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Friends of the Earth South Africa and groundWork issued a letter to President Jacob Zuma opposing the lifting of the fracking moratorium, citing environmental risks, lack of public consultation, and the potential for increased greenhouse gas emissions.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the June 2013 fires and haze crisis in Riau Province, Sumatra, using high-resolution satellite imagery. It argues that ASEAN leaders should use the 23rd ASEAN Summit to commit to collaborative actions, such as making concession maps public and establishing a blue ribbon panel, to prevent recurring environmental and public health disasters.

This research paper examines the diffusion of the Direct Planting System (DPS) in Brazil, a high-productivity agricultural technique that reduces soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions. The authors argue that while DPS offers higher revenues and lower costs without significant upfront financial barriers, its adoption is hindered by the need for site-specific adaptation. Using data from the 2006 Brazilian agricultural census and soil maps, the study demonstrates that geographic soil heterogeneity acts as a barrier to social learning, reducing adoption rates most significantly at intermediate levels of technology penetration.

A re-assessment of the LEAP model used for Estonia's Energy Plan 2020 revealed that actual CO2 and SO2 emissions (2000–2006) were 1.5% and 2.0% higher, respectively, than 2009 projections. These deviations were caused by revised statistical methodologies and unexpected increases in electricity exports. The study concludes that while LEAP is appropriate for scenario calculations, periodic updates are essential to account for unpredictable political and economic shifts, such as the decision to maintain oil-shale production units.

This research paper by Ellen Vaughan and Jim Turner argues that mandatory, minimum building codes are the most effective and least expensive method to protect public health, safety, and the environment. The authors advocate for the adoption and enforcement of current model codes—specifically those updated every three years—to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and vulnerability to natural disasters while stimulating economic innovation in the building sector.

This research paper examines the methodological challenges in quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions from cookstove projects, specifically focusing on biomass fuel consumption, the fraction of non-renewable biomass, and emission factors.

The Durban Declaration on Climate and Health is a statement signed on December 4, 2011, by health professionals from over 30 countries during the UNFCCC's 17th Conference of the Parties. It asserts that climate change is a major global health threat and calls on national delegations to integrate public health objectives into climate agreements and transition away from fossil fuels.

Carroll Muffett, President of the Center for International Environmental Law, responds to the release of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report, emphasizing that the report confirms human influence on the climate system and warns of the legal and financial risks for decision-makers who continue a 'business as usual' approach to fossil fuel extraction.

The NewClimate Institute analyzed how different calculation methods for historical greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions affect the relative contributions of countries to cumulative global emissions, finding that results vary significantly based on the parameters used.

This report by Terry Townshend and Adam Matthews argues that ambitious domestic climate change legislation, specifically targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enables countries to champion more ambitious collective action within the UNFCCC international negotiations.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several community groups and NGOs, submitted comments on July 19, 2013, opposing Eskom's applications for exemptions and postponements regarding Minimum Emission Standards (MES). The CER argues that such applications are legally invalid because ambient air quality standards (AAQS) are already exceeded in the priority areas where most Eskom plants are located. The document highlights severe health risks, particularly from SO2 and mercury, and criticizes Eskom for failing to consider renewable energy alternatives or the decommissioning of worst-performing plants.

This case study describes the implementation and impact of the Transoeste Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Rio de Janeiro, which was launched in June 2012 with technical support from EMBARQ.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes President Obama's June 2013 climate change action plan. It examines the shift toward Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sector-regulation for electricity, the potential for alignment with subnational carbon pricing systems, and the implications for Canada's own regulatory approach and the Keystone XL Pipeline approval.

This policy brief, based on a report by the Transport and Environment Science Technology Network (TEST), examines the intersection of transport and environmental challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically focusing on air pollution, road safety, traffic congestion, equity, and climate change.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) describes the technology, benefits, and potential of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems in the United States. It highlights how CHP increases energy efficiency, reduces emissions, and provides resilient power during grid failures, while identifying regulatory barriers and the specific advantages of biomass-fueled systems.

This commentary proposes an actor-centered, risk-based approach to defining limits to social adaptation to climate change, arguing that identifying these limits is essential for assessing potential consequences and maintaining the rationale for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

This report by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and partners examines the health and economic costs of coal-fired electricity generation in Alberta. It details the pollutants emitted by coal plants, their specific impacts on vulnerable populations, and uses multiple modeling approaches to estimate the resulting premature deaths, illnesses, and societal costs. The report argues that the true cost of coal power is not reflected in market prices, effectively subsidizing coal at the expense of public health.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines the economic and environmental costs of heating oil in the Northeast United States and proposes heat pumps as a viable, low-cost alternative to both oil and natural gas expansion.

A statement from World Resources Institute (WRI) President Andrew Steer responding to President Obama's State of the Union address, outlining four specific actions the U.S. administration can take to meet its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions target.

This briefing examines how public authorities can manage and modify existing public-private partnerships (PPPs) to improve their economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Using the United Kingdom's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and its transition to Private Finance 2 (PF2) as a primary case study, the document provides a framework for 'health checks' to assess value-for-money, life-cycle environmental impacts, and social returns during the lifetime of long-term contracts.