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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
REN21 RENEWABLES GLOBAL STATUS REPORT 2007
(REN21,
December 2007)
This
pre-publication summary for the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change COP 13, issued by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the
21st Century (REN21), argues that renewable energy has evolved from an
"alternative" source of energy to a mainstream energy option. Noting
that renewable energy (without large hydro) now provides about 240
gigawatts of clean power, avoiding some 5 gigatonnes of carbon emissions
per year, the report also highlights that wind energy has the largest
share of renewable energy investment and continues to grow at 25-30% per
year. The
report.
MARKETS FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(World Business Council for
Sustainable Development and IUCN-the World Conservation Union, 2007)
This
briefing paper outlines the potential for mobilizing business and
markets to conserve nature, arguing that market mechanisms can be a
compelling complement to existing strategies for ecosystem conservation.
The paper outlines three mechanisms to develop markets for ecosystem
services, including: direct payments; tradable permits; and
certification. The
briefing paper.
NET-MAP
TOOLBOX
(IFPRI, 2007)
This tool was developed by Eva Schiffer, a postdoctoral fellow at the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
Net-Map is an interview-based mapping tool that helps people understand,
visualize, discuss, and improve situations in which many different
actors influence outcomes. It offers an innovative way to enable
groups, ranging from local communities to the regional and national
levels and stakeholder groups, to work together in more effective and
collaborative ways to share common resources. The
resource.
REDUCING
U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: HOW MUCH AT WHAT COST?
(McKinsey & Company, 2007)
This report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company is based on its
work with leading companies, industry experts, academics, and
environmental NGOs to develop a "detailed, consistent fact base
estimating costs and potentials of different options" for reducing or
preventing greenhouse gas emissions within the United States. The team
analyzed more than 250 options, encompassing efficiency gains, shifts to
lower-carbon energy sources, and expanded carbon sinks, and finds that
the US could reduce its emissions in 2030 by 3.0 to 4.5 gigatons using
tested approaches and high-potential emerging technologies. The
study.
TRADE-RELATED MEASURES AND MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS
(UNEP, 2007)
This paper contributes to ongoing negotiations at the World Trade
Organization (WTO) by analyzing multilateral environment agreement (MEA)
trade-related measures in the context of their overall objectives. In
particular, the paper provides a detailed review of the main provisions
and specific trade-related measures found in six MEAs and explores the
role these measures play in the overall context of the MEAs. The paper
recommends a framework for considering trade-related measures in
reference to the functions they perform, and notes that MEAs have
numerous features that contribute not only to their own effectiveness
but also support international trade rules, moving towards more
objective, science-based, and standardized approaches in addressing
shared environmental and health concerns. The
paper.
A
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF MEA EXPERIENCES IN IDENTIFYING AND FACILITATING
THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY: WHAT INSIGHTS CAN BE DRAWN FOR THE WTO EGS
NEGOTIATIONS?
(UNEP and UNCTAD, 2007)
Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) Secretariats and their
parties have been engaged for a number of years in identifying relevant
technology and promoting technology transfer as a step towards achieving
MEA objectives. This paper examines this experience with a view to
enriching WTO negotiations on the liberalization of trade in
environmental goods and services. The paper finds that MEAs and their
Parties generally adopt a dynamic mechanism for technology
identification; designed to respond to the changing nature of
environmental challenges, scientific discoveries, technological
development, as well as changing economic, social and cultural
circumstances. The paper also notes that MEA Secretariats and parties
often adopt a "package" approach to technology and technology transfer,
where the transfer of the technology is complemented by capacity
building, technical assistance, training of personnel, sharing of
know-how, and exchange of information. The
paper.
COMPLIANCE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITMENTS: THE
G8 RECORD, 1975-2007
(G8 Research Group, 2007)
This research, by John Kirton and Jenilee Guebert of the G8 Research
Group, assesses the G8 members' compliance with their climate change
commitments. It covers the period 1987-2007, and assigns a "B" to
overall G8 compliance. The
assessment.
COP DECISION SEARCH TOOL
(CIESIN, 2007)
This searchable database of the Conference of the Parties (COP)
decisions of a number of global environmental conventions has been
developed by Columbia University's Center for International Earth
Science Information Network (CIESIN). The database can be searched by
term or phrase for all of the COP decisions of the Basel Convention on
the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species, the Convention on Migratory
Species, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto
Protocol, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
and its Montreal Protocol, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification. The
search tool.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS AND
DECISION MAKING AT THE UNITED NATIONS: A GUIDE (Second Updated Edition)
(NGLS, 2007)
Originally published in 2004 by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service
(NGLS), this second revised edition, which was written by NGLS in
collaboration with Gretchen Sidhu, explains the governance and
decision-making fora and processes of the UN system. It presents updated
information on how key participants engage in intergovernmental
negotiations; new trends in civil society engagement over the past few
years; and a list of NGO focal points across the UN system. The
guide.
ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD BANK'S ASSISTANCE TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
(World Bank, November 2007)
This assessment by the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group finds
that the agriculture sector has been neglected by governments and the
donor community, including the World Bank. Arising from and contributing
to this situation, the technical skills needed to support agricultural
development adequately have also declined over time. The
assessment.
STATE OF FOOD
AND AGRICULTURE 2007: PAYING FARMERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
(FAO, 2007)
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) State of Food and
Agriculture 2007 explores the potential for agriculture to provide
enhanced levels of environmental services alongside the production of
food and fibre. The report concludes that demand for environmental
services from agriculture – including climate change mitigation,
improved watershed management and biodiversity preservation – will
increase in the future, but better incentives to farmers are needed if
agriculture is to meet this demand. The
report.
2007 WORLD WATER WEEK SYNTHESIS REPORT
(SIWI, 2007)
This resource is the synthesis report of 2007 World Water Week, which
took place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 12-18 August 2007, around the
theme "Striving for Sustainability in a Changing World." The report
synthesizes the issues, ideas and viewpoints addressed during the week
and is intended to contribute to the 2008 UN Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD) review of the first implementation cycle (2004/2005)
of the CSD multi-year programme of work, focused on the themes of water,
sanitation, and human settlements, which resulted from CSD 13. The
report.
