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The document examines the strategic partnership between China and Gabon, centered on the Bélinga iron ore project. It analyzes how Gabon seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy through Chinese investment in mining and infrastructure, while China seeks to secure strategic mineral resources. The paper highlights significant delays in the project's execution following the death of President Omar Bongo in 2009, commodity price volatility, and increasing pressure from civil society regarding environmental and labor issues. It concludes that while the project offers potential for regional development and infrastructure, the current 'barter' model of loans-for-resources may limit short-term economic benefits and fail to trigger a major structural change in Gabon's rentier economy.

The document examines Angola's pragmatic foreign policy towards the BRIC nations following the 2002 Luena Peace Accord. It details how Angola utilizes different strengths of each partner—such as China's infrastructure credit, Brazil's educational ties, Russia's technical expertise in diamonds and energy, and India's technical capacity in rail and gas—to reconstruct its economy and diversify away from oil dependence.

A coalition of environmental and human rights organizations is challenging the registration of the Barro Blanco Hydroelectric Project (PA #3237) in Western Panama. The groups argue that the project's additionality is questionable and raise serious concerns regarding the lack of public consultation, the potential misuse of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) for community compensation, and human rights abuses by GENISA against the Ngobe indigenous peoples.

The report examines the 'water-energy nexus' in the western United States, specifically the eleven states of the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC). It models eight scenarios from 2008 to 2100, varying by carbon emission goals, water conservation mandates, and energy efficiency levels. The primary finding is that while power plants require water, their total consumption is small compared to agricultural and urban use, making the water-energy nexus a secondary concern in the region's broader water crisis. The analysis suggests that carbon pricing (around $70 per ton) is a more likely driver for shifting energy strategies than water pricing, as water prices would need to exceed $4,000 to $7,000 per acre-foot to make water-conserving energy scenarios the least-cost option.

The document outlines the critical role of water in electricity generation, fuel extraction, refining, transportation, and emissions control. It distinguishes between water withdrawal and consumption, noting that electric power generation accounts for nearly 40 percent of US freshwater withdrawals. The text also highlights environmental risks, including thermal pollution, acid rock drainage, and toxic contamination from coal, while noting that wind and solar power have minimal water impacts.

The study examines three scenarios for greening data centres at Dalhousie University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Alberta. It finds that relocating to remote renewable sites (Scenario 1) or urban low-emission grids (Scenario 2) is economically unviable due to high capital costs. Only on-site waste heat recovery (Scenario 3) showed a positive net present value for one institution. The report suggests a 'green community cloud' managed by CANARIE as a more viable alternative to individual university efforts.

The report examines the intersection of climate change and ASEAN-facilitated trade and investment in the Mekong subregion, noting that while some countries use trade liberalization for growth, their natural resources remain vulnerable to climate risks. It highlights a tension between low-carbon initiatives, such as hydroelectric dams, and the resulting loss of irreplaceable natural capital. Additionally, it notes that free trade agreements facilitating mining may be viewed as an adaptation to climate-threatened agriculture, though at a high cost to natural capital and livelihoods. The report recommends mainstreaming climate concerns into ASEAN's economic frameworks and implementing climate risk assessments for trading mechanisms.

The analysis concludes that relying on private capital and market mechanisms in Argentina led to a depletion of non-renewable resources and a lack of energy diversification. To secure its energy future, Argentina must reform price policies, increase public sector oversight, and secure strategic gas and hydroelectric agreements with Bolivia and Brazil.

The report argues that while the Mekong subregion is highly vulnerable to climate-related risks, ASEAN-facilitated free trade agreements (FTAs) and economic partnership agreements (EPAs) largely lack explicit commitments to climate change. It highlights a tension between low-carbon initiatives, such as hydroelectric dams, and the resulting loss of natural capital. The document recommends mainstreaming climate risk assessments into trade mechanisms and fostering cooperation between ASEAN, the Mekong River Commission (MRC), and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) initiative.

The briefing examines the tension between economic growth and environmental sustainability in the Mekong subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) and ASEAN. It argues that while regional strategies and national laws exist, actual commitment to environmental protection in trade policy remains low, often driven more by foreign donor interests than by regional political will. The author highlights the 'ASEAN Way' of non-binding consensus as a barrier to enforcement and recommends strengthening regional ownership and civil society engagement.

