KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE
This page was updated
on: 01/12/10
NAIROBI
TALKS MAKE PROGRESS ON FOREST CONSERVATION FOR GLOBAL WARMING EMISSIONS
CREDITS
(Mongabay.com, 4 December 2006)
This interview with carbon finance analyst Johannes Ebeling reflects on
recent developments relating to emissions from deforestation. The
interview.
Environmentally Sustainable
Transport and Climate Change: Experiences and lessons from community
initiatives
(UNDP and
GEF, November 2006)
This publication reviews 65 sustainable transport community projects
funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme, and provides lessons and
experiences that demonstrate the role community initiatives play in
testing new approaches, raising awareness of new ideas, piloting
innovative strategies, and informing and stimulating policy dialogue in
a cost-effective way. The
publication.
OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS:
MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(Tearfund,
November 2006)
This report from the Institute for Development Studies "reviews progress
by developing country governments and donor agencies in mainstreaming
climate adaptation into development planning." It examines barriers to
progress and recommends how such barriers might be overcome. The
report.
STATE OF THE
AFRICAN CARBON MARKET
(World Bank, November 2006)
This report by Karan Capoor and Philippe Ambrosi examines the state of
the carbon market in Africa. It suggests that Africa will not only be
the continent hardest hit by climate change, but also is likely to
benefit the least from the carbon market. It cites figures indicating
that African projects represent a low fraction of the entire CDM
pipeline; as of October 2006, 19 projects from Sub-Saharan Africa were
in the CDM project pipeline, out of a total of 1274 projects for all
developing countries. Among other reasons, the report notes that the
small energy and industrial sectors in African countries have limited
mitigation potential relative to countries such as China and India, and
are thus less attractive to carbon market investors. The
report.
GUIDANCE FOR PROMOTING SYNERGY
AMONG ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, DESERTIFICATION, LAND
DEGRADATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(CBD, May 2006)
This CBD Technical Series report highlights the major biological factors
that contribute to ecosystem resilience under the projected impacts of
global climate change, assesses the potential consequences for
biodiversity of particular adaptation activities under the CBD thematic
areas, provides methodological considerations when implementing these
activities, and highlights research and knowledge gaps. The report
recognizes the potential of, and stresses the need for, synergy in the
implementation of activities that interlink biodiversity conservation,
mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, and land degradation and
desertification in the context of the objectives of the three Rio
Conventions and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements.
The
report.
REPORT
OF THE EIGHTEENTH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON
SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER
(UNEP, 2006)
The ozone secretariat released this advance copy of the report of the
eighteenth meeting of the parties (MOP-18), held in November 2006 in New
Delhi, India. The report details the proceedings of both the preparatory
segment and high-level segment of MOP-18, and contains the text of the
37 decisions taken. The
report.
MIGRATORY SPECIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS OF A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
ON WILD ANIMALS
(UNEP/CMS, November 2006) This report indicates that climate change
is and will increasingly have dramatic impacts on migratory species from
whales and dolphins to birds and turtles. Changes in the length, timing
and location of migration routes are being documented, as well as
habitat changes, reduced breeding success and feminization of
populations. The
report.
STATE OF THE CARBON MARKET REPORT
UPDATE
(World Bank/IETA, October 2006) This report highlights that, from
January-September 2006, the carbon market grew to nearly US$22 billion,
more than doubling the US$11 billion recorded in 2005. The report
highlights increases in energy efficiency projects (nearly 14% of total
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) volumes) and renewable energy (12% of
the CDM market), with wind energy leading this sector. It cautions on
the need to provide a long-term signal to markets on the continuation of
the carbon market. The report also shows that clean energy is benefiting
from the carbon market and that a change in availability of finance to
tap mitigation potential in developing countries is taking place as a
result. The
report.
GREENHOUSE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS:
An approach to the
global climate regime that takes climate protection seriously while also
preserving the right to human development
(EcoEquity and Christian Aid, November 2006)
The principal authors of this report, Tom Athanasiou and Paul
Baer of EcoEquity and Sivan Kartha of the Stockholm Environment
Institute, argue that "Green House Development
Rights" should be considered in relation to the global climate regime.
This approach would take into account fundamental rights to human
development. The paper provides an alternative for calculating
countries' responsibility and capacity indexes in a manner that is
sensitive to intra-national income disparities. The
paper.
