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This commentary by Scott Vaughan, President and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), discusses the book 'On the Edge: The State and Fate of the World’s Tropical Rainforests' by Claude Martin. The text outlines the scientific history of tropical rainforest research, the primary drivers of deforestation—specifically agriculture and infrastructure—and the progress made through protected areas and remote sensing. It further examines the intersection of forest loss with climate change, carbon emissions, and the risks of species extinction.

The Climate Bonds Initiative reports that the global green bond market in Q1 2015 saw 44 issuances totaling $7.2 billion. While the quarter started slowly, the market showed signs of maturation through diversification in currencies and credit ratings, alongside significant growth in emerging markets and US municipal bonds.

This report, produced by PBL, NewClimate Institute, IIASA, and Ecofys, analyzes projected greenhouse gas emissions for seven major emitting countries through 2030. It evaluates the impact of current, planned, and enhanced mitigation policies to determine their potential to narrow the gap between expected emission levels and those required to meet the 2°C climate target.

This report evaluates China's 2010 reform of residential electricity pricing, which transitioned from a flat-rate system to a tiered electricity pricing (TEP) mechanism. The reform aimed to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental pollution, and address the regressive nature of flat subsidies that disproportionately benefited high-income households. While the central government set general principles, provincial governments designed specific price ladders and volume blocks. The report analyzes the impacts on different income groups, the role of grid companies, and the challenges of public communication and operational feasibility.

This report analyzes Energy Savings Insurance (ESI), a financial instrument developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and BASE to mitigate the risk of underperformance in energy efficiency projects for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in developing countries.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) defines foreign direct investment (FDI), outlines its types and general economic impacts, and details the evolution of South Africa's economic strategies and approach to attracting and regulating inward FDI.

This research paper evaluates the 2010 residential tiered electricity pricing (TEP) reform in China, focusing on its effects on equity, efficiency, and subsidy expenditure.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This briefing outlines key insights and guiding principles for improving air quality in China, developed during a September 2014 workshop in Beijing. It proposes a framework based on ten guiding principles, fiscal policy alignment, robust management systems, full enforcement of laws, and targeted sectoral policies to reduce both air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

This report summarizes expert interviews on the potential for China to earmark revenues from its national emissions trading scheme (ETS), planned for 2016, to support renewable energy. While experts find earmarking feasible, they suggest targeting less mature technologies (e.g., tidal, geothermal) and carbon capture rather than established wind and solar. Key challenges identified include the need for transparent governance, the harmonization of MRV rules across regions, and the avoidance of direct government price manipulation to ensure market efficiency.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines the expected components and critical evaluation criteria for the United States' Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to be submitted to the United Nations in March 2015, ahead of the Paris climate agreement in December 2015.

This policy brief analyzes the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), arguing that while it is currently more symbolic than a substantive challenge to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it has the potential to evolve into a more independent and comprehensive financial safety net for emerging economies.

This policy brief outlines the necessity and implementation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory management systems for economic zones in China to support the transition to low-carbon operations. It emphasizes a collaborative approach between managing authorities and companies to establish reporting systems that support carbon trading, absolute caps, and performance standards.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the policy landscape for low-carbon development in China's industrial zones, highlighting the transition from national targets to local implementation and the resulting regulatory complexities. It also references a separate IISD study on the fiscal risks facing BRIICS nations due to the global transition away from fossil fuels.

This report documents the proceedings of a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Oxfam South Africa on March 3, 2015. The event focused on the impact, monitoring, and accountability of South–South Co-operation (SSC), specifically regarding emerging partners' engagement in Africa's development.

This 2015 IISD report analyzes the low-carbon capacity and policy needs of Chinese manufacturing enterprises. Based on a survey of 230 companies and 12 interviews, it finds that while high-energy-consuming firms have better management systems, there is a general lack of policy awareness and technical guidance across the sector. The report identifies key barriers such as insufficient funding, complex application procedures for subsidies, and poor training effectiveness. It recommends strengthening mandatory supervision for high-emitters, lowering incentive thresholds for smaller firms, establishing tripartite cooperation between government, business, and third-party agencies, and upgrading technical guidance systems.

This report presents the results of a 2014-2015 survey of 230 manufacturing companies across 16 Chinese provinces to assess business sentiments regarding low-carbon and energy policies. It identifies significant gaps in policy awareness and technical capacity, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and highlights administrative burdens and uncertainty over technology as primary barriers to the adoption of energy-saving measures.

This synthesis report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the transition of China's industrial development zones (IDZs) toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy. It analyzes the impact of emerging policy levers, such as carbon trading and eco-industrial certifications, on business competitiveness. The report highlights a shift from command-and-control regulations to market-based instruments and provides recommendations for improving carbon management, energy self-supply, and technical capacity building for enterprises.

This report analyzes three national-level pilot programs in China designed to promote low-carbon and eco-efficient industrial parks: the Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) demonstration project, the Circular Transformation of Industrial Parks (CTIP), and the Low-Carbon Industrial Park pilot project. It examines their management structures, certification procedures, and performance indicators, noting that while these programs are voluntary, they provide significant incentives through official naming, certificates, and financial subsidies.

This executive summary reviews international fuel pricing experiences to provide recommendations for Indonesia's 2015 fuel price system reforms. It analyzes how other emerging economies manage price volatility and suggests improvements in pricing formulas, regulatory functions, and non-pricing interventions to maintain fiscal savings while protecting vulnerable consumers.