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The study uses the WAMPS life-cycle assessment (LCA) model to evaluate leachate and landfill gas (LFG) treatment options in Estonia, finding that reverse osmosis outperforms aerobic-activated sludge for leachate treatment and that LFG energy recovery is preferable to flaring due to significant avoided impacts.

The report examines the role of US forests and forest products in mitigating climate change, emphasizing that a rational policy must look beyond simple sequestration to include the carbon storage and substitution benefits of harvested wood. It analyzes forest carbon stocks and flows, the impact of climate-driven disturbances like wildfire and pests, and the life-cycle carbon benefits of using wood instead of steel or concrete. The authors critique the high transaction costs and measurement uncertainties of project-based carbon offsets, suggesting alternative policies such as information disclosure and updated building codes to promote the use of sustainable forest products.

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 assesses how different BCA designs—specifically direct versus life-cycle emissions and varying carbon prices—would affect Chinese exports. It finds that while certain sectors like iron and steel are highly exposed, the overall economic impact on China's total exports would be limited, potentially reducing the incentive for exporters to lower emissions rather than divert trade.

The authors assert that 80 percent of global energy needs could be met by renewables by 2050, as stated by the IPCC. They critique a New York Times op-ed by Robert Bryce, arguing that his claims regarding the environmental impact and land requirements of wind and solar are based on faulty calculations. The text highlights that a 33 percent renewable electricity mandate in the US would require approximately 800 square miles of land, which is less than one third of the forest area destroyed by mountaintop removal coal mining. The authors advocate for a diverse energy platform including renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power, evaluated through honest life-cycle criteria.

The report examines the global copper supply chain, focusing on China's role as the world's largest consumer. It analyzes two primary flows: recycled copper scrap (Flow C) and primary copper mining products (Flow D). The document identifies sustainability challenges, including the illegal import of e-waste into China and weak regulatory enforcement in mining regions like Zambia. It evaluates the impact of international policies, such as the EU's WEEE and ELV Directives, and provides recommendations for improving data quality, formalizing recycling infrastructure, and strengthening government capacity in developing nations.

The report advocates for the adoption of sustainable public procurement (SPP) during post-disaster and post-conflict reconstruction. It highlights that the high volume of public spending during these periods—often ranging from 2% to 15% of annual GDP for recovery—can be used to signal long-term demand for green goods and services, stimulate private sector innovation, and build domestic capacity for sustainable production. The author provides evidence that integrating sustainability into infrastructure rebuilding, such as mangrove conservation in Vietnam or flood-resistant works in China, significantly reduces future disaster losses and improves resilience. However, the report notes that implementation is often hindered by a lack of dedicated SPP laws and political instability in lower-income economies.

The report evaluates Vietnam's readiness for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP), finding that while political will and a general legal framework for sustainable development exist, significant hurdles remain, including a lack of specific guidelines, limited human resource capacity, and higher initial costs for green products. It highlights the timber industry as a viable entry point for SPP due to existing export-driven certifications and government priorities. The document recommends strengthening inter-ministerial cooperation, developing eco-labels, and utilizing the Trust Fund for Forests for early pilot projects.

The report examines China's position as the world's largest producer and consumer of refined copper, detailing the supply chain from extraction to recycling. It highlights the industry's significant economic contribution and employment generation, while addressing environmental risks such as heavy metal pollution and toxic gas emissions. The document also outlines the Chinese government's regulatory framework, including the 'Admittance Qualification of Chinese Copper Smelting Industry', which sets strict energy, resource recovery, and environmental standards for smelters.

The report by Friends of the Earth examines nanotechnology's role in the energy transition, specifically in solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery technologies. It argues that the industry has "over-promised and under-delivered," noting that the energy required to manufacture nanomaterials often exceeds the savings they provide. The document highlights significant health risks, such as the potential for carbon nanotubes to cause mesothelioma, and environmental hazards, including the release of potent greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide from nano silver. It further criticizes the use of public funds to develop nanotechnology for expanded oil and gas extraction and warns that the technology may exacerbate global inequities through restrictive patenting and the dumping of nanowaste in the Global South.