STERN REVIEW ON THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
(HM Treasury/University of Cambridge Press, October 2006) This report
by Sir Nicholas Stern was commissioned by the UK Chancellor in July 2005
and was
presented to the UK Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on 30 October 2006. It calculates that the costs of unabated climate
change range from 5-20 percent of GDP or more, depending on the
scientific assessments considered, while the costs of action to avoid
the worst impacts of climate change can be limited to approximately 1
percent of global GDP per year.
The
review will be considered during an official UNFCCC dialogue on
long-term action during the UN Climate Conference – Nairobi 2006. The
review.
Up in Smoke?
Latin America and the Caribbean: The threat from climate change to the
environment and human development
(Working Group on Climate Change and Development, August 2006)
This resource represents the third report from the Working Group on
Climate Change and Development, a coalition of 20 major environment and
development groups. It catalogues the impact of climate change and
environmental degradation ranging from drought in the Amazon to floods
in Haiti and elsewhere, vanishing glaciers in Colombia to extreme cold
in the Andes, and hurricanes in Central America and the Caribbean as
well as southern Brazil. The
report.
SAVING THE
FORESTS
(World Bank, October 2006)
This podcast contains a World Bank report addressing how global carbon
finance can be used as an incentive to stop deforestation. The
podcast.
CARBON TRADING: A
CRITICAL CONVERSATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, PRIVATISATION AND POWER
(Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, September 2006) This report
argues that the Kyoto Protocol and EU Emissions Trading Scheme are
"ineffective and unjust," and that carbon trading is "particularly
detrimental to African interests." The critique, which asserts that the
limits placed on emissions from industry are similar to
business-as-usual, was published by the Dag Hammarskjold Foundation,
Durban Group for Climate Justice and The Corner Group. The
report.
AN INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND
DEVELOPMENT: A PROGRESS REPORT
(World Bank, September 2006) In this progress report on the development
of an investment framework for clean energy and development, the World
Bank analyses the energy needs currently conditioning development and
the achievement of the MDGs. It also examines the transition to a
low-carbon economy and adaptation, noting financing needs and proposing
alternative funding instruments to channel resources for clean energy
and development. The report asserts that the current financing gap for
the energy sector in developing countries requires deeper and broader
policy reforms to attract the private sector, as well as additional
concessional support to meet the energy access challenges in Sub-Saharan
Africa. It underscores the importance of a long-term stable global
regulatory framework, with differentiated responsibilities, to stimulate
private investments and provide predictability to longer-term
investments in clean energy sources. The
report.
HOW THE WORLD BANK'S INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK SELLS THE
CLIMATE AND POOR PEOPLE SHORT
(Friends
of the Earth et al, September 2006) In response to the World
Bank's investment framework for clean energy, a group on NGOs prepared
this paper to present their arguments for increased support from
governments and international financial institutions for renewable
energy technologies. Their report notes that while renewable energy will
not be able to address all energy needs of developing countries, it
could go a long way to cover the basic energy needs of the world's poor.
In their estimates, the basic electricity needs of one billion people
could be covered with low or no-carbon technologies, would cost an
estimated $100 billion dollars and would have a positive impact not just
for poverty reduction, but also for combating climate change. The
paper.
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES: LESSONS FROM MAURITIUS, CHINA AND BRAZIL
(UNU,
2006) This report reviews three renewable energy developments that have
taken place in developing countries without significant foreign
investment: bagasse cogeneration in Mauritius, ethanol in Brazil and
solar hot water in China. It suggests that renewable energy planning
should be approached strategically by developing countries, with
specific technological strategies grounded in national industrial
capacity and energy resources. The
report.
MONTREAL VS.
KYOTO: A TALE OF TWO PROTOCOLS
(SSRN, August 2006) This paper, by Cass R. Sunstein of the University of
Chicago Law School, considers the reasons for the different approaches
to the two protocols by the United States. The article argues that, from
a cost-benefit point of view, "compliance with the Montreal Protocol
would have been justified even if no other country had complied
[but]
compliance with the Kyoto Protocol would not have been justified even if
all other parties had complied." The paper also argues that "any
international agreement to control greenhouse gases is unlikely to be
effective unless the United States believes that it has more to gain
than to lose." The article has reportedly generated discussion among
some experts over its approach and accuracy. The
report.
INTERIM REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME
(REN21, June 2006) This report assesses progress made towards the
implementation of the International Action Programme adopted two years
earlier during the International Conference for Renewable Energies held
in Bonn in June 2004. The report notes significant progress in
implementing the Action Programme. If fully implemented, carbon dioxide
emissions would be reduced by 1.2 billion tonnes every year to 2015. The
Interim Report.
