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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
Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles: Issues in Congress (open access)

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles: Issues in Congress

This report provides an overview of current issues surrounding alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles - issues discussed in further detail in other CRS reports referred to in each section.
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.
Object Type: Report
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
Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects: Authorization and Appropriations (open access)

Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects: Authorization and Appropriations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attracts congressional attention because its projects can have significant local and regional economic benefits and environmental effects, in addition to their water resource development purposes. This report provides an overview of the Corps civil works program. It covers the congressional authorization and appropriation process, the standard project development process, and other Corps activities and authorities. It also includes an Appendix on the evolution of Corps civil works missions and authorities and a description of the limits on the Corps' role in levee accreditation and improvements for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Sustainability Scorecard for National Systems of Protected Areas (open access)

Financial Sustainability Scorecard for National Systems of Protected Areas

The purpose of this scorecard is to assist governments, donors and NGOs to investigate and record significant aspects of aProtected Area (PA) financing system –its accounts and its underlying structural foundations – to show both its current health and status and to indicate if the system is holistically moving over the long-term towards an improved financial situation. The scorecard is designed for national systems of PAs but could be used by sub-national eg state, regional or municipal or networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Date: January 2010
Creator: Bovarnick, Andrew
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA's Denial of the Petitions to Reconsider the Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (open access)

EPA's Denial of the Petitions to Reconsider the Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act

This document addresses a petition to the U.S. EPA to reconsider findings that could have an economic impact on businesses due to the enforcement of the Clean Air Act. The petitioners questioned the climate science and data, and this denial argues that the petitioners used The document denies the petition on the basis of the petitioners providing inadequate and unscientific arguments.
Date: August 2010
Creator: United States. Environmental Protection Agency.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cycling in Sweden (open access)

Cycling in Sweden

Increased use of bicycles can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution - and have positive impacts on human health. The Working Group on Transport (WGT) under OECD’s Environment Policy Committee discussed measures to promote bicycle use at a meeting (27-28 January 2010). Below are the presentations that were made on that occasion.
Date: February 2010
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Getting Back in the Game: U.S. Job Growth Potential from Expanding Clean Technology Markets in Developing Countries (open access)

Getting Back in the Game: U.S. Job Growth Potential from Expanding Clean Technology Markets in Developing Countries

This report highlights a significant, but rarely discussed, economic angle to the Senate’s deliberations on the American Power Act. Unlike the House-passed climate bill, which set aside one percent of revenues from emissions auctions for international clean technology investments, the American Power Act contains no such dedicated funding stream nor a program to guide these public investments. This lack of secure, long-term funding would limit the job-creating potential of the legislation by limiting the opportunities for American companies to export their energy technology to global markets.
Date: May 2010
Creator: World Wildlife Fund
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Namibia: Strengthening the Protected Area Network (open access)

Namibia: Strengthening the Protected Area Network

The Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN) Project aims to strengthen the management effectiveness of the national protected area (PA) system in Namibia. The Project builds capacity for park management by removing existing barriers hindering the management performance of the PA system. The case study highlights key elements of project success and lessons learned.
Date: March 2010
Creator: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biodiversity Delivering Results (open access)

Biodiversity Delivering Results

The publication showcases the achievements and results from UNDP projects undertaken around the world. It highlights UNDP efforts, funded by GEF, to mainstream biodiversity issues, build institutional capacity around the world, and support the implementation of the Program of Work on Protected Areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Date: March 2010
Creator: Global Environment Facility
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bird Species and Climate Change: The Global Status Report: A synthesis of current scientific understanding of anthropogenic climate change impacts on global bird species now, and projected future effects (open access)

Bird Species and Climate Change: The Global Status Report: A synthesis of current scientific understanding of anthropogenic climate change impacts on global bird species now, and projected future effects

This review seeks to provide a global overview of current effects of climate change on birds as well as a picture of future impacts. It provides a scientific assessment of current research data, achieved by surveying hundreds of research articles and reports on the topic.
Date: October 2010
Creator: Janice Wormworth BSc MA & Dr Karl Mallon BSc PhD
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Natural Solutions: Protected areas helping people cope with climate change (open access)

Natural Solutions: Protected areas helping people cope with climate change

This report provides an exhaustive overview of the literature regarding the role protected areas play in reducing emissions from land use change, and sustaining ecosystem services that will be vital to reducing the vulnerability of humans to climate change. Section 3, Adaptation – The role of protected areas, looks at reducing the impacts of natural disasters, safeguarding water, addressing health issues and biodiversity conservation and maintaining ecosystem resilience.
Date: 2010
Creator: Dudley, Nigel; Stolton, Sue; Belokurov, Alexander; Krueger, Linda; Lopoukhine, Nik; Mackinnon, Kathy et al.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fast Facts: Adaptive Water Governance (open access)

Fast Facts: Adaptive Water Governance

UNDP promotes equitable access to water resources and water and sanitation services as a fundamental requisite for human development. In a rapidly changing world, UNDP's Water Governance Programme catalyzes efforts towards the achievements of the MDGs. The document provides a brief overview of UNDP's Water Governance Programme.
Date: January 2010
Creator: United Nations Development Programme
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
State of Biodiversity Markets Offset and Compensation Programs Worldwide (open access)

