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TITLE World Economic and Social Survey 2009:
Promoting Development, Saving the Planet
DATE September 2009
  The World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) provides objective analysis of pressing long-term social and economic development issues, and discusses the positive and negative impact of corresponding policies. The analyses are supported by analytical research and data included in the annex.
Cover TITLE Natural Resources Forum Virtual Issue on Climate Change
 
   
Policy Brief #18 UNDESA Policy Brief # 18 : Climate Change and Technology Transfer: The Need for a Regional Perspective
July 2009 [pdf 100 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #17 UNDESA Policy Brief # 17 : Reaching a Climate Deal in Copenhagen
June 2009 [pdf 72 KB]
Policy Brief #16 UNDESA Policy Brief # 16 : Forests: the Green and REDD of Climate Change
April 2009 [pdf 67.28 KB]
Policy Brief #15 UNDESA Policy Brief # 15 : Finance for Forests and Climate Change
April 2009 [pdf 61.32 KB]
TITLE The TRIPS Agreement and Transfer of Climate-Change-Related Technologies to Developing Countries
[pdf 625.54 KB]
DATE October 2008
ABSTRACT Despite numerous international commitments to promote transfer of climate-change related technologies to developing countries, such transfers are not occurring at a sufficient rate to aid these nations in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. The impact of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on transfer of these technologies is discussed through a detailed examination of relevant TRIPS provisions. The paper also addresses options for improving technology transfer through exploitation of existing TRIPS flexibilities, modification of the Agreement, and other public and private legal and policy avenues.
TITLE Climate Change: Technology Development & Technology Transfer [pdf 1.3 MB]
DATE 2008
CONTENTS
excerpt:		 I. Introduction..............................................................................1
II. Technologies, technology transfer and barriers.............................11
III. Mechanisms for enhancing technology development and transfer..38
IV. Public-private roles and partnerships for innovation and technology transfer.......................................................................................67
Trends Cover TITLE Trends in Sustainable Development 2008-2009
DATE April 2008
FOREWORD
excerpt:		 ...This report highlights key developments and recent trends in agriculture, rural development, land, desertification and drought, five of the six themes being considered by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) at its 16th and 17th sessions (2008-2009)...

...A separate Trends Report addresses developments in Africa, the sixth thematic issue under consideration by the Commission...
TITLE The relationship between rainfall and human density and its implications for future water stress in sub-Saharan Africa, DESA Working Paper No. 57
[pdf 1.51 MB]
DATE October 2007
ABSTRACT This paper uses Geographic Information System (GIS) data on population density, rainfall and climate change scenarios in order to identify areas that will be subject to increased water stress due to insufficient precipitation to support their projected population levels in 2050. Density increases across the continent should lead to a significant increase in the extent of water stressed zones, especially around the Sahel belt and in Eastern Africa. Changes in rainfall, the pattern of which remains inherently uncertain today, could mitigate or compound those effects. Consequences of unsustainably high local densities such as migrations are bound to become more prevalent.
TITLE Climate Change and Sustainable Development, DESA Working Paper No. 56
[pdf 218 KB]
DATE October 2007
ABSTRACT Th is paper argues that in the future the primary focus of policy research and global agreements should be the de-carbonization of economic development. Consequently, instead of treating climate stabilization and economic development as separate and equal, the strategy should be to re-integrate the two global policy goals, in part by separating responsibility (and funding) from action. Th is will require an approach that goes beyond Kyoto. Th e paper invokes the example of the Manhattan Project to argue for a massive, globally funded public investment program for the deployment of renewable energy technologies in developing countries.
TITLE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Promoting Climate-Friendly Household Consumption Patterns [pdf 224 KB]
DATE 30 April 2007

CONTENTS
  1. Introduction .................................................................. 3
  2. The role of households in energy consumption .................. 3
  3. Elements of household energy consumption ...................... 7
    (a) Overview
    (b) Space heating and hot water
    (c) Appliances and lighting
    (d) Transportation
    (e) Food
  4. Policy considerations ..................................................... 24
    (a) Taxes
    (b) Subsidies
    (c) The rebound effect
    (d) Cooperation with the private sector and civil society
    (e) Innovative approaches
  5. References .................................................................. 30
Trends Cover TITLE Trends in Sustainable Development 2006-2007
DATE April 2006
FOREWORD
excerpt:		 ...This report highlights key developments and recent trends in the areas of Energy for Sustainable Development, Industrial Development, Atmosphere/Air Pollution and Climate Change — the four interrelated topics being considered by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its 14th and 15th sessions (2006-07)...