IIASA Policy Briefs present the Institute's latest research in a concise format for policymakers. The views expressed in these briefs are those of the researchers and not necessarily of IIASA.

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#09 December 2009 > Atmospheric Pollution Program

A Tool for Comparing Countries’ Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

IIASA has developed an easy-to-use online calculator to help industrialized countries compare efforts to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with those of other countries (and vice versa). The calculator is designed to explore alternative schemes for sharing the burden between countries, and it can help industrialized countries identify a mutually agreeable set of GHG emission reduction targets.

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#08 December 2009 > Forestry Program

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation: A Systematic Approach

As up to 20 percent of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions result from deforestation activities, the reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation of forests (REDD) is a major theme of the ongoing negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This briefing looks at the fundamental issues underlying REDD, as well as the challenges involved in current proposals to implement a trading scheme for REDD credits.

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#07 December 2009 > Risk and Vulnerability Program

Expanding Solar Energy in North Africa
to Achieve Climate Targets

This briefing identifies the opportunities, risks, and challenges associated with efforts to expand solar energy capacity in North Africa to the point where it can make a significant contribution toward achieving emissions reductions targets.

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#06 March 2009 > Processes of International Negotiation Program

Negotiating with Terrorists: A Mediator’s Guide

The official line is that public authorities do not negotiate with terrorists. However, governments frequently do end up negotiating with hostage takers and kidnappers and with political groups classified as terrorists. Clearly there are negotiations and negotiations, just as there are terrorists and terrorists. While this briefing does not necessarily advocate negotiating with terrorists, it outlines the practicalities of such negotiations, providing a guide to deciding how, when, and with whom to negotiate.

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#05 February 2009 > Forestry Program

The Challenges for the Indian Forestry Sector

This briefing highlights the key issues facing the Indian forestry system. It identifies major priorities and actions to help the Indian forestry system develop sustainably and meet future national needs.

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#04 revised December 2009 > Risk and Vulnerability Program

Climate Change and Extreme Events:
What Role for Insurance?

Experts expect climate change to affect not just average temperature, but also weather variability and extreme weather events. The effects, including economic and human losses, impose a disproportionate burden on vulnerable developing countries. How can insurance, including public–private arrangements with international support, play a role in helping vulnerable countries adapt? This Policy Brief offers practical guidance to policymakers shaping the post-Copenhagen adaptation strategy.

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#03 August 2008 > World Population Program

Economic Growth in Developing Countries:
Education Proves Key

Recently published IIASA research proves unambiguously: education is a fundamental determinant not only of health, demographic trends, and individual income, but also of a country’s aggregate level of economic growth. This gives policymakers a new perspective on international education goals and the most promising routes towards sustainable development.

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#02 December 2007 > IIASA Conference '07

Global Development: Science and Policies for the Future

At its thirty-fifth anniversary conference in November 2007, IIASA brought together a star-studded cast of scientists, policymakers, and thinkers to discuss Global Development: Science and Policies for the Future. The aim was a wide‑ranging discussion of what a sustainable and equitable future might look like, and how to get there. Foremost in everybody’s minds were research priorities and how an interdisciplinary institution dedicated to systems analysis on a global scale might contribute.

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#01 December 2007 > IIASA Forestry Program

Uncertainty in Greenhouse Gas Inventories

This brief highlights some of the issues and challenges arising from uncertainty in estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, explores how this uncertainty can be dealt with through uncertainty analysis techniques and improvements to science, and points to the implications of uncertainty analysis for policymakers working to reduce human impacts on the global climate.

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Last updated: 30 Jan 2012