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The South African Renewables Initiative (SARi) aims to establish financing arrangements to enable a critical mass of renewable energy in South Africa, targeting 19 GW by 2030. The primary challenge is the higher financial cost of renewables compared to coal, which has historically been subsidized. To address this, SARi proposes a mix of concessional loans, risk insurance, and guarantees to leverage private investment. The initiative also emphasizes an industrial strategy to create local jobs and reduce the carbon intensity of exports.

The research paper evaluates four types of cost limits—alternative compliance payments, contract price caps, retail rate/revenue impact caps, and renewable energy fund caps—across several U.S. states. It finds that while cost limits can insure against unacceptably high costs, they often create market uncertainty, may act as price floors rather than ceilings, and can conflict with renewable energy targets if not aligned with expected costs. For California, the author recommends avoiding public contract-level benchmarks, ensuring the limit is consistent with expected RPS costs, and implementing a simple, clearly defined mechanism with a predictable review process.

The Barbados Declaration, issued by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in May 2012, emphasizes the urgent need for SIDS to transition to renewable energy to mitigate economic vulnerabilities caused by high dependency on imported fossil fuels. The document identifies wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy as commercially feasible options and calls for increased financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building from developed nations and international organizations. It reaffirms the importance of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) as blueprints for sustainable development.

The document argues that Spain's adherence to EU-mandated austerity—termed the 'Euro Dogma'—has deepened its recession by contracting aggregate demand and undermining public services. It criticizes the Popular Party's labour reforms for reducing worker protections and wages without addressing the root causes of the crisis, such as the property bubble and lack of technological investment. The author highlights significant cuts to R&D, education, and health, while noting that military spending and grants to the Catholic Church remained relatively protected. The text suggests that Spain could instead leverage its human capital and renewable energy potential, and increase revenues by tackling tax evasion and taxing the wealthy, to achieve a sustainable recovery.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), China achieved a 19.06 percent reduction in energy intensity against a 2005 baseline, driven primarily by technological development and structural adjustments. Despite these efficiency gains, total emissions increased by 33.6 percent, making China the world's largest emitter in 2007. The government deployed significant investment, totaling 1.73 trillion yuan in new and renewable energy and 859.2 billion yuan in energy efficiency, though these efforts primarily benefited large state-owned enterprises over small and medium enterprises. Looking toward the 12th Five-Year Plan, the document identifies challenges in meeting ambitious energy and carbon intensity targets due to rapid urbanization, rising marginal costs of conservation, and the continued prioritization of GDP growth by local governments.

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.

This fact sheet outlines a series of global events, publications, and policy agreements from 1962 to 2012 that have shaped the concept of sustainable development. It tracks the progression from early environmental warnings, such as the publication of Silent Spring, through the establishment of major international bodies like the UNEP and IPCC, to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol and the Millennium Development Goals. The timeline highlights the increasing intersection of environmental protection, economic policy, and social equity, noting the rise of the 'green economy' and the critical role of both developed and emerging nations, particularly China, in the global energy transition.

The MENA region faces severe climate vulnerability characterized by warming and water scarcity, yet adaptation and mitigation efforts are often siloed. The document proposes a 'nexus' approach that integrates water and energy planning to identify synergies, such as solar desalination or energy recovery from wastewater, and recommends the use of integrated tools like WEAP and LEAP to move beyond reactive, short-term coping measures.

The document identifies severe long-term supply risks for indium and tellurium, and moderate to severe risks for neodymium, which could hinder the deployment of photovoltaics, wind power, and electric vehicles. It argues that while governments often treat mineral scarcity as a technological issue, economic and political risks are significant drivers of future deficits. Businesses are responding through recycling, vertical integration, and material substitution, though the effectiveness of these measures varies by metal and technology.

