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The document provides a comprehensive review of various Integrated Impact Assessment Models (IAMs), categorizing them into fully integrated, non-CGE, and CGE-type models. It specifically examines the 'damage functions' used to translate temperature increases into economic losses, noting a high degree of subjectivity and uncertainty in these calculations due to a lack of empirical data.

The document examines climate change as a global challenge characterized by scientific uncertainty and long-term impacts. It frames the issue as a 'market failure' resulting from negative externalities, where the costs of greenhouse gas emissions are not internalized. The authors discuss the economic costs of mitigation versus inaction, the ethical implications of discount rates and inter-generational equity, and the potential for 'carbon leakage' in international trade. It emphasizes the necessity of combining mitigation and adaptation strategies, the critical role of R&D and technology transfer to developing nations, and the importance of international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the 2009 Copenhagen Summit (CoP 15).

The document outlines the job creation potential of the clean energy economy, citing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) industries created over nine million jobs in the U.S. in 2007. It provides specific employment projections for various technologies, including wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal, across U.S. states and international markets such as Germany, Brazil, and India. The text also compares these figures to employment trends in the fossil fuel and nuclear sectors and details U.S. legislative efforts, such as the Green Jobs Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to support workforce training and clean energy deployment.

The paper investigates whether removing tariffs on environmental goods can significantly reduce GHG emissions. It concludes that the 'Friends of the EGS' list of 153 goods would only have a material impact through renewable energy technologies, but that tariff removal alone is insufficient to drive significant uptake without accompanying policies like feed-in tariffs. The author suggests that for trade liberalization to be effective, lists must be based on objective environmental needs rather than commercial interests and must be supported by capacity-building measures in developing countries.

The research identifies five key areas for ICT application in climate change: observation and monitoring, modeling and simulation, socio-economic analysis, policy analysis and planning, and capacity building. Based on a survey of 18 environmental economists from European countries, the study finds that internet-based services and statistical software are the most widely used and highly valued tools across most research areas. While scientific relevance—specifically increasing exchange in the scientific community—is ranked as the highest priority for ICT, political relevance (interfacing with policy-makers) is ranked higher than economic relevance (reducing research costs). The paper highlights significant barriers to the use of specialized tools, including high costs, data shortages, and complex coding, and calls for increased data accessibility and international collaboration to support developing countries.

The document examines the critical role of regional governments in implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, noting that while national governments negotiate international targets, regions often hold the actual competencies for execution. It analyzes 23 regions, highlighting a variety of instruments such as carbon taxes, subsidies, and cap-and-trade systems. A detailed case study of the Basque Country's 'Basque Plan to Combat Climate Change 2008-2012' illustrates how a small, industrialised region can set specific targets for GHG emissions and carbon sinks while coordinating across multiple policy sectors.

The paper argues that climate change is a global public bad requiring coordinated public-sector intervention. It posits that 'knowledge communities'—groups of experts who produce and share scientific information—are essential for driving the paradigm shifts and technological adoption needed for mitigation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is highlighted as a primary catalyst for this global learning process. The authors also analyze economic instruments for emission reduction, such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), taxes, and standards, while noting the difficulties of international cooperation under frameworks like the Kyoto Protocol.

The report argues that the U.S. energy innovation system is in urgent need of reform, moving away from a reliance on the Department of Energy (DOE) and a hope for unpredictable 'breakthroughs' toward a portfolio of incremental improvements. It proposes treating climate mitigation as a public good and a public works endeavor, utilizing government procurement and competition between agencies—such as the Department of Defense (DoD)—to drive innovation. Through case studies of solar photovoltaics, post-combustion capture (PCC), and direct air capture, the authors emphasize the critical role of demonstration projects in reducing technical and cost uncertainties for large-scale deployment.

The document outlines a three-phase deployment of CSP in South Africa, targeting 100 GW of capacity by 2050 to save 3,850 Mt CO2-eq. It identifies critical barriers in technology, regulation, and infrastructure, specifically highlighting the need for grid expansion in the north-west and the operationalization of the Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT). The authors argue that international financial support is essential to overcome high investment costs and risk, proposing specific funding mechanisms for R&D and infrastructure.

Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight to generate electricity, primarily for utility-scale use. While the U.S. led in installed capacity as of 2009 with 429 MW, Spain followed with 182 MW. The technology varies from parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors to dish/engines and power towers. CSP is noted for its ability to provide power during peak late-afternoon demand and its potential for baseload generation via thermal storage or natural gas hybridization. Economic challenges include high initial construction costs, though operational costs are lower than fossil fuel plants. Policy mechanisms like feed-in tariffs in Spain and Israel, and investment tax credits in the U.S., are identified as key drivers for deployment.

