiveness. The report highlights that high energy prices are not the only driver of efficiency, citing Seattle's success in saving electricity faster than Chicago despite lower prices. It concludes that a market-transformation approach can stabilize the climate and foster economic growth globally, particularly in developing nations.
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Document type: Report
Incorporation of Environmental Considerations in Energy Planning in the People’s Republic of China
The report analyzes China's energy system, which was heavily coal-dependent in 1990, and projects environmental loadings up to 2020. It compares a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario with two enhanced environmental scenarios, demonstrating that while BAU leads to significant increases in SO2 and CO2 emissions, targeted policy interventions in energy mix, efficiency, and clean coal technology can mitigate these impacts. The study recommends shifting toward hydropower, nuclear power, and natural gas, alongside the implementation of pollution levies and integrated planning to achieve sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
EUROPEAN UNION CARBON TAX
The document is a teaching guide designed to simulate negotiations over a proposed European Union carbon tax. It combines negotiation theory—drawing on works by Raiffa, Bazerman, Neale, Fisher, and Ury—with a technical game-theory model to show how cooperation can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. The guide discusses the challenges of unilateral climate policy, specifically the risk of 'leakage' where emissions shift outside the EU, and the potential for carbon tax revenues to be used for fiscal reform to reduce unemployment.
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Document type: Guide
TOWARDS A FOSSIL FREE ENERGY FUTURE
The report argues that a transition to a renewable-based energy system is technically and economically feasible. The FFES demonstrates that through aggressive energy efficiency improvements, fuel switching, and the adoption of solar, wind, and biomass energy, global CO2 emissions can be reduced to zero by 2100. The analysis emphasizes that such a transition could be achieved at costs similar to or lower than 'business-as-usual' scenarios, provided there is strong policy leadership and international cooperation to overcome market barriers and address economic inequities between the North and South.
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Document type: Report
AMERICA'S ENERGY CHOICES
The report analyzes four energy scenarios for the US up to 2030: a Reference case, a Market case, an Environmental case, and a Climate Stabilization case. It finds that shifting toward efficiency and renewables can lead to net economic savings of up to $2.3 trillion and dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions. The authors propose a comprehensive policy framework based on harnessing market forces, establishing efficiency standards, and increasing R&D investment to move the US away from its current reliance on polluting fossil fuels.
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Document type: Report
MAKING MARKETS IN RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
The author proposes shifting economic focus from the mere pricing of depletion and pollution to the creation of active markets for 'negawatts' (saved electricity) and other saved resources. By treating efficiency as a tradable commodity, the author argues that the economic incentive to save resources—which is often cheaper than producing new ones—can be harnessed through arbitrage, auctions, and derivative instruments. The text details various mechanisms for implementing these markets in the electricity and water sectors, suggesting that such an approach reduces financial and environmental risks while providing a more efficient alternative to regulatory mandates.
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Document type: Research paper
ENERGY POLICY STATEMENT: A CALL TO ACTION FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) calls for a decisive U.S. energy policy to address global warming, urban air pollution, and economic competitiveness. The primary recommendation is to prioritize energy efficiency through tax strategies, such as a carbon dioxide tax and phased-in gasoline taxes, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. The report also advocates for stimulating renewable energy sources, halting deforestation, and leading international efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including a total phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
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Document type: Report
Online Appendix: Full results of the report Climate-health messages engender support for climate action
The appendix details the effects of various health-related messages on public perception of climate change, concern levels, and support for specific climate policies in four countries. It uses a scoring system to identify which messages most effectively increase the salience of climate change and support for mitigation efforts.
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Document type: Report
Did extreme weather change European public opinion in summer 2026?
The document finds that the extreme heat and wildfires of summer 2026 significantly increased the salience of climate change as a top public concern in most surveyed European countries, particularly those most affected. This shift led to a modest increase in support for government policy actions, such as carbon taxes and fuel duty increases, although personal lifestyle changes remained stagnant. The research highlights a strong public link between the weather events and climate change, rendering climate denial politically toxic, while noting that the primary political debate has shifted toward the pace and cost of the energy transition rather than the necessity of action.
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Document type: Research paper
TAKING THE JETP PATH: PUSHING FOR CHANGE
The report examines the operationalisation of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), highlighting the necessity of country-led frameworks that integrate climate goals with socio-economic development. Using South Africa as a primary case study, it discusses the gap between international funding pledges and actual transition costs, the need for reduced capital costs, and the critical role of high-level political coordination and philanthropic support in building institutional capacity.
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Document type: Report
ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY OF FOSSIL FUEL FINANCING AND DEBT IN AFRICA
The document examines the tension between Africa's fossil fuel endowments and the global push for decarbonization, highlighting the risks of stranded assets and the dominance of Global North financing. It argues for a Just Transition that ensures energy access while moving toward low-carbon sources.
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Document type: Research paper
CODE GREEN
The document frames climate change as the "biggest global health threat of the 21st century," noting that it has caused over 140,000 deaths per year since the 1970s. It asserts that meeting the 2°C global temperature limit requires consuming no more than one-third of proven fossil fuel reserves by 2050. The text advocates for a substantial carbon price, citing British Columbia's carbon tax as a successful model, and suggests that pricing should eventually reach $100-$200 per tonne of CO2 equivalent. It highlights health co-benefits of low-carbon transitions, such as reduced cardiovascular disease from 'cardio-commuting' and fewer respiratory impacts from wind, solar, and hydro power compared to coal. Finally, it urges physicians to use their professional influence to translate climate science for the public and advocate for systemic changes.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Backgrounder: Phasing Out Alberta's Coal Plants
The document details the environmental and health impacts of Alberta's coal-fired power plants, noting that in 2014, 68% of the province's electricity was generated from coal. It highlights that these plants are significant sources of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, mercury, and greenhouse gases, with 2011 emissions totaling 43 megatonnes of GHG. The authors propose a transition plan to reach 0% coal reliance by 2030, increasing renewable energy to 40% and reducing electricity demand through energy efficiency by 20%. The strategy discourages increased reliance on stand-alone natural gas due to production-related GHG emissions and suggests mechanisms for phase-out such as legislated closures, lifespan caps, or carbon pricing.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Meet the Moment
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment argues that pollution pricing is essential for reducing emissions and protecting public health in Canada. The statement highlights that the industrial carbon pricing system is projected to be the largest driver of emissions reductions from 2025 to 2030, while the consumer fuel charge accounts for up to 14% of reductions. It asserts that carbon pricing has a 'negligible' impact on inflation and that 80% of households receive more in rebates than they pay. The authors link fossil fuel combustion to 1 in 7 premature deaths in Canada and warn that heat-related deaths could cost between $5.2 and $8.5 billion annually by the end of the century. The document calls on political leaders to uphold pollution pricing to maintain economic competitiveness and align with international trade mechanisms like Carbon Border Adjustments.
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Document type: Statement