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2,349 results
Reinventing Fire
This document is a technical guide and methodology supplement for the book 'Reinventing Fire', published by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). It outlines a roadmap for transitioning the United States energy system from oil and coal to efficiency and renewables by 2050, emphasizing a business-led, profit-driven approach that avoids reliance on new inventions or legislative acts.
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Document type: Guide
Constant Concessions Under Changing Circumstances: the Water and Renewable Energy Directives and Hydropower in Sweden
This report analyzes the implementation of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RES) and Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Sweden, specifically focusing on the hydropower sector. It examines how the Swedish judicial concession system, which governs hydropower operations, creates conflicts between renewable energy production goals and aquatic biodiversity requirements. The author argues that the current system's lack of incentives and high level of distrust between operators and authorities hinder both the efficiency gains from hydropower refurbishments and the timely implementation of water quality improvements.
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Document type: Report
Multiple Identities: Behind South Africa’s Approach to Climate Diplomacy
This policy brief examines the tensions between South Africa's domestic economic priorities and its international climate diplomacy. It highlights how the country's reliance on a coal-based 'minerals-energy complex' and the need to expand energy access conflict with its desire to be seen as a 'responsible' global actor and a 'bridge builder' in climate negotiations.
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Document type: Policy brief
Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Small Island Developing States
This précis outlines the implications of the United Nations Secretary’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), focusing on the goal of raising US$100 billion per year for climate change investment in developing countries by 2020.
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Document type: Executive summary
Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Small Island Developing States
This briefing, written by Vivid Economics and funded by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), analyzes the implications of the Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It evaluates the investment needs for adaptation and mitigation in SIDS, the potential for public and private funding sources, and the specific risks and opportunities these financial mechanisms present for island nations.
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Document type: Briefing
Ghana Goes for Green Growth
This executive summary outlines Ghana's National Climate Change Policy Framework (NCCPF), a strategic initiative designed to ensure a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy. The document emphasizes that while Ghana's global contribution to climate change is negligible, the country faces substantial threats to its development goals, particularly in agriculture, coastal infrastructure, and poverty reduction. The NCCPF proposes a multi-sectoral response based on three primary objectives—low carbon growth, effective adaptation, and social development—supported by seven systemic pillars including governance, finance, and capacity building.
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Document type: Executive summary
CLEARING THE AIR
This executive summary by Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland argues that carbon trading is an ineffective and dangerous primary tool for tackling climate change. The document proposes a comprehensive package of alternative mitigation strategies across energy, agriculture, forests, and industry, alongside several specific financial mechanisms to provide at least US$420 billion per year in additional climate finance for developing countries.
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Document type: Executive summary
Africa and Geopolitics of India’s Energy security
This statement, delivered on October 6, 2010, outlines India's energy security strategy, highlighting the critical imbalance between growing energy demand and limited indigenous supply. It details India's reliance on imports, particularly for oil and gas, and its efforts to diversify sources through equity investments in Africa and the Middle East. The document discusses the role of coal as a primary energy source, the potential of nuclear and renewable energy, and the significant infrastructure investments required to sustain economic growth.
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Document type: Statement
University Data Centres: Policy and business case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
This IISD study evaluates the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from university data centres in Canada by analyzing three scenarios: relocation to zero-carbon facilities, relocation to low-emission urban grids with waste heat utilization, or modifying existing centres to capture waste heat. The study concludes that generating revenue through carbon credits is generally not economically attractive for individual universities, though a green community cloud operated by CANARIE is presented as a more viable alternative.
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Document type: Report
Bottom Line on Renewable Energy Tax Credits
This World Resources Institute fact sheet outlines US federal tax incentives for renewable energy as of September 2010. It details the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which is based on electrical output, and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which is based on capital investment. It also describes the Treasury cash grant for ITC-eligible projects, the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) for domestic facilities, and depreciation rules like MACRS.
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Document type: Fact sheet
University Data Centres: Policy and business case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
This report evaluates the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from university data centres in Canada by analyzing three relocation or modification scenarios and proposing a 'green community cloud' alternative. The study focuses on three institutions: Dalhousie University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Alberta.
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Document type: Report
Energy Security in South America: The role of Brazil
This report examines the role of Brazil in enhancing energy security and integration across South America. It argues that while the region possesses vast energy resources, domestic-focused security strategies and a lack of regional regulation have led to high economic costs and underutilized infrastructure. The author proposes the creation of a Multilateral Energy Security Reserve (RMSE) treaty to provide a legal framework for energy imports and dispute settlement, positioning Brazil as the ideal coordinator due to its market size, geography, and leadership in both fossil fuels and renewable energy.
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Document type: Report
South Africa's Energy Security in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation
This research paper examines the challenges South Africa faces in diversifying its energy sources away from coal to ensure energy security and meet climate change mitigation goals, emphasizing the need for institutional reform and a coordinated government vision.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Change Challenges in ASEAN-facilitated Interventions in the Mekong Subregion
This policy report analyzes the intersection of climate change and ASEAN-facilitated trade and investment policies within the Mekong subregion, highlighting the tension between economic growth through trade liberalization and the vulnerability of natural resources to climate risks.
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Document type: Report
The Quest for Energy Security in Argentina
This report analyzes the failure of market-based energy reforms in Argentina, which led to a high dependency on non-renewable resources and a depletion of natural assets. It argues that relying solely on private and foreign capital for strategic energy decisions was ineffective and recommends a more active public sector role, price policy reform, and strategic agreements with Brazil and Bolivia to secure energy supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Document type: Report
Moving Away from Oil: Biofuels and Biobased Products
A statement from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute advocating for a transition from petroleum to biofuels and biobased products to reduce national oil dependence, improve climate outcomes, and create jobs.
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Document type: Statement
Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Domestic barriers and opportunities in South Africa
This report analyzes the barriers and opportunities for clean energy investment in South Africa, focusing on the transition from a coal-dependent energy system dominated by the state-owned utility Eskom to a more diversified renewable energy mix. It examines national policies, regulatory frameworks, and the role of provincial and local governments in promoting sustainable energy.
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Document type: Report
Guide to Biofuels: Glossary
A glossary of terms related to biofuels, focusing on definitions of fuel types, the role of corn ethanol in the United States, and the financial mechanisms and lobbying efforts surrounding ethanol production.
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Document type: Guide
Submission by Civil Society Organizations to the International Finance Corporation Commenting on The Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards and Disclosure Policy
A joint submission by various civil society organizations to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) criticizing its Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards, and Disclosure Policy. The document argues that the IFC relies too heavily on unverified client data, fails to protect human rights—particularly those of indigenous peoples and women—and lacks transparency in its dealings with financial intermediaries and the extractive industry.
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Document type: Statement
Developing an Advanced Biofuels Industry: State Policy Options for Lean and Uncertain Times
This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the state of the advanced biofuels industry in the United States following the 2008 economic recession. It analyzes national policy trends, identifies critical barriers to commercialization—including technological hurdles, market volatility, and regulatory uncertainty—and provides ten specific policy recommendations for state governments to support sustainable, local biofuel development during periods of limited fiscal capacity.
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Document type: Report