The study compares different market instruments for CO2 mitigation in Spain, finding that cost-effectiveness depends heavily on the scope of the instrument and the specific sectors or fuels targeted. Using an AGE model, the author demonstrates that a 'complete market' for emission permits or a direct CO2 tax are the most cost-effective options. In contrast, narrow instruments—such as a tax on electricity or a permit market excluding energy-intensive industries—significantly increase the cost of achieving emission reductions in terms of GDP and utility loss. The results indicate that as CO2 reduction targets increase, the costs rise disproportionately, with some inefficient instruments costing up to 13 times more than the cost-effective benchmark.

The report compares a Baseline scenario, where China's energy sector emissions grow to 18.9 GT by 2050, with a Deep Carbon Reduction Scenario (DCRS). The DCRS aims to reduce 2050 emissions to 1.9 GT by implementing aggressive energy efficiency, electrification of transport, large-scale renewable deployment, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the power sector. The analysis concludes that while technically possible, the DCRS requires the simultaneous and rapid implementation of all proposed measures to meet the 230 GT cumulative emissions budget.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of GM crops, specifically focusing on the dominance of a few corporations like Monsanto. It argues that GM technology does not solve hunger, as most crops are used for animal feed or biofuels in wealthy nations. The document highlights a trend of increasing pesticide use and the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds in the US, Argentina, and Brazil. It further claims that GM crops often result in lower yields than conventional varieties and suggests that agroecological and organic farming are more effective alternatives for food security.

The report contends that GM crops fail to alleviate hunger or poverty, instead increasing pesticide use and corporate control over seeds. It highlights that most GM crops are used for animal feed and biofuels in rich nations, while farmers in producer countries face rising costs and herbicide-resistant weeds. The document advocates for agro-ecological and organic farming as sustainable alternatives.

The document examines the role of Chinese investment and technology in expanding solar energy access in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the potential of a joint venture between China's Tianpu Xianxing Enterprises and Kenya's Electrogen Technologies to establish a solar panel factory in Nairobi, which could significantly reduce retail prices for solar home systems. The paper argues that while Kenya has a dynamic private sector-led solar market, it lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework and government subsidies, which are essential for scaling renewable energy to meet the needs of rural populations.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) has withdrawn its membership from the IUCN, citing the IUCN's corporate partnership with Shell as the primary reason. FoEI argues that such partnerships serve as 'greenwash' for harmful corporate activities and undermine community struggles for environmental and human rights. The document highlights Shell's record on gas flaring, human rights abuses, and arctic drilling, and notes that a majority of IUCN non-government organizations and members voted to terminate the Shell agreement via Motion 107, though they were blocked by government delegates.

The Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) presents a methodology for measuring irrigation subsidies by calculating the difference between the cost of making irrigation water available and the revenue received from beneficiaries. The framework focuses on 'full supply cost,' incorporating annual capital costs (interest and depreciation) and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, while excluding complex elements like opportunity costs and full social costs due to data constraints. It provides detailed guidance on allocating joint capital costs in multi-purpose projects using the Alternative Justifiable Expenditures (AJE) and Separate Costs, Remaining Benefits (SCRB) methods. The methodology also addresses specific subsidies such as discounted electricity for groundwater pumping and identifiable government expenditures on environmental externalities. Revenue components include water sales, hydropower, fishing rights, and pollution taxes.

The document serves as a practical guide for the ratification of the Treaty of Pelindaba, which aims to ensure that no African country develops, produces, tests, acquires, or stations nuclear weapons. It details the treaty's obligations, the role of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy, and the specific steps states must take to formally join the agreement. As of February 2009, 26 of the 53 African Union member states had deposited instruments of ratification, with two more required for the treaty to enter into force.

The report contends that nuclear power is economically unviable, citing soaring capital costs and a lack of private investment. It argues that decentralized 'micropower'—including wind, solar, and cogeneration—alongside end-use efficiency, provides a more cost-effective means of displacing CO2 emissions and enhancing energy security. The authors assert that nuclear power's slow deployment and high financial risk make it a liability for urgent climate action, suggesting that resources should instead be shifted toward distributed energy resources.

The report details a dialogue on the vulnerabilities of African economies to climate change and the potential for trade policy to enhance resilience. It emphasizes the need for predictable financial mechanisms, the diffusion of low-carbon technologies, and the reform of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to better serve African interests. The document highlights the potential of organic agriculture and renewable energy to create jobs and reduce poverty, while warning against arbitrary trade restrictions and poorly evidenced environmental labels that could undermine the competitiveness of African exports.