PUBLIC
OPINION ON CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES IN THE G-8 AND G-5 COUNTRIES
(USclimatechange.com, 14 July 2006) This article by Thomas L. Brewer of
Georgetown University compiles and compares results from public opinion
polls on climate change over the past three years. It considers
countries of the G8 (the US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada)
and G5 (China, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa). The article
suggests that "strong majorities in all countries consider climate
change to be a serious problem, with the level of concern up
substantially in nearly all of the countries since 2003." It also finds,
however, that support for energy taxes and nuclear power is less strong
and more variable across countries. The
report.
A NEW AGENDA FOR GLOBAL WARMING
(BEPress, July 2006) In this article, Joseph Stiglitz "presents his plan
for getting the United States and the Developing World to address global
warming." The article (requires online subscription).
PODCAST: WORLD
BANK ON GAS FLARING
(World Bank podcast, 20 June 2006) Each year about 150 billion cubic
meters of natural gas are flared. Traditionally considered a safe and
effective way of getting rid of excess natural gas that comes with oil
production, gas flaring (i.e. burning natural gas) is now a great cause
of concern for the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions it generates
and the waste of valuable energy resources. The World Bank has prepared
an online
podcast on the topic.
THE VIEW FROM THE
SUMMIT: GLENEAGLES G8 ONE YEAR ON
(Oxfam, 9 June 2006) This briefing note reviews the progress in the
areas of debt, aid, conflict, trade, and climate change, one year after
the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles. On trade it suggests that there has
been progress in ending export subsidies on farm products, but overall
it notes that proposals currently on the table, far from promoting
developing countries' ability to tackle poverty through trade, are more
likely to hinder their development. On climate change it highlights that
the G8 in Gleneagles took steps to raise public awareness and
commitment, but as global energy tensions rise there is a danger that
the world's fragile consensus will break down and be replaced by a more
nationalistic and competitive pursuit of security of supply, in which
the poorest countries will be marginalized. The
policy briefing.
TAXING CARBON TO FINANCE TAX REFORM
(WRI,
June 2006) In this issue brief from the World Resources Institute and
Duke Energy, the authors argue that a carbon tax in the US would reduce
carbon dioxide emissions while also supporting federal tax reform
efforts and sound energy policies. The
report.
In recent
weeks, WRI has also been involved in publishing a
service sector guide to greenhouse gas management, and an
analytical tool on corporate climate investments.
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY NETWORK
In
June 2006, the UNDP/UNEP/GEF National
Communications Support Programme (NCSP), with funding from the Swiss
government, launched a forum to access and exchange information on
greenhouse gas emission inventories. The aim of the network is to
"provide technical assistance to developing countries for the
preparation of GHG inventories and to build a larger and more capable
community of inventory practitioners." The
Network.
CDM/JI PIPELINE OVERVIEW
(UNEP Risoe Centre, June 2006) This spreadsheet contains up-to-date
information on projects under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development
Mechanism and Joint Implementation mechanism. A total of 860 CDM
projects are now listed in the Pipeline, up by more than 100 since early
May 2006. Most of these new projects come from India (46), Brazil (25),
and China (ten), while biomas energy and energy efficiency in industry
reportedly make up a significant number of the new projects (44 in
total).
More information.
INCREASING THE AMBITION OF EU EMISSIONS TRADING
(Greenpeace, June 2006) This report, commissioned by Greenpeace
International, assesses the draft second national allocation plans for
the EU Emissions Trading Scheme of Germany, the UK and the Netherlands.
The report argues that these country plans have "taken the burden of
emissions reductions off the utility companies and industries covered
under the ETS, and placed it firmly onto consumers, taxpayers and the
other sectors not covered by the ETS." The
report.
GLOBAL MITIGATION OF NON-CO2 GREENHOUSE GASES
(US EPA, June 2006). This report from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency is one of two new EPA reports on global non-CO2 greenhouse gas
projections and mitigation.
More
information.
WHAT IS NEXT AFTER THE KYOTO PROTOCOL? ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS FOR
INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE POLICY POST 2012
(Techne
Press, May 2006) This book by Niklas Höhne considers the new phase that
the multilateral climate change negotiations are entering, and considers
options for the period after the Kyoto Protocol's first "commitment
period" expires in 2012. The book is available for purchase only (not
free of charge).
More
information.
BUSINESS VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE AND
ENERGY POLICY: SUMMARY AND KEY OBSERVATIONS
(BCSE/Climate
Group, April 2006) This report from the UK Business Council for
Sustainable Energy and The Climate Group, surveys private sector
insights and opinions on international climate policy beyond 2012, when
the Kyoto Protocol's first "commitment period" ends. The
summary of key findings. The
full report.
