The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
The Copenhagen Accord does mention a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund and a Technology Mechanism for technology development and transfer in support of action on adaptation and mitigation. However, it is silent on crucial aspects of both; perhaps those will be worked out in the negotiations to be conducted later. Nevertheless, …
The current terms of debate on climate change are basically defined by the extremely complex interplay of two narratives, one on development and the other on sustainability, both of which even today are altering and shaping the world we live in on a day to day basis.
This paper uses the EPO/OECD World Patent Statistical Database (PATSTAT) to provide a quantitative description of the geographic distribution of inventions in thirteen climate mitigation technologies since 1978 and their international diffusion on a global scale. Statistics suggest that innovation has mostly been driven by energy prices until 1990. Since …
In the lead-up to the Copenhagen climate change meeting, technology transfer was - with emissions reductions and finance - one of the key sticking points. It was hoped that the conference would, at least, spell out elements of a
Current developments in regulatory regimes raise concerns about the manner in which technology transfer is likely to pan out in the debate on climate change. Existing trade agreements have made developing countries cope with environmental challenges in meeting standards. Given that India
DEC 07: Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen officially welcomed delegates to Denmark for cop -15, and urged them to take advantage of the “unprecedented political will” to reach an agreement. Delegates made predictable introductory remarks, except a negotiator from Papua New Guinea, who asked that the cop be empowered …
The question of protecting intellectual property rights by academic inventors was never seriously contemplated until the introduction of the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980 in the US. The Act allowed universities to retain patent rights over inventions arising out of federally-funded research and to license those patents exclusively or nonexclusively at …
This report begin with a discussion of the dynamics between developing and developed countries that have influenced the debates. This is then followed with a description of the financial mechanisms, requirement for short and long-term funds, and problems with the current institutional arrangements. Then highlight some of the mechanisms in …
This pubication says that market drivers for climate change investments remain robust driven by mandates and innovation policy. The 2010 Outlook is bullish for public markets, private equity / venture capital and infrastructure investments. At a macro level, climate change investment involves a unique blend of technology innovation, environmental protection, …
Food processing makes use of various unit operations and technologies to convert relatively bulky, perishable and typically inedible raw materials into more useful shelf-stable and palatable foods or potable beverages. Processing contributes to food security by minimizing waste and losses in the food chain and by increasing food availability and …
The author who has been in the forefront of negotiations for climate change has given a first hand account of the negotiations at Copenhagen and what needs to be done now. He vividly brings out the thought process and the stands taken by various countries also highlighting the outcome of …
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen ended in an agreement by countries to cap the global temperature rise by committing to significant emission reductions, and to raise finance to kickstart action in the developing world to deal with climate change. "The challenge is now to turn what we …
The "Copenhagen Accord" announced at COP 15 in Copenhagen. It agrees to weak and non-legally commitments from developed world and says that mitigation actions of developing nations will be open for "international consultation and analysis". The key points of the Copenhagen Accord include the objective to keep the maximum temperature …
Copenhagen, Dec. 14: India, China and 128 other countries briefly walked out of the climate change talks here today in protest against the failure of industrialised countries to make firm commitments on greenhouse gas emission cuts in the years beyond 2012. The walkout by the developing countries followed an exchange …
It is mainly the inhabitants of the global South who suffer from the effects of climate change. They are faced with the destruction of their living space and the violation of their human rights. At the same time, existing human rights standards offer the possibility of establishing points of reference …
As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting convenes in Copenhagen, Denmark, intellectual property (IP) rights remain a highly contentious issue that threatens the long-term prospects of these negotiations. Meaningful and sustainable reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions necessitate further innovation and deployment of low-carbon ("clean") technologies …
This study describes the areas of focus for the ADB Pacific Department's operations, identifies key gaps between country and ADB actions, as well as opportunities for scaling up ADB's assistance related to mitigation, adaptation and associated crosscutting needs. The CCIP will evolve through periodic updates to effectively guide ongoing and …
