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This executive summary from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the economic potential of "demand flexibility" (DF)—the use of technology to shift electricity consumption to lower-cost times. The report argues that DF can significantly reduce both customer electric bills and overall grid investment costs by treating demand as a flexible resource ("flexiwatts") rather than a static load.

The Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE), represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), filed an internal appeal to the Director General of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on July 21, 2015. The appeal challenges the DMR's partial refusal to grant access to records regarding the Yzermyn underground coal mine project in Mpumalanga, which the FSE requested under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA).

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that South Africa should expand its foreign policy by reconceiving its engagement with Latin America and Africa as a unified 'South Atlantic Zone'. The authors suggest that this framework can enhance maritime security, promote the 'blue economy' through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and increase trade and cultural ties among littoral states.

This research paper analyzes six models to determine how Mexico can achieve its GHG emission reduction targets of 30% by 2020 and 50% by 2050. The models indicate that while decarbonizing electricity and improving transport efficiency are essential, the specific energy pathways (renewables, biomass, or CCS) vary, with projected GDP costs reaching up to 15% by 2050.

This fact sheet describes a Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) initiative launched in January 2015 that examines fossil fuel supply investments, infrastructure, and institutions to determine their impact on climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International alleging that Harvard University's investments in large-scale forestry plantations in Corrientes, Argentina, have caused ecological damage and deprived local communities of their livelihoods.

This executive summary presents three tools—Land Use Finance Mapping, Financial Viability Gap Analysis, and Public Incentive Mapping—designed to help low- and middle-income countries redirect public and private financing from 'business-as-usual' land use activities toward sustainable, low-emission alternatives.

This policy brief analyzes Turkey's 2015 G-20 presidency, focusing on its priorities of inclusiveness, investment, and implementation, and their implications for Africa and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The authors argue that while Turkey has expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa through a 'bottom-up' approach, the G-20's institutional framework remains problematic due to the underrepresentation of African nations and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks.

This case study examines the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant (GPP) in Indonesia, highlighting how public risk mitigation tools, including guarantees and feed-in tariffs, enabled significant private sector investment in a project designed to be the world's largest single contract geothermal plant with a 330MW capacity by 2018.

This fact sheet examines the potential for deploying mid-level ethanol blends (E25 to E40) in the United States passenger vehicle fleet to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It discusses the role of ethanol as a renewable octane provider, the compatibility of existing vehicle fleets and retail infrastructure, and the lifecycle GHG reductions associated with different ethanol sources.

This research paper examines the use of amicus curiae submissions by civil society organisations (CSOs) to introduce community perspectives into investor-state arbitration, focusing on the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. The Republic of El Salvador.

This report analyzes the use of amicus curiae briefs by civil society organizations (CSOs) to introduce community perspectives into investor-state arbitration, focusing on the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC vs. the Republic of El Salvador. It details how the Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica de El Salvador (La Mesa), supported by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho (FESPAD), used legal tools to challenge the jurisdiction of the arbitration tribunal and highlight the democratic debate over metallic mining and sustainable development in El Salvador.

This executive summary analyzes the use of private financing to accelerate geothermal energy deployment in Indonesia, focusing on the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP Sarulla) as a case study. It highlights the role of public support in mitigating exploration risks and providing financial guarantees to attract private investment to meet national capacity targets.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the potential for deploying mid-level ethanol blends (E25 to E40) as high-octane fuels in the United States. It discusses the technical benefits for engine efficiency, the existing compatibility of the vehicle fleet and retail infrastructure, and the potential for significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions compared to conventional gasoline.

The June 2015 report from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) evaluates the progress of interdisciplinary research programs in the Americas. The SAC emphasizes the success of combining natural and social sciences to create policy-relevant solutions but identifies a critical lack of regional data infrastructure to distribute these findings to decision-makers and the public.

This June 2015 report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Finance and Administration (FAC) evaluates the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) basic budget for 2015-2016. The FAC recommends the budget for approval by the Conference of the Parties, noting efforts to minimize operating costs and a proposal to keep country contributions stable in the short term. The report highlights significant financial instability caused by accumulated member debts, which totaled US$1.33 million by the end of the last quarter, though substantial payments from Venezuela and Argentina prevented further activity restrictions.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Quarterly Status Report, presented in June 2015, details the institute's financial health, core budget status, and administrative updates. The report highlights a critical financial environment caused by missing country contributions, particularly from Brazil and Mexico, while noting a transition of operations to Uruguay and the implementation of new management software.

The minutes of the 40th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 26, 2015, in Lima, detail administrative decisions, the implementation of CoP-23 mandates, and strategic planning for scientific partnerships and leadership transitions.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes Ontario's successful phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation, which was completed by the end of 2014. The study examines the factors that enabled this transition—categorized as context, champions, concerns, and complementary policies—and evaluates the resulting impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, public health, and the economy.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.