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This paper aims to present a snapshot of some of the best practices in the promotion and use of renewable energy and provide practical examples of the development of renewable energy markets that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean can replicate. It examines current and potential renewable energy markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, economic development benefits of expanding renewable energy markets, policy tools and mechanisms that have been used to build and promote renewable energy in the United States, as well as the role of governments and the private sector.

This publication provides an analysis of the 20 year history of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The aim is to document the ongoing evolution of the GEF and its approaches to biodiversity conservation, development, sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, land degradation, pollution control and other areas of concern, by exploring in detail some of the most salient experiences of the past two decades at the GEF. The publication consists of an analysis of 20 select projects that illustrate the key lessons learned.

This paper examines the role of the auto-rickshaw sector in promoting sustainable urban transport in India. It develops a policy vision for the sector and presents recommendations for reforms. The study is based on the three following key strategies of the Avoid-Shift-Improve (ASI) framework: avoid unnecessary trips; shift to more sustainable transport modes; improve performance in all modes. In assessing the role of the auto-rickshaw sector in promoting sustainable urban transport, the paper looks specifically at how auto-rickshaws can contribute to the Shift and Improve strategies using a two-pronged approach: examination of the role of the type of service (contract carriage), as part of the Shift strategy; and assessment of the need for improvements in the type of vehicle (motorised three-wheeler), as part of the Improve strategy.

This report introduces the National Adaptive Capacity (NAC) framework, a tool to help governments bring institutional capacity development into their adaptation planning processes. The NAC framework enables its users to systematically assess institutional strengths and weaknesses that may help or hinder adaptation. National adaptation plans may then be better designed to make best use of strengths or remedy weaknesses. The report describes three pilot assessments conducted using the NAC framework in Bolivia, Ireland and Nepal. The pilots used the NAC framework as a tool for monitoring and base-line setting, to catalyse action and fill capacity gaps, and to gather and synthesise resources (found particularly useful in Nepal and Bolivia). The pilot applications suggest that the NAC framework is useful across a range of countries and that it can be tailored to specific country contexts.

This report by CARE highlights the need for Rio+20 to deliver on sustainable development solutions with equity and resilience as central pillars. It includes the following recommendations for the United Nations conference: ensure that discussions fully and explicitly recognise that urgent action on climate change must be part of a global action plan for sustainable development; prioritise adaptation and resilience to climate change in green economy as essential for the poorest and most vulnerable groups; pursue developed country mitigation strategies by shifting to low carbon development pathways globally; create a set of universal sustainable development goals (SDGs) that address all three (economic, environmental, social) dimensions of sustainable development alongside the drivers of poverty and inequality; recognise that solutions to these crises must be based on principles of good governance and equity.

This report examines the potential impact of low carbon electricity generation technologies on water resources and how these water considerations might shape renewable generation choices. The report notes that some low carbon energy sources require considerable amounts of water and given competing demands, resource depletion and projected climate impacts, sufficient water may not always be available. The report explores the ways in which a changing climate and associated hydrologic changes may affect electricity generation strategies; in particular, where future climate change may significantly decrease water availability. It examines the water use implications of different electricity generation pathways, as well as potential ways to reduce the water use of electricity generation technologies.

This annual report presents an optimistic view of the carbon market, which grew by 11 per cent in 2011. The report shows that despite the financial crisis and the related oversupply of carbon credits within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as a result of economic downturn, plummeting carbon prices and uncertainty about the post 2020 framework, financially motivated transactions continued to grow within the carbon market. However, it underscores that prices fell during 2011. The report indicates that although China remained the largest source of contracted certified emissions reductions (CERs), African countries emerged stronger in 2011 and accounted for 21 per cent of post-2012 CERs contracted during the year.

The document was developed under the project "Strengthening National Capacity to Assess and Develop Policy Options on Climate Change to support Bali Action Plan negotiations" The document includes the following sections: (1) Why is the transport sector important? (2) Characterisation of the transport sector in Ecuador. (3) Proposed mitigation measures. (4) Scope of assessment of investment and financial flows. (5) Methodology and proposed recommendations for the evaluation of investment and financial flows. The original document is in Spanish.