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This fact sheet explores the relationship between national climate change legislation and a country's position and ambition within international climate negotiations, specifically within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This research paper examines the geopolitical and economic implications of US-led 'mega-regional' trade agreements—the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)—and China's domestic economic reforms. The author argues that South Africa's current inward-looking trade strategy risks undermining its international competitiveness and regional leadership as the global trading system evolves.

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.

Friends of the Earth U.S. issued a statement supporting the walkout of hundreds of climate activists from the COP19 conference in Warsaw, Poland. The organization criticizes developed nations—particularly the U.S., Australia, Japan, and Canada—for failing to reduce emissions or provide climate finance, and condemns Poland for hosting an International Coal and Climate Summit alongside the UN talks.

This research paper examines China's approach to the green economy and its interaction with the G-20, specifically following the 2012 Los Cabos Summit in Mexico. The author argues that while China is domestically committed to greening its economic development due to severe environmental degradation, it remains reluctant to accept mandatory international obligations that might hinder its economic growth. The paper highlights a disconnect between China's internal policy terminology and the 'inclusive green growth' framework promoted at the G-20, suggesting that China's organizational structure for G-20 participation further marginalizes environmental policy.

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.

An unpublished letter from RMI to The Economist argues that European electric utilities' financial losses are the result of failed investment strategies and a failure to adapt to disruptive renewable technologies, rather than the fault of renewables themselves. The author contends that renewables provide significant macroeconomic benefits and that grid stability is manageable at high penetration levels, as demonstrated in several European countries.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the China National Renewable Energy Center (CNREC), examines how Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR) and earmarked tax revenues can fund the deployment of renewable energy technologies in China. Drawing on eight international case studies, the document argues that environmental taxes do not necessarily hinder economic growth and can provide a stable, transparent funding mechanism for green energy, offering a potential alternative or supplement to China's current reliance on electricity surcharges.

This executive summary examines Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR) as a mechanism to fund renewable energy deployment in China. By analyzing eight international case studies, the report explores how environmental taxes and carbon trading can generate revenue for green energy while mitigating impacts on economic growth and competitiveness. It specifically discusses the role of earmarking revenues to increase transparency and investor confidence, while noting the political and economic challenges of implementing such measures within the Chinese context.

This issue brief from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the role of energy storage technologies in mitigating electricity industry challenges, integrating renewable energy, and improving grid reliability. It details various storage technologies—ranging from pumped hydro and compressed air to advanced batteries and flywheels—and analyzes the impact of U.S. federal policies, specifically FERC orders and Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives, in overcoming implementation barriers.

This policy brief from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the role of energy storage technologies in mitigating electricity industry challenges, integrating renewable energy, and improving grid reliability. It provides a technical overview of various storage methods, analyzes the impact of U.S. federal policies and legislation, and highlights specific large-scale implementation projects across the United States.

This commentary analyzes a May 6, 2013, World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body ruling regarding renewable energy generation measures in a dispute involving Canada (Ontario), Japan, and the European Union. The author argues that the ruling failed to provide necessary legal clarification on WTO rules for sustainable energy and may have created a problematic carve-out of the subsidy agreement, concluding that WTO members rather than the Appellate Body should define the boundaries for renewable energy support.

This research paper by GLOBE International examines the relationship between domestic climate change legislation and a country's negotiating position within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It argues that strong national laws act as an enabler for international ambition by creating political space, increasing economic competitiveness, and building confidence among leaders and investors.

The Sovereign Emission Rights Framework is a proposal by Sandbag, submitted to the European Commission in 2013, for an equitable global emissions trading regime. It argues that emissions rights should be distributed based on 1990 population shares and that historical emissions since 1990 should be counted against these budgets to avoid 'hot air' and ensure a fair distribution of the remaining carbon space needed to avoid 2°C of warming.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the human rights implications of the 'Doha Gateway' decisions from the UNFCCC 18th Conference of the Parties. It argues that while the decisions do not explicitly reference human rights, the outcomes regarding mitigation ambition, loss and damage, REDD+, the Clean Development Mechanism, public participation, and gender have significant impacts on vulnerable populations.

This guide, written by Antonio G. M. La Viña and Cecilia Therese T. Guiao for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, provides an introduction to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. It focuses on the mechanics of consensus-building, offering strategic advice for new negotiators and facilitators to navigate the complex human and political interactions required to reach international agreements.

This report analyzes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions embodied in international trade and explores whether shifting production to lower-intensity regions could reduce global emissions. Using MRIO models and IEA data, the authors find significant variations in GHG intensity for products like clothing (up to a factor of five) and steel. Specifically, Brazil and Turkey are highlighted as low-intensity steel producers due to their energy mixes and technologies. While shifting production to regions with better access to low-GHG energy (such as the Americas for steel) offers potential benefits, the report notes that implementing trade policies to steer these flows is complicated by WTO laws and administrative challenges.

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 executive summary by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the 'fast-start' climate finance pledges made by developed countries following the 2010 Cancun Agreements. The document evaluates whether these pledges meet international criteria regarding the balance between adaptation and mitigation, additionality, and prioritization of vulnerable nations, while highlighting significant gaps in reporting transparency and consistency.

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.