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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS
This page was updated
on: 01/13/10
2007
ASSESSMENTS OF IMPACTS AND ADAPTATIONS TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
(UNEP/GEF, December 2007)
This report, jointly issued by the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
provides examples of how vulnerable communities and countries may
"climate proof" economies, livelihoods and infrastructure, underlining
that factoring climate into development strategies is feasible, but that
hard choices may have to be made. The report's case studies encompass,
among others: food security in the Sahel; artisanal fishing communities
in South America; coastal townships of small islands in the Pacific;
pastoralists in Mongolia; and rice farmers in the lower Mekong basin.
The
report.
WORLD IN TRANSITION – CLIMATE CHANGE AS A SECURITY RISK
(German
Advisory Council on Global Change, December 2007)
The key message
of this report is that without resolute global action, climate change
will overstretch many societies' adaptive capacities within the coming
decades, which could result in destabilization and violence,
jeopardizing national and international security. The report lists
potential hotspots, including northern and southern Africa alongside
countries in the Sahel region, the Mediterranean and Central Asia. The
report.
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.
THE
STATE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2007
(FAO, 2007)
This annual report, issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), explores the potential for agriculture to provide enhanced levels
of environmental services. The report concludes that the demand for
environmental services from agriculture, including climate change
mitigation, improved watershed management and biodiversity protection,
will increase in the future, and that incentives in terms of payment to
farmers are needed if agriculture is to meet this demand. The
report.
BALKAN VITAL GRAPHICS: ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT BORDERS
(UNEP/GRID-Arendal, 2007)
This publication highlights the challenges and opportunities in the
areas of economic cooperation and environmental sustainability in the
Balkan region. Among other things, it notes that while the region's vast
mineral resources and its high potential for renewable energy and
agricultural activity will grant it an important role in Europe in the
future, the Balkan countries still face a big challenge in relation to
environmental protection. The
publication.
A CLIMATE OF CONFLICT
(International Alert, November 2007)
Taking as its starting point the broad scientific consensus expressed by
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the effects of
climate change have started to unfold, this report looks at the social
and human consequences that are likely to arise, particularly the risks
of conflict and instability. It identifies 46 countries at risk of
violent conflict and 56 countries facing a high risk of instability as a
consequence of climate change. 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.
CEO BRIEFING -
BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, BLOOM OR BUST?
(UNEP FI, October 2007)
This briefing paper, issued by the UN Environment Programme Finance
Initiative (UNEP FI) Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Work Stream,
emphasizes the increasing importance that the benefits provided by
biodiversity are valued and accounted for within traditional business
risk frameworks. It recommends that the financial sector should clearly
define the risks and opportunities associated with biodiversity and
ecosystem services. The
briefing 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.
EUROPE'S ENVIRONMENT – THE FOURTH ASSESSMENT
(EEA, October 2007)
The latest in a series of assessments of the pan-European environment,
this report, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA),
evaluates environmental progress in 53 countries, highlighting priority
areas such as: environment-related health concerns; climate change;
biodiversity loss; overuse of marine resources; and current patterns of
consumption and production. The report recommends improved
implementation of existing policies and the setting of clear, realistic
targets. The
report.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE
(UNDP, October 2007)
This report, issued by
the UN Development Programme (UNDP), reviews progress in the development
and implementation of environmental and sustainability policies in South
East Europe, revealing that national environmental action plans and
strategies have been developed and adopted, while implementation is
still in its early stages. The report offers recommendations including:
to continue the development of environmental
institutions at the national level; to customize the education for
sustainable development for each country; and to use the EU accession
process to achieve sustainable development objectives including
Millennium Development Goals. The
report.
BEIJING
2008 OLYMPIC GAMES - AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
(UNEP, 2007)
This report follows a memorandum of understanding between the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Beijing Organizing Committee for
the Olympic Games in 2005, in which UNEP offered assistance to achieve
environmentally friendly games. While acknowledging that significant
environmental measures are being introduced, such as investments in
waste management, cleaner transport systems and water treatment, as well
as new urban green belts, the report also highlights some remaining
concerns including air pollution, under-used public transport, and a
missed opportunity in terms of offsetting greenhouse gases. The
report.
MIND THE GAP
- QUANTIFYING PRINCIPAL-AGENT PROBLEMS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
(OECD, 2007)
Arguing that there is an energy efficiency gap due to barriers in the
energy market, this study offers a methodology and a first attempt at
quantifying the size of one type of barrier to energy efficiency, the
so-called principle-agent problems. |
