Climate Change Governance

In Landmark Shift, New UN Work Programme to Address Agriculture Emissions Under Climate Action Framework

7 December 2017
International agencies and farm leaders have welcomed the decision to launch a work programme on climate and agriculture, which was endorsed by governments at the annual conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) three weeks ago in Bonn, Germany. Language in the preamble...
Bridges Special Update (COP 23)

At Bonn Talks, World Comes Around to Doing More to Combat Climate Change; Debates Carbon Market Links and Use of Trade Tools

19 November 2017
The twenty-third Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has now drawn to a close, with the adoption of a gender action plan, a deal on addressing agriculture in the UNFCCC context, advances across various negotiating areas, discussions on carbon...
Bridges Special Update (COP 23)

Bridges Special Update #1 | UN Negotiators Descend on Bonn, Aiming to Lay the Groundwork for 2018 Climate Action

5 November 2017
Almost two years after adopting the UN’s Paris Agreement on climate change , delegates are now gathering in Bonn, Germany, to continue developing a “rulebook” for implementing the landmark deal. Meeting under the twenty-third Conference of the Parties (COP23) of the United Nations Framework...
Renewable Energy

The transition to electric cars: How can policy pave the way?

19 October 2017
Nic Lutsey
Governments the world over face major challenges to reduce the health and environmental impacts from the transportation sector. Steering the car market to electric vehicles and ultimately zero-emission fleets will require comprehensive and sustained policy action. The pronouncements keep coming,...
Trade Remedies

US Federal Agency Votes to Advance Solar Trade Probe

28 September 2017
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) said last week that a large influx of imported crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules have caused “serious injury” to American solar producers, advancing the investigation to its next phase. The agency determination, which saw a unanimous 4-0...
Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Incentives from Legal and Economic Perspectives: Time for a TRREI Agreement

9 March 2017
Wei Zhuang
Greenhouse gas emissions are a market failure. How might international trade rules respond? Renewable energy has a key role to play in mitigating climate change and guaranteeing long-term energy supply. Climate change and energy security concerns may compel governments to provide incentives for...
Renewable Energy

European Commission: EU “On Track” for 2020 Renewables Goal

2 February 2017
The European Union is showing strong signs that it will meet its 2020 renewable energy target, according to a new report by the bloc’s executive arm released on Wednesday 1 February. The 28-nation bloc’s targets for the end of the decade include a binding commitment to use 20 percent of energy from...