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This analytical report provides an overview of the key problems and perspectives toward sustainable production and use of biofuels. It is based on an extensive literature study, taking into account recent major reviews, and considering a wide range of different views from eminent experts worldwide. The focus is on so-called first generation biofuels while considering further lines of development. This focus is due to state-of-the-art and data availability until the end of 2008. Potential benefits and impacts of second and third generation biofuels – preferably referred to as ‘advanced biofuels’ – are partially included. The report focuses on the global situation, recognising regional differences.

This factsheet presents the report “Towards Sustainable Production and Use of Resources: Assessing Biofuels”. This report is the result of extensive literature examination and a thorough review process, involving a number of experts, to provide a robust assessment of key problems of production and use of biomass for energy purposes and options for more efficient and sustainable production and use of biomass. The focus is on so-called first generation biofuels, due to availability of state-of–the art reviews, but also considers further lines of development. It takes a global perspective, recognizing regional and local differences. Also available in Japanese.

This document provides a summary of the report “Towards Sustainable Production and Use of Resources: Assessing Biofuels”. This report intends to provide policy relevant information on the assessment of the environmental and social costs and benefits of biofuels. It provides an overview of the key problems and perspectives towards sustainable production and use of biomass for energy purposes. In particular, the report examines options for more efficient and sustainable production and use of biomass. In the overall context of enhancing resource productivity, it addresses «modern biomass use» for energetic purposes, such as biomass used for (co-)generation of heat and power and liquid biofuels for transport, and relates it to the use of biomass for food and material purposes. Also available in Japanese.

This short story is aimed at sensitizing children to the importance of environment conservation and waste reclining. It is part of the Tunza Environmental Series for Children that seeks to inspire caring for the Earth through creative literature that sparks the interest and awareness of children, their parents and teachers.

This short story is aimed at sensitizing children to the importance of environment conservation in big cities and waste recycling. It is part of the Tunza Environmental Series for Children that seeks to inspire caring for the Earth through creative literature that sparks the interest and awareness of children, their parents and teachers.

This technical document reviews the effectiveness of the environmental measures related to preparations for Expo 2010 and, in general, those that are being undertaken by Shanghai to revamp the overall infrastructure of the city.  Measures and achievements are documented and analyzed and recommendations are made to assist the Shanghai municipal government to strengthen environmental initiatives for and beyond the Expo 2010. The publication highlights several accomplishments including the green transport vision of Shanghai. This plan involves the construction of a world-class rapid transit network and experimenting with new energy-efcient vehicles such as the super capacitor trolleybuses and electric, hydrogen fuel-cell and hybrid buses.

This technical document presents the initial action undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) immediately following the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip in January 2009 and summarizes the scientific findings of the complex assessment process carried out there by UNEP at the request of its Governing Council during the spring and early summer of 2009. Concrete recommendations are provided for the remediation of environmental damage caused by the recent escalation of hostilities, as well as for longer-term improvement of the environmental situation in the Gaza Strip. 

This manual is designed to serve as a guide for practitioners engaged in mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into national development planning. It draws on a substantial body of experience at the country level and many lessons learned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in working with governments – especially ministries of planning, finance and environment – to support efforts to integrate the complex interrelationship between poverty reduction and improved environmental management into national planning and decision-making.

This technical document aims to analyze the projects implemented by the city of Beijing to incorporate environmental sustainability into the 2008 Olympic Games and fulfill the environmental commitments made during the candidature phase. It considers the programmes and projects developed by the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and the initiatives of relevant Beijing Municipal Government Departments, Bureaus, Agencies and Commissions within the boundaries of the municipal territory. The study was conducted between February and July 2007, and the analysis includes data and information collected in Beijing between March and May 2007.

This technical document provides a comprehensive assessment of environmental state-and-trends in Africa and the implications of this for human well-being and development. The assessment includes an analysis of policy responses and the opportunities available to policymakers to maximize the benefits offered by the environment. The report also highlights the potential of the region’s natural resource base to support development and sustain human livelihoods.

