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6,344 results
BALANCING TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS – SINGAPORE’S EXPERIENCE
This research paper describes Singapore's strategies for integrating environmental protection with economic growth, focusing on the use of market-based instruments, international standards, and productivity programs to achieve sustainable development.
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Document type: Research paper
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
This document contains the proceedings of a Trade and Sustainable Development Workshop held on 1-2 July 1999 in Midrand, South Africa. Hosted by the IUCN, the Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM), and the Trade and Industrial Policy Secretariat (TIPS), and funded by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the workshop aimed to identify international and domestic trends, research focus areas, and strategic interventions for South Africa regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trade policy negotiations to promote sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
Trade in Domestically Prohibited Goods
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive overview of 21 international agreements and instruments governing the trade of domestically prohibited goods (DPGs). It categorizes these goods into chemicals, pharmaceutical products, consumer products, and hazardous wastes, analyzing the legal and voluntary frameworks designed to protect importing countries—particularly developing nations—from risks to human, animal, plant health, and the environment.
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Document type: Report
A Strategy for the Hydrogen Transition
The document proposes a strategic commercialization path for fuel cells and hydrogen (H2) that avoids the need for immediate, massive bulk-supply infrastructure. The strategy relies on the development of "Hypercars"—ultralight, high-efficiency vehicles—and the integration of fuel-cell deployment between buildings and vehicles. By first establishing fuel cells in buildings for co- or trigeneration and using decentralized "hydrogen appliances" for production, the market can build the volume necessary to reduce fuel-cell costs to levels competitive for vehicles. Ultimately, the strategy envisions a transition from decentralized production to bulk supply, including wellhead reforming of natural gas with carbon sequestration and the conversion of hydroelectric dams into "Hydro-Gen" plants.
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Document type: Research paper
Local Management of Rural Power Supply
This report evaluates a pilot project for the local management of rural electricity supply in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the Urambo Electric Consumers Co-operative Society (UECCO). It examines the transition from a state-managed utility model (TANESCO) to a community-managed cooperative, analyzing technical, financial, and sociological outcomes.
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Document type: Report
Molten Metal Technology 1989-1995 (A)
This case study examines Molten Metal Technology Inc. (MMT) between 1989 and 1995, focusing on its development of Catalytic Extraction Processing (CEP) to recycle hazardous and radioactive waste. While MMT achieved significant financial growth through an IPO and government grants, and formed strategic alliances with firms like Lockheed Martin, the company struggled to transition from R&D to full commercial operation by late 1995.
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Document type: Case study
Taller de Lima sobre Minería y Desarrollo Sustentable en las Américas
This report documents the proceedings of the Lima Workshop on Mining and Sustainable Development in the Americas, held from June 27-29, 1998. The event brought together 76 representatives from 11 countries—including industry, government, NGOs, and indigenous peoples—to discuss improving mining policies and practices to ensure they contribute to sustainable development in the hemisphere.
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Document type: Report
Visions of Sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region: Beyond Conventional Development
This 1998 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute presents two contrasting future scenarios for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) up to the year 2030: a Conventional Development Scenario (CDS) and a Sustainability Vision. The report argues that a 'business-as-usual' approach will lead to increased environmental pressure and persistent socio-economic disparities, whereas a transition to sustainability requires proactive policy interventions, technological decoupling of growth from resource use, and a shift in human values.
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Document type: Report
Hypercar® Vehicles Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Hypercar® is a conceptual vehicle developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) that integrates ultralightweight construction, ultra-aerodynamic design, and hybrid-electric propulsion to achieve extreme fuel efficiency without sacrificing safety or performance.
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Document type: Fact sheet
HONDA OF AMERICA MANUFACTURING, INC.: Lean Manufacturing and Environmental Management at Honda
This case study examines the integration of lean manufacturing principles with environmental management at Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. (HAM), specifically focusing on its Ohio-based plants. It explores how Honda's 'localization' policy and lean philosophy—emphasizing waste reduction, employee empowerment, and continuous improvement—contribute to environmental performance and the company's pursuit of ISO 14000 certification, while comparing these practices to those of its competitor, Toyota.
