This report provides an overview of information on the world fertilizer situation in 2007/08 and a forecast till 2011/12. The fertilizer situation is examined in relation to crop production and factors likely to affect the latter. High commodity prices experienced over recent years led to increased production and correspondingly greater fertilizer consumption as reflected in tight markets and higher fertilizer prices at the start of the outlook period. While demand for basic food crops, for high value crops such as fruit and vegetables, for animal products and for crops capable of being used to produce bio-fuels is likely to remain strong, it is expected that increased fertilizer consumption required to support higher levels of production will be adequately catered for by growing supply world wide during the outlook period.

Several studies addressing the supply and demand for food in China suggest that the nation can largely meet its needs in the coming decades. However, these studies do not consider the effects of climate change. This paper examines whether near future expected changes in climate are likely to alter this picture. The authors analyze the effect of temperature and precipitation on net crop revenues using a cross section consisting of both rainfed and irrigated farms.

This policy intends to promote sustainable development of habitat in the country with a view to ensuring equitable supply of land, shelter and services at affordable prices to all sections of society.

This report assesses the contribution of the CDM to meeting its environmental and sustainable development objectives and provides recommendations for improving the

This global screening study makes a first estimate of the exposure of the world's large port cities to coastal flooding due to storm surge and damage due to high winds. This study also investigates how climate change is likely to impact each port city's exposure to coastal flooding by the 2070s, alongside subsidence and population growth and urbanisation. The assessment provides a much more comprehensive analysis than earlier studies, focussing on the 136 port cities around the world that have more than one million inhabitants.

This paper presents three case studies of Ukrainian Joint Implementation (JI) projects. The analysis is based on interviews with project stakeholders and public presentations of the case projects. The main questions in focus are: what are the typical JI projects in Ukraine?; what similarities and differences are there between the case projects?; how has the financing of the projects been arranged?; have they been implemented, and how long did it take to launch a project?; and have the same problems or barriers been experienced in all cases?

The outlook provides historical statistical information about the U.S. ethanol industry from gallons produced to bushels of corn utilized.

In this fifth in a series of annual briefings, WRI President Jonathan Lash briefed journalists on seven key environmental issues to watch in 2008: What is likely to happen on the international climate front?; what will Congress do about climate change in 2008?; does the Environmental Protection Agency have a surprise for us?; what will be the direction of biofuels?; how is China going to react with regard to climate change over the coming year?; what new emerging environmental technologies can we expect?; and could weather play a role in the upcoming U.S. elections?

This paper, together with five other background studies, is a part of a broader research programme addressing trade and structural adjustment issues in non-member economies which was conducted as a follow-up to Trade and Structural Adjustment: Embracing Globalisation (OECD, 2005)which identified policies for successful trade-related structural adjustment. This paper revisits and elaborates on specific parts of these policy recommendations with a view to reassessing their applicability to developing countries. The five background studies; a comparison study comparing East Asia and Latin America and four country case studies (Chile, Ecuador, the Philippines and Thailand), which were conducted as a part of this project, form the basis for the analysis, supplemented by existing literature.

More than 1 billion people live with inadequate access to safe drinking water, with dramatic consequences for lives, livelihoods and development. Global Corruption Report 2008 demonstrates in its thematic section that corruption is a cause and catalyst