HALF FULL OR
HALF EMPTY?
(UNEP FI, October 2007)
This study, compiled by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative
(UNEP FI) Water and Finance Work Stream, aims to provide lenders and
investors with practical guidance on how to identify, assess and
integrate water-related risks into existing due-diligence procedures
within different industries. The study also gives an overview of
emerging opportunities in the water/sanitation sector for financial
institutions. The
study.
MARKETS FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: NEW CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(WBCSD and IUCN, 2007)
This report by the World Business
Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in collaboration with
IUCN-the World Conservation Union shows how, at a fundamental level, all
economies and businesses depend directly or indirectly on the
conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable supply of ecosystem
services and states that conserving ecosystems and sustaining the
services they provide is a pre-requisite for prosperity. The report
seeks to demonstrate that market mechanisms are a powerful complement to
existing strategies for conserving ecosystems. The
report.
CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND
POVERTY REDUCTION – HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW?
(Overseas Development Institute, 2007)
This paper seeks to trace the likely impacts of climate change on
agriculture through changes in the quality of the physical asset base,
access to assets, and impacts on grain production and on agricultural
growth more generally. Its conclusions include suggestions to focus on getting
an enabling environment in place and markets working, putting social
protection in place, and strengthening R&D. It also suggests a need for
improved coordination between climate change modelers, agricultural
economists and agricultural policy-makers, and incorporating
agricultural practices into mitigation policies and programmes such as
the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The
paper.
MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENT NEGOTIATOR'S HANDBOOK
(University of Joensuu, 2007)
Environment Canada, the UN Environment Programme and Joensuu University
(Finland) produced the second edition of this Handbook. Is contains key
technical information and common sense advice for negotiators. The
Handbook.
SUMMARY REPORT OF THE GLOBAL FORUM ON MIGRATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
(UN,
October 2007)
The summary report of the First
Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, held in July
2007 and sponsored by the Government of Belgium, is now available.
According to the report, the Forum has established a new approach to
migration by bringing the debate closer to development issues; paved the
way to a long-term vision recognizing the benefits to origin and
destination countries and their shared responsibilities; provided a
platform for the exchange of experiences, innovations and good
practices; and consolidated a system of focal points across countries to
strengthen coherence and better communication. The
report (A/C.2/62/2).
FOOD MILES
OR POVERTY ERADICATION: THE MORAL DUTY TO EAT AFRICAN STRAWBERRIES AT
CHRISTMAS
(Oxford Institute for Energy Studies & Oxford Climate Policy, 2007)
This article by Benito Müller addresses the controversy regarding
discouraging consumers, particularly in the UK, from buying produce from
developing countries because of the transport carbon emissions involved
in the process, especially in the case of air freight. Müller examines
the effect that such an environmental consumer boycott could have on the
efforts to eradicate poverty in developing countries, and proposes using
carbon offsets to ensure the income of the poorest and most vulnerable
countries. The
article.
BIOFUELS AT WHAT COST?
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR ETHANOL AND BIODIESEL IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
(IISD Global Subsidies Initiative, October 2007)
This report by Géraldine Kutas, Carina Lindberg and Ronald Steenblik
questions the rationale behind the large sums of money being invested in
support of biofuels, noting the forthcoming EU policy review provides an
opportunity for the Commission and Member States to recognize that
mandatory domestic production and consumption of biofuels is an
expensive and inefficient means to achieve the stated policy outcomes.
The authors recommend that the EU and its Member States should: avoid
instituting new consumption mandates for biofuels or new specific
subsidies to the industry; eliminate all tariffs on imported fuel
ethanol; improve the information available on government support
provided to the biofuels industry; and put in place an evaluation
process to assess the cost-effectiveness of each Member State's support
policies in attaining the objectives underlying the EU biofuels policy.
The
report.
CLEANER, GREENER COTTON: IMPACTS
AND BETTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES(WWF, 2007)
This report shows how WWF is working to address the key environmental
and social issues associated with cotton farming, focusing on making
cotton more sustainable, which in turn, helps keep the environment it
depends on healthy. The
report.
OUR WATERS: JOINING HANDS ACROSS
BORDERS - FIRST ASSESSMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS, LAKES AND
GROUNDWATERS IN THE UNECE REGION
(UNECE, 2007)
This publication offers in-depth information on all major
surface water bodies in the European and Asian parts of the UNECE region
and transboundary aquifers located in South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus and
Central Asia. It describes the hydrological regime of these water
bodies, pressure factors in their basins, their status and transboundary
impact, as well as trends, future developments and envisaged management
measures. The
assessment.
HEALTHY HOUSEHOLDS,
COMMUNITIES, AND RIVERS: WHO IS MAKING THE CONNECTION?
(ADB, October 2007)
This resource, prepared by
Wouter
Lincklaen Arriens of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), discusses water
and sanitation challenges and solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. The
resource.
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS AS A TOOL FOR
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT WEBSITE
(FAO, 2007)
This UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) website offers guidance
on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a fisheries management tool and is
part of the organization's project to increase knowledge on the
contribution of MPAs to fisheries management. One section of the website
presents guidelines being prepared by FAO on the design, implementation,
and testing of MPAs as a fisheries management tool. The
Website.
CONCEPTUAL OVERVIEW: Gender Mainstreaming: A
key driver of development in Environment and Energy
(UNDP, September 2007)
This publication focuses on why and how to mainstream gender into
programmes and policies in the main thematic areas of UNDP's environment
and energy practice: (i) water governance, (ii) access to energy
services, (iii) land management for the prevention and mitigation of
land degradation and deforestation, (iv) biodiversity, and (v) control
of emissions of ozone depleting substances and persistent organic
pollutants. The
publication.
E-AGRICULTURE
(FAO, September 2007)
E-agriculture is an interactive web-based platform in support of
agriculture and rural development. It is a global initiative to enhance
sustainable agricultural development and food security by improving the
use of information, communication, and associated technologies in the
sector. E-agriculture.
