Publication: The social and environmental implications of urbanization strategies and domestic land grabbing in China: the case of Chongming island by G. Siciliano (19 Apr 2013)

The social and environmental implications of urbanization strategies and domestic land grabbing in China: the case of Chongming island by G. SicilianoView full reportPDFDomestic land grabbing is defined as the process of land expropriation and displacement put in place by governments within their country borders to supposedly enhance development. While development-induced displacement occurs all over the world, China is responsible for a large fraction...

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Publication: A Citizens’ Guide to Energy Subsidies in Thailand (19 Apr 2013)

IISD Publications CentreA Citizens’ Guide to Energy Subsidies in Thailand» Tara Laan, IISD, 2013.Paper, 64 pages, copyright: IISD, ISBN 978-1-894784-63-4Thailand has stabilized and subsidized energy prices for decades in an effort to shield consumers from volatile energy prices and improve access to energy. Despite significant reforms to deregulate parts of its fuels market, Thailand’s subsidies for fuel and electricity totalled at least THB...

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Publication: Protecting carbon to destroy forests: land enclosures and REDD+ (19 Apr 2013)

Protecting carbon to destroy forests: land enclosures and REDD+View full reportPDFThis paper argues that REDD+ will not stop forest destruction developing countries and the underlying causes of deforestation remain untouched. The paper suggests that because REDD+ is embedded in the logic that environmental destruction in one location can be ‘compensated’ in another, it acts to reinforce the underlying drivers of deforestation and climate change....

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Publication: Comparative Analysis of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: Lessons from Tunisia and Indonesia (20 Apr 2013)

IISD Publications CentreComparative Analysis of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: Lessons from Tunisia and Indonesia» Anne Hammill, Livia Bizikova, Julie Karami-Dekens, Matthew McCandless, GIZ, 2013.Paper, 40 pages, copyright: GIZVulnerability assessments (VAs) are central to shaping climate change adaptation decisions. They help to define the nature and extent of the threat that may harm a given human or ecological system,...

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UEBT: New Report Highlights Growing Biodiversity Awareness Worldwide (19 Apr 2013)

 New Report Highlights Growing Biodiversity Awareness WorldwideParis/Montreal, 19 April 2013 - 75% of consumers surveyed worldwide are aware of biodiversity, while 48% can give a correct definition of the term biodiversity. These are some of the findings contained in the 2013 Biodiversity Barometer report launched today in Paris by the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT). Consumers in Brazil, China and France, according to the study, show a particular...

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Chinese Updates: UN to Support China to Phase out Ozone-Depleting Substances, with Major Climate Benefits (23 Apr 2013)

 UN to Support China to Phase out Ozone-Depleting Substances, with Major Climate Benefits23 April 2013 - The United Nations body that supports developing countries to phase out substances that damage the ozone layer will provide China with up to US$380 million in funding to eliminate industrial production of the ozone-depleting substances HCFCs (or hydrochlorofluorocarbons) by the year 2030, it was announced today.China - the world's largest...

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UNEP: Asia Overtakes Rest of the World in Consumption of Materials (24 Apr 2013)

 Asia Overtakes Rest of the World in Consumption of MaterialsBangkok, 24 April 2013 - Asia Pacific has surpassed the rest of the world in its consumption of materials and will continue to dominate world material flows, according to a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report released today.The region's trade balance indicates that the current rate of exploitation of its resource base is no longer sufficient to support the region's fast-growing...

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Events: National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) Public Symposium 2013: A Borderless Global Environment – movement of atmosphere, life, water and natural resources organized by NIES on 14 Jun and 21 Jun 2013

National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) Public Symposium 2013: A Borderless Global Environment – movement of atmosphere, life, water and natural resourcesApril 19 (Friday), 2013Public Relations Office, Planning Department, National Institute forEnvironmental Studies(Contact: 029-850-2453)The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) will hold their annual Public Symposium over two Fridays in June, with respective...

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Publication: Urban wastewater and agricultural reuse challenges in India by P. Amerashnghe (Apr 2013)

Urban wastewater and agricultural reuse challenges in India by P. AmerashngheView full reportPDFUrban wastewater management has become a major challenge in India as infrastructural development and regulations have not kept pace with population growth and urbanisation. This stuudy argues that against the backdrop of water scarcity and climate change, it is important to examine issues related to wastewater reuse more holistically and to investigate...

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Publication: Climate resilience and disaster risk management: stories of change from CDKN by M. Dupar (Apr 2013)

Climate resilience and disaster risk management: stories of change from CDKN by M. DuparView full reportPDFThis brief presents results from projects supported by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) to assess vulnerability and mainstream climate resilience into development planning. Case studies from India, Ghana and Colombia illustrate the importance of involving diverse social groups in defining and monitoring vulnerability...

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