SciDev.Net

The World Development Report 2010, published by the World Bank, emphasises the urgent need to tackle climate change. The authors stress that developing countries are likely to bear 75-80 per cent of climate change costs.

But as the poorest countries, they must not be asked to choose between economic growth and climate change. They need policies that enhance development, reduce vulnerability and finance a transition to low-carbon growth, says the report.

A 'climate-smart' world is possible if the global community acts swiftly to reduce emissions in the industrialised world as well as rapidly develop and deploy new clean energy technologies, argues the report.

Achieving this requires an equitable and effective global climate deal that helps developing countries access the funding they need to adapt to climate change and move towards low-carbon growth.

This report, published by the UN Development Programme, reviews more than 600 online documents to consider how energy is included in national decentralisation policies and programmes in least developed countries and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The authors argue that decentralisation can significantly improve access to energy, particularly in poor rural settings. They highlight rural energy programmes in Bangladesh, Mali and Nepal to show how energy decentralisation leads to local community engagement in energy planning and implementation.

The authors find that links between energy and decentralisation are rarely discussed in national policy documents.

To take full advantage of decentralisation opportunities, efforts are needed to integrate energy issues into local development planning and processes.

The authors argue that energy priorities must meet local development aspirations and that development workers must strengthen community participation and delivery and local planning processes.

This report, published by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN and Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security (PISCES), presents fifteen case studies of small-scale bioenergy initiatives across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The authors assess to what extent these initiatives are both providing clean and convenient energy access in developing countries, as well as supporting rural livelihoods.

The case studies focus on a range of bioenergy resources including forestry, agriculture and industrial activities used to meet local energy needs such as cooking, lighting and communication.

The authors conclude that small initiatives can, in some instances, improve energy efficiency as well as increase employment, promote economic growth and improve standards of living. But they highlight concerns with corruption and a lack of local governance.

This report, published by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN and Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security (PISCES), presents fifteen case studies of small-scale bioenergy initiatives across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The authors assess to what extent these initiatives are both providing clean and convenient energy access in developing countries, as well as supporting rural livelihoods.

The case studies focus on a range of bioenergy resources including forestry, agriculture and industrial activities used to meet local energy needs such as cooking, lighting and communication.

The authors conclude that small initiatives can, in some instances, improve energy efficiency as well as increase employment, promote economic growth and improve standards of living. But they highlight concerns with corruption and a lack of local governance.

This report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) calls for international action to combat the global economic crisis with a stimulus package based on clean energy and environmental protection. The author — Edward B Barbier from the University of Wyoming — argues that while stimulating growth and creating jobs are key objectives, unless new policy initiatives also reduce carbon dependency, protect ecosystems and water resources, and alleviate poverty they will not be enough to avert future crises.

Developed countries must remove subsidies and adopt complementary carbon pricing policies, says Barbier. Developing countries should spend at least one per cent of GDP on improving access to clean water and should also expand educational and health services for the poor. And all economies should consider removing water subsidies to increase water efficiency, he adds.

He concludes that the international community has a central role to play in promoting this global green new deal — through global governance, facilitating access to development assistance and enhancing trade incentives.

This report, prepared by Ecofys for the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, aims to inform discussions on commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions post-2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends.

It contains fact sheets for 60 countries that include data on key indicators including energy investments and consumption; investment in research and development; policies and measures in place; and a list of climate related agreements signed up to by each country. Data are predominantly taken from the International Energy Agency or the World Bank.

The report summarises progress towards targets, trends in fuel switching, economic and structural changes, and population trends. Current national status is also shown with projections up to 2020.

This report examines ways to increase flows of domestic and foreign investment into clean energy infrastructure and technology in developing countries. It is a synthesis report of the International Institute for Sustainable Development's Clean Energy Investment project.

The authors outline the investment climate in developing countries and suggest ways that policymakers can remove barriers and establish incentives. They suggest there is a need for analytical national studies that highlight the obstacles to clean energy investment — such as a lack of clear guidance on future energy policy, monopoly structures for existing producers, and weak environmental regulation — and a concerted effort at implementing policies to overcome these. The authors also discuss existing international investment law, suggesting ways in which this might foster more clean energy investment.

A policymakers summary of the report is also available.

Worldwide, greenhouse gas emissions are rising faster in transportation than in any other sector. Rapid motorisation — more cars and trucks — is the principal cause. This report focuses on the challenges faced by developing countries in accommodating and managing motorisation and the demand for improved transportation.

The report provides a broad characterisation of transportation in developing countries, identifying common challenges and opportunities for policymakers, and suggesting policy options that aim to slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

The most important observations are:

• Rapid motorisation — and rapid growth in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions — are unavoidable in most developing nations.
• The relationship between car ownership and income is not fixed.
• Once people have personal vehicles, they use them even if alternative transportation modes are available.
• There are many sensible policies and strategies that would slow the growth of transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions. Key strategies include increasing the cost of using conventional private cars and enhancing the quality and choices of alternative transportation.
• Many of the strategies for slowing and eventually reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation have local as well as global benefits.