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The research paper develops a methodology for scenario analysis of consumption-based GHG emissions, moving beyond traditional production-based accounting. It introduces a framework using a modified Kaya Identity to forecast emissions by analyzing population, consumption activity, and GHG intensity. The authors provide a catalogue of low-GHG behavioral measures across food, goods, services, construction, transport, and home energy. Piloting the method in Seattle and the U.S., the study finds that while aggressive behavioral shifts and production improvements can reduce consumption-based emissions by 47% by 2030, the resulting levels remain significantly above the global average required to limit warming to 2°C.

An open letter from Scientists for Global Responsibility to the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change arguing that the Draft Energy Bill and current energy policies are unambitious and biased toward the nuclear industry at the expense of renewables and energy efficiency.

The German Greens propose a Green New Deal to transition Germany toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy. The plan rests on three pillars: re-regulating financial markets to end speculation, implementing green industrial policies to promote renewables and efficiency, and ensuring social justice through a 'new social balance' and fair wealth distribution. The authors argue that Germany's industrial success depends on this transformation and that it must be coordinated at the EU level to be effective.

The document analyzes 350 years of British history to show that transitions to low-polluting energy sources are driven by an iterative process of public demand and government response. It argues that while industrialists often weaken initial legislation, sustained demand signals both governments and polluters to seek low-cost, low-pollution alternatives. The author suggests that the transition to a low carbon economy will likely follow a similarly protracted course, influenced by economic prosperity, shocking environmental events, and the availability of competitive low-carbon technologies.

The document argues that the Eurozone crisis is a symptom of a failing 'liberal-productivist' economic model and a lack of democratic legitimacy in EU governance. It proposes a 'Green New Deal' focusing on renewable energy, financial re-regulation, and social justice to replace GDP-centric growth. Specific analyses cover the structural failures of austerity in Portugal, the political shift toward majoritarian nationalism in Hungary, and the need for a transnational European public sphere to foster solidarity and democratic reform.

The author argues that while scaling relations like the IPAT equation and Kaya identity are useful for gauging the scale of changes needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they fail to account for existing capital legacies and the necessity of new investment during large-scale economic shifts. To address this, the paper introduces an extended Kaya identity formulated as a sum of terms, designed to maintain the capacity for rapid exploration of low-carbon pathways while capturing capital-related factors.

The document is a compilation of research abstracts covering a wide array of climate-related topics. Key themes include the equity of burden-sharing in climate finance, the operationalization of REDD+ and MRV systems, the integration of adaptation into development planning (mainstreaming), and the transition to low-carbon energy systems. It examines specific case studies in regions such as Bangladesh, Mozambique, Nepal, and the Congo Basin, while analyzing global policy mechanisms like the UNFCCC, the Copenhagen Accord, and the Cancun Agreements.

The document argues that while biomass is not a 'silver bullet' for climate change, it is a promising low-carbon energy source if managed within physical limits. It compares four scenarios—Single Bottom Line, Meeting the Climate Challenge, Feeding the Planet, and Sustainability Transition—concluding that a transition focusing on both sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation offers the most benefit. The brief emphasizes that biomass production is constrained by land, water, and soil health, and calls for a focused agricultural research programme to increase yield potential and close yield gaps through both genetic modification and conventional breeding.

The report analyzes the 'water-energy nexus,' highlighting how the transition to low-carbon electricity can create new pressures on water resources. It compares the water withdrawals and consumption of conventional fossil-fuel plants, nuclear power, and various renewables. A case study of California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) demonstrates that while shifting to renewables can reduce emissions, certain choices—like solar thermal—can increase water consumption. The authors argue for integrated planning that prioritizes low-water technologies, efficiency improvements, and water recycling to ensure energy security without compromising water availability.

The report argues that while biomass is essential for a low-carbon economy, it is a limited resource constrained by land, water, and the need for ecosystem functioning. Through four scenarios, the authors demonstrate that a 'Sustainability Transition'—combining aggressive climate policy with focused agricultural productivity improvements—is the most viable path to reducing emissions without excessively increasing the agricultural footprint. The analysis highlights that future yield gains must move beyond the 'Green Revolution' strategy of increasing harvest index (shifting biomass to grain) toward increasing total photosynthetic efficiency to provide enough raw material for both food and industrial bio-materials.

