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BOFUELS AT WHAT COST? GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BIODIESEL IN MALAYSIA. By Gregore Pio Lopez and Tara Laan. Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), September 2008. The report highlights a number of risks inherent in subsidising fuel: subsidies increase consumption, discourage more efficient use of resources and absorb national budgets that could be spent on social services, such as health and education. It offers the case of Malaysia as a kind of cautionary tale and makes the recommendation that the biofuel industry should be allowed to function in response to market signals-consistent with environmental and social standards-so that the industry establishes itself on a sustainable rather than a government-dependent basis. The report is available at http://www.globalsubsidies.org/en/research/biofuel-subsidies-malaysia
BIOSAFETY AT THE CROSSROADS: AN ANALYSIS OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MARKETING AND TRADE POLICIES FOR GENETICALLY MODIFIED PRODUCTS. By Guillaume P. Gruère and Debdatta Sengupta. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), September 2008. IFPRI analyses the marketing and trade policies for genetically modified (GM) products in South Africa that have been successful in the past and critically reviews recent reforms to these policies. The research shows that South Africa is effectively a significant exporter and importer of both GM and non-GM products. IFPRI also finds that there is a clear movement toward more costly and rigid trade and marketing regulations for GM products in South Africa, with local special-interest groups having an increasing influence on decision making. Yet, the past 10 years have demonstrated that South Africa’s success in taking advantage of biotechnologies under changing global conditions stems mainly from the flexibility of its system. Based on the analysis, the authors provide six policy recommendations to improve rather than rigidify market and trade regulations. The report is available at http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00796.asp
THE ROLE OF SECTOR NO-LOSE TARGETS IN SCALING UP FINANCE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION ACTIVITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. By Murray Ward et al. Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, UK, May 2008. This report addresses policy tools that are becoming increasingly important in what has been referred to as “the new energy revolution.” The paper covers key issues around sector no-lose targets (SNLTs), including necessary steps for implementation at an international level, links between SNLTs and Sustainable Development Policies and Measures (SD-PAMs), domestic implementation and the carbon market, and key challenges. The report is available at http://www.sectoral.org/images/presentations/defra_paper%20on%20sector%20no%20lose%20targets_final.pdf
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