Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper examines the role of product energy performance standards and processes and production methods (PPMs) in mitigating climate change and their interaction with international trade law. It argues that while energy efficiency standards are highly cost-effective and should be supported by trade regimes, PPM-based measures are more legally complex and controversial, particularly regarding their impact on developing country exporters and their consistency with WTO rules.

This report by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for financing large-scale, export-oriented agrofuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document argues that these projects exacerbate social and environmental inequities, threaten biodiversity, and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use changes, rather than serving as a viable climate solution.

This 2008 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) defines plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and outlines their potential to reduce U.S. oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. It details different PEV types, the economic and environmental advantages of electrification, and the battery technology challenges facing manufacturers aiming for 2010 production targets.

This report by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for financing large-scale, export-oriented biofuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document argues that these projects exacerbate social inequality, threaten biodiversity, and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use changes, while failing to alleviate rural poverty.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute critiques the UK Department for Transport's (DfT) cost-benefit analysis regarding the expansion of Heathrow Airport. The authors argue that the DfT's projection of positive net benefits relies heavily on 'generated user benefits'—a theoretical construct of consumer surplus—which they claim is based on speculative and biased assumptions about future airfares, fuel costs, and passenger demand.

This report, commissioned by the European Parliament, evaluates sustainability criteria for the proposed EU Directive on renewable energy, specifically focusing on liquid biofuels. It analyzes the potential for biofuel production globally and within Europe, the impacts of land-use change on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the feasibility of using degraded lands for energy crops. The document provides technical critiques of GHG accounting methodologies and suggests harmonizing EU standards with international frameworks like the IPCC and UNFCCC to ensure environmental integrity and global equity.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the extent and cost-effectiveness of government support for the ethanol and biodiesel industries in Australia. It analyzes various subsidies, including excise tax rebates, capital grants, and research funding, concluding that the level of assistance is high relative to other industries and often fails to deliver cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions or energy security compared to alternative policy options.

This report by RMI proposes the 'feebate' as a legislative tool to increase automobile fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A feebate applies a surcharge (fee) to inefficient vehicles to fund rebates for efficient ones, creating a self-financing mechanism that encourages manufacturers to innovate across all vehicle size classes without restricting consumer choice.

This briefing, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, examines the tensions and potential synergies between international trade policy and climate change mitigation. It features contributions from the Socialist Group, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), arguing that while trade can drive emissions through transport and unsustainable consumption, it can also support climate goals through the liberalisation of environmental goods, the implementation of high energy efficiency standards, and the alignment of WTO rules with multilateral environmental agreements.

This briefing, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, examines the complex relationship between international trade and climate change. It presents diverse perspectives on whether trade is a solution or a driver of the climate crisis, discussing the role of the European Union (EU), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the impact of trade policies on developing nations.

This report, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and featuring contributions from the Center for International Environmental Law and Friends of the Earth, examines the tensions and potential synergies between international trade policies and climate change mitigation. It argues that while the current trade regime often promotes unsustainable consumption and production, trade can be leveraged to support climate goals through the liberalization of environmental goods, the implementation of high energy-efficiency standards, and the alignment of WTO rules with international climate agreements.

This research paper, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in 2008, provides an environmental scoping study of five key economic sectors in the South West region of England. Using the Triple Bottom Line (BL3) software tool, the study estimates the carbon and ecological footprints of these sectors, benchmarking their resource productivity against UK national averages to inform regional debates on environmental limits.

This fact sheet describes the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP), a software tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute for energy policy analysis and climate change mitigation assessment. It outlines the software's capabilities in integrated modelling, scenario analysis, and decision support, noting its widespread adoption by government agencies, academics, and NGOs in over 150 countries.

This fact sheet describes the Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP), a software tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to analyze the environmental impacts of economic activity and policy. REAP focuses on consumption-based accounting, tracking resource use and emissions through supply chains to generate ecological, carbon, and greenhouse gas footprints for various spatial scales, primarily within the UK.

This research paper, published in December 2007 by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), provides a Rapid Technology Environmental Assessment (RTEA) of biodiesel in Laos. It examines the technical potential of various feedstocks, the environmental impacts of biodiesel production, and the existing legal and policy framework governing renewable energy in the country.

Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources Institute and founder of the US Climate Action Partnership (US CAP), provided a statement to the US House Select Committee on Global Warming on October 10, 2007. He advocated for a federal, economy-wide cap-and-trade program and a long-term roadmap of emissions reductions to provide market certainty for private sector investment in low-carbon technologies.

This document is a written testimony submitted by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to the U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming on September 14, 2007. It argues that carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) is a critical near-term technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal, as other low-carbon energy sources are currently unable to offset coal use at the necessary scale. WRI advocates for increased public funding for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) and the implementation of a carbon cap and trade regime, while noting that current cap and trade proposals may not provide high enough carbon prices to offset initial CCS capture costs.

This research paper evaluates the Ecological Footprint of various diets and food production methods, specifically comparing average UK consumption with nutritionally recommended diets. Using the REAP software tool and input-output analysis, the study finds that shifting toward healthy, plant-based, local, and organic diets can significantly reduce environmental pressure while improving public health outcomes.

This research paper analyzes the greenhouse gas emissions embodied in trade between Japan and the US using a linked input-output model with carbon emission coefficients.

The Port Innovation Workshop Final Report details a two-day event convened by the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, in collaboration with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Rocky Mountain Institute, to identify strategies for improving the sustainability and energy efficiency of cargo container operations. The workshop produced 44 ideas categorized as Port Leadership, Partnership, or Blue Sky opportunities, focusing on electrification, logistics optimization, and radical redesigns of port infrastructure to reduce emissions and operational waste.