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The document examines the conflict between Vattenfall and Germany arising from the 13th Amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, which mandated the closure of nuclear plants by 2022. It explores how the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) allows foreign investors to bypass domestic courts and seek compensation through the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The report compares the investor-friendly standards of international arbitration—such as 'fair and equitable treatment' and 'indirect expropriation'—with the more public-interest-oriented protections of the German Basic Law. It concludes that the current investor-state dispute settlement system lacks transparency and predictability, potentially creating a 'chilling effect' on environmental policy-making.

The report argues that genetic engineering has provided modest results in addressing agricultural drought, exemplified by Monsanto's DroughtGard corn, which offers limited protection under moderate drought and no benefit in severe conditions. It finds that conventional breeding and improved farming practices are often more cost-effective and successful. The author highlights that drought tolerance is a complex trait involving many genes, making single-gene GE approaches limited, and notes a lack of evidence that GE has improved water-use efficiency (WUE). The report recommends increasing public support for conventional breeding, focusing on drought-tolerant 'orphan crops' from the Southern Hemisphere, and investing in soil and water conservation.

The Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue (SAD) standards provide a comprehensive framework to minimize the negative environmental and social impacts of salmon farming. The standards cover seven key principles: legal compliance, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem function, protection of wild populations, efficient resource use, responsible disease and parasite management, social responsibility in farm operations, and community engagement. Specific performance thresholds are set for benthic health, water quality, sea lice levels, feed sustainability (including Forage Fish Dependency Ratios), and labor rights. The standards are designed to be implemented by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) through third-party certification, requiring 100% compliance and high levels of data transparency.

The IAI Core Budget request for fiscal year 2012-2013 is US$1,312,578, a slight decrease from the previous year. The budget supports the Directorate's operations, including the management of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) and Small Grants Programs, and accounts for the relocation of the Directorate from Brazil to Uruguay in January 2013. Salaries and benefits constitute 72% of the core budget. The document also outlines member country contributions, with the United States providing the largest share at US$762,000.

The document examines the scale and impact of energy subsidies in Bangladesh, noting that they consume a significant portion of the national budget while primarily benefiting wealthier citizens. It analyzes subsidies for petroleum, natural gas, electricity, and coal, arguing that these measures distort the economy and discourage energy diversification. The guide suggests transitioning toward targeted social assistance, such as cash transfers, and implementing gradual, transparent price adjustments to mitigate the impact on the poor during reform.

The Bottom-Up Energy Analysis System (BUENAS) is a policy analysis tool developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to model energy demand for appliances and equipment in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. It projects energy consumption from 2005 to 2030 across 12 individual countries and the European Union, covering approximately 62% of global final energy demand (increasing to 77% if China is included). The model utilizes a modified Kaya identity—Energy = (Activity × Intensity) / Efficiency—and is implemented via the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) system. BUENAS evaluates three scenarios: Business As Usual (BAU), Recent Achievements (modeling MEPS implemented or announced between 2010 and 2011), and Best Practice (assuming the adoption of the world's most stringent standards by 2015). Results indicate that the Best Practice scenario could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 988 mt by 2030, with the most significant electricity savings projected in the residential (27%) and commercial (22%) sectors.

The policy brief argues that foreign direct investment (FDI) does not automatically guarantee economic growth or job creation in South Africa. While FDI can offer benefits like skill transfers and market access, the author notes that certain types, such as retail investment by giants like Walmart, may displace local manufacturers and small businesses. The document highlights a decline in FDI flows to South Africa between 2009 and 2010, but suggests this is not necessarily negative if the focus shifts toward strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity and public infrastructure to build long-term economic confidence.

The document analyzes South Africa's efforts to attract sustainable local and foreign investment through a combination of industrial policies, such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and a diverse catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives. It highlights a significant decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) between 2008 and 2010, attributed largely to high labor costs, and examines the 'Gateway into Africa' initiative designed to make South Africa a regional investment hub. The paper details various dti-managed incentives targeting SMMEs, industrial development, and specific sectors like automotive and film, while noting that many investors remain unaware of these schemes or find the application process cumbersome.

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 IAI report for 2011-2012 details the conclusion of the Second Collaborative Research Network (CRNII) and the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), highlighting their roles in enhancing regional scientific capacity and interdisciplinary research. Key research findings focus on land-use change and carbon emissions in the La Plata basin, biodiversity risks in the tropical Andes, and the role of the Patagonian shelf in global CO2 balance. The report also outlines new funding awards for 2012-2018 and capacity-building initiatives in climate health and water management. However, it documents severe operational instability in Brazil, including staffing contract irregularities and unresolved tax disputes involving the Brazilian Revenue Service.

