This fourth edition of the United Nations progress report on the state of global biodiversity calls for bold and accelerated innovative global action to meet the globally-agreed strategic plan for bio

The promise that genetically modified crops can “feed the world” is largely used by the biotechnology industry to encourage widespread acceptance of this controversial technology, but it is disconnected from the complex reality of world hunger and the limitations of GM crops themselves.

This paper outlines the opportunities that fossil-fuel subsidy reform offers for funding future Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the context of Asia. The paper looks at fossil-fuel subsidies and their reform in relation to sustainable development in general, and specifically with regard to proposed SDGs.

This report explores a hybrid mechanism of microfinance, based on community networks and third party collateral for meso-scale loans, to provide a different financing model for small community water and sanitation supplies.

The Chinese government has responded to the challenge of increasing energy consumption and environmental pollution with ambitious targets for renewable energy generation. In the 12th Five-Year Plan, running from 2011 to 2015, a target was introduced to generate 15 per cent of primary energy from renewable sources by 2015.

This paper analyzes the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Mysore, India. The DBT is an initiative of the Indian central government to develop an electronic payment system for centrally funded social protection schemes.

Collaborative research efforts are emerging as a way to effectively address complex challenges such as adapting to climate change. Collaborations that span geographic, disciplinary and sectoral boundaries represent a divergence from traditional research approaches that may require new ways of working.

The State of Sustainability Initiatives Review 2014 provides a bird's-eye view of market and performance trends across 16 of the most prevalent standards initiatives operating across ten different commodity sectors.

This paper explores the concept of financial sustainability and proposes a framework to analyze electricity sectors based on this model. The concept of financial sustainability includes the ability of the electricity sector to recover costs, meet demand, make investments and operate according to environmental and social norms.

This report focuses on the wind and solar sectors in India. It reviews Indian policies for raising the share of renewables in the energy mix within the context of multiple social, economic and technological objectives.