STATE AND TRENDS OF THE CARBON MARKET 2006
(World Bank and IETA, April 2006) This report by the World Bank and
International Emissions Trading Association reflects on the current
situation in the carbon market, which was valued at US$10 billion in
2005 and is predicted to grow to US$25 billion or more in 2006. The
report, which was prepared before the EU carbon market price dropped in
late April, considers the global market's recent development and
possible future trends. The
report.
ADDRESSING AIR
POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE PAN-JAPAN SEA REGION: AN
OVERVIEW OF ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS
(IICRC, May 2006) This report from the Ishikawa International
Cooperation Research Centre analyses atmospheric emissions in the
Pan-Japan Sea region countries and considers some of the economic
instruments used to address air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
More information.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST GENETIC DIVERSITY:
IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN EUROPE
(IPGRI and
IUFRO, April 2006) This report is a summary of proceedings of a workshop
held in Paris, France, in March 2006. The workshop, one of the
pan-European actions for implementation of Vienna Resolution 5 (climate
change and sustainable forest management in Europe) of the Ministerial
Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE), addressed:
up-to-date reviews based on the current understanding on how forest
trees will cope with and adapt to climate change; the implications for
practicing sustainable forest management in Europe; and inputs and
recommendations to the MCPFE process for further action. The
report.
CARBON 2006: TOWARDS A TRULY GLOBAL MARKET
(Point
Carbon 2006) This report from consulting firm Point Carbon provides an
overview of "volumes, values and trends in 2005" for the EU Emissions
Trading Scheme, Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism, joint
implementation, and other aspects of the market. The
report is available for free download.
CLIMATE POLICY SOLUTIONS: A SECTORAL APPROACH
(GtripleC
Consulting, March 2006) In this paper, Murray Ward considers the
different types of sectoral approaches possible for the post-2012
climate change framework, particularly the in-country sectoral approach,
which has been viewed as a path to attract greater developing country
participation. The
report.
CLIMATE CHANGE: A GATHERING STORM
(ETH Zurich, March 2006) This report be David Victor considers the
international legal commitments for addressing climate change and issues
in implementing the Kyoto Protocol. Victor analyzes the various
economic, social and political challenges in developing countries and
policy instruments for combating climate change. The
report.
RISKS AND CHANCES OF COMBINED FORESTRY AND BIOMASS
PROJECTS UNDER THE CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM
(UNEP RISOE, March 2006) The Capacity Development for CDM (CD4CDM)
Project at the UNEP RISOE Centre has launched a Working Paper Series,
with the first paper focusing on the potential and constraints of
"combining carbon sink and bio-energy use projects in the CDM." The
paper, which was authored by Michael Dutschke, Gerald Kapp, Anna Lehmann
and Volkmar Schafer, also provides an overview of the current state of
biomass use in developing countries. It proposes a "close integration of
the Afforestation/Reforestation and Biomass use methodology work under
the CDM, with the possibility to bundle these two kinds of project
activities." The
paper.
CDM PIPELINE OVERVIEW
(UNEP RISOE, 6 March 2006) The UNEP RISOE Centre on Energy, Climate and
Sustainable Development has published a series of spreadsheets providing
an updated overview of projects in the pipeline of the Kyoto Protocol's
Clean Development Mechanism.
More
information.
THE KYOTO PROTOCOL COMPLIANCE MECHANISM
(Schulthess, March 2006) This book by Juliette Voinov Kohler focuses on
the Kyoto Protocol's compliance mechanism, one of the most
"sophisticated and ambitious compliance mechanisms" relating to a
multilateral environmental agreement. The book is available for purchase
online. It is available only in French.
More information.
ACHIEVING THE MDGS IN ASIA: A CASE FOR MORE AID?
(UNESCAP,
2006) This report analyzes aid to sub-regions in the world on a needs
basis calculated on percentage share of underweight children and other
Millennium Development Goal indicators, and suggests that Asia is being
ignored in favor of Africa. This report was prepared by UNESCAP as
background for the Asia 2015 Conference - Promoting Growth, Ending
Poverty, London, 6-7 March 2006.
The report.
EC ENERGY GREEN PAPER
(EC, March
2006)
The European Commission published this Green Paper on 8 March 2006. It
seeks to develop a common, coherent European Energy Policy, with the
objective of helping the European Union lay the foundations for secure,
competitive and sustainable energy.
The Green Paper.
