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The analysis of 23 Indian CDM projects reveals a consistent gap between optimistic initial forecasts and actual CER issuance, with an average reduction of 23.1% in forecasted CERs till 2012. The study finds that additionality argumentation is often poor, frequently lacking independent evidence and relying on unconvincing investment barriers. Furthermore, stakeholder consultation processes are often superficial, frequently conflating general regulatory permits with CDM-specific engagement, and the delivery of sustainability benefits remains largely unquantified and insufficiently monitored.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) demands that industrialized countries reduce emissions by at least 40% by 2020 and provide large-scale financial transfers to developing nations based on climate debt. The organization rejects carbon offsetting, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and the inclusion of forests in carbon markets, arguing that such mechanisms undermine real emission cuts and threaten indigenous land rights. FoEI advocates for the conservation of old-growth forests, the protection of climate refugees, and the removal of the World Bank from climate financing roles due to its undemocratic structure and continued investment in fossil fuels.

The report examines the nexus of trade and climate change, focusing on the liberalization of environmental goods, border carbon adjustments, embodied carbon, intellectual property rights, clean energy investment, and product standards. It argues that while trade policy can facilitate the diffusion of low-carbon technologies, it must be carefully aligned with development goals to avoid creating non-tariff barriers for developing nations. The document highlights the tension between protecting domestic industrial competitiveness and maintaining WTO compliance, particularly regarding processes and production methods (PPMs). It concludes that trade liberalization alone is insufficient and must be complemented by financial assistance, technology transfer, and regulatory frameworks to achieve significant emissions reductions.

The document argues that sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on rain-fed agriculture and limited institutional capacity, yet it contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights a tension between the high initial costs of carbon-efficient development and immediate poverty reduction needs. The author proposes 'development-led' and 'no-regrets' approaches—such as the Mad’Etole wind project in Madagascar—to align environmental sustainability with economic growth. The paper also examines financial mechanisms like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) as tools for funding, while noting that international financial support for adaptation has remained insufficient.

The Foundation Course on Air Quality Management in Asia is a six-module educational program for adult learners aimed at improving urban air quality. The document provides an overview of the course's goals and a comprehensive glossary of technical terms related to atmospheric chemistry, health effects, and regulatory standards. It highlights the severe impact of urban air pollution in Asia, noting it causes an estimated 537,000 premature deaths annually, with indoor air pollution causing more than double that amount.

The document outlines a strategic approach to air quality management (AQM) specifically for Asian cities, emphasizing the integration of health-based guidelines, clean air implementation plans, and multi-stakeholder governance. It details various policy instruments—ranging from 'command and control' regulations to economic incentives and voluntary agreements—and provides specific strategies for reducing emissions from transport, industry, and area sources. Additionally, it explores the synergies between urban air quality improvements and climate change mitigation, particularly through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The document evaluates two mechanisms to prevent emissions leakage: output-based allocation and sectoral agreements. It concludes that output-based allocation can reduce leakage if applied to the first tradable intermediary product, but it often undermines incentives for innovation and product substitution. Sectoral agreements are deemed more promising if led by governments rather than voluntary private action, potentially utilizing financial incentives and border adjustments to ensure a level playing field and long-term CO2 price internalization.

The submission argues that the EU ETS is the only credible mechanism for a common carbon price in Europe but requires reform post-2012 to be effective. The authors advocate for a shift from free allocation to auctioning to remove investment distortions and 'early action' problems. To protect low-carbon investments from price volatility, they suggest reserve prices for auctions or put options. While acknowledging carbon leakage, the report asserts it only affects a few specific sub-sectors—such as semi-finished steel and clinker—and suggests that border adjustments or sectoral agreements are preferable to free allocations, which are viewed as a second-best, temporary option.

The report analyzes 43 proposed post-2012 climate regimes, categorizing them into five types: targets with flexibility mechanisms, targets with emissions trading only, policy and sectoral approaches, technology approaches, and other approaches. It argues that while the current project-based CDM is compatible with some regimes, an 'expanded CDM'—incorporating programmatic, policy-based, or sectoral crediting—could vastly increase the volume of greenhouse gas reductions but risks swamping the carbon market if not matched by ambitious developed-country targets. The authors emphasize the 'development dividend'—benefits beyond GHG reductions—and suggest that graduating large emitters (like the BRICSAM nations) from the CDM could improve regional equity for least developed countries (LDCs).

The report analyzes two primary competitiveness concerns: the 'non-Party problem,' where firms in non-participating nations gain an advantage, and the 'implementation problem,' where domestic policy choices create uneven playing fields. It concludes that while some sectors—particularly energy-intensive ones like aluminium—are vulnerable, overall impacts are often moderate. The report also details the complex interface between the Kyoto Protocol and the WTO, evaluating the legality of border tax adjustments, energy standards, and subsidies, suggesting that most conflicts arise from the design of specific measures rather than inherent treaty contradictions.