The report analyzes three global energy scenarios—Baseline, Basic Energy Access (BEA), and Shared Development Agenda (SDA)—to determine the pathways required to provide sustainable energy for all while limiting global warming to 2°C. It argues that achieving these goals requires a massive socio-technical transformation, including the virtual phase-out of conventional fossil fuels for electricity by 2050 and a significant increase in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through 20 case studies, the document identifies barriers such as vested interests, high entry costs for the poor, and institutional inertia, while proposing a multi-level governance framework to coordinate innovation, mobilize finance, and align national policies with global sustainable development goals.

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 document assesses the impact of large-scale power projects on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), noting that these projects are expected to generate nearly 70% of total CERs between 2013 and 2020. It argues that additionality for these projects is difficult to demonstrate, potentially leading to a global increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The authors propose phasing out these projects to stabilize the carbon market and shifting support toward national policies like feed-in tariffs and carbon taxes.

The report assesses three global energy scenarios—Baseline, Basic Energy Access, and Shared Development Agenda—to determine how to provide energy for development while limiting global warming to 2°C. It argues that achieving these goals requires a massive socio-technical transformation of energy supply and demand, moving beyond incremental changes to a system dominated by renewables and high energy efficiency. The authors emphasize that this transition requires multi-level governance, including stronger public RD&D, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and a shared global development agenda that prioritizes equitable income growth and energy access for the world's poorest regions.

The document argues for the implementation of strict EPA standards on coal-fired power plant emissions, specifically targeting mercury, benzene, and arsenic. It highlights the public health risks of mercury, the ability of many plants to already adopt pollution controls, and the potential for clean energy sources like wind and solar to replace polluting plants.

The Rocky Mountain Institute contends that the U.S. government has historically provided far more subsidies to fossil fuels than to renewables, citing $72 billion for fossil fuels versus $29 billion for renewables between 2002 and 2008. The document argues that wind and solar are rapidly becoming cost-competitive, noting a 43% decline in solar PV installed costs from 1998 to 2010. It further highlights the economic burden of fossil fuel externalities, estimated at $63 billion annually, and dismisses the Keystone XL pipeline as a viable energy security solution because it does not support the electricity system.

The document analyzes China's rapid expansion in wind power, highlighting the role of the 2006 Renewable Energy Law, the transition from concession bidding to feed-in tariffs, and the growth of domestic manufacturing.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon argues that sustainable energy is essential to defeating poverty and combating climate change. He proposes three linked objectives for 2030: universal access to modern energy, doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global mix. The document identifies financial, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers to this transition and calls for a global 'clean energy revolution' supported by the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

The report finds that U.S. thermoelectric power plants withdrew between 60 billion and 170 billion gallons of freshwater daily in 2008, with coal plants accounting for the majority of this use. It identifies significant regional disparities in water intensity, noting that plants in the East generally withdraw more water due to a higher prevalence of once-through cooling. The analysis reveals that power plants contributed to water-supply stress in 20% of the 400 stressed watersheds identified. Furthermore, the report highlights critical gaps and inaccuracies in U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, including the total absence of reporting from the nuclear fleet. It argues that climate change and population growth will exacerbate these stresses, urging a shift toward low-water cooling technologies and low-carbon energy sources to ensure grid reliability and ecosystem health.

The report finds that U.S. power plants withdraw massive volumes of freshwater, with coal and nuclear plants being the most water-intensive. This demand contributes to water-supply stress in hundreds of watersheds and is exacerbated by droughts and heat waves. The authors highlight significant gaps and inaccuracies in EIA reporting and advocate for 'water-smart' energy choices, such as dry cooling and low-water renewables, to ensure energy reliability and water security.

The document presents a framework for a global energy assessment to support the Rio+20 Earth Summit, focusing on a 'triple global energy challenge': providing affordable energy for all, phasing out fossil fuels to stabilize the climate, and operating within Earth system boundaries. It proposes a 'new model' of development where all countries reach a GDP per capita equivalent to current middle-income levels by 2050, requiring a massive transition to renewable energy and efficiency. The authors recommend the adoption of strategic principles, including a transparent global investment fund for renewables in poor economies and the use of the planetary boundaries framework to manage environmental risks.