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This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the transition of Sweden's heating energy system toward low-carbon sources. While highlighting the success of district heating and heat pumps in reducing fossil fuel reliance, the document warns of systemic 'lock-ins' and a lack of focus on reducing energy demand, which may hinder future climate and efficiency goals.

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 briefing examines the 'cascading' principle—the idea that wood should be used for its most valuable purpose for as long as possible before being used for energy. While adopted in several EU policy documents, implementation is complicated by conflicting stakeholder interests and the difficulty of defining 'value' outside of market dynamics. The author warns that rigid legislative eligibility criteria can distort markets and suggests that a combination of cross-sectoral policy measures is more effective than strict adherence to the cascading model.

This report examines fossil fuel subsidy reform and the adoption of policy instruments to promote renewable energy, focusing on specific case studies from Ethiopia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, and Nordic countries.

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.

This report from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines strategic recommendations to enable a future bioeconomy and job creation through political decisions and policy instruments that reward sustainable sectors and resource-efficient production based on renewable inputs.

This research paper analyzes institutional barriers and drivers regarding the development of the transmission grid required to achieve a decarbonized Nordic power system by 2050, with a specific focus on current practices in Sweden.

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 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.

A statement by the Stockholm Environment Institute urging immediate action on climate pledges and the rapid ratification of the Paris Agreement to ensure early entry into force.

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.

This technical report by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, commissioned by Nordic Energy Research, analyzes the potential for Estonia to transition to a carbon-neutral power sector by 2050. It evaluates the current state of Estonia's energy system—which is heavily dependent on oil shale—and uses three quantitative models (LEAP, Balmorel, and EMPS) to simulate various low-carbon scenarios, including the impacts of electrification in transport and heating and the necessary developments in transmission grids and international interconnections.

This report summarizes research from the Mistra-SWECIA programme regarding the drivers and barriers to climate change adaptation within the Swedish forestry sector, emphasizing the role of social science in understanding how forest managers perceive risks and opportunities.

The report reviews the European power sector in 2015, noting a record increase in renewables generation that was largely offset by increased electricity demand and a decline in nuclear and hydro output. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions fell by only an estimated 0.5% in 2015, following a much larger 7.5% drop in 2014. The author maintains a forecast that EU ETS emissions will fall 21% from 2014 to 2020, potentially leading to 30% economy-wide CO2 cuts by 2020.

As of 2016, Europe dominated the global offshore wind market, with the UK, Germany, and Denmark leading in installed capacity. The United States, while possessing vast potential (over 4,000 GW), was in the early stages of deployment with its first commercial project at Block Island. The document highlights the technical advantages of offshore wind—such as stronger winds and proximity to coastal population centers—and notes the significant job creation potential in the EU sector.

The 'GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights' report by the Climate Bonds Initiative details the rapid growth of the green bond market in 2016, emphasizing its role in funding climate mitigation and adaptation to meet Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It highlights the shift toward private sector issuance, the emergence of China as a dominant market, and the necessity of reaching USD 1 trillion in annual issuance by 2020 to substantively address climate change.

The Green Economy Barometer 2016, published by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), assesses the global transition toward green and fair economies. The report assigns a score of 4 out of 10 to the transition, noting that while international policy architecture, renewable energy investment, and corporate awareness of natural capital risks have improved, the transition lacks the depth and breadth to address extreme poverty, the informal economy, and systemic structural reform.

This directory, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with financial support from Denmark, provides an inventory of assistance and capacity-building programmes available to African states in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) areas. It details the offers of nearly 50 states, various international and regional organisations, and civil society entities, primarily within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and other international non-proliferation treaties.