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This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for the widespread ratification of the Mauritius Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration. The document explains how the Convention provides a mechanism for states to 'opt-in' to the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency for disputes arising from investment treaties concluded before April 2014, thereby increasing public accountability and democratic governance in investor-state arbitrations.

This policy brief explores how the Planetary Boundaries framework can be used to define the 'global level of ambition' for the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It argues that by downscaling global environmental limits to national or regional levels and combining them with consumption-based accounting, countries can better implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

This research paper section provides a detailed overview of climate finance flows to Papua New Guinea, detailing grant allocations between 2010 and 2014 and multilateral fund activities from 2015 to 2016.

This report summarizes the results of Work Package 4 (WP4) of the HERON project, which conducted forward-looking scenario analyses of energy efficiency policies in the buildings and transport sectors across seven EU countries. Using LEAP modelling software and a Decision Support Tool (DST), the project evaluated Business as Usual (BAU) scenarios against various energy efficiency (EE) scenarios to determine if national targets for 2020 and 2030 could be met and how socio-economic barriers impact these goals.

RMI's briefing outlines a market-driven pathway to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C by the end of the century. The analysis suggests that a nearly 100 percent renewable energy system is feasible by the mid-2050s if the adoption of clean energy follows the disruptive S-curve patterns seen in previous industrial revolutions, such as the rise of the automobile.

This report provides a 2016 progress update on the first ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates global trends in natural forest loss, private sector commitments to deforestation-free supply chains, restoration pledges under the Bonn Challenge and UNFCCC, and the evolution of international climate finance and forest governance.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) evaluates the preliminary implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across 11 countries in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). It synthesizes data from OECD, UN ECE, and other expert reviews to identify regional strengths, weaknesses, and organizational challenges in governance and monitoring.

Lifting Europe's Dark Cloud is a report published in October 2016 by a coalition of environmental and health organizations. It analyzes the health impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Europe and evaluates the effectiveness of the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and the proposed revised Large Combustion Plants Best Available Techniques Reference Document (LCP BREF). The report argues that current pollution limits are undermined by widespread 'derogations' (exemptions) and that adopting stricter, proven Best Available Techniques (BAT) would significantly reduce premature deaths and healthcare costs across the continent.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines three key indicators that would demonstrate the G20's commitment to climate action following the 2015 Paris Agreement, ahead of the September summit in Hangzhou, China.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, arguing that these principles have failed to stop corporate impunity or provide access to justice, and advocating for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.

This report by Energy Innovation debunks four common myths regarding the clean energy transition, arguing that decarbonizing the electricity sector is possible without sacrificing reliability or affordability. The authors contend that grid variability, overgeneration, high costs, and the role of natural gas are often misunderstood or based on outdated data, and that demand-side management, regional trading, and energy efficiency are key drivers of a low-carbon future.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for G20 countries to reform fossil fuel subsidies. It advocates for the use of voluntary peer review processes to increase transparency, the establishment of an ambitious and defined timetable for phasing out inefficient subsidies, and the implementation of targeted support to protect the poorest populations during the transition.

This research paper analyzes the 2016 EU-Turkey migrant deal, arguing that while it has succeeded in its primary goal of deterring arrivals via the Aegean Sea, it has done so at a significant humanitarian and legal cost. The author contends that the deal, combined with border closures across Eastern and South Eastern Europe, has trapped refugees in squalid conditions and pushed migrants toward more dangerous smuggling routes, while potentially undermining the international principle of non-refoulement.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the relationship between regulation and capital availability for renewable energy expansion in Germany, focusing on how policy frameworks influence the investor mix and cost-efficiency of the energy transition.

This report by Ember analyzes European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) data for 2015, excluding aviation. It details a slight overall decrease in emissions, driven by trends in the power and heat sectors and specific national shifts in fuel use, while noting that 10% of emissions data—primarily from Poland—was unavailable at the time of publication.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the relationship between policy frameworks and investment in Germany's renewable energy sector. It evaluates the availability of capital, the cost-effectiveness of different investor mixes, and the impact of specific policy mechanisms—such as incentive auctions and curtailment rules—on the deployment of solar PV, onshore wind, and offshore wind capacity.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the relationship between regulatory frameworks and capital availability for Germany's renewable energy transition. It evaluates how different investor mixes and regulatory mechanisms—such as auctions, funding schemes, and market designs—impact the cost-efficiency and feasibility of meeting national expansion targets.

The 2016 Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report details a global operating capacity of 13.3 GW across 24 countries, with a forecast to reach 18.4 GW by 2021. While the U.S. maintains a significant presence with 3.7 GW of nameplate capacity, the report highlights vast untapped global potential (only 6-7% utilized) and growth in regions like East Africa and Central/South America. It emphasizes the role of geothermal energy in meeting COP21 climate commitments and outlines the GEA's project tracking methodology.

This report by Sandbag analyzes how flaws in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) have created perverse incentives for the European cement sector, leading to over-allocation of free allowances and a failure to incentivize deep decarbonization. The authors argue that the ETS has effectively subsidized the production of high-carbon clinker, resulting in a net import of emissions into the EU.

This final report details the outcomes of the CADWAGO project (October 2012 – March 2016), an international research initiative led by the Stockholm Environment Institute. The project aimed to address global water security and climate change adaptation by promoting systemic transformations in water governance to reconcile food security, renewable energy, and ecosystem services.