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…)
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…)
Speech on International Cooperation Forum on Resources and Environment, Changsha, China
The world is facing two crises at the same time, the economic crisis and the crisis of climate change. It is an interesting time for us; and a great challenge for policy makers, the public and the business sector as well. (more…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
This Analytical Note evaluates how far the commitments contained in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus were fulfilled. It also examines the adequacy of the Monterrey Consensus as a framework for guiding international policy decisions and actions in current circumstances, (more…)
The Administrative Costs of Climate Change Adaptation Financing: the Global Environment Facility as an Operating Entity of the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism.
This Analytical Note looks at the administrative costs involved with having the GEF as an operating entity for the climate change funds for developing countries (i.e. the Least-Developed Country Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund) established by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism. (more…)
Financing the Global Climate Change Response: Suggestion for a Climate Change Fund (CCF).
This South Centre Analytical Note stresses that the provision of financing to developing countries to implement the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is required of developed countries under the Convention. (more…)
¨Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable¨: Using the UNFCCC’s Existing MRV Mechanisms in the Context of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action Under the Convention.
This South Centre Analytical Note suggests that the modalities for the “measurable, reportable, and verifiable” (MRV) conditions under operative paragraph 1(b)(i) and (ii) of the Bali Action Plan should be the existing MRV modalities with respect to mitigation commitments, financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building under the Convention. (more…)
Promoting the Development of the South in the Trade and Climate Regimes.
This South Centre Analytical Note stresses that addressing the challenges of development and climate change requires an integrated approach. Both the trade and climate regimes have a role to play. (more…)
Human-induced climate change is now well recognized as a physical and global reality. Global warming associated with climate change has begun to affect global weather patterns, sea levels, snow cover, ice sheets and rainfall. Regional climate patterns shifts are already affecting watersheds and ecosystems all over the world. (more…)