From the Abstract: "Energy efficiency represents one of the most effective resources for addressing the challenges of climate change, economic productivity, and national security. All levels of government, and many businesses, rely upon accurate energy efficiency analyses in order to shape policy and outline business growth plans. Signifi ...
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2009 Investor Statement on the Urgent Need for a Global Agreement on Climate Change

The times when the private sector was against determined action on climate change are over. 181 leading investors and financial institutions responsible for the fiduciary management of US $13 Trillion – the backbone of the global economic system - unveiled a Statement on the Urgent Need for a Global Agreement on Climate Change on Sept 16, ...
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A Climate for Collaboration: Analysis of US and EU Lessons and Opportunities in Energy and Climate P...

From the Abstract:  "This paper aims to improve mutual understanding between the EU and US with regard to climate change and energy policy, suggesting specific opportunities for transatlantic cooperation in this area. A background on the environmental, legislative, and economic contexts of the EU and US as they relate to climate policy sets the con ...
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A Framework for Social Adaptation to Climate Change

This publication is a great resource for coral reef and other tropical marine ecosystem managers, policy makers, conservation practitioners, academics, business and other resource user communities, government employees, reef users and scientists in tropical coastal regions.  It presents an a framework for understanding the vulnerab ...
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A Framework for Social Adaptation to Climate Change: Sustaining Tropical Coastal Communitites and In...

Although this report primarily documents the effects of climate change to coastal areas in  third world countries, it's findings and recommendations may be useful to managers of coastal areas in developed countries as well. From the Introduction:  "In this publication we describe how managers, communities and (Adger 2006; Dessai and Hu ...
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A long-run target for climate policy: the Stern Review and its critics

"This report is intended to support the work of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Secretariat in its review of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2050 (defined here as the ‘long run’). It first sets out the approach taken in the Stern Review to proposing a range of targets for stabilising the atmospheric concentration of g ...
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A new global deal on climate change

A global target of stabilizing greenhouse-gas concentrations at between 450 and 550 parts per million carbon-dioxide equivalent (ppm CO2e) has proven robust to recent developments in the science and economics of climate change. Retrospective analysis of the Stern Review (2007) suggests that the risks were underestimated, indicating a stabilization ...
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A Note on the Economic Cost of Climate Change and the Rationale to Limit it Below 2°C

This paper discusses uncertainty issues associated with the economic effects of climate change.Abstract:"This note highlights a major reason to limit climate change to the lowest possible levels. This reason follows from the large increase in uncertainty associated with high levels of warming. This uncertainty arises from three sources: the change ...
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Adapting Institutions to Climate Change Summary Report

Although this study examines the readiness of institutions in the UK to initiate and build adaptive capacity, it's conclusions are pertinent to other developed countries as well.  "This report explores the challenges facing institutions in adapting to climate change by examining existing institutional arrangements for three exemplar ar ...
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Adapting to Climate Change in Ontario

The Expert Panel on Climate was convened to provide advice and help to the Ontario government to understand, prepare and plan for climate change impacts.  The panel met with senior level government managers from 17 provincial ministries and government agencies.  "During these meetings, the ministries and agencies outlined: The ...
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Adapting to Climate Change: Analysing the Role of Government

This report discusses how barriers such as "market failures, behavioral failures, adaptive capacity, and natural capacity" affect adaptation decisions and policies.  It goes on to state that the Government’s role should be one that supports people and businesses as they deal with these barriers, and then identifies the priorities for future reseach ...
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Advancing the Science of Climate Change

This is another policy brief from The National Council of the National Academies.  As both experts and lay communities recognize that climate change is indeed taking place and posing serious risks and consequences for both natural systems and human society, the question has shifted from "What is happening?" to "How can we respond?".  This p ...
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An Overview of Climate Change: What does it mean for our way of life? What is the best future we can...

This paper starts with the question of whether climate change will require a significant reduction of consumption among the richer people in the world, and ends with the most optimistic picture the author can conjure up, of the world in the year 2075. That hopeful picture is of a world in which inequalities – among and within nations – have been su ...
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Arab Environment: Climate Change - Impact of Climate Change on Arab Countries

This report details the forecasted impacts of climate change on Arab countries, covering multiple impacts across chapters authored by different specialists.From the Preface:"The 2009 AFED report has been designed to provide information to governments, business, academia and the public about the impact of climate change on the Arab countries, and en ...
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Assessing Dangerous Climate Change Through an Update of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chang...

From the Report:  "Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [United Nations (1992)...accessed February 9, 2009] commits signatory nations to stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that 'would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference (DAI) with the climate system.' In an effort to ...
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Assessing the Costs of Adaptation to Climate Change: A Review of the UNFCCC and Other Recent Estimat...

This report concludes that the current studies of adaptation to climate change have deficiencies that require a more systematic and transparent approach. Further, a reexamination of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change estimates for 2030 costs and impacts suggests that a majority of studies are likely to be substantially un ...
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Basic Information from the EPA

This link will take you to a page on the EPA website that has posted four two-page fact sheets on climate change based on recent scientific data and findings. These documents may be useful to state and local governments looking for public outreach materials on climate change. The four new fact sheets are:   Climate Change Sc ...
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Beyond Rising Sea Levels: The Importance of the Insurance Asset in the Process of Accelerating Deliv...

Second of two articles. Addresses new technology risks and their management, both for rising seas and other aspects of climate change, but turns more to managing the the uncertainties inherent in introducing new technologies. Argues that "To ignore price signals sent by the insurance industry is to risk deployment of unsustainable or inefficient te ...
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Building Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform: Have we got all the blocks?

It is increasingly recognized by the G-20 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that subsidizing fossil fuels is not only inefficient but encourages consumption of this limited and polluting source of energy.  In addition, continued subsidizatioin of fossil fuels will divert funds from badly needed social concerns such as healthcare, water ...
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Calculating the Benefits of Climate Policy: Examining the Assumptions of Integrated Assessment Model...

From the Abstract:  "Policy-relevant results of Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are sensitive to a number of uncertain assumptions that govern model simulation of the climate, society, and the policy response to climate change. Uncertainties remain in understanding of the rate and magnitude of climate change, the nature and severity of clim ...
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