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- Our Planet, December 2008
- Magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme discussing worldwide environmental policies and other concerns. This issue is devoted the use of renewable energy in climate strategy and economic growth.
- Strengthening International Environmental Governance and Civil Society Leadership in Asia and the Pacific
- This paper describes international environmental governance and tries to engage leaders in prioritizing environmental issues and challenges.
- Scientific Collections: Mission-Critical Infrastructure for Federal Science Agencies
- This report describes the nature and state of federally-held scientific collections which exist for scientific study to provide insight about historical trends in biodiversity, climate, and ecosystems.
- 2009 Annual Report of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
- The year 2009 was an eventful period for the Pacific region, with challenges and accomplishments that will be forever etched in our Pacific history.
- American Leadership for the Global Climate Crisis
- This paper discusses several key areas where U.S. policy should be reshaped, both domestically and internationally, to ensure we lead the world towards a safe, sustainable future. We should: Establish a price for carbon by adopting an ambitious 2020 emissions reduction target. Make investments and adopt policies to stimulate a green economy. Lead the world toward an effective and equitable global climate agreement Support efforts to stop emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries. Contribute to global financing mechanisms for climate mitigation and adaptation in the developing world. Ensure that climate change-related impacts are addressed under the Endangered Species Act. Improve science and information to prepare communities and ecosystems for unavoidable climate change. Build public support for sustained action to fight climate change
- Annex VI to the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty : message from the President of the United States transmitting Annex VI on liability arising from environmental emergencies to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Annex VI), adopted on June 14, 2005
- This amendment to the Antarctic Treaty deals with preventing and managing environmental emergencies in the Antarctica Treaty area.
- Atmospheric Aerosol Properties and Climate Impacts
- This report critically reviews current knowledge about global distributions and properties of atmospheric aerosols as they relate to aerosol impacts on climate. It assesses possible steps to substantially reduce uncertainties in aerosol radiative forcing estimates.
- Best Practice Approaches for Characterizing, Communicating, and Incorporating Scientific Uncertainty in Decision Making
- This report discusses the current state of understanding about the characteristics and implications of uncertainty related to climate change and variability to an audience of policymakers, decision makers, and members of the media and general public with an interest in developing a fundamental understanding of the issue.
- Building Standards for State Buildings
- This map shows states with energy efficiency standards for government buildings.
- Climate Change Science Compendium 2009
- This document was compiled as an annual snapshot of peer-reviewed research about climate change.
- Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region
- This document is part of the Synthesis and Assessment Products described in the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Strategic Plan. The U.S. Government's CCSP is responsible for providing the best science-based knowledge possible to inform management of the risks and opportunities associated with changes in the climate and related environmental systems. To support its mission, the CCSP has commissioned 21 "synthesis and assessment products" (SAPs) to advance decision making on climate change-related issues by providing current evaluations of climate change science and identifying priorities for research, observation, and decision support. This Synthesis and Assessment Product (SAP), developed as part of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, examines potential effects of sea-level rise from climate change during the twenty-first century, with a focus on the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Using scientific literature and policy-related documents, the SAP describes the physical environments; potential changes to coastal environments, wetlands, and vulnerable species; societal impacts and implications of sea-level rise; decisions that may be sensitive to sea-level rise; opportunities for adaptation; and institutional barriers to adaptation.
- Commercial Building Energy Codes
- This map shows states with building codes for energy efficiency of commercial buildings.
- A Copenhagen Climate Treat Version 1.0 : Legal text A proposal for an amended Kyoto Protocol and a new Copenhagen Protocol
- This document contains a draft version of how the agreement in Copenhagen could look like – in legal form. This is very much a work in progress. The purpose of this exercise is two fold : a) to outline to Parties how the agreement could fit together substantively and b) to demonstrate that the two Protocol option is a feasible and desirable outcome for the legal form. Attempts have been made through provisions in both the proposed Copenhagen Protocol and the amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to unify the accounting, reporting and verification of as well as compliance with emission reduction targets for industrialized countries and to create a forum for these bodies (CMCP & CMKP) to jointly develop rules in the future. It is possible that not every T has been crossed or i dotted and further provisions or amendments linking the two may be required.
- Cultivating the Future: Food in the Age of Climate Change
- The brochure promotes government incentives for farmers to lower agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and expand carbon sinks by sequestering carbon through organic farming and reduced tillage; reducing nitrous oxide emissions through minimal use of nitrogen fertilizer, capturing methane emissions from anaerobic manure handling facilities; reducing the use of fossil fuels on farms; increasing the generation of electricity from wind, solar and small-scale hydro; expanding the use of practices like hedges, shelterbelts, and forested riparian zones; expanding local food supply for local consumption; and supporting the use of sustainable biochar derived from farm and urban organic wastes.
- CYCLOCITY® A Revolutionary Public Transport System Accessible To All
- Presentation to the OECD Working Group on Transport.
