Climate Change
G20 Rapid Response: The G20 and Climate Change
Progress on addressing climate change at the Los Cabos G0 Summit was disappointing — the “G20 Leaders Declaration” made only desultory references to the issue. There is, however, an opportunity for Mexico to use the rest of its presidency to put in place the building blocks for serious action on climate change.
Implementing Agenda 21 through Local Agenda 21s
A team of University of Waterloo researchers, led by Amelia Clarke and Adriane MacDonald, is studying communities worldwide that are implementing community sustainability plans, such as Local Agenda 21s. The researchers will look to identify patterns of successful implementation, in order to share solutions between communities, and inform policy makers.
G20 leaders should admit past failures and commit to real progress at Los Cabos summit, CIGI experts say
Looking ahead to the G20 Leaders’ Summit, June 18-19 in Los Cabos, The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) has published a commentary series offering policy analysis and prescriptions for the international economic forum.
CIGI announces eight collaborative research awards for professors at Laurier and University of Waterloo
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) today announced that eight research projects directed by faculty members at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo are being supported by CIGI research awards.
Los Cabos and Climate Change: The Art of the Possible
Advocates all want to get their pet topic discussed at the G20. Economic and financial crisis issues will dominate. Employment and commodity price volatility are next in line. Development, corruption, tax havens and anti-money laundering, drug trafficking and transnational crime, protecting the marine environment and resuscitating trade negotiations will all compete for attention. Climate change will receive very little agenda time.
Reports of Cheap Oil's Death Are Not Greatly Exaggerated
With new sources and methods of global petroleum production coming on stream — shale fracking, ultra-deepwater drilling and new fields in Africa, to name a few — some energy analysts have argued that reports of the death of cheap oil have been greatly exaggerated. In this week's CIGI Interview, Thomas Homer-Dixon takes issue with these "oil optimists," saying that the petroleum our global economy can afford to consume is indeed running out, and that we need to be much more aggressive in developing alternative energy sources.
Our peak oil premium
CIGI Chair of Global System Thomas Homer-Dixon writes on "Our peak oil premium." He argues that we're much closer to an oil peak than most people acknowledge.
UN Panel Calls for Integration of Environment into International Economic Reforms
A quarter of a century ago, the Brundtland Commission outlined the concept of sustainable development for the first time. It began its rather sobering report with the memorable phrase, “The Earth is one but the world is not,” to describe the interactions between the world’s environmental and economic and political systems. Sustainable development was to provide a new paradigm for economic growth, social equality and environmental sustainability.
Global Sustainability: Pursuing the Elusive Prize
As the world’s political and business leaders head home from the World Economic Forum in Davos, it is right asking which of the world’s toughest challenges were identified, let alone solved, on the “Magic Mountain.” Timely, then, that today the UN launches the report of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability.
Searching for Disruption, Sustainability and Transformation at Davos
Heads of state and leading figures from business and academia gather this week in Davos, Switzerland to “shape global, regional and industry agendas,” as part of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting. With this year’s conference entitled "The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models," we talk to WEF Sustainability Adviser and CIGI Senior Visiting Fellow Simon Zadek on what the forum’s unique composition can offer in terms of economic recovery and a move toward green growth.