Environment and Sustainable Development

Climate Policy Brief 2, December 2009

Copenhagen and After.

This Policy Brief looks at the process leading up to and the substantive provisions of the Copenhagen Accord. It identifies key issues in the Accord that would be important to consider for developing countries in light of their potential implications for the UNFCCC negotiations. (more…)

Climate Policy Brief 1, December 2009

Copenhagen: Key Issues for Developing Countries.
This paper summarises the key issues that need to be resolved if the Copenhagen Climate Conference is to succeed.  They include the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the global climate regime, the emission cuts of developed countries, the attempts to shift responsibiity to developing countries, finance and technology for developing countries, and the danger of climate trade protectionism. (more…)

Analytical Note, November 2009

A development-oriented approach in making ¨Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable¨operational.

This Analytical Note looks at how MRV metrics and modalities in relation to paragraphs 1(b)(i) and (ii) of the UNFCCC Bali Action Plan (BAP) can be made operational in ways that reflect the primary sustainable development concerns and perspectives of developing country Parties to the UNFCCC. (more…)

Paper on Bali Action Plan Negotiations Under the UNFCCC, November 2009

Options on Possible Forms of the Agreed Outcome of the Bali Action Plan Negotiations Under the UNFCCC

This document seeks to outline the positive and constraining aspects of various options relating to the possible forms that the agreed outcome of the AWG-LCA process could result in, consistent with its mandate under the Bali Action Plan to enhance the full, sustained and effective implementation of the UNFCCC “now, up to and beyond 2012”. (more…)

Research Paper 25, October 2009

The Gap between Commitments and Implementation: Assessing the Compliance by Annex I Parties with their Commitments under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.

This research paper looks at the extent of compliance by developed countries listed in Annex I of the UNFCCC of their obligations under the UNFCCC to undertake mitigation and to provide financing, technology, and capacity building to developing countries. (more…)

Paper on Carbon-Based Competitiveness, Trade and Climate Change, October 2009

Carbon-Based Competitiveness, Trade and Climate Change: Perspectives of Developing Countries.

This paper analyses a number of issues raised by the increasing links between the global trade and climate agendas such as tariff liberalisation on green technologies, the use of low carbon standards, intellectual property rights and border adjustment measures. The paper examines these issues from the perspectives of developing countries focusing on the political and economic considerations that underlie them. (more…)

Policy Brief 17, October 2009

The gap between commitments and implementation: Assesing the compliance by Annex I parties with their commitments under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.

This research paper looks at the extent of compliance by developed countries listed in Annex I of the UNFCCC of their obligations under the UNFCCC to undertake mitigation and to provide financing, technology, and capacity building to developing countries. (more…)

Policy Brief 16, September 2009

International Trade and Climate Change.

The Waxman – Markey bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives envisages certain measures to restrict carbon dioxide emissions and requires the president to levy a charge on imports of carbon-intensive products from countries that do not adopt similar climate change measures. U.S. importers would have to buy carbon “allowances” for such products, purportedly for maintaining a level playing ground between domestic and overseas producers. (more…)

Analytical Note, August 2009

Accelerating climate-relevant technology innovation and transfer to developing countries: using TRIPs flexibilities under the UNFCCC.

This Analytical Note examines flexibilities in the Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and possible technology transfer approaches under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (more…)

Analytical Note, January 2009

Developed country climate financing initiatives weaken the UNFCCC.

This Analytical Note looks at the level and delivery vehicles of public financing for climate change actions in developing countries from developed country Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (i.e. the Parties listed in Annex I of the Convention). (more…)

Analytical Note, September 2008

Sustainable development in the context of climate change: overriding priority of the South.

This Analytical Note stresses that both sustainable development and climate change are interlinked. Climate change will have impacts on the pace and progress of developing countries’ efforts to achieve sustainable development objectives, while achieving such objectives form the fundamental premise upon which developing countries are undertaking their actions to address climate change. (more…)

Analytical Note, August 2008

The Role of Decentralized Renewable Energy Technologies in Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries.

This paper analyses the positive impact of Decentralized Renewable Energy Technologies on enhancing climate change adaptation capacity in developing countries facing climate change-related increasing hazards. (more…)