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The report argues that India's energy efficiency market is stalled due to a lack of reliable baselines, high perceived risks for financiers, and prohibitive tax treatments. It proposes ten 'big ideas', including the creation of India-adjusted monitoring, verification, and financing protocols, the use of corporate social responsibility funds, and the establishment of a national ESCO association. The document also highlights the potential for 'negawatt' trading to improve the financial health of electricity distribution companies (discoms).

The document analyzes how comprehensive 'WTO-plus' agreements like the TPP and TTIP influence South Africa's regional trade goals. It argues that while direct GDP impacts may be modest, these agreements create risks of preference erosion—particularly in clothing and textiles—and set new global benchmarks for regulatory coherence, intellectual property, and investment that South Africa and TFTA members must adapt to avoid isolation.

The document examines the transition from prescriptive to performance-based specifications in public procurement, specifically through Product Service Systems (PSS). It argues that by specifying required outcomes rather than technical inputs, governments can stimulate private sector innovation, reduce natural resource consumption, and lower costs. While highlighting the potential for circularity and the success of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), the text cautions that environmental benefits depend on the specific product category and the operational characteristics of the business model used.

The author contends that the EU is abandoning government procurement (GP) as a fundamental industrial policy tool in favor of a neo-liberal model based on international competition and non-discrimination. While the EU pushes for openness to third countries and supports WTO rulings that restrict the use of local content requirements, some Member States, such as France and Italy, continue to use GP to incentivize renewable energy and domestic photovoltaic sectors. The text highlights a conflict between the EU's commitment to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and the needs of national governments to foster innovative sectors and create jobs during economic crises.

The document examines the tension between the European Union's commitment to neoliberal public procurement rules and the need for strategic industrial policies to foster innovation and green energy. It highlights how the EU's adherence to international trade agreements, such as the GPA and GATT, limits the ability of member states to use local content requirements to stimulate domestic industries. The author contrasts the EU's approach with that of the US, Japan, and emerging economies like Brazil and China, who more aggressively use public procurement to support national industrial goals. A key example provided is the WTO dispute over Ontario's feed-in tariffs, where the Appellate Body's restrictive interpretation of 'public purpose' further limited the use of procurement for public policy goals. Despite this, some EU member states, such as France and Italy, have implemented local production requirements for photovoltaic energy to support their domestic sectors.

The document outlines findings from a project coordinated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and IISD, focusing on the adoption of carbon management standards in Chinese economic zones. Initial analysis indicates that the uptake of these standards is extremely low and primarily driven by international headquarters or global supply chain clients rather than domestic drivers. The report concludes that a lack of incentives, rather than technical specifications, is the primary barrier to adoption, and suggests enhancing zone capacity and exploring options like public procurement to encourage low-carbon enterprise.

The report details climate finance in Germany across five key sectors. In 2010, the energy sector saw EUR 10.3 billion in climate-specific investment, dominated by private funding (98%) and renewable energy. The buildings sector received at least EUR 16.3 billion, primarily from households. The agriculture sector saw EUR 5.4 billion, almost entirely in renewables. Industry climate-specific investment was EUR 579 million in 2009, mostly for energy efficiency. Transport climate-specific investment averaged EUR 559 million, focused on energy-efficient vehicles. The report highlights the critical role of the public bank KfW in providing concessionary loans and the influence of the Feed-in Tariff on private investment.

The document examines the ESCO model as a budget-neutral financing mechanism to bridge the 'energy efficiency gap'. It identifies significant administrative, technical, financial, and informational barriers in Spain and Barcelona, while providing a case study of a successful solar thermal installation by Sol Solar to demonstrate the model's viability in the private residential sector.

The paper assesses the implementation of financial disclosure regulations for municipal councillors in South Africa, finding that while laws are progressive, practical application is inconsistent across municipalities. Key failures include poor record quality, low compliance in some areas, restricted public access to information, and a lack of proactive monitoring and oversight. The authors argue that the current system focuses on formal compliance rather than the substantive detection of irregularities, which allows corruption in public procurement to persist. The document provides case studies of municipal corruption and recommends standardising disclosure templates, digitising submissions, and strengthening internal investigative capacities.

The document identifies five key realms for renewable energy policy: direct purchase mandates, improving the business case through financial incentives, removing non-price barriers, supporting research and development, and addressing grid intermittency. It recommends that Japan maintain its generous feed-in tariffs, expand demand response, and unbundle transmission from generation to increase competition. The report provides detailed international case studies from the US, Germany, and other nations to illustrate effective mechanisms such as Green Banks, loan guarantees, and carbon taxes.

