This paper explores the potential and challenges that would face trade-policy-makers in trying to contribute to climate change objectives by liberalizing trade in low-carbon goods. It draws heavily on the existing talks under the Doha Development Agenda for liberalizing trade in environmental goods and services.

There is a global sanitation and water crisis and governments are failing to act. This report looks at the current international response to this crisis and highlights the low political and financing priority given to sanitation and water. It shows that: overall, aid is rising but the share given to sanitation and water is in decline; sanitation and water are vital to health and education yet are given a low priority by both donors and aid recipient governments; aid is not going to the poorest regions or countries.

Technological solutions are imperative in meeting the challenges of climate change. A critical factor in greenhouse gas emissions, technology is also fundamental to enhancing existing abilities and lowering the costs of reducing these emissions.

The effluent and emission standards for oil refineries were notified under Environment (Protection) Act in the years 1986 and 1990, respectively. These standards were same for old & new refineries and considered only few parameters. There was need to include additional parameters viz. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), etc.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada

Greater energy efficiency is key for shifting country development paths toward lower-carbon economic growth. Especially in developing countries and transition economies, vast potential for energy savings opportunities remain unrealized even though current financial returns are strong. "Financing Energy Efficiency: Lessons from Brazil, China, India, and Beyond" examines the nature of this dilemma and how it may be overcome in practical and operational terms.

The NEC Shillong has assigned the National Institute of Rural Development, North Eastern Regional Centre (NIRD-NERC), Guwahati to prepare a report on

Local organisations have a major role in addressing these realities, helping poor groups access entitlements and engage with government. They may be local NGOs, grassroots organisations of the poor, or even local governments or branches of higher levels of government. But they function on a local level, have intimate knowledge of the local context and should be accountable to local people.

While the precise contribution of biofuels to surging food prices is difficult to know, policies promoting production of the current generation of biofuels are not achieving their stated objectives of increased energy independence or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Reaching the congressionally mandated goal of blending 15 billion gallons of renewable fuels in gasoline by 2015 would consume roughly 40 percent of the corn crop (based on recent production levels) while replacing just 7 percent of

Coal is abundant and affordable in the Asia Pacific region, and for the foreseeable future could be used to meet the region's growing energy needs, but what becomes of those needs when air is too dirty to breathe; water is too polluted to drink; soil too contaminated to grow crops; land is unfit for habitation; and global warming unleashes unimaginable environmental disasters?