NOT IF, BUT WHEN: ADAPTING TO NATURAL HAZARDS IN THE
PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION
(World
Bank, 2006) Pacific Island countries rank among the most vulnerable in
the world to natural disasters. According to this policy note written by
14 experts for the World Bank, Pacific Island countries that plan ahead
and act early to avert the impacts from climate change-related and other
natural disasters will do far better in the long term than those
countries that wait for disasters to hit and then repair the damage. The
note calls for urgent action to reduce the risks facing Pacific Islands
countries from more intense and frequent cyclones.
The
policy note.
"NAPASSESS": A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR USE IN
THE NAPA PROCESS
(SEI, 2006) The Stockholm Environment Institute has launch a new tool –
NAPAssess – to assist in identifying options and encouraging
transparency with National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) in
least developed countries. The
tool.
LINKING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION NETWORK WEBSITE
(University of Sussex, 2006) The Climate Change and Disasters Group,
part of the Vulnerability and Poverty Reduction Team at the Institute of
Development Studies, University of Sussex, has launched a new website as
part of the Linking Climate Adaptation (LCA) Network. The website
focuses on climate change adaptation policies, publications,
organizations and information sharing. The
website.
CHANGING CLIMATES – THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
IN A CARBON-CONSTRAINED WORLD
(REN21, February 2006) This report from the Renewable Energy Policy
Network for the 21st Century (REN21) takes the view that renewable
energy must play a significant role in the global energy supply in order
to meet the serious economic and environmental threats resulting from
climate change. The report calls for a major increase in investment,
suggesting that economic instruments can "quickly improve the
cost-competitiveness of renewable energy systems and technologies. The
report.
REPORT OF THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF
THE PARTIES TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION AND THE SEVENTEENTH MEETING OF THE
PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL
(UNEP, 25 January 2006) The official report of the Seventh meeting of
the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the
Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, held from
12-16 December, 2005 in Dakar, Senegal, is now available online. The
report of the meeting.
REPORT OF THE 35TH MEETING OF THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL
IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
(UNEP, 2
February 2006) The official report of the 35th meeting of the
Implementation Committee under the Non-Compliance Procedure for the
Montreal Protocol, held from 7-9 December, 2005 in Dakar, Senegal, is
now available online.
The
report of the meeting.
MONTREAL 2005: WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IT MEANS
(Oxford
Climate Policy, February 2006) This paper by Benito Müller seeks to
explain what occurred in December 2005 at the recent Montreal climate
conferences (the first Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and
eleventh Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change).
More information.
AGENDA FOR CLIMATE ACTION
(Pew
Center, January 2006) The Pew Center on Global Climate Change has
published a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. The plan
sets out both broad policies and short-term actions that could be taken.
The
report.
JOINT IMPLEMENTATION WEBSITE SECTION LAUNCHED
The UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat has launched
a new section of its website containing information on the Kyoto
Protocol's Joint Implementation mechanism and the newly-established
Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee. The
website.
OUTGROWING THE EARTH: THE FOOD SECURITY
CHALLENGE IN AN AGE OF FALLING WATER TABLES AND RISING TEMPERATURES
(Earth
Policy Institute, 2005) This text by Lester Brown examines linkages
between population growth, agricultural productivity, soil fertility,
water tables, climate change and security. The
report.
ASIAN
PERSPECTIVES ON CLIMATE REGIME BEYOND 2012: CONCERNS, INTERESTS AND
PRIORITIES
(IGES,
December 2005) The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES),
in collaboration with several other organizations, has published a new
report reflecting views and priorities of Asian countires in a future
climate regime. The report, which was produced following a series of
stakeholder consultations in the second half of 2005, highlighted issues
such as the development dimension, technology transfer, and adaptation.
A second round of consultations is expected in April 2006. The
first report.
CDM COUNTRY GUIDES
(IGES,
2006) The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies has launched its
CDM County Guides, a series of manuals for the Clean Development
Mechanism for Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and
Thailand. The
reports.
ENERGY "FACTOIDS"
(Sustainable Energy Coalition, 2006) The Sustainable Energy Coalition
has released the second set of five "factoids" in a series considering
various energy issues, including renewable energies, fossil fuels and
reliance on oil, and biomass. The "factoids" outline findings from
recent studies and focus in particular on issues facing the U.S.
More information.
ENERGY PLANNING, TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABILITY: A
PRIMER
(Cen2eco:
Centre for Economic and Ecological Studies, 2005) This primer considers
the "performance, costs, and resource implications for a wide range of
power generation technologies used to supply electricity in energy
markets." It also addresses demand-side considerations at the regional,
national and local levels. The
report.
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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