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This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the impact of international greenhouse gas offsets on the fulfillment of emission reduction pledges under the Cancún Agreements. It specifically examines the risk of 'double-counting'—where both the buyer and seller count the same emission reduction toward their targets—and how this could dilute global climate ambition and hinder the pursuit of a 2°C pathway.

This policy brief examines the tensions between South Africa's domestic economic priorities and its international climate diplomacy. It highlights how the country's reliance on a coal-based 'minerals-energy complex' and the need to expand energy access conflict with its desire to be seen as a 'responsible' global actor and a 'bridge builder' in climate negotiations.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines how developing countries can plan Climate Compatible Development (CCD) by balancing domestic priorities with the requirements of international funding and accountability frameworks. Drawing on lessons from the Rio Conventions and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) processes, the document provides recommendations for multi-stakeholder engagement, evidence-based planning, integrated policy frameworks, and effective monitoring and evaluation to ensure that climate adaptation and low emissions development (LED) are successfully institutionalized.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that Jatropha is neither a profitable nor a sustainable investment for biofuel production. It challenges the 'miracle crop' narrative, providing evidence that the plant requires significant inputs to be viable, often competes with food production, and leads to the displacement of local communities and the destruction of biodiversity.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that large-scale jatropha plantations are neither economically viable nor sustainable, contradicting claims by investment companies that the crop is a solution for the energy crisis, climate change, and poverty.

In a 2010 speech to the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Minister Maite Nkoana‐Mashabane outlines South Africa's strategic approach to the rise of emerging global powers. She emphasizes the importance of South-South cooperation, the role of alliances like BRIC and IBSA in reforming global governance, and the necessity of integrating Africa into the global economy through infrastructure, industry, and intra-trade.

This executive summary outlines the implications of the United Nations Secretary’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF) recommendations for Asia, focusing on the goal of raising US$100 billion annually by 2020 for climate change investment in developing countries.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in November 2010, analyzes the regional implications for Asia of the recommendations made by the Advisory Group on Climate Finance (AGF). It examines Asia's climate exposure, emissions profile, and the financial requirements for mitigation and adaptation, while evaluating the opportunities and risks posed by proposed global climate finance mechanisms.

This policy brief defines 'climate compatible development' as an integrated approach that minimizes climate-related harm while maximizing human development opportunities through low-emissions and resilient growth. It argues that policy makers must move beyond the traditional separation of adaptation, mitigation, and development to achieve 'triple win' strategies that simultaneously promote development, build resilience, and reduce emissions.

This policy brief describes the development of the Orissa Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), the first comprehensive state-level climate plan in India. It details the rapid six-month process used to create the blueprint, the tools employed—specifically Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)—and the lessons learned regarding political leadership, stakeholder engagement, and the management of information gaps in climate planning.

This policy brief defines 'Climate Compatible Development' as a strategic approach that integrates climate change mitigation, adaptation, and social development to minimize risks and maximize opportunities in a low-emission, resilient future.

This executive summary outlines Ghana's National Climate Change Policy Framework (NCCPF), a strategic initiative designed to ensure a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy. The document emphasizes that while Ghana's global contribution to climate change is negligible, the country faces substantial threats to its development goals, particularly in agriculture, coastal infrastructure, and poverty reduction. The NCCPF proposes a multi-sectoral response based on three primary objectives—low carbon growth, effective adaptation, and social development—supported by seven systemic pillars including governance, finance, and capacity building.

This 2010 research paper analyzes the opportunities and challenges for South Africa to engage in international carbon trading to meet emissions targets. While South Africa is a leading African participant in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), it remains underrepresented globally compared to countries like China and India. The authors argue that while a local carbon market could stimulate green investment and jobs, success depends on regulatory certainty, financial support from developed nations, and a shift away from coal dependence.

This synthesis report analyzes the policy responses of countries and regional organizations in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa to the 2006–08 global food prices crisis. It assesses these responses in terms of economic sustainability and their impact on trade and regional integration, arguing that short-term emergency measures often conflicted with long-term food security and production goals.

This research paper examines the expansion of China's service sector and its role within a sustainable trade strategy. It analyzes the structural shift of the Chinese economy toward services, the current state of trade in services, and the challenges regarding international competitiveness and liberalization. The authors argue that service sector growth is linked to urbanization and suggest that relaxing migration restrictions and increasing competition are key to enhancing productivity and sustainability.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of the multilateral trading system following the 2008–10 global financial crisis. It argues that a multilateral impasse is likely to persist due to a lack of leadership from the US and China, suggesting that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) must shift toward plurilateral agreements to remain relevant. The author highlights the specific challenges for South Africa, which faces a 'negotiating stretch' as it attempts to represent broader African interests while managing its own role as an emerging middle power.

This policy briefing analyzes how the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, affects the European Union's (EU) relations with Africa. The author argues that while the Treaty streamlines EU internal processes and foreign policy, Africa is likely to command less attention as the EU prioritizes its own internal financial crises, the Western Balkans, and strategic partnerships with other emerging powers. The document suggests that African leaders should diversify their economic and development partnerships beyond the EU to reduce aid and trade dependence.

A statement delivered by Amelia Broodryk on May 7, 2010, at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, representing a group of non-governmental experts from New Agenda Coalition (NAC) countries. The statement outlines seven specific criteria for measuring the success of the 2010 Review Conference in advancing international peace, security, and the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world.

This research paper examines the economic impact of the 2010 European airspace closure caused by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland on African trade. It highlights the vulnerability of agricultural exports—specifically perishables like flowers—and argues that the crisis serves as a wake-up call for African nations to diversify their export destinations beyond Europe to include South-South trade partners like Brazil, India, and China.

This research paper introduces the Climate and Regional Economics of Development (CRED) model, an integrated assessment model (IAM) designed to analyze the intersection of climate mitigation and international economic development. The model's primary innovations include a focus on global equity through a concave utility function and the use of McKinsey marginal abatement cost curves to project mitigation costs. The authors argue that achieving climate stabilization requires either a very low discount rate or significant capital transfers from high-income to developing nations.