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This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the China National Renewable Energy Center (CNREC), examines how Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR) and earmarked tax revenues can fund the deployment of renewable energy technologies in China. Drawing on eight international case studies, the document argues that environmental taxes do not necessarily hinder economic growth and can provide a stable, transparent funding mechanism for green energy, offering a potential alternative or supplement to China's current reliance on electricity surcharges.

This executive summary examines Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR) as a mechanism to fund renewable energy deployment in China. By analyzing eight international case studies, the report explores how environmental taxes and carbon trading can generate revenue for green energy while mitigating impacts on economic growth and competitiveness. It specifically discusses the role of earmarking revenues to increase transparency and investor confidence, while noting the political and economic challenges of implementing such measures within the Chinese context.

This briefing note from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines fiscal policy instruments as tools to facilitate the transition to a green economy, providing case studies from Germany and Canada to illustrate how taxes, subsidies, and levies can incentivize sustainable practices.

A letter from multiple organizations to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry requesting the suspension of the Keystone XL review process due to alleged conflicts of interest and misrepresentations by Environmental Resource Management (ERM), the firm hired to prepare the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).

Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on July 24, 2013, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The statement argues that TTIP could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly in the chemicals sector, by prioritizing the removal of regulatory barriers over safety standards. Muffett advocates for the retention of national rights to determine health protection levels and the exclusion of investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms.

Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on July 24, 2013, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Representing CIEL, Friends of the Earth, and the Sierra Club, Muffett argued that the agreement's focus on reducing regulatory barriers could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly in the chemicals sector, by favoring industry interests over safety standards.

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.

This research paper by GLOBE International examines the relationship between domestic climate change legislation and a country's negotiating position within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It argues that strong national laws act as an enabler for international ambition by creating political space, increasing economic competitiveness, and building confidence among leaders and investors.

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 briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explores options for establishing a voluntary peer-review process within the G-20 to advance the phase-out and rationalization of inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies. It analyzes the benefits of peer review as a 'soft law' tool, compares existing mechanisms in other international forums, and proposes specific structural options and reporting frameworks to balance mutual learning with accountability.

The Sovereign Emission Rights Framework is a proposal by Sandbag, submitted to the European Commission in 2013, for an equitable global emissions trading regime. It argues that emissions rights should be distributed based on 1990 population shares and that historical emissions since 1990 should be counted against these budgets to avoid 'hot air' and ensure a fair distribution of the remaining carbon space needed to avoid 2°C of warming.

The action list from the 36th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council outlines decisions regarding the creation of a CoP Advisory Committee for Science-Policy Liaison, strategies for member country involvement and funding, and the potential modification of the IAI Strategic Plan.

The document records the action list from the 36th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 14, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The meeting focused on establishing a science-policy liaison advisory committee, strategies for member participation and funding, and the potential revision of the IAI Strategic Plan.

The document contains the minutes of the 36th Executive Council (CE) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 14, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The meeting focused on establishing a Science-Policy Interface Advisory Committee, developing strategies to increase member country engagement and funding, and discussing administrative constraints regarding personnel hiring in member states.

The document records the decisions made during the 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Montevideo, Uruguay, on June 12-13, 2013. The meeting focused on administrative appointments, budgetary approvals, and the establishment of new advisory mechanisms to bridge science and policy.

This document consists of the participant lists for the 21st Conference of the Parts (21ª Conferencia de las Partes), held in Montevideo, Uruguay, on June 12 and 13, 2013. It provides the names, titles, organizational affiliations, and contact details of delegates, observers, and staff attending the event.

The action list from the 35th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council, held on June 11, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay, details administrative approvals, financial requests, and recommendations for the Conference of the Parties (CoP) regarding organizational structure and governance.

This document is a list of actions from the 35th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Montevideo, Uruguay, on June 11, 2013. It details the EC's approvals regarding budgets, financial reports, regulatory changes for representative accreditation, and recommendations to the Conference of the Parties (CoP) concerning the creation of a Science-Policy Liaison Advisory Committee and the nomination of candidates for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

The document contains the minutes of the 35th Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on June 11, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The meeting focused on the implementation of a new tripartite directorate structure, the election of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members, financial reporting for FY 2012-2013, and potential strategic collaborations with Future Earth and UNESCO.

The minutes of the 35th Executive Council (EC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 11, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay, detail the transition to a tripartite administrative structure, financial status, and the recommendation of new members for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).