This technical document provides a comprehensive, scientifically credible, policy-relevant and up-to-date assessment of, and outlook for, the state of the global environment. Environment for development is the GEO-4 underlying theme. The report pays special attention to the role and impact of the environment on human well-being as well as to the use of environmental valuation as a tool for decision-making. It also shows that environmental degradation is diminishing the potential for sustainable development. Policies for action are highlighted to facilitate alternative development paths.

This technical document outlines current approaches to applying social and environmental standards and principles, and highlights current REDD+ safeguard initiatives from the  Forest and Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), UN-REDD and REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards, including lessons learned and anticipated challenges to safeguards application. 

This technical document discusses benefit-sharing approaches associated with payments for ecosystem services, participatory forest management, and forest concession revenue sharing arrangements. The publication also assesses the ability of these policy approaches to address drivers of deforestation, and summarizes challenges and lessons learned from REDD+ benefit sharing planning to date.

This analytical report aims to help decision makers improve the effectiveness of domestic REDD+ decision-making processes by learning from other partners’ experiences and beginning to identify best practices. It includes: a) a preliminary set of common terms relating to stakeholder participation; b) a framework for categorizing and describing different types of stakeholder engagement processes necessary to facilitate sharing of relevant experiences; c) a discussion of the types of information that seem most relevant for practitioners to share; and d) next steps for developing a comprehensive and sustained approach to sharing information and identifying good practices.

This manual consists of a press kit designed to help journalists better understand the global postal sector, its major players and its environmental activities. The postal sector is a major industry, employing more than 5 million people and operating thousands of buildings and vehicles around the world. The UPU is committed to protecting the environment and has had a group working on environmental issues since 1994. The group’s activities focus on sharing knowledge, resources and best practices among member countries.

This activity report introduces UPU’s activities aimed at promoting sustainable development and fighting climate change, in accordance with its world postal strategy for 2009-2012. In particular, the group “Environment and Sustainable Development” has undertaken many activities to better share knowledge, resources and best practices among member countries. In addition, sub-groups are studying how the postal sector could better utilize renewable energies and how to promote the use of alternative vehicles for mail delivery.

This manual covers thirteen major adaptation technologies that reduce impacts of coastal erosion and flooding due to climate change. For each technology, the authors present a technology description, its advantages and disadvantages, costs and benefits, institutional organisation requirements and detailed examples about its application. This guidebook is intended to be a practical tool for use by coastal zone managers in developing countries. The aim is to provide best practice guidance and assist these managers in assessing their evolving adaptation needs and help them to prepare action plans for adapting to climate change in the coastal zone.

This activity report provides an overview of UNEP’s activities in 2009 carried out by the organization as it follows its mandate to provide environmental leadership and promote sustainable development. Taking the theme of “Seizing the Green Opportunity”, the report provides an overview of UNEP’s activities in 2009 through the green economy lens. Highlights of the year include the emergence of green growth initiatives around the world, the innovative approaches to address climate change and ecosystem loss, and the renewed efforts to strengthen international environmental governance.

This analytical report assesses the advantages and disadvantages of using different types of publicly backed guarantee structures at various stages of product and technology innovation and deployment. The study examines the experience of public financing agencies and relevant lessons learned. The main intended audience includes programme designers and implementers, as well as programme strategists and policy-makers. 

This activity report presents activities, progress and achievements of the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) in 2009. In March 2009, the UN-REDD Programme launched the initial readiness process in 9 pilot countries. By the end of the same year a total of US$24 million had been approved by the Policy Board for quick start action for country programmes to prepare national REDD+ strategies, engage stakeholders and develop measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems. At the global level, the UN-REDD Programme made a number of significant contributions in the area of  MRV, engagement of indigenous peoples and civil society in REDD+ activities, promotion of the multiple benefits of forests, and strengthening interagency collaboration.