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This report analyzes foreign direct investment (FDI) in the agriculture sector of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos), examining the business models used by investors and their impact on economic development. It identifies a tension between macroeconomic growth and local economic development, noting that while FDI has increased agricultural output, it often fails to align with broader development goals and can negatively impact food security and local livelihoods.

This research paper examines the politicization of rice in Southeast Asia and argues that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should strengthen existing information-sharing and reserve mechanisms to improve regional food security and market stability, rather than attempting full trade liberalization.

This briefing summarizes the outcomes of an April 2012 expert workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on two primary determinants for the success of REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation): the development of safeguard information systems (SIS) and the engagement of the private sector.

This report details the outcomes of an expert meeting and field visit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2012. The event was part of the 'Building REDD+ Policy Capacity for Developing Country Negotiators and Land Managers' project, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins. The meeting focused on two primary determinants for the success of REDD+: the development of Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) and the fostering of effective private sector engagement.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews approaches and lessons learned for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. It examines the multi-level nature of planning—national, sectoral, and sub-national—and proposes strategies to avoid policy conflicts and leverage existing financial flows to reduce vulnerability.

This report summarizes a high-level discussion titled "The Missing Piece? Climate Change Mitigation and the Benefits of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform," held as an official side event of the UNFCCC COP 17 on December 7, 2011, in Durban, South Africa. The event focused on the scale of fossil fuel subsidies compared to climate finance and the necessity of reforming these subsidies to enable green growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises key findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for ecosystem management. It examines the interplay between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and ecosystem resilience, advocating for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as a cost-effective strategy to reduce disaster risk and support sustainable development.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC SREX report specifically for the health sector. It examines how climate extremes—such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts—interact with human vulnerability and exposure to create disaster risks, and provides a framework for health policy-makers to integrate disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of public procurement as a strategic tool for driving green growth and innovation. It argues that governments can leverage their significant purchasing power to create demand for sustainable products, thereby incentivizing private sector innovation and scaling green markets. The document provides a theoretical framework for sustainable value creation and presents several international case studies to illustrate different approaches to Green Public Procurement (GPP).

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This report surveys the diverse methodologies used to calculate and report 'leverage ratios' in climate finance, highlighting the lack of a universal definition. It examines how various institutions—including the World Bank, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)—measure the ability of public funds to catalyze private and other public investments, and proposes a more rigorous framework for assessing financial effectiveness.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the current state of climate economics, arguing that economic modeling has lagged behind climate science. The authors advocate for a precautionary, standards-based approach to policy—such as maintaining a 2°C warming limit—rather than relying on traditional cost-benefit frameworks that often underestimate catastrophic risks and the importance of future generations.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of safeguards and the pursuit of 'multiple benefits' within the REDD+ mechanism established by the Cancun Agreements. It explores how safeguard systems can move beyond a 'do no harm' approach to actively promote sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. The document analyzes various international safeguard standards, reviews how developing countries are integrating these into their Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs), and discusses the institutional and financial challenges of creating a transparent information-sharing system for monitoring compliance.

This briefing paper examines the proliferation and nature of South-South Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), analyzing whether agreements between developing countries differ from the traditional North-South templates. It concludes that while some developing nations are beginning to introduce bespoke provisions and policy exceptions, the majority of South-South BITs continue to mirror the European models established in the 1950s and 1960s.

The report details the activities and outcomes of the China Node for Sustainable Sanitation (CNSS) from November 2008 to May 2011. Established as the first node of the EcoSanRes-2 program and hosted by the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), CNSS aimed to promote ecological sanitation (ecosan) through public awareness, urban planning integration, and international knowledge exchange. The initiative focused on overcoming traditional taboos regarding sanitation in China and creating a platform for experts, NGOs, and government decision-makers to collaborate on sustainable wastewater and excreta management.

This 2011 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between urban sanitation system trends in developing regions and the disposal of menstrual absorption materials. It identifies that menstrual products, particularly those with super-absorbent materials, frequently cause blockages in water-borne sewerage systems and accelerate the filling of on-site pit latrines. The report argues that menstrual management is largely ignored in sanitation design and advocates for the integration of women's needs and the promotion of solid waste disposal routes for menstrual materials.

This report presents the proceedings of a workshop held on June 1–2, 2010, at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The event brought together approximately 35 scholars to explore the role of social learning in environmental change, governance, and sustainability, focusing on its application across diverse contexts such as natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and formal education.

This 2011 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, on behalf of the UNEP Bilateral Finance Institutions Climate Change Working Group (UNEP BFI CCWG), maps the public financial flows for climate change mitigation and adaptation to developing countries in 2010. It focuses on the commitments of four primary bilateral finance institutions (BFIs): Agence Française de Développement (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and KfW Entwicklungsbank.

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 examines whether REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) can support climate compatible development in developing countries. It discusses the mechanism's potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic opportunities, while warning of risks to forest-dependent communities and the need for robust institutional frameworks to manage financial flows and monitor performance.