The Green Economy Pocketbook advocates for a systemic shift toward a green economy to combat economic instability and environmental decline. It proposes redefining progress through wellbeing indicators, redirecting financial flows via green public procurement and the removal of subsidies, and investing in high-impact sectors like renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. The guide emphasizes a just transition through education and skills training to reduce poverty and inequality, while warning that current resource-intensive growth is unsustainable. It also highlights the growth of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and proposes nine guiding principles for a fair and inclusive green economy.

The briefing proposes the concept of 'life-cycle characteristics' to allow public procurement authorities to legally account for non-physical product attributes, such as fair trade or sustainable sourcing, during the bidding process. It argues that the European Commission's current proposal is insufficient to eliminate legal uncertainty regarding whether social factors and specific production processes can be used as technical specifications. Drawing on case law like the North Holland case, the document asserts that social and environmental impacts should be treated equally and linked to the subject matter of the contract across all stages of a product's life cycle.

The document examines the failures of financial disclosure systems in South African local government, noting that current monitoring focuses on compliance rather than the detection of irregularities. It highlights the risks of corruption in public procurement and the limitations of both internal and external oversight mechanisms, recommending the recruitment of independent monitoring personnel and improved public access to disclosure records.

The report assesses three global energy scenarios—Baseline, Basic Energy Access, and Shared Development Agenda—to determine how to provide energy for development while limiting global warming to 2°C. It argues that achieving these goals requires a massive socio-technical transformation of energy supply and demand, moving beyond incremental changes to a system dominated by renewables and high energy efficiency. The authors emphasize that this transition requires multi-level governance, including stronger public RD&D, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and a shared global development agenda that prioritizes equitable income growth and energy access for the world's poorest regions.

The report finds that Oregon's consumption-based emissions footprint in 2005 was 78 million metric tons of CO2e, which is 47 percent greater than the emissions released within state boundaries. The largest contributors to these emissions are personal vehicles, appliances, and food and beverages, which together account for half of the total impact. The analysis highlights that a significant portion of Oregon's emissions (54%) are released outside the state due to international and national supply chains. The authors recommend that Oregon adopt regular consumption-based inventories and set specific emissions-reduction targets for consumption to maximize global climate benefits.

The document argues that the multilateral trading system is facing a period of impasse due to shifting global economic power and a lack of leadership from the US and EU. It suggests that the WTO's future lies in plurilateral agreements governed by a specific code of conduct to avoid marginalising poorer members. For South Africa, this shift necessitates a proactive strategy to manage stretched negotiating capacities and the formation of strategic alliances with other middle powers to protect African interests.

The report argues that reducing global carbon dioxide emissions requires a shift from a narrow focus on R&D to a broader 'public works' model of innovation. It outlines four key principles: expanding innovation policy beyond R&D to include deployment and non-technical barriers; pursuing diverse technology and institutional pathways; treating CO2 reduction as a public good to justify government procurement and demonstration projects; and collaborating with rapidly industrializing nations. The document specifically illustrates these principles by suggesting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) could accelerate building efficiency and small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) development through its unique procurement and infrastructure capabilities.

The document examines the critical role of regional governments in implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, noting that while national governments negotiate international targets, regions often hold the actual competencies for execution. It analyzes 23 regions, highlighting a variety of instruments such as carbon taxes, subsidies, and cap-and-trade systems. A detailed case study of the Basque Country's 'Basque Plan to Combat Climate Change 2008-2012' illustrates how a small, industrialised region can set specific targets for GHG emissions and carbon sinks while coordinating across multiple policy sectors.

The report argues that the U.S. energy innovation system is in urgent need of reform, moving away from a reliance on the Department of Energy (DOE) and a hope for unpredictable 'breakthroughs' toward a portfolio of incremental improvements. It proposes treating climate mitigation as a public good and a public works endeavor, utilizing government procurement and competition between agencies—such as the Department of Defense (DoD)—to drive innovation. Through case studies of solar photovoltaics, post-combustion capture (PCC), and direct air capture, the authors emphasize the critical role of demonstration projects in reducing technical and cost uncertainties for large-scale deployment.

The document examines China's role in Botswana's infrastructure development, noting a shift from government-led aid to competitive public tenders. It highlights the competitive advantages of Chinese firms—such as low-cost bidding and hands-on management—while addressing challenges regarding quality standards and skilled labour shortages. It also introduces a new commercial financing model involving the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Standard Bank for the Morupule B Power Station project.