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This pre-read document, authored by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), provides a comprehensive overview of the building energy modeling (BEM) industry in the United States to prepare attendees for the BEM Innovation Summit. It details the history of BEM, identifies systemic barriers to quality and credibility, analyzes the current state of simulation tools and practitioner training, and explores market drivers such as LEED certification and federal energy regulations.

The report introduces 'natural capitalism,' a business framework that argues the current economic model is deficient because it liquidates natural capital and ecosystem services. The authors propose four principles—increasing resource productivity, eliminating waste, shifting to service-and-flow models, and investing in natural capital—to align corporate profit with planetary health.

The NREA Toolkit is a comprehensive guide designed by GOGLA and SolarPower Europe to assist in the establishment and management of National Renewable Energy Associations (NREAs). It provides practical frameworks for organizational setup, membership growth, strategic communication, governance, financial sustainability, resource mobilization, and evidence-based policy advocacy to support the growth of the solar energy sector.

This report documents a roundtable held in Johannesburg in June 2014, focused on revitalising multilateral trade negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) following the 2013 Bali package. The discussions centered on the rise of mega-regional trade agreements, the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the future of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), agricultural impasses, and the integration of African economies into Global Value Chains (GVCs).

This diagnostic report synthesises findings from five dialogues held in developing countries to explore paths for revitalising multilateral trade negotiations following the stalemate of the Doha Round. It examines the rise of mega-regional trade agreements (MPTAs) and plurilateral approaches as alternatives to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) consensus-based model, while highlighting the specific needs of developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in the context of global value chains (GVCs) and agricultural reform.

A statement by Trevor Manuel, Minister in the Presidency for National Planning, delivered on 18 September 2009, discussing Africa's economic vulnerabilities and the need for the continent to strengthen its regional integration and institutional capacity to effectively influence global governance reform.

This research paper by Ron Sandrey examines the comprehensive economic and trade policy reforms implemented in New Zealand starting in 1984. It details the transition from a highly regulated, subsidy-dependent economy—historically reliant on the United Kingdom—to one of the most open economies in the world, focusing specifically on the deregulation of agriculture and the reduction of border tariffs.

This report summarizes an inception workshop held on 1-2 February 2011 by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). The workshop examined the political economy of regional integration in Southern Africa, focusing on the challenges of overlapping memberships in regional economic communities (RECs), the influence of dominant member states, the role of external donors, and the impact of partnerships with the European Union and other emerging partners.

This report details Austria's diplomatic, trade, and development relations with Africa, particularly in the context of its 2006 European Union Council presidency. It outlines Austria's strategic focus on North Africa via the European Neighbourhood Partnership, its limited trade with the continent compared to the EU, and its targeted development assistance in East and Southern Africa.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Africa's potential to become a global green hydrogen hub and outlines how G20 members can support a just energy transition on the continent. It highlights Africa's competitive advantages in renewable energy and infrastructure while detailing specific national projects and regional frameworks necessary for scaling production.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides a critical analysis of the 2013 Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill. The submission argues that while the Bill aims to balance developmental objectives with investment protection, several provisions deviate from customary international law, potentially creating uncertainty for foreign investors and risking challenges in international courts for denial of justice.

This policy brief by Jayati Ghosh for the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the drivers of global food insecurity, specifically the 'ratchet effect' where domestic food prices in low- and middle-income countries remain high even after global prices fall. The author argues that recent price spikes were driven by financial speculation and agribusiness profiteering rather than supply shortages, and proposes a series of strategic interventions including public buffer stocks, financial regulation of commodity markets, and capital flow management to protect vulnerable economies.

The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact Guidebook outlines a global effort to decarbonize electricity systems through five key principles: hourly time-matching, local procurement, technology inclusivity, additionality of new generation, and maximizing system impact. It provides a roadmap for energy buyers, suppliers, and governments to transition from annual carbon-free claims to a more granular, hourly matching system using tools like Granular Certificates and smart metering.

This fact sheet describes the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), an international non-profit research organization focused on sustainability, climate change, and environmental policy. It outlines SEI's organizational structure, its commitment to open access and collaborative research, and the specific thematic focuses of its eight global centers.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a narrow policy window to steer economic recovery toward a sustainable, net-zero emissions path. It warns against 'carbon lock-in'—where recovery measures entrench fossil fuel dependency—and proposes specific policy levers, such as conditional bailouts and just transition measures, to catalyse industrial transformation.

A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute and partners arguing that staying below a 2°C warming limit requires rapid global greenhouse gas emission reductions, reaching essentially zero by mid-century. It emphasizes the technical feasibility of this transition and the necessity of North-South cooperation to ensure developing nations can expand energy access while decarbonizing.

This policy brief examines China's evolving role in global climate change mitigation and adaptation, highlighting the intersection of energy security, economic development, and international diplomacy. It details China's domestic targets for reducing energy intensity and increasing renewable energy, while analyzing the geopolitical tensions and trust deficits between China and developed nations like the U.S. and EU.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines pathways for the global steel sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It highlights the necessity of transitioning away from conventional blast furnaces by 2025 to avoid stranded assets and catastrophic climate impacts, emphasizing a mix of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (HDRI), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and increased recycling. The document stresses the critical role of policy-makers in providing clean energy, creating lead markets, and fostering international cooperation, specifically mentioning the Glasgow Breakthrough on Steel.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes China's position in international climate negotiations, highlighting the tension between its goals for economic growth, energy security, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It details China's domestic energy intensity targets and its strategic balancing act between representing developing nations and seeking advantages in a low-carbon economy.

This report analyzes whether Sweden provides its 'fair share' of international climate finance. It concludes that a definitive answer is impossible because 'climate finance' and 'fair share' lack globally agreed definitions. While Sweden provides significant funds, most are integrated into its Official Development Assistance (ODA), meaning it provides very little 'new and additional' finance. The report suggests Sweden could lead by improving reporting transparency and defining its own ambitious fair share targets.