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This manual outlines key approaches to help in assessing vulnerability to climate change in the context of other non-climatic issues and stresses such as environmental change and consumption levels, and their integration with other drivers and pressures. It aims to help identify impacts of changing climate and developing adaptive responses. It builds on the Integrated Environmental Assessment (IEA) conceptual framework and analytic methods by providing guidance for their application to the case of climate change while preserving an integrated approach.

This analytical report provides an overview of new environmental science and recent developments in our changing environment. It looks at progress in environmental governance, the effects of continuing degradation and loss of the world’s ecosystems, and the impacts of climate change. It also analyzes how harmful substances and hazardous waste affect human health and the environment and discusses environmentally related disasters and conflicts and unsustainable use of resources. The chapters correspond to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s six thematic priorities.

This analytical report examines global emerging issues and latest developments and trends in environmental matters. The publication’s overview of events and developments during 2010 shows how cutting edge science reveals new opportunities to mitigate climate change while improving air quality. The report also gives numerous examples of practical measures that can be taken to prevent further pollution and resource depletion. However, the persistence of environmental problems tracked over time also shows that there is still much room to improve the effectiveness of environmental governance.

This presentation provides context to WTO Doha round trade negotiations to reduce or eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services. It explores a number of submissions from WTO Members to the Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session (CTESS) on approaches to identify environmental goods (EG), and presents trade data and statistics on the ‘universe of goods’ covered by submissions. Some of the goods proposed by Members for liberalization are related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

This presentation first explores WTO activities and rules relevant to domestic climate change mitigation measures. It then provides an overview of discussions of carbon footprinting and energy efficiency labelling schemes in the WTO.

This background note presents the link between trade and environment in the World Trade Organization (WTO). It states that current WTO rules provide significant scope to protect the environment and tackle climate change while maintaining trade openness. It also explores the trade implications of climate change, and the links between WTO Doha round trade negotiations and climate change. 

This document provides an overview of the linkages between the multilateral trading system and climate change, and related World Trade Organization (WTO) activities. The issue of climate change, per se, is not part of the WTO’s ongoing work programme and there are no WTO rules specific to climate change. However, the WTO is relevant because climate change measures and policies intersect with international trade in a number of different ways. The document explores how climate change is related to the WTO Doha round trade negotiations, and also how climate change is addressed in regular WTO Committee work.

This video discusses the role of the trading system in dealing with climate change. Can WTO rules and a successful outcome to the Doha round contribute to a multilateral solution to climate change? Or will policymakers have to consider options which curb trade flows around the world? What is the role that trade has to play in one of the most important global issues? Mari Pangestu, Indonesia’s Minister for Trade, and Mark Halle, Director of Trade and Investment at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, discuss the issues with Keith Rockwell, WTO Spokesperson. 

This technical document aims to analyze the relevance of certain World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to the interface between climate change and trade, focusing in particular on border measures, technical regulations on trade, standards and labelling, and subsidies and countervailing duties. It concludes that in the absence of clear international understandings on how to manage the climate change and trade interface, there is the concrete risk of a clash that compromises the effectiveness of climate change policies as well as the potential gains from specialization through trade.

This analytical report applies a human development approach to the study of migration. It discusses who migrants are, where they come from and go to, and why they move. It looks at the multiple impacts of migration for all who are affected by it. It also addresses environmental issues that can be a key driver of human movement. In particular, climate change is projected to increase environmental stress in already marginal lands and to raise the frequency of natural hazards. Continued greenhouse gas emissions are likely to be associated with changes in rainfall patterns, desertification, more frequent storms and rises in sea level, all of which have implications for human movement.

This analytical report makes the business case for private sector adaptation to climate change, including through building the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries. It draws on the results of a 2010 survey of corporate signatories to the UN Global Compact and the UNEP Caring for Climate initiative, as well as on existing literature. It indicates that 86% of global businesses surveyed described responding to climate risks or investing in adaptation as a business opportunity, and 83% of companies stated that climate change impacts pose a risk to their products and service. Key recommendations include that businesses integrate climate adaptation into core strategic planning and build a portfolio of climate-resilient goods and services.

This activity report demonstrates through good practice case studies that UNESCO biosphere reserves are ideal places to test, to evaluate and to implement comprehensive climate change policies. This publication contains a selection of 28 case studies from around the world on good practice in this policy field and shows what UNESCO biosphere reserves are already doing today.

This module is arranged to address four main issues around the role of resource efficiency in environmentally sustainable economic development. Firstly, it explores what is resource efficiency, then it discusses why it is important for Asia Pacific economies, how it can be measured and how it can be achieved. Measuring and monitoring resource use and emissions as well as resource efficiency and emissions intensity of economic activities is an important tool to underpin the policy planning process.

This manual is published to the attention of the local administrations and Governments and has three main objectives. Firstly, it aims to explain generally what the Kyoto Protocol and CDM scheme consist of. Secondly, it aims to identify the environmental, social and financial benefits associated with the development of a CDM project from existing municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal site. Thirdly, it supports the assessment of whether a disposal site meets the basic technical and economic feasibility criteria and what could be the barriers to implementing.

This analytical report provides a synoptic overview of the various issues relating to climate change abatement initiatives with specific reference to the issues, challenges and opportunities for the effective implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in countries of Asia and the Pacific. It is intended to provide a ready reference to the development that has so far taken place, the modalities and procedures for participation in the CDM and the issues which need to be addressed for tapping its potential. This publication aims to help decision makers, policy analysts and others concerned with the CDM process to ponder over the perceived barriers and opportunities of CDM.

This analytical report tries to provide an overall assessment of the current status of energy efficiency (EE) institutions in selected Central, South and South-East Asian countries. This is done by identifying the enabling policy and legal structures for EE, relevant actors, selected EE programmes and activities, and barriers and challenges for institutions to effectively promote and implement EE programmes. This publication is designed as a primary reference for government officials and others responsible for developing, implementing, enforcing, monitoring, and maintaining EE policies and programmes.

This analytical report considers that countries in Asia and the Pacific need to promote green growth, a growth that is both inclusive and sustainable to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals while also stewarding the region’s natural resources for future generations. In particular it analyzes the financing of green growth, the regional architecture for financial cooperation, how financial services can work for the poor and the role of technology.

This analytical report discusses the challenges of applying low carbon concept and the availability of clean energy technologies for developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region. Various approaches and examples to demonstrate the benefits of a low carbon development path as well as different implementation strategies are presented. The report also includes a policy framework and policy recommendations for the energy sector. 

This analytical report highlights the shifts that have taken place in the outlook for the Asian and Pacific region since 2005. While the region’s countries are driving the global green growth agenda, the report shows that the challenge of eco-efficient economic growth and inclusive resource use is critical and still growing and that fundamental changes are needed. The report is intended to assist policymakers involved in the 2010 Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific and other stakeholders.

This analytical report observes that the economic boom in the Asia-Pacific region has been fuelled by surges of energy consumption, especially of fossil fuels, including oil, gas and coal. However, high dependency on fossil fuels is aggravating the region’s vulnerability to volatile energy prices, threatening energy security. The establishment of a sustainable energy framework, with ramifications for the agricultural sector and rural development in terms of energy inputs for improved agricultural productivity, is discussed. Even though energy efficiency is seen as a valuable approach for cutting energy costs, the report argues for renewables as an option to supplement fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.