An analysis of 52 Indian CDM projects registered by May 2006 reveals a systemic preference for barrier analysis over investment analysis, with significant gaps in transparency and evidence. The study finds that while 94% of projects use barrier tests, only 33% conduct investment analyses, and only 50% identify alternatives. Detailed case studies of JSW Steel and Bajaj Auto illustrate that the CDM Executive Board's additionality assessments are inconsistent, often depending on how information is 'packaged' by developers. The author concludes that validators frequently fail to critically evaluate barrier claims, potentially allowing non-additional projects to increase net global emissions.

The author contends that climate governance has been overly dominated by environment departments and a narrow community of specialists, leading to top-down targets in the Kyoto Protocol that lacked domestic feasibility. To succeed post-2012, the author proposes a shift toward sector-specific expert forums involving industry and government, a more flexible approach to binding targets to encourage major emitters like the U.S., and a tighter integration of climate mitigation with poverty alleviation and sustainable development in the Global South. The paper emphasizes that developed nations must demonstrate domestic leadership and leverage trade and investment flows, rather than relying solely on official development assistance, to engage developing countries in a comprehensive mitigation regime.

The document examines how trade policies influence climate change through scale, composition, technique, and direct effects, and analyzes the legal interactions between WTO law and the UNFCCC/Kyoto Protocol. It also assesses the physical impacts of climate change on trade infrastructure and the competitiveness implications of implementing climate regulations.

The document analyzes the proposed National Allocation Plans (NAPs) for the 2008-2012 period of the EU ETS, arguing that excessive free allowance allocation, particularly in the power sector, creates significant economic distortions. It finds that free allocations to new installations often act as subsidies for fossil fuel generation, potentially making coal power more profitable under the ETS than without it. The authors highlight a lack of harmonization across Member States, the underutilization of auctioning, and the risk of an 'early action problem' where historic-based allocations discourage immediate emission reductions. The paper suggests that reducing free allocations and increasing auctioning would improve cost-efficiency and support low-carbon investment.

The document argues that the World Bank's energy investment framework is a continuation of 'more of the same', failing to transition from fossil fuels to renewables. It highlights a contradiction where the Bank acts as a major carbon trader while continuing to fund projects that emit massive amounts of greenhouse gases. The report criticizes the Bank's promotion of 'clean coal', nuclear energy, and large dams, asserting these technologies cause significant environmental and social harm. It calls for a redirection of public finance from the North to the South toward decentralized renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet the needs of the world's poor.

The paper explores the creation of markets for ecosystem services (MES) to address the decline of nature's regulating, supporting, and cultural services. It argues that while provisioning services are easily priced via property rights, indirect services are often public goods requiring government intervention and innovative valuation. The author proposes that multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) can provide the necessary institutional structure and trading platforms to implement pro-poor MES, potentially bundling services like carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation to reduce transaction costs and align with Millennium Development Goals.

The report argues that the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a 681 km project involving Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana, fails to deliver its promised benefits. It contends that the project does not promote genuine regional integration, may increase energy costs for Ghana, and is unlikely to significantly reduce gas flaring in Nigeria. The document highlights concerns over the project's legal structure in Bermuda, the lack of environmental impact studies for the Escravos pipeline, and the continued reliance on fossil fuels.

The research finds that proposed Phase II NAPs likely result in an oversupply of allowances, potentially leading to very low carbon prices and a 'dead market'. This surplus is exacerbated by the potential inflow of CDM/JI credits, which would shift the cost of Kyoto compliance from the private sector to government treasuries.

Nigeria is identified as the world's largest gas flarer, wasting approximately 2.5 billion cubic feet of associated gas daily, which results in an annual economic loss of US $2.5 billion. The report asserts that flaring has been generally illegal since 1984 under the Associated Gas Reinjection Act, yet continues through a lack of transparency regarding ministerial certificates. Environmental impacts include the emission of roughly 70 million metric tons of CO2 annually and the creation of acid rain that corrodes infrastructure. Health risks for local communities, specifically in Bayelsa State, include increased rates of premature death, child respiratory illnesses, asthma, and cancer due to exposure to particulate matter and benzene. The report criticizes the 'double standards' of the British colonial legacy and the failure of projects like Bonny LNG and the West African Gas Pipeline to prioritize the use of associated gas over non-associated gas.

The report evaluates the Clean Development Mechanism's (CDM) ability to provide a "development dividend" to developing countries. It finds that the current project pipeline is dominated by low-cost, end-of-pipe industrial projects (such as HFC23 decomposition) that offer minimal sustainable development benefits and are concentrated in a few larger developing nations. The report identifies high transaction costs and a cumbersome project-by-project approval process as significant barriers to the deployment of small-scale, community-based projects. To address these issues, the authors recommend transitioning toward policy-based and sectoral CDM approaches, reforming the CDM Executive Board into a professional body, and establishing internationally agreed principles for sustainable development.