'The global economy is facing a ‘triple crunch’: a combination of a credit-fuelled financial crisis, accelerating climate change and soaring energy prices underpinned by encroaching peak oil. It is increasingly clear that these three overlapping events threaten to develop into a perfect storm, the like of which has not been seen since the Great Depression, with potentially devastating consequences.
The Green New Deal Group, drawing inspiration from the tone of President Roosevelt’s compre more...

“This publication provides an overview of key facts and societal challenges related to economic development, future energy demand and the impact that demand could have on the climate system.It forms part of the work program of the WBCSD’s Energy and Climate Council Project and provides a platform for future discussion.”

Climate change poses a serious challenge to social and economic development. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions need to move hand in hand with policies and incentives to adapt to the impacts of climate change. How much adaptation might cost, and how large its benefits might be, are issues that are increasingly relevant both for on-the-ground projects and in national and international contexts.

This report provides a critical assessment of adaptation costs and benefits in key climate s more...

After pursuing countless generations of continuous growth, the human species is finally confronted with one of its greatest challenges: how to live sustainably upon the earth. The fact that we have not done so up until now is readily evident – natural resources are running out and being degraded, local environments are experiencing radical climatic changes, and people around the world are dying from starvation and disease. As a result, new models are being sought out in terms of how human shou more...

Ecosystems provide businesses with numerous benefits or "ecosystem services." Forests supply timber and wood fiber, purify water, regulate climate, and yield genetic resources. River systems provide freshwater, power, and recreation.

Coastal wetlands filter waste, mitigate floods, and serve as nurseries for commercial fisheries.

However, human activities are rapidly degrading these and other ecosystems. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - the largest audit ever conducted of the condition more...

The UN Chronicle magazine’s special issue on climate change, “Green Our World!” has recently been published. With climate change having finally taken hold in the public consciousness it reminds that decisive action is urgently needed before it is too late. It offers a snapshot of where the international community currently stands with regard to climate change.

The special issue of the UN chronicle presents a range of perspectives in the form of articles and essays, written by Secretary- more...

As competition between food and fuel threatens to become a pressing constraint on the current biofuel industry, the biofuels world is starting the transition to next generation biofuels. Emerging powerful market drivers and strong political influences are moving ethanol to the next stage and there is huge interest in the next generation of biofuels from the oil majors. Could this be the beginning of a new branch of industry that could grow bigger than the existing 1st generation fuel ethanol i more...

This Friends of the Earth report examines how EU funding plans are shaping up to fuel climate change. It argues that the meager support for energy efficiency, combined with the bias in favor of roads and motorways at the expense of public transport, means that the Central and Eastern European member states are set to miss the opportunity to embark upon climate-friendly development. The report makes three recommendations. First the earmarking of minimum funding shares for the key climate-friendly more...

Green Pages, the online gateway to environmental products and services, facilitates cross-border direct trade by bringing together suppliers and buyers. It aims to deepen and broaden consumer´s ability to make a positive impact through their purchasing, and promotes a shift of public and private financial flows into projects and programs that encourage and contribute to environmentally and socially sustainable development.

The Green Pages database was started in 1994 with the goal of setting more...

The United Nations Environmental Program’s annual year book includes global and regional overviews of significant developments, highlights of key linkages, examinations of new thinking and descriptions of recent research. There is a special feature analyzing the intersection between environment and globalization.