Services and Supply Chains - The Role of the Domestic Private Sector in Water Service Delivery in Tanzania. (open access)

Services and Supply Chains - The Role of the Domestic Private Sector in Water Service Delivery in Tanzania.

This report presents findings from a review of the service activities of informal private water vendors in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s capital is a rapidly growing city, and around 70% of the population lacks proper housing and lives in informal settlements. Large parts of the city remain unserved by the water utility and many of those who have access to the piped network suffer from intermittent supply. As a result, small-scale private water vendors provide an essential service for many, in particular low-income households in the city.
Date: October 2011
Creator: Bayliss, Kate & Tukai, Rehema
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
A U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan (open access)

A U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan

Report assessing the carbon cycle and providing guidance for U.S. researchers. It includes background on the history and context of the carbon cycle and previous science plan as well as chapters describing relevant fundamental science questions, science plan goals, the plan elements, interdisciplinary and international collaboration and cooperation, implementation and funding of the plan, and references with supplementary appendix information.
Date: August 2011
Creator: Michalak, Anna M.; Jackson, Robert B.; Marland, Gregg & Sabine, Christopher L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Administering Green Programs in Congress: Issues and Options (open access)

Administering Green Programs in Congress: Issues and Options

This report discusses "green" programs and the higher profile they have gained since the 110th Congress. "Green" programs are those designed to create an environmentally friendly work environment and conserve energy. This report discusses initiatives and policy options that would improve the "greening" process on Capitol Hill.
Date: March 11, 2011
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
2010 Forest Carbon Workgroup: Final Report (open access)

2010 Forest Carbon Workgroup: Final Report

This document provides a detailed report and recommendations of the 2010 Forest Carbon Work group to the Director of the Department of Ecology and the Commissioner of Public Lands. The recommendations relate to the critical role Washington’s forest lands will play in addressing the challenge of climate change; appropriate responses to pressure for conversion of working forest lands to non-forest uses; and the role of ecosystem service markets, including carbon offset markets, and other incentive systems in bringing about desired results. The 2010 Work group included some members of a similar 2008 Work group and built on the results of that 2008 effort. The report appendix contains purpose statements by each participating interest, explaining its rationale for participation. In light of the 2010 Work group emphasis, this document focused on three topics: Forest carbon considerations in avoiding forest land use conversion; incentives to reward forest landowners for providing ecosystem services, including carbon storage and improvement of forest health; and features of forest carbon offset protocols and registries that are appropriate for use by forest offset project developers in Washington State.
Date: January 2011
Creator: Partridge, Craig; Boese, Jerry & Bernath, Stephen
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Blue Carbon - First Level Exploration of Blue Carbon in the Arabian Peninsula (open access)

Blue Carbon - First Level Exploration of Blue Carbon in the Arabian Peninsula

Healthy natural coastal ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, saltwater marshlands and seagrass meadows provide a vast array of important co-benefits to coastal communities around the world, including throughout the Arabian Peninsula. These benefits include ecosystem services such as a rich cultural heritage; the protection of shorelines from storms; erosion or sea-level rise; food from fisheries; maintenance of water quality; and landscape beauty for recreation and ecotourism. In a Blue Carbon context these ecosystems also store and sequester potentially vast amounts of carbon in sediments and biomass.
Date: 2011
Creator: Lutz, S.J.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change 2011 (open access)

China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change 2011

.The Chinese government constantly sets great store by the issue of climate change and has included addressing climate change into its mid- and long-term planning for economic and social development as a major issue concerning its overall economic and social development.
Date: 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate in Asia and the Pacific: A Synthesis of APN Activities (open access)

Climate in Asia and the Pacific: A Synthesis of APN Activities

The synthesis report is part of the APN’s larger aim to contribute, from the science perspective, to the development of policy options for appropriate responses to climate vulnerability and impacts, including adaptation and mitigation, which in turn will contribute to sustainable development.
Date: 2011
Creator: Manton, Michael J; Heath, Lance; Salinger, James & Stevenson, Linda Anne
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Deep Water: the Gulf Oil Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling (open access)

Deep Water: the Gulf Oil Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling

On May 22, 2010, President Barack Obama announced the creation of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling: an independent,nonpartisan entity, directed to provide a thorough analysis and impartial judgment. The President charged the Commission to determine the causes of the disaster, and to improve the country’s ability to respond to spills, and to recommend reforms to make offshore energy production safer. This report is the result of an intense six-month effort to fulfill the President’s charge. The Commission’s report offers the President, policymakers, industry, and the American people the fullest account available of the largest oil spill in U.S history: the context for the well itself, how the explosion and spill happened, and how industry and government scrambled to respond to an unprecedented emergency.
Date: January 2011
Creator: National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling (U.S.)
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
Enhancing Information for Renewable Energy Technology Deployment in Brazil, China and South Africa (open access)

Enhancing Information for Renewable Energy Technology Deployment in Brazil, China and South Africa

This report documents crucial information to support deployment of renewable energies in three key emerging markets - Brazil, China and South Africa - and provides information for policy-making aimed at supporting renewable energy markets in these countries. Specifically this study collates information on solar and wind resources and resource information, renewable energy support policies and goals, risk management and technologies integral to the increased renewable energy technology deployment.
Date: 2011
Creator: Moner-Girona, Magda
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Farming’s Climate-Smart Future: Placing Agriculture at The Heart of Climate - Change Policy (open access)

Farming’s Climate-Smart Future: Placing Agriculture at The Heart of Climate - Change Policy

This publication highlights the ‘cause and effect’ relationship between agriculture and climate change. It observes that a range of practices– ‘climate-smart agriculture’ – could increase food production, help farmers to become more resilient to global warming and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Date: 2011
Creator: Pye-Smith, Charlie
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2012 (open access)

Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2012

The document describes a wide range of advances in understanding the underlying processes responsible for climate variability and change, such as advances in understanding of climate change at high latitudes. It also describes progress on understanding the ongoing and projected effects of climate change on nature and society, including the interconnected relationships between climate, forests, and wildfire. The document also describes how observational and predictive capabilities are being improved and used to create tools to support decision making at local, regional, and national scales to cope with environmental variability and change.
Date: 2011
Creator: Climate Change Science Program
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Valuation Techniques and Metrics for Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation Options: Methodological Perspectives For the National Climate Assessment (open access)

Valuation Techniques and Metrics for Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation Options: Methodological Perspectives For the National Climate Assessment

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) Report Series summarizes regional, sectoral, and process-related workshops and discussions being held as part of the third NCA process. This workshop focused on techniques for quantitatively valuing climate impacts and adaptation in the context of the upcoming NCA. The workshop was held in Arlington, VA on January 12-13, 2011. Volume 8 of the NCA Report Series summarizes the discussions and outcomes of this workshop.
Date: January 2011
Creator: Sussman, Frances; Clarke, Leon; Grambsch, Anne; Vallario, Robert; Langner, Linda; O’Brien, Sheila et al.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Women at The Frontline of Climate Change - Gender Risks and Hopes (open access)

Women at The Frontline of Climate Change - Gender Risks and Hopes

Women are often in the frontline in respect to the impacts of a changing climate. Globally the world is seeing increasingly frequent droughts and floods which are having economic but also profound social consequences. The women and people of Asia are currently at greatest risk with over 100 million people affected in this region annually.
Date: 2011
Creator: Nellemann, Christian; Verma, Ritu & Hislop, Lawrence
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Seafood Safety: Background and Issues (open access)

Seafood Safety: Background and Issues

Although seafood consumption can contribute to a healthy diet, some fish and shellfish can cause foodborne illnesses or contain environmental contaminants. This report discusses whether current food safety programs are sufficiently protecting consumers, and if not, what changes should be considered.
Date: December 2, 2010
Creator: Upton, Harold F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Washington State Government (open access)

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Washington State Government

This report summarizes the total GHG emission from all state agencies for 2005, 2008, and 2009. It examines actions already taken by agencies to reduce emissions and outlines key next steps for agencies to take to develop emission reduction strategies.
Date: December 2010
Creator: Adelsman, Hedia & Ekrem, Joanna
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy's Water Demand: Trends, Vulnerabilities, and Management (open access)