The fact sheet examines the tension between trade growth and environmental sustainability in the Mekong Subregion, noting that while regional strategies like the 'Green ASEAN' vision exist, implementation is hindered by national political obstacles and a lack of transparency. It highlights the negative impact of illegal wildlife and timber trade, the limited influence of domestic civil society, and the dominant role of foreign donors in driving environmental mainstreaming into trade policy.

The document examines Brazil's trajectory of energy subsidization from the 1930s to 2010, highlighting a cycle of industrial promotion, unsustainable financial deficits in the 1980s, and a partially successful liberalization process in the 1990s. It argues that subsidies distort price signals, discourage efficiency, and create entrenched political interests that make reform fragile and difficult, particularly when energy crises occur in related sectors.

The project investigates long-term hydrological changes in the American cordillera, utilizing tree-ring records and streamflow data to analyze drought patterns and climate regime shifts. Initial findings highlight a severe 14th-century drought in the high Andes with significant social consequences, a declining streamflow trend in Chile linked to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and an increasing drought risk in the southern Andes between 1920 and 2002 that threatens agriculture and hydroelectric power.

The report argues that Argentina's energy security has been compromised by the shift of investment decisions from the state to the private sector following 1990s privatizations. This led to a reliance on natural gas for electricity generation and a failure to diversify the energy matrix. The author highlights how multinational companies, specifically Repsol-YPF, prioritized global investments over local supply security. Despite recent government efforts to promote renewables and nuclear power, the report concludes that supply security will remain precarious in the short term due to fiscal constraints, distorted price signals, and dependence on imports from Bolivia and Brazil.

The report examines South Africa's energy security, highlighting a critical over-reliance on coal-fired power generated by the state utility Eskom. It argues that this dependency creates a conflict with the country's climate mitigation goals and international commitments. The author identifies structural and institutional barriers—specifically Eskom's market dominance and a lack of coordinated government policy—that hinder the adoption of renewable energy. The report suggests that South Africa must shift from a 'business as usual' fossil-fuel path toward a 'business unusual' approach, leveraging regional hydroelectric and gas potential within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) to ensure a sustainable and secure energy future.

The report examines the intersection of trade and climate change in the Mekong subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam). It argues that while ASEAN promotes economic integration and trade liberalization, these frameworks often lack explicit climate change commitments, potentially increasing the region's vulnerability. The document highlights projected climate risks—such as sea-level rise, altered precipitation, and temperature increases—that threaten agricultural production and natural resources. It concludes that ASEAN's trade agreements (FTAs/EPAs) generally fail to incorporate climate risk assessments or mitigation strategies, recommending the mainstreaming of climate concerns into economic cooperation frameworks.

The document examines the debate over whether current planning processes can accommodate the long lead times and uncertainties of climate change. Arguments for new approaches highlight the unprecedented nature of climate risks and the potential for irreversible impacts. Conversely, some argue that existing frameworks for other long-term environmental challenges or natural disasters are applicable, suggesting that failures in climate adaptation may stem from a lack of institutional capacity rather than flawed decision-making processes.

The report examines the intersection of water scarcity and power generation in South and Southeast Asia, arguing that while regulatory protections have historically shielded shareholders, increasing water stress driven by climate change and demographic pressure creates material financial risks. It introduces a risk exposure framework based on business models, water dependency, and water security, and highlights that a significant portion of existing and planned capacity in the region is located in water-stressed areas.

The document analyzes the failure of 'oil for infrastructure' deals in Nigeria, where Chinese companies secured oil blocs in exchange for projects like the Lagos–Kano railway and Mambilla power station. These projects were stalled after the 2007 transition to President Yar’Adua's administration, which preferred cash payments over infrastructure. Consequently, Chinese firms have shifted toward direct acquisitions of oil assets for cash, exemplified by Sinopec's $7.2 billion purchase of Addax Petroleum in 2009.

The electricity sector in SACU member states is characterised by chronic capacity shortages, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a dominance of state-owned monopolies. While the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) facilitates cross-border trade, the region remains heavily dependent on South Africa's Eskom. The paper argues that the lack of cost-reflective tariffs and political reluctance to allow independent power producers (IPPs) hinder investment. It recommends a harmonised regional regulatory framework and a strategic approach to liberalisation through a mix of SADC, WTO GATS, and bilateral agreements to improve energy security and economic growth.