The document analyzes the relationship between the demand for environmental quality, government legislation, and energy transitions. Using five historical British case studies—ranging from the 17th century to the late 20th century—it argues that while markets can drive transitions under specific conditions, effective shifts to low-polluting energy sources typically require strong, sustained public demand and creative pressure groups to ensure legislation is introduced, enforced, and maintained. The author concludes that the transition to a low-carbon economy will likely require similar conditions, as current demand for climate stability may not yet be powerful enough to overcome economic counter-lobbying and political reluctance.

The document describes the creation of an Implementation Plan (IP) to operationalize the CARICOM Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. It emphasizes a 'three-ones' approach to resource mobilization and the necessity of transformational change in policy-setting to avoid severe economic costs of inaction. The IP focuses on mainstreaming climate adaptation and mitigation into national development, targeting sectors such as agriculture, energy, and tourism, while promoting a risk-management ethic in decision-making.

South Africa hosted COP 17 in 2011 with the goal of establishing legal guidelines for carbon emission reductions and advancing a post-2012 global climate regime. The document highlights the tension between developed and developing nations regarding binding targets, specifically the stalemate over the Kyoto Protocol. South Africa aims to act as a bridge-builder, championing African agency and adaptation needs while coordinating with the BASIC alliance. Domestically, the document notes that South Africa must finalize policies on carbon taxes and renewable energy tariffs to lead by example, as it is the world's 13th highest greenhouse-gas emitter.

The paper assesses how different carbon tax rates (10 and 100 yuan/tCO2) affect various Chinese industrial sectors. It finds that while a low carbon price is a safe starting point, a higher price of 100 yuan/tCO2 would significantly impact energy-intensive sectors like ferrous metals and electricity, potentially reducing GDP by 1.1% unless revenue is redistributed to stimulate consumption. The study highlights the electricity sector as the primary driver for CO2 emission reductions and suggests that targeted carbon pricing for energy-intensive sectors could be more efficient than a nationwide policy.

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 document details South Africa's efforts to increase water access, which has risen from 62% in 1994 to 93% in 2011. It highlights strategic water infrastructure projects, such as the Mokolo and Crocodile River (West) project and the Spring Grove Dam, alongside a focus on groundwater and desalination. Environmental priorities include combating rhino poaching, implementing the Waste Act to foster a recycling sector, and finalizing a Climate Change Response Policy White Paper ahead of the UN Climate Change conference in Durban. The Minister emphasizes the role of the environment sector in job creation through programs like Working for Water and Working for Wetlands.

The report analyzes the sustainability of China's role as a global leader in seafood production and processing, focusing on tilapia, cod, and live reef food fish (LRFF). It identifies critical gaps in traceability, the prevalence of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the environmental impacts of intensive aquaculture. The document recommends that China establish a national traceability system, adopt international sustainability certifications, and develop a long-term trade policy that aligns with the 12th Five Year Plan's goals for a low-carbon, green economy.

The document estimates that Phase III of the EU ETS will generate between €150-190bn in revenues across the EU by 2020, potentially rising to €200-310bn if a 30% reduction target is adopted. Germany is projected to receive the highest proportion of these revenues, while Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK are each expected to accrue over €10bn from the power sector alone. The briefing also explores the financial impact of expanding auctioning to the cement and steel sectors and suggests strategic uses for these funds, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration, renewable energy RD&D, grid infrastructure, and international climate finance.

The 2011 budget speech for the Department of Environmental Affairs details South Africa's commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025. It highlights the transition to a green economy, the integration of 'working for' employment programmes to provide 5 million person-days of work in 2011/12, and the fight against rhino poaching. The speech also announces the upcoming National Biodiversity Assessment report and the commissioning of the SA Agulhas II research vessel.

The document analyzes the transition from traditional energy to fossil fuels in the UK between 1500 and 1920 to derive lessons for the current shift toward a low carbon economy. It finds that past transitions were driven by the ability to provide cheaper or better energy services, often starting in niche markets where consumers paid a premium for superior characteristics. The author argues that because consumers are unlikely to pay a premium for the social benefits of climate stability, governments must actively protect and manage the innovation chain for low-carbon technologies. Given that past sector-specific diffusion phases took nearly fifty years on average, the author concludes that a complete transition to a low carbon economy will be slow, likely spanning decades, and may not reduce fossil fuel consumption for a long time.