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The document critiques carbon trading as a 'dangerous obsession' that allows developed nations to avoid domestic emission reductions and fails to provide predictable financing for developing countries. It proposes a transition to a low-carbon economy through a 'Just Transition' framework, emphasizing the historical responsibility of rich nations. Key mitigation alternatives include a global feed-in tariff program for renewables, sustainable small-scale agriculture, and the adoption of 'Best Available Techniques' in industry. For financing, the report suggests a combination of a global financial transaction tax, combating tax evasion, redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, and issuing new Special Drawing Rights, estimating a potential for US$420 billion in annual new climate finance.

The document examines the barriers to clean energy investment in South Africa, highlighting the dominant role of the state-owned utility Eskom and a heavy reliance on coal. It analyzes the national policy framework, including the 2003 White Paper on Renewable Energy and the 2008 National Energy Act, while evaluating incentives such as the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) and Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (TRECs). The report concludes that while macroeconomic stability is favorable, institutional barriers and a lack of political will are the primary hurdles to scaling renewable energy.

The report outlines the results of expert dialogues held between 2009 and 2010 focused on North American energy and climate collaboration. It highlights a period of significant political uncertainty, particularly regarding U.S. federal legislation, and argues that Canada and Mexico must engage actively in policy discussions to avoid becoming "policy takers." Key areas for cooperation include carbon pricing, renewable energy investment, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and transportation fuel standards. The document emphasizes that while a unified "North American Bubble" for emissions targets is unlikely, pragmatic, sector-specific coordination and the harmonization of technical standards offer viable paths forward in the absence of a continental regulatory framework.

The report describes Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) as a policy tool to accelerate renewable energy deployment by providing guaranteed, long-term payment rates and grid access to producers. It highlights successful implementations in Denmark and Germany, while noting that Spain's high rates led to overinvestment and a subsequent global drop in solar panel prices. In the US, the report notes a lack of federal policy but identifies local efforts in Gainesville, Florida, and California, concluding with design recommendations such as using trial phases and binding caps to avoid windfall profits.

The document assesses the contribution of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to sustainable development in China's biogas sector. It finds that while the CDM can attract foreign investment and technology, the lack of transparent national sustainable development criteria and low incentives for CER buyers to prioritize sustainability often lead to poorly designed projects with low efficiency. The study highlights a disparity between the industrial sector, where wastewater treatment is common, and the livestock sector, which faces significant technical and financial barriers. It concludes that the CDM's second objective—advancing sustainable development—is often undermined by a 'race to the bottom' in criteria setting and a lack of international agreement on sustainability standards.

The document examines China's heavy reliance on coal-fired power, which makes it a global leader in sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions. It analyzes the 'big up/small down' strategy to replace inefficient small thermal units with larger, cleaner ones and reviews international best practices—including carbon taxes, feed-in tariffs, and emission trading—to suggest policy options for China to reduce its carbon intensity and protect its exports from future climate-related trade barriers.

The report examines domestic policy reforms in developing countries focused on price reform, energy efficiency, and low-carbon fuels to mitigate climate change. It analyzes the political and economic barriers to price reform, the necessity of legal frameworks and specialized agencies for energy efficiency, and the role of financial incentives and standards. The document also evaluates the use of input, output, outcome, and impact indicators for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), concluding that only impact indicators provide a reliable basis for financial rewards, despite significant data gaps in developing countries.

In a speech delivered at a conference in Pretoria, Deputy Ambassador Søren Asp Mikkelsen discusses the necessity of a new international climate regime to replace the Kyoto Protocol, emphasizing the need for inclusive emission reductions and financial support for least developed countries. He highlights the 'Danish Wind Case' to demonstrate how legislative changes—such as feed-in tariffs and carbon taxes—can decouple economic growth from energy consumption and create a competitive export industry in renewable technology.

The document analyzes Egypt's wind energy potential, focusing on the Gulf of Suez, and compares the levelized costs of wind generation against natural gas CCGT. It identifies the primary barrier to expansion as a subsidized natural gas pricing system that makes wind uncompetitive. The report outlines five necessary conditions for large-scale implementation, including a clear long-term strategy, a revised tariff system, and grid reinforcement plans, while discussing the role of the proposed New Electricity Law in attracting private investment.

The paper investigates whether removing tariffs on environmental goods can significantly reduce GHG emissions. It concludes that the 'Friends of the EGS' list of 153 goods would only have a material impact through renewable energy technologies, but that tariff removal alone is insufficient to drive significant uptake without accompanying policies like feed-in tariffs. The author suggests that for trade liberalization to be effective, lists must be based on objective environmental needs rather than commercial interests and must be supported by capacity-building measures in developing countries.