State of Biodiversity Markets Offset and Compensation Programs Worldwide

The report provides the status and trends of biodiversity offset and compensatory mitigation programs by geographical region. It summarizes the total active programs and developing activities, and broad metrics like total known payments and land area protected. It also analyzes the characteristics of offset programs and looks at recent developments in nascent and existing programs in the region.
Date: January 2010
Creator: Madsen, Becca; Carroll, Nathaniel & Moore Brands, Kelly
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sustainable Development Report 2009 (open access)

Sustainable Development Report 2009

This Sustainable Development Report provides a comprehensive description of the economic, ecological and social challenges that are linked to Bayer's operations and show stakholders the strategies and solutions that are applying to meet them.
Date: May 2010
Creator: Bayer AG
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Municipal Waste Management Report: Status-quo and Issues in Southeast and East Asian Countries (open access)

Municipal Waste Management Report: Status-quo and Issues in Southeast and East Asian Countries

This report presents and discusses the status-quo and issues of Municipal Waste in 14 countries in Southeast and East Asia.
Date: 2010
Creator: Mr. Borongan, Guilberto & Mr. Okumura, Shigefumi
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reinventing the City: Three Prerequisites for Greening Urban Infrastructures (open access)

Reinventing the City: Three Prerequisites for Greening Urban Infrastructures

This report from the WWF discusses how city infrastructure can be modernized to reduce carbon emissions and increase general environmental sustainability.
Date: March 2010
Creator: WWF (Organization)
Object Type: Text
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
Executive Order 2010-06 : Governor's Policy on Climate Change (open access)

Executive Order 2010-06 : Governor's Policy on Climate Change

WHEREAS, Arizona was a founding member of the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) in February 2007; WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) finalized regulations mandating GHG reporting, effective on December 29, 2009,...WHEREAS, it is critical that Arizona stay informed of and influence any federal regulation and legislation relating to climate change and capping of GHG emission...NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janice K. Brewer, Governor of the State of Arizona,...hereby order and direct as follows: 4. The Climate Change Oversight Group ("Group") is established and charged with monitoring the continued work of the WCI...11. The Group and this Executive Order shall expire December 31, 2012
Date: October 2010
Creator: Brewer, Janice K.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Guidance on the Cleanup, Temporary or Intermediate Storage, and Transport of Mercury Waste from Healthcare Facilities (open access)

Guidance on the Cleanup, Temporary or Intermediate Storage, and Transport of Mercury Waste from Healthcare Facilities

The UNDP GEF project involves demonstrating best practices for the management of mercury waste and promoting mercury-free devices. As health facilities phase out mercury devices, proper methods of storage and transport are needed. This document is intended for project countries where national norms and guidelines for cleanup, storage, and transport of mercury waste do not exist at this time. These suggested guidelines should become part of a broader plan for sequestration and phase-out of mercury.
Date: June 2010
Creator: United Nations Development Programme
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Korea's Green Growth Strategy Mitigating Climate Change and Developing New Growth Engines (open access)

Korea's Green Growth Strategy Mitigating Climate Change and Developing New Growth Engines

Korea’s greenhouse gas emissions almost doubled between 1990 and 2005, the highest growth rate in the OECD area. Korea recently set a target of reducing emissions by 30% by 2020 relative to a "business as usual" baseline, implying a 4% cut from the 2005 level. Achieving this objective in a cost-effective manner requires moving from a strategy based on voluntary commitments by firms to market-based instruments. The priority is to establish a comprehensive cap-and-trade scheme, supplemented, if necessary, by carbon taxes in areas not covered by trading. Achieving a significant cut in emissions requires a shift from energy-intensive industries to low-carbon ones. Korea is strongly committed to promoting green growth through its Five-Year Plan, which envisages spending 2% of GDP per year through 2013. One challenge is to ensure that these expenditures are efficiently targeted so as to develop green technologies, while avoiding the risks inherent in industrial policy.
Date: July 2010
Creator: Jones, Randall S. & Yoo, Byungseo
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Providing for Backyard Wildlife: A Do-It-Yourself Guide for Feeders, Houses and Plants (open access)

Providing for Backyard Wildlife: A Do-It-Yourself Guide for Feeders, Houses and Plants

Brochure containing information "to assist people wanting to create habitat and features that will attract wildlife to their backyards" (About the Author). The table of contents lists sections for: platform bird feeder, platform butterfly feeder, simple squirrel and dove feeder, suet feeder, solitary bees, pollinator box, general use nesting box, nesting platform, butterfly attracting plants, and hummingbird plants for Texas.
Date: May 2010
Creator: Brown, Walter
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy for a Sustainable Future (open access)

Energy for a Sustainable Future

This report provides a high-level overview and specific recommendations for governments to help achieve universal energy access and reduce energy intensity. The report recommends that energy access be achieved through a combination of grid extension, mini-grid access, and off-grid access approaches. The need for government targets, access to financing, capacity building, and improved utility performance are also discussed.
Date: April 2010
Creator: UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC)
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Community Water Initiative Fostering Water Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (open access)

The Community Water Initiative Fostering Water Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

This publication highlights some case studies that illustrate successful projects funded by the Community Water Initiative (CWI), which have helped foster water security in local communities while simultaneously helping them mitigate and adapt to climate change through: (i) Community-based water supply and sanitation services using low-cost systems manageable by communities; (ii) Water resource conservation and sustainable land management to create resilient systems to combat drought and floods; (iii) Providing clean energy for water pumping; and (iv) Capacity building for community-level governance through community water management committees, women’s empowerment, and the establishment of water user fee schemes.
Date: 2010
Creator: GEF‐SGP National Coordinators
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library