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This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted on behalf of itself, Friends of the Earth, Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity, warns that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly regarding toxic chemicals. The document argues that the pursuit of 'regulatory coherence' through harmonization and mutual recognition may lower standards to a 'lowest-common denominator,' preempt sub-national laws, and create chilling effects on the development of safety regulations globally.

An unpublished letter from RMI to The Economist argues that European electric utilities' financial losses are the result of failed investment strategies and a failure to adapt to disruptive renewable technologies, rather than the fault of renewables themselves. The author contends that renewables provide significant macroeconomic benefits and that grid stability is manageable at high penetration levels, as demonstrated in several European countries.

This briefing by Natural Justice discusses the introduction of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in India, detailing its objectives to strengthen wildlife law enforcement and CITES compliance, while critiquing specific provisions regarding penalties in tiger reserves and research permits.

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 policy brief examines how diesel price increases affect the Indian trucking industry, identifying structural vulnerabilities such as poor road quality, toll delays, and a lack of bargaining power for small operators. It proposes short-term relief through minimum freight rates and toll reductions, and long-term structural reforms including improved fuel efficiency and computerized exchange networks.

This research paper examines the formation and evolving role of the BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) in international climate change negotiations, arguing that their cooperation is driven by the realization that global resource constraints make the development pathways of industrialized countries unsustainable.

This report examines the barriers preventing large institutional investors, such as pension and sovereign wealth funds, from scaling impact investments in low-income and developing countries. It proposes a framework called the National Impact Investment Readiness Assessment to help investors and policy-makers evaluate the investability of emerging markets.

This case study examines the funding landscape for infrastructure development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the critical funding gap and the complementary roles of traditional donors, new development partners, and private investors. It emphasizes the need to transition from aid-dependency to 'bankable' projects that can attract private capital to support regional integration and economic growth.

This research paper evaluates the sustainable development benefits of 77 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) bioenergy projects across India, Brazil, and sub-Saharan Africa, finding that projects utilizing agricultural farm residues claim the most benefits, while those using industrial forest residues claim the fewest.

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.

This report by Meister Consultants Group, Inc. (MCG) for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines public-private collaborations (PPCs) designed to build climate and disaster resilience in developing countries. Through an analysis of nine case studies, the report identifies how formal and informal partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society can overcome market barriers to deliver adaptation and disaster risk management solutions.

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.

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.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe) examines the vulnerability of India's trucking industry to diesel price increases. It identifies structural issues—such as extreme fragmentation, lack of entry barriers, and dependence on brokers—that prevent truck operators from passing increased fuel costs to customers. The report recommends short-term measures like fixing minimum freight rates and reducing tollgate delays, alongside long-term structural reforms to improve fuel efficiency and professionalize the industry.

This report summarizes interviews with 22 UNFCCC stakeholders to analyze the dynamics of consensus-building in climate negotiations. It introduces a Policy Dialogue Model focusing on political context, negotiation dynamics, and group processes, while highlighting the importance of interpersonal trust, the role of 'hybrid' negotiators (combining diplomacy and technical expertise), and the critical influence of capable chairs. The findings suggest that reducing the frequency of meetings and increasing informal dialogue could enhance the quality of outcomes, while cautioning that moving from consensus to majority voting could undermine the process's inclusivity.

This article examines climate risk communication strategies in Ghana, India, Malawi, and Mongolia, highlighting that co-generating knowledge with local communities and using locally relevant terms are essential for overcoming the poor mobilization of vulnerable groups and the misinterpretation of scientific findings.

The Mining Zone Peoples’ Solidarity Group has petitioned Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, to permanently halt iron ore mining in the Khandadhar mountain range of Odisha, India, citing severe environmental devastation and the threat of cultural extinction for the Pauri Bhuiyan tribe.

This policy brief analyzes migration patterns in Bangladesh, finding that while permanent and some international migration are less sensitive to climate change, internal displacement and short-term internal migration are highly sensitive. It highlights the severe impact of disasters, such as cyclones and riverbank erosion in districts like Sirajganj and Munshiganj, and the critical role of international remittances (US$14.17 billion in 2012) in national development.

This research paper examines South Africa's strategic role within the BRICS forum, specifically focusing on how it leverages its membership to advance African infrastructure development, regional integration, and economic restructuring under the NEPAD framework.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), delivered on 27 March 2013, analyzes South Africa's strategic position within a multipolar world. It discusses the role of the BRICS forum, the necessity of strengthening ties with other African regional powers, and the impact of domestic instability and military casualties in the Central African Republic on South Africa's global prestige and soft power.