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Document type: Case study
IKEA and The Natural Step
This case study examines IKEA's integration of environmental sustainability into its global business model, specifically focusing on its partnership with The Natural Step (TNS) and the implementation of these principles within its North American operations during the 1990s.
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Document type: Case study
HONDA OF AMERICA MANUFACTURING, INC.: Lean Manufacturing and Environmental Management at Honda
This teaching note describes a case study on Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., focusing on the tension between lean manufacturing goals—productivity and high quality—and environmental responsibility at its Ohio plants. It examines how Honda's localized management approach contrasts with Toyota's centralized global strategy and analyzes the complementarities and trade-offs between lean production and environmental performance.
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Document type: Briefing
Revised Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the IAI
This document records the decisions made during the Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 11-12, 1997. The meeting focused on administrative approvals, budget requests, the adoption of a science agenda, and the election of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members.
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Document type: Report
Speeding The Transition: Designing A Fuel-Cell Hypercar
This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) proposes the 'hypercar'—an ultralight, low-drag, hybrid-electric vehicle platform—as a means to accelerate the adoption of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). By drastically reducing the energy required for propulsion, the hypercar platform mitigates the traditional challenges of hydrogen storage and fuel-cell cost, potentially allowing for the commercialization of hydrogen-powered transport years earlier than conventional vehicle designs would permit.
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Document type: Research paper
South Africa and the Utility of Naval Power
This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies in February 1997, examines the strategic utility of naval power for South Africa in the post-Cold War era. It consists of several papers discussing the renewal of the South African Navy (SAN) fleet, the evolving nature of global security, and opportunities for maritime cooperation in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean rims. The document highlights the SAN's struggle with obsolete equipment and funding shortages while arguing that naval power remains a flexible, benign tool for diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and the protection of marine resources and economic interests.
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Document type: Report
Hypercars: A Market-Oriented Approach to Meeting Lifecycle Environmental Goals
This research paper describes the 'hypercar' concept—an ultralight, hybrid-electric vehicle designed using a system-level optimization approach to minimize lifecycle environmental impacts without sacrificing consumer-valued features like performance and price.
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Document type: Research paper
ECOLABELLING: ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINA
This 1996 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the development and implications of China's national ecolabelling program. It details the program's structure, its role in reducing domestic environmental stress, and the potential for environmental labels to act as trade barriers for developing countries. The document evaluates the impact of foreign ecolabelling on Chinese exports—specifically in the textile and refrigerator sectors—and provides recommendations for strengthening China's program through increased transparency, the adoption of life-cycle analysis, and international cooperation to achieve mutual recognition of standards.
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Document type: Report
ULTRALIGHT-HYBRID VEHICLE DESIGN: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY
This 1996 research paper examines the impact of 'hypercars'—ultralight vehicles using advanced composites and hybrid-electric drivesystems—on the recycling industry. While these vehicles offer significant fuel efficiency, emissions reductions, and manufacturing cost advantages, they threaten the economic viability of current recycling systems that rely on steel recovery. The authors propose a shift toward advanced recycling technologies like solvolysis and low-temperature catalytic pyrolysis to recover high-value carbon fibers and resins, suggesting that clean-sheet design for disassembly could ultimately increase overall automotive recyclability.
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Document type: Research paper
ST. CHARLES MEDICAL CENTER
This 1996 case study examines St. Charles Medical Center's evaluation of EPA's Green Lights and ENERGY STAR Buildings programs. It details the use of performance contracting via Johnson Controls Incorporated and rebates from the Bonneville Power Administration to fund eleven energy conservation measures (ECMs) across three stages of implementation, aiming to reduce emissions and operational costs while preparing for CFC phaseouts.
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Document type: Case study
Incorporation of Environmental Considerations in Energy Planning in the People’s Republic of China
This 1995 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, conducted as a UNEP project with the National Environmental Protection Agency of China, analyzes the environmental impacts of energy planning in the People's Republic of China. Using the LEAP/EDB model, the study compares a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario against two enhanced environmental scenarios to forecast pollutant emissions (SO2, CO2, NOx, PM, and CO) through 2020. The report identifies coal as the primary driver of pollution and recommends a shift toward a cleaner energy mix, improved energy efficiency, and the implementation of integrated energy-environment planning and economic instruments to achieve sustainable development.
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Document type: Report