The report argues that domestic ownership is essential for low-carbon transitions and proposes a framework combining low-carbon development strategies, NAMAs, tailored international support mechanisms, and robust monitoring and reporting. It details specific mechanisms for technology cooperation and financial support, while providing case studies from Ghana, South Africa, Brazil, and India to illustrate barriers such as financing, regulatory gaps, and technical capacity. The document emphasizes that international support should shift from purchasing cheap carbon offsets to creating long-term enabling environments for private sector investment.

The document argues that international financial support for climate mitigation in developing countries must shift from simply purchasing cheap carbon offsets to supporting comprehensive low-carbon development strategies. It details a variety of Public Finance Mechanisms (PFMs)—including grants, loans, equity, and risk guarantees—and maps these to the specific needs of project developers, private investors, and governments. The authors emphasize that tailored support is necessary to address incremental costs and high policy and technology risks, suggesting that a 'social value of carbon' could serve as a reference price to stabilize investments. The paper concludes that a combination of bilateral cooperation for flexible grants and multilateral institutions for large-scale loans and guarantees is essential to leverage the private capital needed for a global low-carbon transition.

The report identifies that while Ghana has a target of 10% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2020, progress is hindered by implementation and roll-out barriers, including weak domestic technical capacity, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and limited access to long-term finance. It suggests a combination of market-mandated policies, the use of the Clean Development Mechanism, and the establishment of innovation centres to accelerate technology adoption. The study estimates that removing these barriers with international support could avoid at least 14 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from renewable energy projects and 70,000 tonnes from energy efficiency activities.

Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight to generate electricity, primarily for utility-scale use. While the U.S. led in installed capacity as of 2009 with 429 MW, Spain followed with 182 MW. The technology varies from parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors to dish/engines and power towers. CSP is noted for its ability to provide power during peak late-afternoon demand and its potential for baseload generation via thermal storage or natural gas hybridization. Economic challenges include high initial construction costs, though operational costs are lower than fossil fuel plants. Policy mechanisms like feed-in tariffs in Spain and Israel, and investment tax credits in the U.S., are identified as key drivers for deployment.

The document assesses Ghana's progress in renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE), highlighting a government target of 10% RE in the energy mix by 2020. It identifies significant barriers, including the lack of a comprehensive legal framework, high upfront capital costs, and a pricing system that ignores environmental externalities. The author argues that international cooperation—through capacity building, credit support facilities, and the Clean Development Mechanism—is essential to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and improve rural electrification.

The document argues that South Africa's heavy reliance on coal, which provided over 90% of electricity generation, creates a significant opportunity for carbon mitigation through the deployment of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). While the government's White Paper on Renewable Energy (WPRE) set a target of 10,000GWh of renewable energy by 2013, the author suggests a more ambitious target of 15% renewable contribution to final electricity consumption by 2020. To achieve this, the paper proposes a tender process for large-scale projects, complemented by a Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) to make projects financially viable despite low domestic electricity tariffs. The author highlights that South Africa possesses vast solar resources, with 194,000km2 of land potentially viable for CSP. International cooperation is recommended to provide knowledge sharing, incremental funding to bridge the gap between levelised electricity costs and revenues, and risk mitigation to attract private capital.

The document analyzes the growth of China's wind power sector, highlighting the role of the 2005 Renewable Energy Law and strategic technology transfers from European companies. It uses Goldwind as a case study for successful private-public partnerships and argues that further international cooperation in turbine design and offshore technology is essential to meet future CO2 emission constraints.

The report examines the domestic contexts of Ukraine and Kazakhstan regarding clean energy investment. It identifies a shared legacy of high energy intensity and a common struggle with corruption, bureaucracy, and insufficient legal frameworks. While both countries possess significant renewable potential, they remain heavily reliant on conventional sources—Ukraine on nuclear and imported gas, and Kazakhstan on domestic coal and oil. The study highlights that the lack of market-based incentives, such as feed-in tariffs, and low electricity prices are primary obstacles to private investment. It also analyzes the role of the Kyoto Protocol's Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism as a potential financial driver, noting Ukraine's relative success in this area compared to Kazakhstan's delayed ratification process.

The document argues that public funding for clean energy in developing countries is insufficient and that the private sector must be the primary driver of investment. It identifies two main categories of obstacles: international investment agreements (IIAs), which may expose governments to arbitration over climate regulations, and domestic policy barriers, such as lack of clear energy signals and monopoly structures. The author suggests that technology transfer is essentially an investment problem and recommends diagnostic national studies, similar to the WTO's Integrated Framework, to identify and remove these barriers.

The report identifies a critical gap between the investment needed for clean energy in developing countries and current funding levels, arguing that the private sector must be the primary driver. It details domestic barriers such as political instability, lack of clear energy policies, and financial system deficiencies, while proposing incentives like feed-in tariffs and microfinance. Additionally, it examines how International Investment Agreements (IIAs), including the Energy Charter Treaty and the ECOWAS Energy Protocol, can either facilitate or restrict a state's regulatory space to implement climate-related policies due to protections against indirect expropriation and requirements for fair and equitable treatment.