Energy's Water Demand: Trends, Vulnerabilities, and Management

The nation's energy choices embody many tradeoffs. Water use is one of those tradeoffs. The energy choices before Congress represent vastly different demands on domestic freshwater. The energy sector's water consumption is projected to rise 50% from 2005 to 2030. This rising water demand derives from both an increase in the amount of energy demanded and shifts to more water-intense energy sources and technologies. This report discusses this issue as well as related issues that may arise for the 112th Congress.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Litigation Seeking to Establish Climate Change Impacts as a Common Law Nuisance (open access)

Litigation Seeking to Establish Climate Change Impacts as a Common Law Nuisance

This report discusses recent legislative initiatives seeking to establish climate change impacts as a common law nuisance. The report explains what private and public nuisances are, the issues faced by policymakers when litigating a climate-change/nuisance suit, and also discusses five climate-chance/nuisance suits that are now or formerly active, as a basis of comparison. The report also explores arguments of those both for and against addressing the complex issue of climate change through common law suits.
Date: November 19, 2010
Creator: Meltz, Robert
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Climate Change: A Negotiations Side-by-Side (open access)

International Climate Change: A Negotiations Side-by-Side

This report discusses various cooperative international efforts to address the issue of global climate change. The two major international agreements discussed in a side-by-side comparison are the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the 2010 Copenhagen Accord. The report discusses how many observers are hoping that initiatives carried out under the Copenhagen Accord may help bridge divides between the various tracks and economic groupings established under the Kyoto Protocol.
Date: November 18, 2010
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China and Climate Change: A Strategy for U.S. Engagement (open access)

China and Climate Change: A Strategy for U.S. Engagement

The aim of this report is to provide strategic guidance to U.S. policymakers on engaging China on climate change. In the first section, I set the context by discussing China’s energy use, emissions, and future projections, including potential emissions reductions and trajectories under different policies. In section two, I review China’s recent policies to address climate change and energy conservation. I focus on the status of implementation of its energy-efficiency goals under its 11th Five Year Plan. I also anticipate future developments in Chinese energy and climate policy. Finally, in section three, I propose a strategy for U.S. engagement of China on climate change.
Date: November 2010
Creator: Joshua W. Busby
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Coastal Wetland and Wildlife Impacts and Response (open access)

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Coastal Wetland and Wildlife Impacts and Response

The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, and the resulting oil spill began a cascade of effects on the coastal areas of the Gulf and on the wealth of species that inhabit those areas. This report addresses the importance of wetlands in general, the ecology of the coastal wetlands in the Gulf, impacts of oil spills on wetland habitats, response options, the implications of hurricane season for the spill's impacts, and cleanup and recovery issues. The emphasis is on the nearshore environment, although a few species found in deeper waters will be mentioned. In addition, some lessons from past spills such as the Exxon Valdez in Alaska will be discussed, along with issues that may arise as response and recovery transition to restoration of the Gulf.
Date: October 15, 2010
Creator: Corn, M. Lynne & Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Overview and Issues (open access)

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Overview and Issues

This report focuses on the mandated minimum usage requirements - referred to as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) - whereby a minimum volume of biofuels is to be used in the national transportation fuel supply each year. It describes the general nature of the biofuels RFS and its implementation, and outlines some of the emerging issues related to the sustainability of the continued growth in U.S. biofuels production needed to fulfill the expanding RFS mandate, as well as the emergence of potential unintended consequences of this rapid expansion. This report does not address the broader public policy issue of how best to support U.S. energy policy.
Date: October 14, 2010
Creator: Schnepf, Randy & Yacobucci, Brent D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook (open access)

Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook

This report discusses likely energy prices and weather over the winter of 2010-2011.
Date: October 13, 2010
Creator: United States. Energy Information Administration.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened concerns about the region's future. Issues such as Arctic sovereignty claims; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, competition, or conflict. This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues.
Date: October 8, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biomass Feedstocks for Biopower: Background and Selected Issues (open access)

Biomass Feedstocks for Biopower: Background and Selected Issues

The production of bioenergy - renewable energy derived from biomass - could potentially increase national energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to rural economic growth. This report provides analyses of commonly discussed biomass feedstocks and their relative potential for power generation. Additional biopower issues - feedstock accessibility, the biomass power plant carbon-neutrality debate, and unintended consequences of legislative activities to promote bioenergy - are also discussed.
Date: October 6, 2010
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library