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This research paper analyzes South Africa's decision to vote in favor of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 regarding military intervention in Libya. The author argues that South Africa failed to foresee how the resolution would be used by NATO to pursue regime change rather than solely protecting civilians, suggesting that South Africa may not yet be prepared for the responsibilities of a permanent Security Council seat.

This policy briefing examines the trend of trade protectionism and 'bail-out' subsidies following the global economic recession, specifically analyzing whether South Africa's industrial support measures comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM).

This executive summary describes the 'European Smart Power Market Project', which evaluates how current EU power market designs affect the transition to low-carbon energy. The project argues that existing regional and zonal pricing models impede the integration of renewable energy and recommends a transition to nodal or locational marginal pricing (LMP) to optimize transmission capacity and reduce costs.

A complaint submitted by Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth International to the UK and Dutch National Contact Points alleging that Royal Dutch Shell breached OECD Guidelines by providing misleading and unsubstantiated data regarding the causes of oil spills in the Niger Delta.

The authors introduce MILLENNIA, a peat age-cohort model designed to address shortcomings in global soil models regarding the representation of long-term soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and dynamic hydrological processes, specifically water table depth (WTD). The model's predictions for SOC accumulation and peat ages were validated against observations from a UK peatland site.

This research paper analyzes the relative importance of various climate policy elements—specifically the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) and long-term climate policy targets—on the investment decisions of European power sector companies. Based on a 2009 survey of 65 power generators and 136 technology providers, the study examines two dimensions of innovation: the adoption of new plants and research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities. The findings indicate that climate policies are generally less influential than market factors and technology-specific regulations, though long-term targets are particularly critical for the RD&D activities of technology providers.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative argues that Europe's current power market designs are insufficient to support the transition to a low-carbon energy system and the goals of a smart grid. It advocates for a transition from zonal pricing and market coupling toward an integrated power market based on locational marginal pricing (nodal pricing), citing the US experience as a successful model for managing transmission constraints and integrating intermittent renewable energy.

This research paper critiques the U.S. government's 2010 Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) estimate of $21 per ton, arguing it is dangerously low. By testing alternative assumptions in the DICE model—including higher climate sensitivity, more severe damage functions (based on Weitzman and Hanemann), and a lower discount rate (1.5% vs 3%)—the authors find the SCC could range up to $893 in 2010 and $1,500 by 2050. They conclude that if these higher risks are plausible, the SCC exceeds the cost of maximum feasible abatement ($150-$500/ton), making immediate, large-scale emission reductions the most cost-effective and prudent strategy.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland argues that carbon trading is an ineffective and dangerous primary tool for tackling climate change. The document proposes a comprehensive package of alternative mitigation strategies across energy, agriculture, forests, and industry, alongside several specific financial mechanisms to provide at least US$420 billion per year in additional climate finance for developing countries.

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 briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the efficacy of targeted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe's ruling elite. It details the various restrictive measures implemented by Western governments and international bodies, argues that these 'smart sanctions' have been largely ineffective due to implementation loopholes and regional support for the Mugabe regime, and suggests a conditional, middle-ground approach to lifting some restrictions to encourage political progress under the Inclusive Government.

The document contains the minutes of the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-XVI) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 19-20, 2009. The meeting focused on administrative updates, the approval of the 2009-2010 operating budget and annual plan, and extensive revisions to the standing rules of both the Executive Council (EC) and the Conference of the Parties. It also included reports on national climate policies from member states and a decision to decline a request from the United Kingdom to evaluate the South American Climate Change Network.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement 2010 from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) reviews the global and regional geopolitical landscape following the global financial crisis. It highlights South Africa's role in the G20 and the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, discusses political instability in Africa—specifically in Zimbabwe, Niger, Nigeria, DRC, and Sudan—and outlines the Zuma administration's foreign policy priorities, including strengthened ties with Angola, Brazil, and the UK.

This report examines the gender implications of trade liberalization in Southeast Asia, arguing that trade policies are often 'gender-blind' and fail to account for the specific vulnerabilities and aspirations of women. It calls for ASEAN and its member states to integrate gender considerations into trade policy analysis and capacity building to ensure women can benefit from economic openness without facing increased marginalization.

This research paper describes a model for assessing transitions to sustainable mobility, combining agent-based modelling with system dynamics to evaluate different societal pathways.

The paper assesses Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) as a tool to reduce household GHG emissions in Sweden. It concludes that a UK-style PCT scheme would be inefficient in Sweden due to high administrative costs and the existing effectiveness of policies in the housing sector (e.g., district heating). While PCT could potentially address rising transport emissions, it would face equity issues between urban and rural populations. The authors note that emissions from imported food and consumables remain a significant gap in Swedish policy, but targeting these via PCT is currently technically unfeasible.

The 2010 Global Ecolabel Monitor reports significant growth in the green market, particularly in the US, but notes that fragmentation and a lack of standardized information cause widespread confusion among consumers and institutional buyers. While demand and willingness to pay premiums for eco-friendly products are rising, the report emphasizes the need for better standards to support the green purchasing policies of large corporations and government agencies.

This briefing by Malini Mehra argues that current government governance systems are ill-equipped to handle the uncertainty, scale, and complexity of climate change. The author contends that climate change is frequently miscategorized as a narrow environmental issue, leading to siloed policy responses and a lack of political priority. To make governance "fit for purpose," the document proposes a shift toward integrated climate risk management, high-level political mandates, statutory duties, and a fundamental culture change within civil service bureaucracies.

This research paper by Andreas Spiegel of Swiss Re argues for a balanced climate adaptation strategy that combines cost-effective risk prevention measures with risk transfer mechanisms, such as insurance. Using data from the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) working group, the author demonstrates that a significant portion of climate-related losses can be averted through preventative action, while residual risks should be managed via public-private partnerships and innovative financial instruments to protect vulnerable economies, particularly in developing nations.

This research paper by Yolanda Kakabadse, former environment minister of Ecuador and President of WWF International, argues that traditional water infrastructure design—based on the assumption of a stationary climate—has led to the degradation of freshwater ecosystems and increased societal vulnerability. The author proposes a shift toward climate-sustainable development by integrating ecosystems into infrastructure planning, managing water at a basin scale, and moving away from sectoral silos in policymaking.