- Decision-Support Experiments and Evaluations using Seasonal-to-Interannual Forecasts and Observational Data: A Focus on Water Resources
- This Synthesis and Assessment Product focuses on the connection between the scientific ability to predict climate on seasonal scales and the opportunity to incorporate such understanding into water resource management decisions. It directly addresses decision support experiments and evaluations that have used seasonal-to-interannual forecasts and observational data, and is expected to inform (1) decision makers about the relative success of experiences of others who have experimented with these forecasts and data in resource management; (2) climatologists, hydrologists, and social scientists on how to advance the delivery of decision-support resources that use the most recent forecast products, methodologies, and tools; and (3) science and resource managers as they plan for future investments in research related to forecasts and their role in decision support. It is important to note, however, that while the focus of this Product is on the water resources management sector, the findings within this Synthesis and Assessment Product may be directly transferred to other sectors.
- Earth System Governance: People, Places, and the Planet
- This science plan elaborates upon the concept of Earth system governance, defined as the interrelated systems of formal and informal rules and actor-networks that are set up to steer societies towards preventing, mitigating, and adapting to environmental change within the normative context of sustainable development. The notion of governance here refers to a less hierarchical and more decentralized system than traditional governmental policy-making, inclusive of non-state actors such as non-governmental organizations, indigenous communities, and international organizations.
- Fisheries, Tuna Agreement Between the United States of America and Canada Amending The Treaty of May 26, 1981 Effected by Exchange of Notes Signed at Washington, October 3 and 9, 1997.
- “. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the United States, and of the several States, without any further proof or authentication thereof.”
- FITness Testing: Exploring the myths and misconceptions about feed-in tariff policies
- The booklet argues that in spite of the recent surge in renewable electricity markets, the United States will need to dramatically increase the amount of installed renewable energy in order to improve energy security, create new jobs, and address the growing risks of climate change.
- Getting Ready for REDD: Toward an Effective and Equitable Policy on International Forest Carbon
- “Getting Ready for REDD” is one in a series of papers examining in more detail some of the issues raised in the Greenprint,
- Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. Global Change Research Program
- This book is the most comprehensive report to date on the wide range of impacts of climate change in the United States. It is written in plain language to better inform members of the public and policymakers. The report finds that global warming is unequivocal, primarily human-induced, and its impacts are already apparent in transportation, agriculture, health, and water and energy supplies. These impacts are expected to grow with continued climate change - the higher the levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the greater the impacts. The report illustrates how these impacts can be kept to a minimum if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The choices we make now will determine the severity of climate change impacts in the future. This book will help citizens, business leaders, and policymakers at all levels to make informed decisions about responding to climate change and its impacts. Likely to set the policy agenda across the US for the next few years Features examples of actions currently being pursued in various regions to address climate change. Summarizes in one place the current and projected affects of climate change in the United States
- Green Pricing Programs
- This map shows states that allow utilities customers to pay a premium price to guarantee that a percentage of their energy comes from renewable sources.
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Baselines and Reduction Potentials from Buildings in South Africa
- The report concludes that the operation of non-residential and residential building sectors account for around 23% of total emissions. Of this, non-residential sector accounts for around 10% of total emissions and the urban and rural high-medium income residential sectors account for around 8%. In addition, it is estimated that the manufacture of building materials accounts for around 5% of total emissions.
- Mongolia Assessment Report on Climate Change 2009
- This report brings together the findings of climate change research in Mongolia to raise awareness of decision makers and the general public so that they can develop appropriate responses to the challenges and threats. The content of the Report includes the following: (i) Observed changes in climate of Mongolia and its future projections; (ii) Potential impacts of climate change on natural and ecological components (ecosystem shifts and landscape changes, permafrost, glacier and snow cover, water resource, natural disaster, desertification, dust and sand storms), and social and economic sectors (animal husbandry, arable farming/agriculture, and forestry) of Mongolia; (iii) Vulnerability and Adaptation to climate change; (iv) Greenhouse gas monitoring and inventories; (v) Greenhouse gas mitigation potentials and options; and (ii) Climate-friendly technology needs.
- National Cycling Promotion Austrian Masterplan for Cycling and Action Programme klima:aktiv mobil
- Cycling is an environmentally friendly, economical beneficial and health promoting means of transport, a quick alternative for short trips, space-saving and above all.
- Natural Allies: Engaging Civil Society in UNEP's Work
- This publication is intended to catalyze social and political change in order to improve resource efficiency and reduce emissions.
- Net Metering Programs
- This map shows states with net metering schemes to measure a site's electricity generation versus a site's electricity production, with customers only paying for the net electricity consumed.
- OECD Environmental Performance Reviews – 2nd Cycle (2001-2009)
- This report examines Australia’s progress since the previous OECD Environmental Performance Review in 1998 and the extent to which the country is meeting its domestic objectives and international commitments regarding the environment and sustainable development. It also reviews progress in the context of the OECD Environmental Strategy, and compared to the recommendations of the previous OECD review. This book is part of the OECD Environmental Performance Reviews Programme which conducts peer reviews of environmental conditions and progress in each member country. The analyses presented are supported by a broad range of economic and environmental data and lead to recommendations for further environmental and sustainable development progress.
- Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes
- This Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product addresses current capabilities to integrate observations of the climate system into a consistent description of past and current conditions through the method of reanalysis. In addition, the Product assesses present capabilities to attribute causes for climate variations and trends over North America during the reanalysis period, which extends from the mid-twentieth century to the present. This Product reviews Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes. Paleoclimate records play a key role in our understanding of Earth's past and present climate system and in our confidence in predicting future climate changes. Paleoclimate data help to elucidate past and present active mechanisms of climate change by placing the short instrumental record into a longer term context and by permitting models to be tested beyond the limited time that instrumental measurements have been available. Recent observations in the Arctic have identified large ongoing changes and important climate feedback mechanisms that multiply the effects of global-scale climate changes. As discussed in this report, paleoclimate data show that land and sea ice have grown with cooling temperatures and have shrunk with warming ones, amplifying temperature changes while causing and responding to ecosystem shifts and sea-level changes.
- Policies to Change the World: Energy Sufficiency - Eight Policies towards the Sustainable Use of Energy
- This booklet discusses how energy sufficiency is the best solution for reducing energy consumption and waste. It presents policies for reducing global energy consumption such as energy auditing, phasing out incandescent light bulbs, combined heat/cooling energy and power, carbon-negative cooking, smart metering, area road pricing, and other measures.
- Policy Measures to Stimulate Bicycle Use in Germany
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- Recovery Through Retrofit
- This report describes recommendations for federal action to address barriers to retrofitting home residences for energy efficiency.
- Regional Highlights from Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
- This fact sheet describes climate change scenarios in the Great Plains region of the United States.
- Regional Highlights from Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
- This fact sheet describes climate change scenarios in Great Plains region of the United States.
- Regional Highlights from Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
- This fact sheet describes climate change scenarios for islands of the United States.
- Regional Highlights from Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
- This fact sheet describes climate change scenarios in Midwest region of the United States.
- Regional Highlights from Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
- This fact sheet describes climate change scenarios in the Great Plains region of the United States.
- Regional Highlights from Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
- This fact sheet describes climate change scenarios in Southwest region of the United States.
- Residential Building Energy Codes
- This map shows states with minimum levels of energy efficiency for residential buildings.
- Roadmap to Sustainable Government Buildings
- This document encourages governments to use LEED certifications in the construction of government buildings, and to promote LEED buildings in their jurisdictions. The document provides advice on how to promote and administer such projects.
- The State of the Hudson 2009
- This report describes the environmental quality of the Hudson River and its watershed, including issues such as pollution, population growth, and biodiversity. The report also describes the habitats of estuaries, watersheds, and rivers in general.
- The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes
- This guide describes steps that people can take to protect themselves from disease, disability, and injury that may result from health hazards in the home. The guide also describes society-wide measures to improve public health through healthy homes.
- The Sustainable Sites Initiative: Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks
- This guide describes how to develop a site in a way that does the least damage to the ecosystem, and provides maximum ecological benefits, including improved air quality, storm water treatment, and energy efficiency.
- Thresholds of Climate Change in Ecosystems
- This Report (SAP 4.2) focuses on the thresholds of Climate Change in Ecosystems. As defined in this Synthesis and Assessment Report, 'an ecological threshold is the point at which there is an abrupt change in an ecosystem quality, property, or phenomenon, or where small changes in one or more external conditions produce large and persistent responses in an ecosystem'.Ecological thresholds occur when external factors, positive feedbacks, or nonlinear instabilities in a system cause changes to propagate in a domino-like fashion that is potentially irreversible. This report reviews threshold changes in North American ecosystems that are potentially induced by climatic change and addresses the significant challenges these threshold crossings impose on resource and land managers. Sudden changes to ecosystems and the goods and services they provide are not well understood, but they are extremely important if natural resource managers are to succeed in developing adaptation strategies in a changing world. The report provides an overview of what is known about ecological thresholds and where they are likely to occur. It also identifies those areas where research is most needed to improve knowledge and understand the uncertainties regarding them. The report suggests a suite of potential actions that land and resource managers could use to improve the likelihood of success for the resources they manage, even under conditions of incomplete understanding of what drives thresholds of change and when changes will occur.
- Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 4, 2009
- Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is covers globalization and the international impact of environmental policies.
- Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 7, Number 1, 2009
- Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is about environmental policies and practices that reduce one's carbon footprint, and protect threatened species.
- Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 7, Number 2, 2009
- Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue addresses topics related to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December 2009.
- Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 7, Number 3, 2009
- Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is devoted to threatened species, habitats, and the International Year of Biodiversity.
- UNEP 2008 Annual Report
- The UNEP annual report provides an overview of UNEP's activities for the year of 2008. The report also reflects on the campaign theme for the run-up to the crucial negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009, "United to combat climate change".
- UNEP Year Book 2009: New Science in Our Changing Environment
- This publication provides an overview of global and regional environmental issues policy decisions during 2009.