WORLD DATA CENTER (WDC) FOR HUMAN
INTERACTIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
(CIESIN, 2007)
This portal, hosted by NASA's Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center
(SEDAC), provides access to a range of global data, associated
documentation, and visualization and analysis tools, and to the
community of experts on global data. The
portal.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM:
RESPONDING TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES
(UNWTO, 2007)
This Advance Summary of the report, commissioned by the
UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN Environment Programme and
the UN World Meteorological Organization, attempts to quantify the links
between tourism and climate change, listing as key conclusions that
carbon dioxide emissions from the tourism sector are estimated to
account for 4-6 % of total emissions, and changing climate patterns
might alter major tourism flows where climate is of paramount
importance, such as Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the
Caribbean, leaving coastal and mountain-based destinations in least
developed countries and small island developing states particularly
affected. The
report.
NEGOTIATING AND IMPLEMENTING
MEAs: A MANUAL FOR NGOs
(UNEP, 2007)
This manual attempts to link the areas of multilateral environment
agreement (MEA) formulation and civil society participation, with a view
to strengthening multi-stakeholder participation and increasing
political momentum for effective MEA development, implementation and
enforcement. It provides step-by-step background information and
approaches, "inside the process" guidance, and expert advice on how
stakeholders can effectively engage in developing and implementing MEAs.
The
manual.
BIOFUELS: IS THE
CURE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE?
(OECD, September 2007)
This paper, prepared by Richard Doornbosch
and Ronald Steenblik for the Round Table on Sustainable Development
organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) from 11-12 September 2007, cites problems such as a potential
conflict between biofuels and food crops, and threats to biodiversity.
The report also addresses biofuel subsidies in the North, as well as
sustainability certification. The paper at the
Financial Times website
or at the
Friends of the Earth Europe website.
RECENT TRENDS IN THE
LAW AND POLICY OF
BIOENERGY PRODUCTION, PROMOTION AND USE
(FAO Legal Paper Online #68, September 2007)
This paper, authored by Charlotta Jull, Patricia Carmona-Redondo, Victor
Mosoti and Jessica Vapnek, seeks to provide legislators and
policy-makers with a tool to assist them in identifying areas of law
that may affect bioenergy regulation and in designing national bioenergy
laws. The
paper.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDINGS: BUSINESS REALITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
(WBCSD, 2007)
This study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
highlights opportunities to promote green building know how and
technologies. It is the result of the first phase of a three year
initiative to assess the environmental impacts of buildings and develop
means to achieve zero net energy use for residential and commercial
buildings. The
report.
BUSINESS GUIDE TO
PARTNERING WITH NGOS AND THE UNITED NATIONS
(UN Global Compact, 2007)
This guide was created through a partnership between Dalberg, the UN
Global Compact and the Financial Times. It seeks to facilitate
partnerships between companies and NGOs/UN agencies. The
guide.
GLOBAL WATER TOOL
(WBCSD, 2007)
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched
this tool during World Water Week. This free tool permits companies and
organizations to map their water use and assess risks relative to their
global operations and supply chains. The
tool.
KEY
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 2007
(OECD, July 2007)
This report is one of the products of the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development's (OECD) programme on environmental
indicators, and it includes key environmental indicators endorsed by
OECD Environment Ministers in May 2001. These indicators give a broad
overview of environmental issues in OECD counties and are updated every
year. The
report.
WETLANDS,
POVERTY REDUCTION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
(Wetland International, 2007)
Tourism is a principal source of income for 83% of developing countries;
wetlands like coasts, rivers and lakes play a vital part in this
success. The development of tourism is increasingly considered as a
solution to poverty in wetland areas, but there are threats as well as
opportunities. This brochure, launched by Wetlands International in
cooperation with IUCN Netherlands Committee (IUCN NL), the Dutch
development organization Cordaid, the travel organization TUI Nederland,
the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention, and the Tourism & Environment
Group of the Wageningen University and Research Centre, addresses these
issues. The
Brochure.
PARTICIPATORY LEARNING AND ACTION 56:
GENERAL ISSUE
(IIED, 2007)
This resource addresses the following themes: sequential steps for
empowering rural communities for local development; participatory
monitoring and evaluation in Bangalore; participatory approaches to
public accountability in Ghana; using participatory video for monitoring
and evaluation; participatory systemization; holistic worldview
analysis; and children's participation in governance and decision
making. A section on "Tips for trainers" describes the action learning
of capacity building in systemization methodologies. The
issue.
FUTURE INVESTMENT – A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT PLAN
FOR THE POWER SECTOR TO SAVE THE CLIMATE
(Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council, 6 July 2007)
This report argues that "investing in a renewable energy future will
save 10 times the fuel costs of a 'business as usual' fossil-fueled
scenario." The report suggests shifting global investments towards
solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and bio energy and away from coal and
nuclear power, which it labels as "dangerous." The report stresses the
need for urgent action, given that many existing power plants will soon
need replacing and that emerging economies such as China, India and
Brazil are rapidly building new energy infrastructure. The
report.
CLIMATE AND THE UN: A NEW BID FOR CONTROL?
(BBC online, May 2007)
In this BBC news online opinion piece, Felix Dodds and Richard Sherman
of Stakeholder Forum consider the recent Security Council debate on
climate change in April 2007, considering developing countries'
questions over whether this was an appropriate forum for this
discussion. The authors suggest that the question is "not whether
climate change is a threat to international peace and security, but more
about how and where the world should have a discussion on addressing
these issues creatively." The
opinion piece.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: AN
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR BUSINESS
(IISD, 2007)
This guide, authored by Paul Hohnen and Jason Potts, offers strategic
and practical tools to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR)
in businesses. CSR offers a new business model aligning core business
strategy with social and environmental context, consequently
establishing better practices to create wealth and improve society. The
guide provides an implementation framework for businesses to begin
thinking and acting systematically about corporate social responsibility
and is divided into three parts. The first part provides an overview of
CSR, the second sets out a six-stage plan and the last looks at the
integral role stakeholders play in implementing an effective CSR
approach. The
guide.
ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: POLICY OPTIONS FOR
AFRICA
(UN-ENERGY/AFRICA, June 2007)
The report by UN-Energy/Africa, a partnership of UN agencies active in
the energy sector, highlights the main challenges and provides some
policy guidelines to accelerate energy supply and access in Africa. The
report.
THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: DEVELOPMENT
FOR ALL
(UNDESA,
June 2007)
This
report, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA),
reviews the goals, commitments, strategies agreed at UN world
conferences held between 1990 and 2005 and their implications for
current and future development strategy. Access the
report.
ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN OF DISEASE: COUNTRY PROFILES
(WHO, 2007)
This resource offers the World Health Organization's (WHO) first
compilation of country data on the burden of disease that is preventable
through healthier environments. The country profiles provide an overview
of summary information on selected parameters that describe the
environmental health situation of a country, as well as a preliminary
estimate of health impacts caused by environmental risks, with the
objective of providing information for informed policy making in disease
prevention.
Access the ountry profiles.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIOMASS ENERGY PROGRAMMES: EXPERIENCES & LESSONS
LEARNED BY UNDP IN EUROPE & THE CIS
(UNDP, 2007)
This resource is based on five UNDP-GEF projects in Belarus, Latvia,
Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, which focused on the use of wood residues
from wood processing and forestry to provide heat. The report presents
lessons learned for biomass project development and implementation for
market transformation in this region, and makes recommendations for the
development and implementation of new biomass projects both in the
region and beyond. The
report.
GLOBAL TRENDS IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY INVESTMENT 2007
(UNEP, June 2007)
Climate change worries together with high oil prices and increasing
government support fuel soaring investment rates in the
renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, according
to this study issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Noting that renewable energy sectors such as wind, solar and
biofuels attract the highest investment levels, the study also stresses
that renewable energies are no longer subject to the whims of
fluctuating oil prices, but are becoming generating systems of choice
for many power companies and countries. The
study.
UPDATE REPORT ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONFLICT
(Security Council Report, June 2007)
The research organization Security Council Report has developed a
web-based report to inform the 25 June 2007 Security Council debate on
the relationship between natural resources and conflict. The
report.
2007 WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND
PROSPECTS (MID-YEAR UPDATE)
(UNDESA, June 2007)
This mid-year update by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(UNDESA) emphasizes that the world economy is still strongly tied to US
fortunes and, for current world economic growth rates to continue, it is
crucial to keep the US dollar from falling rapidly while also avoiding a
recession. It also highlights the importance of improving the employment
effects of positive growth in order to meet the Millennium Development
Goals. The
update.
TOURISM
IN THE POLAR REGIONS: THE SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE
(UNEP, June 2007)
Launched in advance of World Environment Day, this report states that
Polar tourism has grown dramatically in the last ten years, raising
concerns about the possible negative impact on the environment and local
communities. Noting that appropriate management practices and
infrastructure in the Arctic and Antarctica have not matched the rising
flows of visitors, the report says that the adoption of relevant
sustainable tourism policies is urgently needed. The
report.
THE EU'S
AGROFUEL FOLLY: POLICY CAPTURE BY CORPORATE INTERESTS
(Corporate Europe Observatory, June 2007)
This briefing paper argues that the EU's promotion of agrofuels has been
heavily influenced by corporate interests, including car manufacturers,
biotech companies and the oil industry. The paper notes that these
industries have been invited by the European Commission to shape EU
policy on agrofuels through several industry-dominated advisory bodies,
arguing that this has affected how the EU is tackling the problem of
reducing CO2 emissions from road transport. The
briefing paper.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES: AN
ILLUSTRATIVE ANALYSIS OF SECTORS RELEVANT TO AIR-POLLUTION AND RENEWABLE
ENERGY
(United Nations University-Maastricht Economic and Social Research
and Training Centre on Innovation and Technology- UNU-MERIT, 2007)
This paper, authored by Lynn Mytelka, seeks to develop a broader
conceptualization of the technology transfer process and open the
discussion on the need for a multi-goal approach to Environment Goods
and Services (EGS) negotiations in the WTO. It argues that a broader
perspective must be adopted, with longer-term goals and processes and a
more integrated approach to EGS negotiations with the WTO. The paper
argues that such a conceptual reframing would reshape the dynamics of
North-South negotiations on EGS to include commitments, activities and
partnerships that strengthen the knowledge base, encourage learning and
innovation in the South, and address the global importance of
sustainable development. The
paper.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE PLANET: STORIES FROM GENEVA
(WBCSD et al., 2007)
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the World Business
Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in partnership with the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Conservation
Union (IUCN) published this 120-page booklet giving leaders of Geneva's
international organizations the chance to tell the story of their
alliances for sustainable development. It was launched on World
Environment Day 2007, 5 June, and made available to business delegations
at the Global Compact Leaders Summit taking place in Geneva 5-6 July
2007. The
resource.
EARTH PORTAL
(National Council for Science and the Environment, April 2007)
The Earth Portal offers science-based, expert-reviewed information about
the environment. It seeks to bring the global scientific community
together to produce "the first free, expert-driven, massively scaleable
information resource on the environment, and to engage civil society in
a public dialogue on the role of environmental issues in human affairs."
It includes features such as the Encyclopedia of Earth, Earth News,
Earth Forum and Environment in Focus. The
Portal.
RESTORING NATURE'S CAPITAL: AN
ACTION AGENDA TO SUSTAIN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(WRI, 2007)
In this World Resources Institute (WRI) publication, lead authors
Frances Irwin and Janet Ranganathan take the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment as their backdrop and draw on the recommendations of 17
contributing authors, WRI's series of World Resources Reports, and other
work to identify what changes must be made to ensure that ecosystems can
meet the needs of today's and future generations. The
publication.
LITTLE GREEN DATA BOOK 2007
(World Bank, May 2007)
The "Little Green Data Book 2007" is a pocket-sized quick reference book
on key environment and development data for over 200 countries, based on
the World Development Indicators 2007. Country, regional,
and income group profiles provide a baseline for comparison on the state
of the environment and its linkages with the economy and people. This
year's publication affirms that carbon dioxide emissions – the principal
man-made cause of global warming – continue to rise, with the world
producing today 16 percent more carbon dioxide than in 1990. The
book.
MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT: TOOLKIT FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ACTION
(Island Press, 2007)
This publication provides an overview of the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment (MA) and its key findings, resources to help communities and
organizations bring the MA to practical use, and case studies
exemplifying how people globally are using the principles of the MA to
protect natural systems. The
publication.
GLOBAL BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP
WEBSITE
(Global Bioenergy Partnership, 2007)
The Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) unveiled its web site during the
GBEP's 3rd Steering Committee meeting, which took place during the 15th
session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. The site
provides information on the Partnership, which was created in May 2006
to promote the use of bioenergy and whose secretariat is hosted at FAO.
It also offers links to sources of information on bioenergy and features
news and a regularly updated list of bioenergy events. The
website.
SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY: A
FRAMEWORK FOR DECISION MAKERS
(UN-Energy, 2007)
This paper was sponsored by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and
draws on support from the Worldwatch Institute. It was released during
CSD-15, and concludes that bioenergy should continue to be discussed at
the national and international levels and offers a framework for action.
The
paper.
UN-CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT: YEAR IN
REVIEW 2006
(UN NGLS, April 2007)
This publication, published by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS),
reviews civil society engagement in the policy and normative work of the
UN and reviews the various consultations, forums, policy dialogues,
hearings, CSO advisory committees that took place during 2006. The
publication.
MAKING THE
MOST OF THE BAN YEARS
(Spiegel Atlantic Forum, April 2007)
This paper by Thorsten Benner, associate
director of the Global Public Policy Institute, and Edward C. Luck,
professor at Columbia University, suggests that the US and European
Union should join forces with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to
strengthen the UN and develop streamlined approaches to global problems.
The
paper.
CLIMATE
SCIENCE 2006: MAJOR NEW DISCOVERIES
(WRI, April 2007)
In this World Resources Institute (WRI) Issue Brief, authors Kelly Levin
and Jonathan Pershing review the climate change research of 2006, which
they organize according to research on the
physical climate, hydrological cycle, ecosystems, and mitigation
technologies and economics. The
Issue Brief.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
PERSPECTIVES
(UNDESA, 2007)
This report was launched at the
fifteenth session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, which
is focusing on energy, climate change, air pollution and industrial
development. The 432-page volume points to new challenges and
opportunities facing industrializing countries as a result of
globalization, technological change and international trade rules. It
also discusses social and environmental aspects of industrial
development. The
report.
ANALYSING OUR ENERGY FUTURE: SOME POINTERS FOR
POLICY-MAKERS
(UNEP, 2007)
This report is the UN Environment
Programme's (UNEP) non-technical summary of the International Energy
Agency's latest World Energy Outlook. It focuses on its Alternative
Policy and Beyond the Alternative Policy Scenarios, and highlights that
early moves to shift towards a more sustainable energy system are more
effective and cheaper compared to delayed action. It outlines some
policy approaches that can bring about this shift and the time scales
involved in it, noting that a delay of 10 years in implementing the
Alternative Policy Scenario, for example, would push back the date of
being on a sustainable path by several decades. The
report.
EMPOWERING PEOPLE: A GOVERNANCE ANALYSIS OF ELECTRICITY
(WRI and Prayas Energy Group,
April 2007)
This report focus on the
challenges of providing access to reliable and affordable electricity
after waves of liberalization, while addressing environmental challenges
based on experiences in India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. The
authors, Smita Nakhooda, Shantanu Dixit and Navroz K. Dubash, argue for
greater public involvement and scrutiny, in order to build better
governance of electricity. The
report.
WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY AND DESIGN
OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECTS: A CASE STUDY
(Asian Development Bank, 2007)
In water supply and sanitation projects (WSS), Willingness-To-Pay (WTP)
surveys are often used to assess demand and estimate project benefits.
This paper demonstrates the usefulness of WTP studies in designing WSS
projects by drawing from a case study on designing a public–private
partnership for WSS in two service areas in Sri Lanka. The
case study.
CLOSING THE GENDER GAP: PUNJAB
WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT
(Asian Development Bank, 2007)
This good practice paper looks at how the Asian Development Bank's
Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Sector project developed female
beneficiaries into change agents. It summarizes the planning, design,
and implementation of the project's gender-specific components that not
only improved water access for Punjabi women, but also improved their
quality of life. The
paper.
EUROPEAN
UNION POLICY BRIEF ON BIOENERGY
(GMF, April 2007)
This policy brief, commissioned by the German Marshall Fund (GMF) and
authored by R. Andreas Kraemer and Stephanie Schlegel, summarizes the
development and status quo of the European Union bioenergy policy
framework and links it to the current debate on sustainability of
bioenergy. The
policy brief.
CORPORATE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IN INDIA: ASSESSING
THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT'S ROLE
(German
Development Institute, 2007)
This report assesses to what extent the UN Global Compact
contributes to improved corporate social responsibility (CSR) in India.
The study finds that very few civil society organizations are involved
in shaping the CSR agenda, and that most companies prefer business
self-regulation in CSR. To strengthen the Global Compact's and CSR's
role in India, the report recommends that the
structure of the national Global Compact networks should be improved by
integrating civil society organizations. The
report.
WHY
ECOSYSTEMS MATTER TO BUSINESS
(WBCSD, 2007)
This article was authored by Björn Stigson, the president of the World
Business Council on Sustainable Development. It highlights a number of
ongoing activities to explore and manage ecosystems services by
companies, governments and NGOs. Among these activities are efforts by
IUCN-The World Conservation Union and the UN Environment Programme to
spearhead debate on the concept of payments for ecosystem services and
WWF-US' efforts to set up an NGO–private sector forum to promote it. The
article.
CLIMATE
CHANGE AND FOREIGN POLICY: AN EXPLORATION OF OPTIONS FOR GREATER
INTEGRATION
(IISD, 2007)
This report was authored by John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, Oli Brown,
Aaron Cosbey, Peter Dickey, Jo-Ellen Parry and John Van Ham of the
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Richard
Tarasofsky and Beverley Darkin of Chatham House. It presents a series of
recommendations on how foreign policy can foster international
cooperation on climate change action and suggests that an integrated
climate change–foreign policy approach has the potential to improve
prospects for more effective efforts to address climate change at the
national and international levels. The
report.
