This paper investigates the practice of using free allowances within an ETS, and analyses whether this can amount to a subsidy. The purpose is to shed light on a policy tool that is widely used, and to discuss whether it might conflict with trade and trade rules and thus with the opportunities of trade to contribute to sustainable development.

This paper examines underlying issues and lays out an array of possibilities. To set the issue in context, it looks first at the history and evolving nature of human adaptation to climate. It then highlights key issues in the design of adaptation policy, and summarises and assesses international adaptation efforts to date. Finally, the paper outlines three broad and potentially complementary approaches to future international efforts: adaptation under the UNFCCC; integration with development; and "climate" insurance.

This report hopes to present a comprehensive overview of the Cuban model of risk reduction in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery and explore what may be adapted from this model in other countries. This report focuses on specific recommendations for Central America. The final section of this report draws out several mechanisms from the Cuban model that might be adapted to Central America based on that region's rich history of grassroots experience in social organisation.

Drawing on field work surveys in rural northwest Pakistan, this paper provides empirical evidence of individual, household, and community level variables that play a vital role in the adoption of improved cookstoves. Using regression analysis, the study finds that education and household income are the most significant factors that determine a household willingness to adopt improved biomass stoves. The study concludes that the rate of adoption could substantially be improved if the government and non-governmental organizations play a greater role in overcoming the social, economic, cultural, political, and institutional barriers to adopting improved cooking technologies.

Bangladesh, with significant dependence on foreign aid after Independence especially for relief and reconstruction purposes, has diversified aid inflows over time to meet the country’s increasing development needs. Foreign aid, particularly to the education sector, has ,however, declined over the years. This paper examines the fluctuations in aid inflows to the education sector in Bangladesh vis-à-vis the country’s domestic spending in education. Analysing aid volatility for the period 1980-2008, the paper reports that volatility in aid flows has not led to higher volatility in government’s own spending on education. The results also validate that government’s spending on education has led to improved performance in education indicators such as primary school enrollment.