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This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the impact of international greenhouse gas offsets on the fulfillment of emission reduction pledges under the Cancún Agreements. It specifically examines the risk of 'double-counting'—where both the buyer and seller count the same emission reduction toward their targets—and how this could dilute global climate ambition and hinder the pursuit of a 2°C pathway.

This report presents the proceedings of a workshop held on June 1–2, 2010, at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The event brought together approximately 35 scholars to explore the role of social learning in environmental change, governance, and sustainability, focusing on its application across diverse contexts such as natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and formal education.

This document is a reply form submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), on behalf of a coalition of international and European NGOs, to a public consultation on the European Commission's proposed definition of 'nanomaterial'.

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.

The report "DespejanDo el aire" argues that carbon trading is an irresponsible and ineffective solution to climate change. It proposes a comprehensive package of alternatives: investing US$100 billion annually in renewables via feed-in tariffs, adopting sustainable small-scale agriculture, implementing common industrial technology standards, and protecting forests by addressing demand for commodities. To fund these actions, it suggests generating over US$420 billion annually through a global financial transaction tax, combating tax evasion, reorienting fossil fuel subsidies, and issuing new IMF Special Drawing Rights.

This 2010 research paper analyzes the opportunities and challenges for South Africa to engage in international carbon trading to meet emissions targets. While South Africa is a leading African participant in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), it remains underrepresented globally compared to countries like China and India. The authors argue that while a local carbon market could stimulate green investment and jobs, success depends on regulatory certainty, financial support from developed nations, and a shift away from coal dependence.

This research paper examines the tension between South Africa's developmental goals and its climate change commitments, highlighting the country's heavy reliance on coal for electricity and the challenges of transitioning to a lower-carbon economy while addressing poverty and energy shortages.

This document is an introductory text for a 2010 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that aims to quantify government support for ethanol and biodiesel within the European Union since 2007.

This 2010 WRI policy brief argues that while China has strong political will and some applicable laws to support Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), it lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework for geologic storage. Given China's heavy reliance on coal, the brief suggests that CCS is necessary to reduce emissions post-2030. It proposes eight key safety and environmental criteria for storage regulations and suggests a pilot regulatory approach to manage the transition from demonstration projects to commercial deployment.

This research paper examines the existential challenges facing the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) as it marks its centenary. The author argues that the organization's survival depends on resolving internal dissonance regarding its revenue-sharing formula and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union, while proposing a regional development fund to reduce the smaller member states' fiscal dependence on South Africa.

This research paper examines how China can align its commercial policies with a 'sustainable trade strategy' consisting of five core objectives: rebalancing the economy, promoting added value, expanding the services sector, promoting Chinese brands and intellectual property, and supporting a sustainable international trade architecture. The authors analyze China's trade evolution since joining the WTO, the limitations of traditional reciprocity-based trade agreements, and the potential for soft-law initiatives and regional cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of the multilateral trading system following the 2008–10 global financial crisis. It argues that a multilateral impasse is likely to persist due to a lack of leadership from the US and China, suggesting that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) must shift toward plurilateral agreements to remain relevant. The author highlights the specific challenges for South Africa, which faces a 'negotiating stretch' as it attempts to represent broader African interests while managing its own role as an emerging middle power.

This policy briefing analyzes how the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, affects the European Union's (EU) relations with Africa. The author argues that while the Treaty streamlines EU internal processes and foreign policy, Africa is likely to command less attention as the EU prioritizes its own internal financial crises, the Western Balkans, and strategic partnerships with other emerging powers. The document suggests that African leaders should diversify their economic and development partnerships beyond the EU to reduce aid and trade dependence.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the efficacy of targeted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe's ruling elite. It details the various restrictive measures implemented by Western governments and international bodies, argues that these 'smart sanctions' have been largely ineffective due to implementation loopholes and regional support for the Mugabe regime, and suggests a conditional, middle-ground approach to lifting some restrictions to encourage political progress under the Inclusive Government.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the differing aid policies of the European Union (EU) and China toward Africa. It analyzes the internal logic, principles, and modalities of each approach, arguing that while the two are often perceived as competing models, they may be complementary. The author suggests that mutual understanding and pragmatic, second-track cooperation can bridge the perception gap between the EU's focus on social infrastructure and governance and China's emphasis on economic infrastructure and non-interference.

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.

The report 'The Carbon Rich List' by Sandbag analyzes the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) at a company level for 2008 and projections through 2012. It identifies a group of 'Carbon Fat Cats'—companies that received excessive free permit allocations, allowing them to generate windfall profits or bank permits for future use without reducing emissions. The report highlights a systemic imbalance where the power sector bears the burden of emissions reductions to compensate for industrial surpluses, and recommends tightening the scheme through higher targets, limited offsets, and improved company-level data reporting.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of agricultural trade policies and the Doha Round of WTO negotiations on the food security of net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs). It analyzes how trade-distorting subsidies, export restrictions, and tariff reforms affect the affordability and accessibility of food in low-income societies.

This research paper examines the evolving landscape of energy efficiency intermediaries within the European Union, analyzing the shift from government and utility-led programs to a diverse array of new actors and the implications of integrating energy efficiency into broader sustainability agendas.

This 2010 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how trade facilitation measures at multilateral, regional, and subregional levels impact the illegal wildlife and timber trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It analyzes the tension between economic growth driven by infrastructure and trade ease and the resulting depletion of biodiversity, providing recommendations for policymakers to mitigate environmental risks.