Search Climate Insights Directory

This case study examines the role of ecolabelling and environmental standards in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the wider ASEAN region, highlighting how these tools often act as trade barriers for developing countries due to high implementation costs and a lack of domestic environmental consciousness.

This document records the decisions made during the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Brasilia, Brazil, on June 9-10, 2010.

This briefing examines the tension between trade liberalization and environmental protection within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with a specific focus on the Mekong subregion. It argues that while regional strategies and national laws exist, actual implementation is often weak, frequently driven by foreign donor interests rather than internal political will, and hindered by a regional preference for non-binding 'soft law'.

This fact sheet examines the challenges of balancing trade liberalization and environmental protection in the Mekong Subregion. It highlights the gap between regional policy rhetoric and actual implementation, the impact of illegal trade on biodiversity, and the dominant role of foreign donors in driving environmental agendas within trade policy.

This report analyzes the barriers and opportunities for clean energy investment in South Africa, focusing on the transition from a coal-dependent energy system dominated by the state-owned utility Eskom to a more diversified renewable energy mix. It examines national policies, regulatory frameworks, and the role of provincial and local governments in promoting sustainable energy.

This report analyzes potential international frameworks for reforming fossil-fuel subsidies, evaluating the roles of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the G-20. It argues that while a formally negotiated agreement is the long-term goal, the immediate path requires a multi-forum approach leveraging the political leadership of the G-20 and the technical capacities of various international organizations.

The document contains the minutes of the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-XVI) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 19-20, 2009. The meeting focused on administrative updates, the approval of the 2009-2010 operating budget and annual plan, and extensive revisions to the standing rules of both the Executive Council (EC) and the Conference of the Parties. It also included reports on national climate policies from member states and a decision to decline a request from the United Kingdom to evaluate the South American Climate Change Network.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines how reducing fossil fuel reliance—specifically coal and oil—can lower public health costs by mitigating obesity, pollution, and climate change risks.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 'Safe Chemicals Act of 2010' (Lautenberg bill) and the 'Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010' (Rush-Waxman discussion draft). It evaluates how these proposed reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would provide the implementing authority necessary for the United States to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the LRTAP POPs Protocol, and the Rotterdam Convention.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted an operating budget request for the 2010/2011 fiscal year, proposing a total of US$1,279,000. This represents an approximate 10% increase over the previous year to maintain operations and services despite a depletion of reserves caused by a lack of member country contributions during 2009 and 2010.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Quarterly Status Report, dated May 11, 2010, details the institute's financial standing for the 2009/2010 fiscal year, highlighting significant challenges in collecting member country contributions and a critical lack of core budget reserves.

The minutes of the 28th Executive Council (EC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on May 21, 2009, in Bogotá, Colombia, detail strategies to improve member country engagement, the revision of the Host Country Agreement with Brazil, and the synthesis of scientific research from the CRN program.

This fact sheet from Friends of the Earth argues that biofuels are not a clean alternative to oil, as they cause environmentally harmful spills, aquatic life die-offs, and air pollution, while lacking adequate government oversight and standardized cleanup procedures.

This research paper analyzes fossil-fuel subsidy reforms in France, Ghana, and Senegal to identify lessons for other countries, concluding that while no single formula for success exists, six key strategies are essential for effective reform.

This report examines the restructuring of the coal-mining industry in Poland following the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy starting in 1989.

This research paper examines the political challenges associated with the creation and removal of fossil-fuel subsidies, noting that while such subsidies often lack a legitimate purpose, they persist due to pressure from well-organized political groups.

This report reviews the economic feasibility of low-carbon and climate-resilient growth in developing countries. It finds that significant mitigation is possible with minimal GDP impact (1-2% reduction globally), often driven by low-cost energy efficiency. However, it highlights critical gaps in current research, specifically the failure to account for implementation costs, the over-reliance on static MACC models, and the lack of a clear framework for 'climate resilient growth' beyond simple adaptation. It emphasizes that while Middle Income Countries face higher pressure to reduce emissions, Low Income Countries can leverage co-benefits and carbon finance to align low-carbon paths with development goals.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in April 2010, synthesizes five research papers on the economic, environmental, and political dimensions of fossil-fuel subsidies. It argues that these subsidies lock economies into fossil-fuel reliance, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and divert funds from social services. The document provides a framework for reform, emphasizing the need for transparency, political strategy, and a two-track approach involving both domestic reporting and a new international data-gathering regime.

A joint submission by various civil society organizations to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) criticizing its Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards, and Disclosure Policy. The document argues that the IFC relies too heavily on unverified client data, fails to protect human rights—particularly those of indigenous peoples and women—and lacks transparency in its dealings with financial intermediaries and the extractive industry.

This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the state of the advanced biofuels industry in the United States following the 2008 economic recession. It analyzes national policy trends, identifies critical barriers to commercialization—including technological hurdles, market volatility, and regulatory uncertainty—and provides ten specific policy recommendations for state governments to support sustainable, local biofuel development during periods of limited fiscal capacity.