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SEI STRATEGY 2015–2019
The SEI Strategy 2015–2019 outlines the Stockholm Environment Institute's framework for bridging science and policy to support sustainable development. The strategy focuses on enhancing scientific research through new 'SEI Initiatives', expanding policy engagement to include 'hard-to-reach' stakeholders like the private sector, and strengthening capacity development across individual, organizational, and institutional levels. It also details the enabling infrastructure required for delivery, including communications, ICT tools, financial management, and a custom monitoring system (PMEC).
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Document type: Report
A Climate Gift or a Lump of Coal?
This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development compares the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts of electricity sector regulations in Canada and the United States, specifically focusing on coal-fired power plants. It analyzes how these policies contribute to each country's Copenhagen Accord pledge to reduce 2020 emissions to 17 per cent below 2005 levels.
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Document type: Policy brief
RATE DESIGN FOR THE DISTRIBUTION EDGE
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.
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Document type: Research paper
Toward a Toxic Partnership
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.
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Document type: Report
Plug-in Electric Vehicles
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.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Friends of the Earth statement on President Obamas endorsement of Walmarts unsustainable practices
Friends of the Earth criticizes President Obama's May 9, 2014, visit to a Walmart in Mountain View, California, arguing that the company's environmental claims are misleading and inconsistent with the president's goals for economic equity and climate action.
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Document type: Statement
Toxic partnership
A critique of the ACC-CEFIC proposal for chemical regulatory cooperation under TTIP, arguing that the industry seeks to lower safety standards, bypass democratic oversight, and delay the regulation of toxic substances by exploiting differences between EU and US laws.
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Document type: Report
Toxic partnership
This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques a joint proposal by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) regarding regulatory cooperation on chemicals within the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). CIEL argues that the industry's proposals are designed to exploit regulatory differences between the US and EU to slow the regulation of toxic chemicals, bypass democratic processes, and prioritize commercial interests over public health and environmental safety.
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Document type: Report
Summary of remarks by Margaret Bowman, Walton Family Foundation At the Environmental and Energy Study Institute briefing regarding managing climate risks in the southwest
Margaret Bowman of the Walton Family Foundation outlines a vision for addressing water shortages in the Colorado River basin through agricultural modernization, urban efficiency, and water recycling. She argues that these strategies can close a projected water supply gap of 3.2 million acre feet by 2060, provided there is political will to scale local successes to a regional level.
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Document type: Briefing
Single-year mitigation targets: Uncharted territory for emissions trading and unit transfers
The paper argues that single-year emissions targets are fundamentally flawed compared to continuous multi-year targets because they create uncertainty regarding cumulative emissions, are more susceptible to annual variability, and are incompatible with domestic emissions trading schemes. The authors highlight that the use of tradable units can further reduce the ambition of single-year targets, potentially allowing countries to meet goals without domestic mitigation. They recommend that future international agreements mandate continuous multi-year targets to ensure comparability and align with global carbon budgets.
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Document type: Research paper
Regulating Carbon Emissions in Canada
This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development reviews Canadian greenhouse gas (GHG) policy in 2013, noting a significant decline in federal political will and a corresponding shift toward provincial leadership and inter-provincial cooperation.
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Document type: Policy brief
WRI Response to the 2014 State of the Union Address
The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement responding to President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address, supporting the administration's plan to enact new emissions standards for existing power plants and emphasizing the economic benefits of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
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Document type: Statement
Reducing climate risk: climate finance and carbon markets
This research synthesis brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) outlines the organization's work on climate finance and carbon markets, focusing on the governance of adaptation finance, the limitations of private sector investment in vulnerable regions, and the environmental integrity of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
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Document type: Briefing
Designing Greenhouse Gas Reporting Systems: Learning from Existing Programs
This World Resources Institute working paper outlines the design and implementation of mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting programs, identifying key decision drivers and building blocks for jurisdictions to manage emissions and strengthen climate change capacity.
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Document type: Research paper
Should the Renewable Fuel Standard Be Reformed?
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute argues against reforming or repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), asserting that the policy has successfully reduced petroleum dependence and stimulated the rural economy. While acknowledging challenges such as land use change and the 'blend wall,' the author contends that these issues should be addressed through the Farm Bill and EPA flexibility rather than statutory changes, which could jeopardize billions in private investment in next-generation biofuels.
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Document type: Statement
Remarks to the Canadian-American Business Council
Scott Vaughan's 2013 remarks to the Canadian-American Business Council discuss the convergence of climate regulatory approaches between Canada and the U.S., the economic implications of various oil and gas emission targets in Canada, and the challenges Canada faces in meeting its 2020 emissions reduction target.
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Document type: Statement
SUBMISSION OF CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (CIEL) ON BEHALF OF CIEL, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, SIERRA CLUB AND CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE HEARING ON THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP: ACHIEVING THE POTENTIAL
This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted on behalf of itself, Friends of the Earth, Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity, warns that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly regarding toxic chemicals. The document argues that the pursuit of 'regulatory coherence' through harmonization and mutual recognition may lower standards to a 'lowest-common denominator,' preempt sub-national laws, and create chilling effects on the development of safety regulations globally.
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Document type: Statement
Help Consumers Do More With Their Money: An Open Letter to Retailers
An open letter from RMI to hard goods retailers arguing that promoting and procuring energy-efficient electronics and appliances can unlock significant financial savings for consumers and reduce overall energy consumption.
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Document type: Statement
The Value and Impact of Building Codes
This research paper by Ellen Vaughan and Jim Turner argues that mandatory, minimum building codes are the most effective and least expensive method to protect public health, safety, and the environment. The authors advocate for the adoption and enforcement of current model codes—specifically those updated every three years—to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and vulnerability to natural disasters while stimulating economic innovation in the building sector.
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Document type: Research paper
A REVIEW OF SOLAR PV BENEFIT & COST STUDIES
This report, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) in September 2013, reviews 16 benefit and cost studies of distributed photovoltaics (DPV) conducted between 2005 and 2013. It aims to establish a foundation for valuing distributed energy resources (DERs) by identifying methodological best practices and gaps in how the electricity sector quantifies the costs and benefits of DPV.
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Document type: Report