COMPENDIUM: A GLOBAL DIRECTORY TO INDICATOR
INITIATIVES
(IISD, 2007)
This resource
represents the second version of the Compendium of Sustainable
Development Indicator Initiatives, a worldwide directory of who is doing
what in the field of sustainability indicators. Indicator practitioners
are invited to submit information on their own work and take ownership
of their entries in the database. The
compendium.
MULTI DIMENSIONAL ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL POWER GRID INTERCONNECTIONS
(UN DSD, 2007)
The UN Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) prepared this
publication in preparation for the fifteenth session of the Commission
on Sustainable Development. The publication examines technical,
economic, legal, political, social and environmental issues associated
with electricity interconnections. The
publication.
MARKETS
FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: A POTENTIAL TOOL FOR MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL
AGREEMENTS
(IISD, 2007)
This report, authored by Anantha Kumar Duraiappah,
discusses the potential of markets for
ecosystem services (MES) to promote the sustainable use of ecosystem
services, and he identifies a role for MEAs in the deployment of such
market based instruments. The
report.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS CLASH OVER CARBON
OFFSETS
(Ecosystem Marketplace, 2007)
This article, authored by
Alice Kenny, surveys the issues
involved in the debate over voluntary carbon offsets. The
article.
POLICY DIRECTIONS TO 2050: A BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION
TO THE DIALOGUES ON COOPERATIVE ACTION
(WBCSD, 2007)
This publication by the World
Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) emphasizes the role
of decisive, concerted and sustained actions between governments,
businesses and consumers to combat climate change. The
report.
ECOSYSTEM CHALLENGES AND BUSINESS IMPLICATIONS
(WRI, IUCN, WBCSD and Earthwatch, 2006)
This issue brief from WRI, IUCN, WBCSD and Earthwatch explores six
ecosystem challenges and discusses their implications for business and
examples of corporate responses. The
issue brief.
THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF REGIONAL PROGRAMS
(World Bank, 2007)
This evaluation assesses World Bank
support for regional development programs over fiscal years 1995-2005,
based on evaluations of 19 regional programs and a review of the Bank's
total portfolio of some 100 regional operations. It finds that a
majority of the programs evaluated have been or appear likely to be
effective in achieving most of their development objectives, but
suggests that stronger results could be achieved if regional program
support were better developed as an international development practice.
The
report.
PAY – ESTABLISHING PAYMENTS FOR WATERSHED SERVICES
(IUCN-The World Conservation
Union, 2006)
IUCN launched this report on World
Water Day, 22 March 2007. It sets out how water market and incentive
schemes should be designed to maintain water resources, providing
examples of systems already in place. The
report.
Archive of Publications on Environmental-Economic Accounting
(UN Statistics
Division, 2007)
This new searchable archive has been developed under the auspices of
the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting (UNCEEA).
It makes methodological publications and country practices on
environmental-economic accounting widely available, and seeks to
facilitate the work of statisticians, researchers and practitioners in
the field. The
archive of publications.
A Review of Energy in National MDG Reports
(UNDP, January 2007)
This study, written by Minoru Takada and Silvia Fracchia, attempts to
understand how energy issues are recognized and integrated in the MDG
monitoring framework through a review of 100 national MDG reports. The
authors highlight case-studies of how to link energy services to a
broader set of development issues, such as poverty reduction, gender
equality, and environmental sustainability and climate change. The
study.
STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ABU DHABI
(UNEP/GRID-Arendal, March 2007)
The first State of the Environment Report for the Emirate
of Abu Dhabi, produced by UNEP/GRID-Arendal, was launched on 19 March
2007. The report identifies and analyzes key issues in environmental
areas according to each of their Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and
Response, known as the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) DPSIR Model. The
areas covered by the report include, among others, freshwater,
atmosphere, land resources, coastal and marine resources, and
biodiversity. The
State of the Environment report.
LINKAGES AFRICA
(IISD RS, 2007)
This first issue of Linkages Africa offers summaries and links to
further information on recent meetings, media reports and resources
related to environment and sustainable development in Africa.
Linkages Africa.
HOW IWRM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ACHIEVING THE MDGS
(Global Water
Partnership, Policy Brief 4, 2007)
This brief is
part of a series of policy and technical briefs designed to help
countries accelerate their efforts to achieve the action target for the
preparation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and water
efficiency strategies and plans set by the 2002 World Summit on
Sustainable Development and reinforced by the 2005 World Summit. The
series tackles key issues and potential stumbling blocks and attempts to
give countries at the beginning of the process the benefit of lessons
learned from those further down the path. The series complements
Catalyzing Change: A Handbook for Developing Integrated Water Resources
Management and Water Efficiency Strategies. The
policy brief.
BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATIES
– IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIONS FOR REGULATION
(FES, February 2007)
This report, authored by Luke Eric Petersen, summarizes discussions at
the international workshop "Bilateral Investment Treaties – Implications
for Sustainable Development and Options for Regulation," held in Berlin,
Germany, on 10 December 2006, organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
(FES). The
report.
NEW TRENDS IN
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY
(International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development,
February 2007)
Authored by John H. Barton, this paper describes how technology is today
transferred to developing countries and the barriers that affect that
transfer. It then identifies policy approaches that might overcome those
barriers, addressing: the flow of human resources, as through
international education; the flow of public sector technology support,
as through research and licensing by international organizations; and
the flow of private technology, as through the sale of consumer products
(e.g. medicines) that may incorporate embodied technologies through
licensing, and through foreign direct investment
The
paper.
UN WORLD
SUMMITS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT
(UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), January 2007)
This publication attempts to address questions such as: What do
opportunities for civil society engagement in UN World Summits really
mean, and given that civil society organizations tend to differ in their
perceptions of and approaches to international institutions, what have
been the effects on the structure of civil society at the national
level? The
document.
THE
UNFINISHED STORY OF WOMEN AND THE UNITED NATIONS
(UN-NGLS, 2007)
UN-Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) launched this publication to
commemorate International Women's Day. This resource, authored by Hilkka
Pietilä,
covers more than 85 years of history
between women and intergovernmental organizations, from the story of
women and the League of Nations and the ten year review of the Fourth
World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. The
publication.
