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This technical policy briefing note from the ClimateCost project assesses the potential health impacts and economic costs of climate change in Europe, specifically focusing on heat-related mortality, food-borne diseases, coastal flooding, and labour productivity. It compares a medium-to-high emission scenario (A1B) with a mitigation scenario (E1) and evaluates the role of adaptation and autonomous acclimatisation in reducing these risks.

This 2011 report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the impact of energy tax exemptions and levy reductions on the German industrial sector. It examines how various policy instruments—including the Ecological Tax Reform, the Renewable Energy Act (EEG), the Combined Heat and Power Act (KWKG), and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS)—create a 'politically determined component' of energy prices that varies significantly based on company size and industry sector.

This research paper examines the history and implications of European bilateral investment treaties (BITs), specifically focusing on the rise of investor-state arbitration which allows foreign investors to bypass national and European Union laws.

This policy brief examines the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2009 to establish India as a global leader in solar energy and make solar power affordable by 2022. It analyzes the Mission's three-phase implementation strategy, focusing on grid-connected projects, off-grid applications for rural populations, and the development of domestic manufacturing and R&D. The document highlights the tension between using competitive bidding to lower tariffs and the risk of attracting inexperienced developers, while also critiquing the Mission's limited focus on the most energy-poor citizens and the lack of mandatory environmental impact assessments.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the trade-related obstacles preventing the inclusion of agriculture as a sectoral approach to mitigation within international climate change negotiations. It highlights the tension between developed nations' desire for a work program and developing nations' fears that agreed-upon 'good practice' standards could be used as unilateral trade barriers, while also addressing concerns regarding food security and market-based mechanisms.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the competitiveness challenges and carbon leakage risks facing the mining and metals industry due to diverse global carbon pricing policies. It discusses policy mechanisms to mitigate these risks, such as free allowances and border carbon adjustments, while emphasizing the industry's strategic role in providing materials necessary for low-carbon infrastructure.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the potential implications for South Africa if the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Doha Development Agenda (DDA) were to reach a conclusion. It examines the political economy of the negotiations, focusing on the 'market access agenda' across three core areas: agriculture, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), and services. The authors argue that because the 'exchange rate' between NAMA and agriculture favors developed nations, South Africa's best strategy for a successful outcome would be to preserve its NAMA carve-out and seek greater agricultural liberalisation from developed countries, while offering more concessions in the services sector, specifically in telecommunications, transport, and energy.

This report documents a policy dialogue held in Johannesburg on 12 October 2011, co-organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). The meeting examined how the entry of emerging powers—specifically China, India, and Brazil (CIB)—affects Africa's relations with the European Union (EU) and other traditional partners, focusing on development strategies, triangular cooperation, natural resource management, and regional infrastructure.

This research paper examines the role of Industrial Development Zones (IDZs) and special trade zones in attracting investment and stimulating exports, comparing South Africa's approach with that of major global trading partners and providing recommendations for further incentives to attract foreign direct investment.

This technical policy briefing note from the ClimateCost project assesses the potential economic impacts of river flooding in the European Union (EU27) under different climate and socio-economic scenarios. Using the LISFLOOD model, the study evaluates expected annual damage (EAD) and the number of people affected (EAP), while analyzing the costs and benefits of maintaining flood protection levels. The findings emphasize that socio-economic growth is as significant a driver of future flood costs as climate change, and that adaptation can significantly reduce direct damages.

This research paper evaluates the biofuels components and sustainability criteria of the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive, analyzing how they align regional energy-economic goals with global environment, climate, and development policies.

This policy brief analyzes the potential economic risks to South African exporters if the United States and European Union implement Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs). Using 2009 trade data and a hypothetical carbon price of US$20/tonne, the report estimates significant annual charges for South African exports, particularly in the non-ferrous metals and iron and steel sectors.

This report analyzes market trends and policy drivers within the international copper supply chain, specifically focusing on China's imports of copper scrap (Flow C) and primary copper mining products (Flow D). It examines the environmental and social impacts of these flows, the regulatory landscapes in key exporting and importing regions, and provides policy recommendations to improve sustainable development outcomes.

This research paper examines the strategic shift in electricity production and consumption within the Swedish pulp and paper industry over the last decade, analyzing the influence of national and EU energy and climate policies.

This research paper analyzes how the accounting of international greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets affects the integrity of global climate mitigation pledges. Using a spreadsheet model based on marginal abatement costs, the authors examine scenarios where offsets are either double-counted (credited to both the buyer and seller) or counted only for the buyer. The study finds that double-counting could significantly dilute the ambition of current pledges, potentially reducing global abatement by up to 1.6 billion tons of CO2e by 2020, thereby increasing the gap to meet 2°C warming targets.

This research paper critiques the common misconceptions surrounding Sectoral Approaches (SAs) to climate mitigation, proposing the broader term 'Sectoral Approaches, Agreements and Measures' (SAAMs). Through case studies of the steel sector in China, India, and Japan, the author argues that practical implementation must be domestic-led rather than top-down and international. The paper concludes that SAAMs should co-exist with carbon pricing and that sector-specific forums are more effective for development than the generic discussions currently held at the UNFCCC.

This executive summary describes the 'European Smart Power Market Project', which evaluates how current EU power market designs affect the transition to low-carbon energy. The project argues that existing regional and zonal pricing models impede the integration of renewable energy and recommends a transition to nodal or locational marginal pricing (LMP) to optimize transmission capacity and reduce costs.

This executive summary outlines a joint study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and Climate Strategies regarding the effectiveness of the EU ETS in driving low-carbon investment. It identifies that while the EU ETS provides a foundation for investment, its impact is hindered by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and short corporate payback expectations, suggesting a need for increased stringency and complementary policies.

This report details a conference held in Pretoria in November 2010 focused on the dynamics of decision-making within African continental and regional organizations. It analyzes the interactions between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), the challenges of regional economic integration through Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the complexities of establishing common African positions on global issues like climate change and security.

This conference report, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies, examines the political dynamics and institutional structures that influence decision-making within the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as well as their interactions with the European Union (EU).