The IAI report details the conclusion of the second round of Cooperative Research Networks (CRNII) and the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), highlighting research on land-use change in the Plata Basin and biodiversity in the tropical Andes. It outlines new NSF-funded grants for 2012-2018, various regional capacity-building workshops on climate and health, and efforts to communicate findings at UNFCCC events. The report also documents severe administrative instability in Brazil, including personnel contract irregularities and disputes with the Brazilian tax administration.

The Andean snowpack is the primary water source for households, agriculture, industry, hydropower, and ecosystems in semi-arid central Chile and central-western Argentina. Analysis of regional composite data shows that winter snowpack and river streamflow are closely related and influenced by large-scale Pacific surface temperature changes. High snowpack and streamflow coincide with warm El Niño events, while most extreme dry years occur during cold La Niña events. Additionally, shifts in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) in the mid-1940s and 1976-77 correspond to a 27% decrease and 28% increase in mean annual river discharges, respectively, suggesting the PDO causes low-frequency hydrologic variations. While lower PDO values in the late 1990s were not matched by streamflow records—possibly due to melting glaciers—the interplay between ENSO and PDO is highlighted as critical for improving water scarcity forecasts under a changing climate.

The document examines the relationship between Pacific Ocean temperature patterns and water availability in the semi-arid regions of central Chile and west-central Argentina. It identifies that winter snowpack is the primary water source for these areas and is strongly influenced by ENSO and PDO cycles. Specifically, El Niño events correlate with high snow and flow, while La Niña events generally correlate with dry years. The document also notes that shifts in the PDO in the 1940s and 1970s coincided with significant changes in average river flows, suggesting that multidecadal PDO behavior drives low-frequency hydrological variations in the region.

Analysis of Polylepis tarapacana tree rings in the Bolivian Altiplano reveals a severe drought between 1316 and 1371 that coincided with the abandonment of vulnerable valley villages in favor of fortified hilltop sites (Pukaras). This evidence supports the hypothesis that water scarcity for consumption and irrigation led to social conflict. The document further notes that contemporary warming, glacier shrinkage, and increasing demands from mining, agriculture, and population growth are heightening the risk of future water shortages and political-economic conflict in the region.

Analysis of Polylepis tarapacana tree rings in the Bolivian Altiplano reveals a severe, prolonged drought starting in 1316 that coincided with the abandonment of vulnerable settlements in favor of fortified Pukaras, suggesting environmental drivers for social conflict. The document warns that contemporary glacier retreat and increased water demand from mining, agriculture, and population growth may lead to similar water scarcity and political-economic conflicts in the 21st century.

The report investigates the governance of climate finance in the Global South, arguing that current mechanisms often prioritize mitigation over adaptation and corporate profit over local needs. Through case studies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, it highlights systemic issues including the 'greenwashing' of industrial activities, the marginalization of indigenous land rights, and a lack of transparency in fund disbursement. The authors advocate for a normative framework based on democratic governance, downward accountability to vulnerable communities, and the separation of public and private funding sources to ensure climate finance addresses actual developmental and environmental needs.

The document is a practical guide for creating biocultural community protocols—instruments that document a community's customary laws, values, and decision-making processes to manage interactions with external actors. It emphasizes an endogenous development approach, where change is initiated and controlled from within the community. The toolkit provides a wide array of participatory tools for mapping resources, analyzing power dynamics, and engaging in legal advocacy. It outlines a four-part process: understanding the community and facilitator's role, documenting the community's foundations, implementing the protocol through engagement and negotiation, and continuously reflecting on and revising the instrument.

The report analyzes the geopolitical tensions arising from natural gas discoveries in the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), particularly the conflict between the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) and Turkey. It explores how these resources could either catalyze a political settlement or exacerbate regional instability. Additionally, it provides a comparative analysis of wealth management, contrasting the 'resource curse' seen in Sudan with the successful 'Norwegian model' to offer guidance for Cyprus on avoiding economic pitfalls like 'Dutch disease'.

The document addresses the historical lack of transparency in investor-state arbitrations, noting that this opacity often results from treaties being silent on confidentiality. It highlights a growing trend where states are inserting specific transparency provisions into their treaties to increase public access to information. The text focuses on the approaches of specific nations including Canada, the United States, Chile, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as regional agreements like NAFTA and COMESA.

This report by Friends of the Earth International highlights the 'ecological war' waged by extractive industries, detailing the deaths and repression of activists in countries such as Nigeria, the Philippines, and Colombia. It argues that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a myth used to mask systemic abuses and calls for an end to fossil fuel addiction and the protection of indigenous territories.