The report evaluates 'post-harvest to grave' emissions for woody biomass residues in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. It finds that alternatives displacing fossil fuels—such as industrial boilers, biochar, and integrated gasification—significantly reduce greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter compared to on-site burning. Conversely, residential wood stoves and fireplaces often increase local air pollutants.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that current U.S. biofuels policy is costly and ineffective, primarily supporting mature food-based industries while cellulosic biofuels remain stalled. The report proposes the 'Billion Gallon Challenge' to provide capital support for the first billion gallons of annual cellulosic capacity and a 'Biofuels Performance Tax Credit' to replace existing credits with incentives based on actual life-cycle emissions reductions.

The report assesses the environmental footprint of Chinese copper cathode production, which relies heavily on imports. Using a 'cradle-to-gate' LCA, it finds that mining and mineral extraction are the primary drivers of environmental impact, accounting for over 70% of the total for primary production. While Chinese primary production has lower impacts than the global average and regions like Latin America and Indonesia, it remains higher than European production due to lower ore grades and a fossil-fuel-heavy electricity mix. The study recommends improving mining technologies, enhancing the collection and recycling of secondary copper, and phasing out obsolete smelting technologies.

The REAP (Resources and Energy Analysis Programme) tool uses environmentally extended input-output analysis to calculate the carbon, greenhouse gas (GHG), and ecological footprints of residents across UK local authorities and regions. Unlike territorial accounting, which measures emissions where they occur, REAP allocates emissions to the consumers of products and services. The tool allows policy makers to model future scenarios by adjusting variables such as household energy demand, food consumption, and production efficiency. The 2006 data release includes a historical time series from 1992 to 2006 and introduces GHG footprints as a new indicator. The document also compares SEI's input-output methodology with the Global Footprint Network's (GFN) trade-volume and life-cycle coefficient approach, noting that while GFN estimates for the UK are typically 5% to 15% higher, the SEI approach provides more detailed supply chain analysis for manufactured goods and services.

The report examines the barriers and opportunities for implementing life cycle costing (LCC) in sustainable public procurement (SPP). It finds that while LCC is used in some industrialized nations, its application is often non-systematic and hindered by conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of procurer expertise, and data gaps. The authors argue that LCC should be integrated into high-level public expenditure policy to shift the procurement mindset from 'best value for money' at purchase to 'best value across the asset life cycle.'

The report assesses government support for liquid biofuels in Canada, finding that total transfers between 2006 and 2008 ranged from C$860 million to C$1.02 billion. It argues that these subsidies are an expensive way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve fossil fuels, often providing poor value for money compared to purchasing carbon offsets. While Canada has implemented some effective targeting and caps to limit costs, the report highlights poor transparency, a lack of rigorous environmental evaluation, and the potential for future infrastructure costs driven by blending mandates.

The policy brief advocates for a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) as a technology-neutral mechanism to lower the life cycle emissions of transportation fuels. It emphasizes the necessity of 'well-to-wheels' accounting, including indirect land-use changes, to ensure genuine emission reductions. The LCFS is presented as a way to incentivize supply chain improvements, discourage high-carbon fuels like coal-to-liquids, and spur market-driven innovation in low-carbon technologies.

The report analyzes how sustainability knowledge—comprising both substantive technical data and process-oriented expertise—influences public policy. Through six case studies, it identifies that policy impact is not linear but occurs through instrumental, interactive, political, and enlightenment models. Key success factors include the presence of high-level political 'champions', the use of stakeholder engagement to build legitimacy, and the development of long-term trust between knowledge providers and policy users. The document concludes with ten general suggestions for researchers to enhance their policy relevance, emphasizing the need to balance independent research with user-led collaboration and to communicate findings in accessible, timely formats.

The paper examines submissions to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) to identify areas of convergence and divergence among Parties concerning financial and technological support for mitigation in developing countries.

The report analyzes China's biofuels sector, focusing on the transition from grain-based ethanol to non-grain feedstocks grown on marginal land. It finds that government subsidies, including direct payments and tax exemptions, are essential for the industry's viability but may undermine food security, increase food prices, and cause environmental degradation. The authors conclude that biofuels have a negligible impact on China's energy security and recommend eliminating direct production subsidies.