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This document is a preliminary report on a pilot study conducted in Senegal at the end of 2011 to test the Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) methodology developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

This document is a preliminary report on a pilot study conducted in Mozambique at the end of 2011 to test the Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) methodology developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

A statement by Friends of the Earth International condemning a violent police eviction of fishing families protesting the El Quimbo Hydroelectric Project in Huila, Colombia, and calling for the protection of local community rights.

Friends of the Earth International condemns the violent eviction of fishing families protesting the construction of the El Quimbo hydroelectric dam in Colombia, citing human rights abuses and the denial of legal participation mechanisms.

This briefing by RMI analyzes the impact of low natural gas prices, driven by hydraulic fracturing, on the growth of renewable energy in the United States. While low wholesale gas prices create near-term financing challenges for utility-scale projects, the document argues that distributed solar PV and long-term cost declines in wind and solar will ensure continued renewable energy expansion.

This report details the resolutions and decisions made during the 19th Special Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on February 15, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. The primary focus of the meeting was addressing operational challenges within the IAI Directorate and approving a tripartite proposal to distribute the Directorate's functions across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay to enhance science-policy integration and operational stability.

The 2012 State of the Nation Address by President Jacob G Zuma outlines a 'massive infrastructure development drive' designed to combat the 'triple challenge' of unemployment, poverty, and inequality in South Africa. The address details strategic investments in transport, mining, and social infrastructure, while reporting on progress in job creation, education, and land reform.

This report examines the potential economic impacts and fiscal burdens on the United Kingdom government and consumers if the national biofuel blending mandate were increased to 10 or 15 per cent to meet the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive (RED) target of 10 per cent renewable transport fuels by 2020.

This fact sheet details the Obama administration's fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget proposal, focusing on sustainable energy and transportation. It outlines funding requests for key agencies including the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency, emphasizing an "all of the above" energy strategy to promote green technology and infrastructure.

This February 2012 briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) compares two competing transportation infrastructure bills in the U.S. Congress: the House's H.R. 7 and the Senate's S. 1813. The document details the funding mechanisms, durations, and policy differences between the two versions as they move toward floor votes.

This report, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and GIZ, identifies the primary business and investment constraints within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. By analyzing multiple business climate surveys, indices, and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the study establishes a list of the top ten barriers to investment and development to facilitate public-private dialogue and the creation of practical policy solutions.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute provides a comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for King County, Washington, using two complementary methodologies: a Geographic-plus Inventory and a Consumption-based Inventory. It evaluates 2008 emissions data, compares them to 2003 trends and national averages, and proposes a streamlined tracking framework to help local government monitor emissions sources over which they have direct policy influence.

This executive summary of the 'Annual Review of Low-Carbon Development in China (2011-2012)' evaluates China's performance during its 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP). It details the drivers behind the reduction in energy intensity, the effectiveness of various policy instruments, and the challenges facing the subsequent 12th FYP.

This briefing outlines an 8-point plan to mobilize the $75 trillion held by institutional investors toward the low-carbon transition via the bond market. It argues that while climate-resilient infrastructure provides the long-term, secure assets pension funds and insurers seek, current deal flow is too small and fragmented. The plan proposes aggregating small projects into investment-grade offerings, utilizing public sector risk-sharing and regulatory leverage, greening development banks, and implementing standardized climate bond certifications to bridge the annual investment gap of $1 trillion to $1.3 trillion.

This report summarizes a workshop hosted by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and the Florence School of Regulation on October 20, 2011. The discussions focused on the planning, regulation, and financing of European electricity transmission infrastructure, specifically in the context of integrating renewable energy and the implementation of the European Commission's proposed Infrastructure Package.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and DIW Berlin presents findings from a survey of 78 thermal retrofitting practitioners to inform the German government's debate on tax incentives for residential building retrofits. The study evaluates the effectiveness of comprehensive versus single-measure retrofits, the appropriateness of the KfW 85 energy standard, the necessary timeframes for project completion, and the risks associated with stepwise implementation.

This fact sheet describes the relationship between Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, winter snowpack in the Andes (between 30 and 37° S), and river streamflows in semi-arid regions of central Chile and west-central Argentina. It highlights the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on water availability.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) compares the methodologies and estimates used by four international organizations—the OECD, IEA, IMF, and GSI—to measure government support and subsidies for fossil fuels. It highlights how differences in coverage, definitions, and measurement techniques (such as the 'Inventory Approach' versus the 'Price-Gap Approach') lead to varying headline estimates.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues for greater transparency in agricultural investment contracts to prevent corruption and protect human rights, highlighting a global trend toward contract disclosure led by countries like Liberia.

This report, produced as part of the "From Waste to Traffic Fuel" (W-Fuel) project, analyzes the potential for biogas production and its use as motor fuel in Harju County, Estonia. It evaluates biomass resources, proposes a pilot biogas plant at the Hinnu pig farm, and compares the environmental and economic impacts of using biogas for combined heat and power (CHP) versus upgrading it to biomethane for transport fuel.