International trade in biofuels:
good for development? and good for environment?
(IIED, 2007)
This briefing, written by Annie Dufey, argues that biofuels can help
address climate change problems and improve rural employment and
livelihoods. The briefing provides some policy solutions. The
briefing.
LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING GUIDE: A PRACTITIONER'S VIEW
(FAO Legal Papers Online #64, February 2007)
This resource, authored by Kenneth L. Rosebaum, offers
a style guide for legislative drafting in
international legal assistance projects. It seeks to "serve as an
introduction for those who do not usually draft legislation and
checklist and review for experienced drafters." The
guide.
GEO YEAR BOOK
2007
(UNEP, February 2007)
This year book is UNEP's fourth annual report on the changing
environment. It includes global and regional overviews of significant
developments over the past year and offers a special feature section
that analyzes the intersection between environment and globalization.
The
year book.
BIOSAFETY POLICY PAPER
(IISD RS, January 2007)
With the focus of the African Union Summit on science and technology, in
particular issues related to biotechnology and biosafety, IISD RS
experts have prepared a Biosafety Policy Paper that evaluates the
challenges ahead for African negotiators on areas related to
biotechnology and biosafety during the year 2007. The biosafety paper
reviews the framework documents adopted in the region in order to
harmonize approaches to biotechnology and biosafety, including: Africa's
Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action adopted by the New
Partnership for Africa's Development and the African Union; the report
of the High-Level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology; the African
Position on the Issue of Genetically Modified Organisms and Agriculture,
adopted by the Conference of Agricultural Ministers of the African
Union; and the draft African strategy on biosafety presented by the
African Union's Directorate of Human Resources, Science and Technology.
Based on Africa's core guiding principles for policy-making, the brief
presents proposals and ideas to apply them in biotechnology-related
multilateral negotiations on environmental issues, specifically
negotiations on liability and redress in the context of the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety, access and benefit-sharing under the Convention
on Biological Diversity, and funding for biosafety in the framework of
the Global Environment Facility.
Biosafety Policy Paper;
IISD RS Listserve Manager (to receive further Africa Initiative
outputs).
AFRICASD-L List
(IISD RS, 2007)
In order to disseminate the activities of the African Regional Coverage
(ARC) Project, IISD RS has established the AFRICASD-L List as a
peer-to-peer list to distribute information regarding the African
Regional Coverage Project and related information on sustainable
development decision-making in Africa.
IISD RS Listserve Manager.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EARTH
(Environmental Information Coalition and National Council for
Science and the Environment)
This web-based electronic reference source offers information about the
Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. The
Encyclopedia is a free, fully searchable collection of articles
written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who
collaborate and review each other's work. The
website.
SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORT IN ASIA: MAKING THE VISION A REALITY
(WRI, 2007)
This report summarizes the main findings from the Partnership for
Sustainable Urban Transport in Asia (PSUTA), which works with
stakeholders in Hanoi (Vietnam), Pune (India) and Xi'an (China) to
identify indicators of sustainable transport for use in the policy
making process. The report identifies indicators of sustainable
transport to help decision makers in Asian cities better understand the
current sustainability, or lack of it, of their urban transport systems
and to develop more structured and quantified approaches to policy
making. The
report.
ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBALIZATION: FIVE PROPOSITIONS
(IISD, 2007)
This paper, written by
Adil Najam,
David Runnalls and Mark Halle, examines
the nature and
importance of the links between environment and globalization, and
stresses that better global governance is the key to managing both
globalization and the global environment. It
was prepared
as an independent input into the
February 2007 meeting of the UNEP Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GMEF).
The
paper.
DEBATE
ON UN SYSTEM-WIDE COHERENCE PANEL REPORT: "DELIVERING AS ONE"
(Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, January 2007)
This conference report, authored by Volker Lehmann, reports on a
roundtable discussion between representatives of civil society,
government and UN staff on the recommendations of the High-level Panel
on UN System-Wide Coherence. This December 2006 event was hosted by the
Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), in co-operation with the UN
Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS). Participants emphasized that
political trust in the UN, and in particular its development and aid
mechanisms, needs to be rebuilt if there is to be a realistic chance of
the implementation of the Coherence Panel's recommendations. The
Conference report.
MULTISTAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS – FUTURE MODELS OF MULTILATERALISM?(Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung,
January 2007)
This Occasional Paper, authored by Jens Martens, examines the growing
role of "multistakeholder initiatives" and "policy networks" between
private and public actors within the UN system. The paper overviews how
relationships between the UN and private actors have changed over time,
traces the scale and scope of "partnerships," discusses the limits,
risks and side effects of this paradigm shift in international politics,
and calls for clear rules for partnerships between the UN and private
actors. The
Occasional Paper.
A PRIORITY AGENDA FOR THE NEXT UN SECRETARY-GENERAL
(Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, December 2006)
This Occasional Paper, authored by Thomas G. Weiss and Peter J. Hoffman,
reports on the deliberations of four workshops in October and November
2006 that sought to help facilitate the construction of an agenda that
incoming UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon could act on, what he should
look to work with others on to achieve, and what is unrealistic and
should be set aside. The workshops were organized by the Friedrich Ebert
Stiftung and the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies of the
CUNY Graduate Center and were attended by representatives from the UN
Secretariat, diplomatic missions, non-governmental organizations and
academia. The
Occasional Paper.
ENERGY [R]EVOLUTION:
A SUSTAINABLE WORLD ENERGY OUTLOOK
(Greenpeace and European Renewable Energy Council, January 2007)
This report analyzes future scenarios of energy use and suggests that
half of the world's energy needs in 2050 could be met by renewable
energy sources and improved efficiency. This report seeks to provide a
roadmap for meeting future energy needs without fuelling climate change.
The
report.
Green Energy TV
(Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, 2007)
This resource is an
internet-based television channel dedicated to sharing stories of
successful green energy initiatives. Videos are uploaded via the
website, with the aim of raising awareness among consumers and companies
of the energy choices available and to empower them to make educated
energy choices. The
Green Energy TV site.
