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This research paper by GreenCape examines the use of Performance-Based Contracts (PBCs) to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW), drawing on international experiences from countries such as Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Ireland. It outlines the technical, financial, and managerial challenges of NRW reduction and provides guidance on scoping, risk-reward balancing, and ensuring the sustainability of water savings for public utilities, with a particular focus on the South African context.

This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on October 30, 2013, argues that the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly regarding toxic chemicals. CIEL warns that mechanisms like regulatory harmonization, mutual recognition, and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) may lower safety standards to a 'lowest-common denominator' and chill the development of more protective laws in the U.S., EU, and globally.

The Vietnam Green Growth Strategy (VGGS), approved in September 2012, aims to restructure the economy for sustainable growth and reduced emissions. It targets an 8-10% reduction in GHG emission intensity relative to 2010 and a 1-1.5% annual reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP. Implementation is led by an Inter-ministerial Coordinating Board and supported by a roadmap extending to 2050, with financing strategies involving a blend of state budget, international aid (e.g., Green Climate Fund), and market-based mechanisms like carbon taxes.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the challenges of mobilising and managing climate finance for developing countries. It emphasizes the need for a coordinated international architecture, the strengthening of national public finance management systems, and the creation of stable frameworks to attract private sector investment, which is expected to provide the bulk of necessary funding.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate-Compatible Development (CCD). It defines CCD as a "development first" approach aimed at minimizing climate damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-carbon, resilient future. The document identifies five primary socio-political drivers—national awareness of adaptation, energy security, economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and government leadership—and seven key implementation challenges, including high costs, political opposition, and institutional limitations.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD), defined as a "development first" approach that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emissions, resilient future. Drawing on experience from over 40 countries, the paper identifies key sociopolitical drivers—such as national resilience needs, energy security, and economic opportunities—and outlines significant barriers, including high implementation costs, political resistance, and institutional capacity gaps.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and obstacles associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD). It defines CCD as a strategy that minimizes climate impact damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emission future. The document identifies five key sociopolitical drivers—national resilience needs, energy security, economic opportunities, climate finance access, and strong government leadership—and seven primary implementation challenges, including high opportunity costs, political resistance, and institutional constraints.

This 2013 fact sheet by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines technical assistance and strategic frameworks provided to the Government of Pakistan to implement its national climate change policy. It details efforts to establish a work programme for climate compatible development, disaster risk insurance for vulnerable communities, and the development of national adaptation and mitigation plans.

This policy brief evaluates the first phase (2009–2012) of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP), a collaborative initiative designed to build adaptation knowledge and capacity across Asia. The program utilized a three-tiered approach—sharing, generating, and applying knowledge—to mainstream climate adaptation into development planning. While the AKP successfully established a diverse network of local experts and produced over 50 knowledge products, it faced significant challenges regarding leadership consistency, language barriers in dissemination, and the limitations of linear project planning frameworks in measuring long-term social learning.

This briefing analyzes the divergent methods used to quantify the GHG emissions impact of new fossil fuel infrastructure. It contrasts the 'literalist' view (full combustion emissions), the 'fatalist' view (zero net impact due to displacement), and the 'economist' view (increased consumption due to lower prices). The authors conclude that a net-zero impact is highly unlikely due to market responses and systemic 'lock-in' effects.

This December 2012 fact sheet from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines its technical assistance, research projects, and policy influence in India. The document highlights efforts to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) with climate change adaptation, mainstream gender in state action plans, and promote low-carbon construction.

This report analyzes the use of registration and approval requirements in investment treaties to limit their scope of application. It examines how these requirements function in practice, their interpretation by arbitral tribunals, and provides recommendations for States to ensure such clauses are legally effective and transparent.

This research paper examines the potential for services trade liberalization, specifically in financial and logistics sectors, to enhance food security within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The authors argue that while liberalization alone may not solve rural financial exclusion or infrastructure gaps, integrating food security objectives into services sector reform could provide a strategic rationale for deepening regional integration.

This research paper describes a participatory method for creating nested, multi-scale scenario logics to analyze smallholder tree plantations in Southeast Asia, specifically testing the approach in Indonesia and Vietnam to better understand the interaction between global, national, and local drivers.

This meeting report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) documents a workshop held in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2012. The event focused on the challenges and opportunities of fossil-fuel subsidy reform in Southeast Asia, presenting case studies from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Iran, while providing a policy framework for sustainable reform.

This policy brief discusses the development of Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) for REDD+, emphasizing that these systems can be built upon existing national and international architectures rather than requiring entirely new mechanisms.

This document is an address by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) delivered to the 49th Session of UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board on September 25, 2012. Cosbey argues that the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference are insufficient for guiding states through the trade tensions arising from the transition to a green economy. He highlights the conflict between the use of green industrial policies—such as subsidies and local content requirements—and their impact on the multilateral trading system, particularly for developing countries. Cosbey calls for a non-legal, non-negotiating framework, potentially led by UNCTAD, to determine the propriety and effectiveness of these measures before they escalate into formal trade disputes.

This policy brief describes a study using a global-to-local modelling approach to analyze the interactions between socio-economic development, land use, food security, and climate change in Vietnam for the period 2010-2030. The study employs a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model combined with a spatial land use model to project outcomes under three scenarios: Business As Usual (BAU), High Climate Impact (HCI), and High Economic Growth (HEG).

This policy brief explores the potential for a 'Green Revolution' in Africa, using the International Futures (IFs) model to compare scenarios of agricultural intensification. The authors argue that while aggressive policy interventions could make Africa a net food exporter and significantly boost GDP, such production increases must be coupled with social policies to ensure food access for the poor and improvements in water and sanitation to realize human development gains.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that sustainable public procurement can serve as a catalyst for peacebuilding, nation-building, and sustainable economic growth in fragile states. It highlights the significant proportion of government expenditure dedicated to procurement in these contexts and suggests that using this purchasing power to favor environmentally and socially sustainable goods can mitigate risks, combat corruption, and build local industrial capacity.