Access to safe and affordable water is considered to be a basic human right, yet the universal reality does not reflect this principle. A lack of adequate capacity and financing, and national policies which often rely on unsustainable use of water resources, prevent effective and sustainable provision of safe water and sanitation.

Living planet report 2008 looks at the cause and effect relationships which determine the Earth's health. Key to the report is the Living Planet Index, used to map out the state of the world's ecosystems, and the Ecological Footprint.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Energy Efficiency Initiative (EEI) in July 2005 to expand its operations in clean energy to $1 billion a year.

Food supply is an issue for millions of people worldwide facing soaring market prices, impacts of climate change on food harvests, and other agricultural problems. With the world population estimated to reach 9 billion by 2050, problems of food security demand significant advances in agricultural productivity and competitiveness.

The global financial crisis emerged at an alarming rate. A global credit squeeze led to large falls in international stock markets and the world economy is weakening rapidly. The Pacific is largely shielded from the most immediate effects of the crisis, but it is not immune. This Policy Brief provides early advice on what the global financial crisis could mean for the Pacific and

A SANDEE report from Nepal looks at an environmental and social problem that has long plagued rural communities in the country

This report uses economic models to analyse the macroeconomic, sectoral and household impacts of Australia reducing its greenhouse gas emissions under different targets and trajectories. Because responding to climate change is a global challenge, this report evaluates the impacts on Australia in the context of global action to reduce emissions.

Energy efficiency (EE) is a proven and cost-effective measure to address rapidly increasing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This report identifies, analyzes, categorizes, and describes the main elements of institutional models and practices that have proved effective in promoting EE investments, particularly in the end-use (industry, buildings, residential) consuming sectors.

The recent sharp increase in food prices should have a benefited millions of poor people who make their living from agriculture.

This paper analyses the development of the Japanese Climate Policy since the Rio summit, including climate policy instruments implemented to date and the recent change of position regarding the introduction of a mandatory emissions trading scheme (ETS) in Japan. Several proposals to introduce a mandatory ETS have been published at both the national and regional levels in the last months.