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS FOR NORTH AMERICA
(UNEP, December 2006)
Examining the indicators used to describe environmental conditions and
trends in Canada and the United States, this report published by UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals positive trends such as a
decoupling of energy consumption from economic growth, as well as strong
progress in decreasing the release of sulphur oxides. The
report.
DEBATING
NGO ACCOUNTABILITY
(UN NGLS, 2006)
This book, authored by Jem Bendell, is part of the UN's Nongovernmental
Liaison Services (NGLS) development dossier. Bendell proposes that
democracy and human rights
should be at the centre of the debate about NGO accountability. The
book.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER WEB RESOURCE
(SciDev.Net, 2007)
SciDev.Net has developed a technology transfer resource for developing
country policymakers. It includes peer-reviewed policy briefs, opinion
articles, a collection of key documents and links as well as definitions
of essential terms, and covers information such as how to take advantage
of foreign direct investment, how to help firms build their own
technological capacity and what the public sector can do to support
agricultural technology transfer. The
web resource.
BEYOND
COMPLIANCE: BUSINESS DECISION MAKING AND THE US EPA'S PERFORMANCE TRACK
PROGRAM
(Harvard University, 2006)
This study by Cary Coglianese and Jennifer Nash suggests that corporate
participation in voluntary environmental compliance programs may have
less to do with the costs and benefits that government agencies put
together and more to do with the companies' internal culture. The
study.
Energizing Poverty Reduction:
A Review of the Energy-Poverty Nexus in Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers
(UNDP, November 2006)
This paper reviews 54 Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers to determine the
extent to which energy-poverty dynamics are reflected in the current
policies and plans set forth in national poverty reduction strategies.
The lead authors, Minoru Takada and Ndika
Akong Charles, disaggregate their analysis by region (Africa,
Asia, Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, and Latin
America, and set out their findings under three central themes: linking
energy to national development goals; prioritizing the poor in national
energy strategies; and budgeting for the poor in national energy
strategies. The
review.
The
Millennium Villages Project: a new approach to ending rural poverty in
Africa?
(Overseas Development Institute (ODI), 2006)
In this issue of Natural Resource Perspectives, published by ODI,
authors Lidia Cabral, John Farrington and Eva Ludi review the experience
of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP), an initiative developed by a
team of scientists headed by Jeffrey Sachs at The Earth Institute at
Columbia University and overseen by the UN Millennium Project. The
authors question the scalability and long-term sustainability of the
initiative, and highlight the need to establish principles of rural
development that are coherent with government capacity, national
development strategies and economic prospects. The
policy brief.
EQUITY AND
SOCIAL INDICATORS: MONITORING THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
(IDB, 2006)
This on-line database presents disaggregated data on social
indicators. Indicators are disaggregated by income quintile, gender,
urban/rural area and race/ethnicity to help identify discrepancies in
the achievement of development goals within different groups of
population. The database is a collaborative effort of UNDP and IDB, and
aims to support analytical work, policy discussions, monitoring and
dissemination of the MDGs in Latin America. The
database.
How costly is it to achieve the
Millenium Development Goal of halving poverty between 1990 and 2015?
(UNDP International Poverty Centre (IPC),
2006)
The authors of UNDP Working Paper No.
19, Nanak Kakwani and Hyun H. Son, propose a methodology to estimate the
economic growth rates, investment and foreign aid needed to halve
poverty up to 2015. They encourage pro-poor policies targeted at
reducing foreign aid dependency. The
paper.
IMPLICATIONS OF IPR RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(University of London, 2006)
This research project by Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research
Institute (University of London), Ecologic, Universidad de Alicante, IP
Bulgaria, Chatham House and Centre for the Study of Globalisation and
Regionalisation (University of Warwick) includes documents on:
geographical indications, environment and development; developing best
practice models for provision of technical assistance in the
implementation of the TRIPs Agreement; access, IPRs and capacity
building in agriculture; assessing the economic implications of
different models for implementing the requirement to protect plant
varieties; exploring the flexibilities of TRIPs, biotechnology capacity
building and appropriate technology transfer; and disclosure of origin
in patent applications.
The project website.
SCALING UP MARINE MANAGEMENT:
THE ROLE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
(World Bank, 2006)
In this report, the World Bank assesses factors likely to determine
marine protected areas' (MPA) success and identifies opportunities for
the Bank and its partners to scale up MPA implementation to meet global
conservation targets, such as those set at the World Summit on
Sustainable Development. The report focuses on how best to capture the
potential benefits of MPAs for helping the world's poor, while
addressing the sociocultural and political realities of restricting
access to the sea and regulating what has traditionally been considered
common property. The
report.
2006 TOP NEWS ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN ASIA
(IGES, December 2006)
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies has published its
annual list of top environmental news stories of 2006. The list includes
stories on climate change, air quality, waste disposal, forest
conservation and other environmental issues. The
list.
MAKING
PROGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: LESSONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM A REVIEW OF OVER 150 MDG COUNTRY EXPERIENCES(UNDP, October
2006)
This report, jointly launched by UNDP and UNEP, charts countries'
efforts towards more environmentally sustainable development planning,
while indicating that most counties are not on track to reach Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) 7 (ensuring environmental sustainability) by
2015. The report calls on countries to take more ambitious steps to
protect the environment and demonstrates that progress can be
accelerated when country-specific MDG targets are tailored. The
report.
UNEP MAJOR GROUPS DIRECTORY
(UNEP, 2006)
UNEP has created an on-line directory for civil society organizations
that are engaged with the work of UNEP. Organizations that are
accredited to the UNEP Governing Council, that have participated in a
Global Civil Society Forum, or work with one or several UNEP divisions
or regional offices are encouraged to register their profile to be
included in the directory. The
on-line directory.
YOUR RIGHT TO A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT: A SIMPLIFIED GUIDE TO THE AARHUS CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO
INFORMATION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO
JUSTICE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(UNECE, June 2006)
This resource presents the rights and obligations under the Aarhus
Convention in easy-to-understand language. The Aarhus Convention is
widely recognized as the world's foremost international instrument
promoting access to information, public participation in decision-making
and access to justice in environmental matters. The
resource.
If you
would like to submit details of
recently published documents and online resources,
send a message to
Diego Noguera, IISD
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