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The document contains the minutes of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Mexico City on August 13-14, 2014. The meeting focused on the implementation of a tripartite governance structure, the approval of the 2014-2015 annual plan and operating budget, and the establishment of a Science-Policy Liaison Advisory Committee (SPAC).

This quarterly status report from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the financial standing of the core budget as of June 30, 2014. It highlights a critical funding gap caused by unpaid contributions from major member countries, resulting in the freezing of non-essential expenses and hiring. The report also covers budget performance through April 2014, the relocation of the Directorate to Uruguay, and the status of internal administrative controls.

This background paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2014, provides a framework for consultations regarding Manitoba's transportation and infrastructure sectors as part of the 'TomorrowNow—Manitoba’s Green Plan'. It outlines the province's current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile, the vulnerabilities of its infrastructure to climate change, and examples of climate policies from other jurisdictions to inform a new provincial climate change and green economy action plan.

This RMI research paper argues that traditional bundled, volumetric electricity rates are inadequate for a grid with increasing distributed energy resources (DERs). It proposes a transition toward more sophisticated pricing across three dimensions: attribute unbundling, temporal granularity (e.g., real-time pricing), and locational granularity (e.g., 'hot spot' credits). The authors recommend a staged implementation using default and opt-in rates, supported by third-party technologies to maintain a simple customer experience, and call for greater data transparency and improved valuation methodologies for regulators.

The document argues that traditional bundled, volumetric electricity pricing is outdated and fails to incentivize the efficient deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs). It proposes a transition toward more sophisticated pricing based on attribute unbundling, temporal granularity, and locational granularity. Six evolutionary pricing options are suggested, ranging from Time-of-Use pricing to Distribution Locational Marginal Pricing, noting that technology can manage the resulting complexity for the end customer.

The report details the outcomes of the General Services Administration's (GSA) National Deep Energy Retrofit (NDER) program and a subsequent stakeholder workshop held in April 2014. It compares the energy savings of GSA's deep retrofits against other federal agencies and identifies systemic barriers and best practices in the Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC) process, focusing on project delivery, team dynamics, integrative design, operations and maintenance (O&M), and project economics.

A fact sheet by the South African Institute of International Affairs explaining the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a US-Africa trade deal active since 2001 that provides duty-free US market access to qualifying sub-Saharan African states.

This report examines the use of social strategy games as a research and communication tool to help people understand the complex trade-offs and synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in urban environments.

A statement by Friends of the Earth urging President Obama to implement a moratorium on all new offshore oil and gas leasing and drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf to prevent climate disruption and protect marine wildlife.

This research paper analyzes the shift in India's foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing for a transition from the perceived strategic confusion of the previous UPA government to a pragmatic approach. It suggests that India should prioritize regional connectivity in South Asia, address emerging security threats like climate change and cyber-attacks, and utilize BRICS and IBSA to advocate for a more equitable system of global governance.

A statement by EESI Chairman Jared Blum regarding his visit to the 2014 International Solar Decathlon held at the Versailles grounds, highlighting student-led innovations in sustainable architecture, energy efficiency, and urban retrofitting.

This research paper analyzes the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and the New Development Bank, focusing on the economic and political motivations of the BRICS nations in creating these institutions as alternatives to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A statement from a coalition of EU, U.S., and international organizations expressing strong opposition to the inclusion of chemical regulations within the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The authors argue that TTIP proposals would prioritize chemical industry interests over public health and the environment by freezing protective regulations, limiting public access to hazard information, and empowering corporations to challenge domestic laws through investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the European Commission's proposed approach to chemicals under the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The author argues that the EU's vision, which aligns closely with chemical industry proposals, threatens to obstruct the substitution of harmful substances with safer alternatives and could freeze progress in regulating toxic chemicals.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the legislative process for reauthorising the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which was scheduled to expire on 30 September 2015. The author argues that African stakeholders should focus their advocacy on the US Congress rather than the Executive Branch, as the legislative process is complex and subject to partisan stalemates and lobbying from US interest groups.

A joint statement from the Attorneys General of New York, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish formal emission standards and guidelines for methane in the oil and gas sector following the publication of five technical white papers.

A World Resources Institute (WRI) analysis indicates that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could increase the cost-effectiveness of its water quality improvement spending by seven to 12 times through the use of geographic and benefit-cost targeting.

As of June 2014, the U.S. plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market was characterized by rapid growth, with sales increasing 85% between 2012 and 2013. The market was dominated by the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-in, and Tesla Model S. While PEVs offer zero tailpipe emissions and lower total cost of ownership due to cheaper fuel, challenges remain regarding the availability of public charging infrastructure (8,000 stations vs 150,000 gas stations) and high battery costs. Federal tax credits up to $7,500 and various state-level incentives in places like California, Colorado, and Georgia are used to drive adoption.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a detailed response to the European Commission's 2014 public consultation on investment protection and Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) within the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP). The IISD analyzes proposed text—much of it derived from the EU-Canada Agreement (CETA)—and argues that there are significant inconsistencies between the Commission's stated goals of protecting the right to regulate and the actual legal language proposed, which the IISD suggests could still allow for expansive arbitral interpretations.

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute explains the sources, scale, and trends of global agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while highlighting the role of new Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidance in helping companies measure and manage their climate footprint.