This tool kit assists staff and consultants of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in conceptualizing and designing gender-responsive projects in the energy sector. It guides users in key questions to be asked and data to be collected during project preparation. It also offers a menu of entry points in designing project outputs, activities, inputs, indicators, and targets that integrate key gender issues identified during the gender analysis. The tool kit is broken down into key subsectors of ADB's energy sector investments - transmission and distribution, rural electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Case studies from ADB energy projects have been included to illustrate good practices in mainstreaming gender in energy sector.
One of the strong messages that came out of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Durban was that the private sector has to play an important role if we are to globally move toward a low carbon, climate resilient—or “climate compatible”—future. However, private investment will only flow at the scale and pace necessary if it is supported by clear, credible, and long-term policy frameworks that shift the risk-reward balance in favor of less carbon-intensive investment. The private sector also needs information on where to invest in clean energy in emerging markets, and it needs policy support to lower investment risk. Barriers to low carbon investments often include unclear and inconsistent energy policies, monopoly structures for existing producers, stronger incentives for conventional energy than clean energy, and a domestic financial sector not experienced in new technologies.
The government as an entity is quite often the largest, single consumer of goods and services in developed as well as developing countries. Government procurement can be a powerful tool for positive environmental change by creating a market for environmental goods and services. At the same time, procurement policies will need to be designed and implemented in a manner that does not discriminate against trading partners. What sort of space is available in the context of existing trade-rules for governments to pursue proactive procurement policies for sustainable energy goods and services? Is there a need to review existing rules so as to enhance their effectiveness with regards to the objectives of strengthening markets for renewable energy? This paper, by Alan Herve and David Luff, sheds light on these questions and also explains how a possible Sustainable Energy Trade Agreement could spur reform while ensuring a level playing field in procurement markets for producers of sustainable energy goods and services worldwide.
ICTSD senior fellow and Professor Emeritus Thomas Brewer, addresses the issues associated with technology transfer used by firms, namely international direct investments, licensing, and trade in services and goods. The author makes a case for the creation of a new international institutional architecture built around a sustainable energy trade agreement (SETA), with a view to enhancing such transfer. The paper considers a wide range of related topics that need to be addressed in designing and negotiating a SETA, especially four key elements: subsidies, government procurement, standards and intellectual property rights.
This report illustrates the multiple environmental, economic and social benefits arising from a transition towards energy-efficient housing. It outlines the required institutional changes and provides some basic principles for successful policies.
The study intends to reach national policymakers, decision-makers and experts and aims to facilitate a sustainable transition to energy efficient housing.
The report includes case studies from Austria, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Bulgaria.
The Green Economy is one in which the vital linkages among the economy, society, and environment are taken into account. This selection of articles and excerpts emerged in response to the need to fill the knowledge gap on practical, concrete, and on the ground green economy country experience. It is in this spirit that the articles and excerpts included in this publication have been selected: to provide information and knowledge for policy and decision makers and practitioners on the positive implications of greening some priority sectors, including job creation, resource efficiency, and generally contribution to sustainable development through an extensive review of scientific publications and magazines.
The sectors analysed are water, agriculture, energy, industry, business, ecosystems, technology, waste management. The report contains several case studies, including from China, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Europe.