If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy or review by the BRIDGES staff to Malena Sell.
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION, TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: EMERGING ISSUES. By Annie Dufey. International Institute for Environment and Development, November 2006. Concerns about global warming, high oil prices and energy security have all contributed to a renewed global interest in biofuels as an alternative to oil for transport. This interest is reflected in the rapid expansion of biofuel markets. But what are the implications of this expansion for sustainable development? This paper seeks to provide a preliminary identification of the main sustainable development issues involved in the debate about the production and trade of biofuels. For more information about accessing this report, visit http://www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=15504IIED&n=2&l=6&a=A%20Dufey&x=Y.
BIOENERGY AND AGRICULTURE: PROMISES AND CHALLENGES. Peter Hazell, and R. K. Pachauri (eds.), November 2006. This set of policy briefs examines the potential opportunities and risks bioenergy may pose for poor people and farmers in developing countries. The briefs consider economic, social, environmental, and science and technology issues. They look at how increased bioenergy production may affect the global food balance and examine the need for further research and development in the bioenergy field. Lessons from the experiences of Europe, as well as Brazil and other developing countries, are reviewed. Recommendations on how to move forward to develop bioenergy in ways that can serve the poor and the environment are presented. To access the publication visit http://www.ifpri.org/2020/focus/focus14.asp.
THE PROMISES AND CHALLENGES OF BIOFUELS FOR THE POOR IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. By Joachim von Braun, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute and R. K. Pachauri, director general of The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, India. Essay in the International Food Policy Research Institute 2005-2006 Annual Report. In the past several years, the changing world energy situation has generated intensive discussion about biofuels, much of it promising a source of environment-friendly energy that would also be a boon to the world’s farmers. At the same time skeptics argue that biofuel production will threaten food supplies for the poor and fail to achieve the environmental benefits claimed. This essays explores questions such as: What are the risks and opportunities? What would it take for biofuels to help poor farmers and consumers? To access the report, visit http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/books/ar2005/ar2005_essay.asp.
THE MAGNITUDE AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUEL SUBSIDIES: EVIDENCE FROM BOLIVIA, GHANA, JORDAN, MALI, AND SRI LANKA. By David Coady et al. International Monetary Fund, November 2006. With the recent jump in world oil prices, the issue of petroleum product pricing has become increasingly important in developing countries. Because many governments are reluctant to pass these price increases onto energy users, energy price subsidies are absorbing an increasing share of scarce public resources. This paper identifies the issues that need to be discussed when analyzing the fiscal and social costs of fuel subsidies. Using examples from analyses recently undertaken for five countries, it also identifies the magnitude of consumer subsidies and their fiscal implications. The results of the analysis show that in all of these countries energy subsidies have significant social and fiscal costs and are badly targeted. To access this paper, visit http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=19912.
AN ‘AGENDA FOR CHANGE’: QUANTIFYING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON NATURAL RESOURCE-BASED ECONOMIES. By James MacGregor, Hannah Reid, and Linda Sahlen, October 2006. This is the IIED’s third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which makes clear that even if the Kyoto Protocol is fully implemented, inertial in climatic systems mean that climate change is unavoidable. It concludes that climate change impacts will fall heavily on arid countries in Africa. To access this report, visit http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/11057IIED.pdf.
THE ENERGY CHALLENGE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES. By MJ Mace, October 2006. This report by IIED finds that one of the most prominent development challenges for Pacific Island countries is access to affordable energy supplies. The high cost of petroleum products affects all sectors, impacting islanders’ day to day life and undermining achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals. To access this report, visit http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/11065IIED.pdf.
ENERGY & CLIMATE - A CONTRIBUITION TO THE DIALOGUE ON LONG TERM COOPERATIVE ACTION. World Business Council for Sustainable Development, November 2006. This publication offers some initial thinking on possible options for action on climate change within a revised framework after 2012. According to the report, such a revised framework would learn and build from existing international agreements and incorporate new long-term goals. To access the report, visit http://www.wbcsd.org/templates/TemplateWBCSD2/layout.asp?type=p&MenuId=ODU&doOpen=1&ClickMenu=RightMenu.
FACTORS UNDERPINNING FUTURE ACTION. By Niklas Höhne, Dian Phylipsen and Sara Moltmann, October 2006. Prepared by Ecofys for the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), this report discusses options for a future international climate agreement following the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The objective is to provide an analytical basis for such discussions, and it includes fact sheets with detailed data for 47 countries that provide current emission trends, underlying drivers and a summary of the climate change related policies as well as assessment of the level of emissions that individual countries would be allowed under different scenarios for a future international climate agreement compatible with limiting temperature increase to 2°C. To access the report, visit http://www.fiacc.net/data/Factors_underpinning_future_action.pdf.
.