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This commentary analyzes a May 6, 2013, World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body ruling regarding renewable energy generation measures in a dispute involving Canada (Ontario), Japan, and the European Union. The author argues that the ruling failed to provide necessary legal clarification on WTO rules for sustainable energy and may have created a problematic carve-out of the subsidy agreement, concluding that WTO members rather than the Appellate Body should define the boundaries for renewable energy support.

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 briefing is a transcript of an address by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) delivered on July 17, 2013, at Appalachian State University. Lovins advocates for the adoption of 'integrative design' and 'natural capitalism' within university campuses to eliminate energy and material waste. He argues that universities should serve as living laboratories where students use a 'beginner's mind' to redesign buildings, food systems, and infrastructure, while simultaneously breaking down academic silos to foster transdisciplinary learning.

This briefing examines the economic and strategic relationship between South Africa and the European Union (EU) ahead of the 2013 EU-SA Summit, focusing on job creation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

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 report analyzes the strategic importance of President Barack Obama's June 2013 visit to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. It frames the visit as part of a broader shift in US-Africa relations, moving from the strategic indifference of the 1990s toward a partnership focused on economic growth, democratic strengthening, energy security, and youth leadership development, while competing with China's significant trade presence on the continent.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides data on 'green' jobs in the United States, with a specific focus on employment within the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. It compiles figures from various government agencies, national laboratories, and industry associations to estimate current employment levels and project future job growth.

A letter from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute to members of the House of Representatives urging the inclusion of mandatory funding for energy programs within the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 to support bio-based industries and renewable energy.

A letter from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) to U.S. Senators urging the inclusion of $1.3 billion in mandatory funding for the energy title of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 to support sustainable bio-based products and energy industries.

This report summarizes a two-day charrette held in November 2012 to address challenges in planning, investment, and execution of energy efficiency and renewable energy for Fort Collins Utilities and the FortZED net zero energy district project.

This fact sheet describes the environmental and health impacts of landfill methane in the United States, the regulatory frameworks governing its capture, and the economic viability of converting landfill gas (LFG) into energy.

This fact sheet details the Obama administration's fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget proposal regarding sustainable energy, clean energy technology, and energy efficiency across multiple federal agencies.

This document consists of several distinct text fragments. The primary section is an introduction to a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development that compares climate change vulnerability assessments (VAs) in Tunisia and Indonesia using a four-component framework (Framing, Process, Inputs, and Outputs). Additional fragments discuss nature-based solutions for road resilience in Indonesia and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a $20 billion financing mechanism aimed at accelerating the retirement of coal plants and the development of renewable energy in Indonesia and South Africa.

A statement addressed to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim by a coalition of development, environment, and human rights groups, urging the Bank to end its financing of fossil fuel projects and shift toward off-grid renewable energy to effectively address climate change and energy access for the poor.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica issued a statement expressing grave concerns regarding the nomination of Ernest J. Moniz as Secretary of Energy due to his support for nuclear power and fracking, while expressing support for the nomination of Gina McCarthy as EPA Administrator.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the potential for institutional investors—such as pension funds and insurance companies—to fund renewable energy infrastructure. It identifies three primary investment channels and analyzes the policy, regulatory, and institutional barriers that prevent these investors from lowering the cost of capital for renewable energy projects.

This case study describes Nepal's initiative to develop District Climate and Energy Plans (DCEPs) in all 75 districts to align renewable energy adoption with climate mitigation and adaptation. Using a pilot in Ilam district as an example, the document highlights the use of multi-stakeholder task forces and data-driven scenario analysis to prioritize technologies like solar and biogas. The process has been formalized into a 'DCEP Preparation Guideline' by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) to scale the model nationwide.

This case study examines the investment incentive policies for renewable energy in Thailand, analyzing their effectiveness in overcoming barriers to deployment. It details a variety of financial, fiscal, and regional incentives, while highlighting the transition from a feed-in premium (adder) system to a fixed-price feed-in tariff (FIT) to manage costs and avoid overcapacity.

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.

The Electricity Distribution Grid Evaluator (EDGE) is a MATLAB-based simulation tool developed by RMI to assess the technical and economic implications of integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) into electricity systems. The model evaluates how DERs affect grid operations and stakeholder value across different regulatory environments and utility business models.