SEI https://www.sei.org/ Bridging science and policy since 1989 Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:51:20 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cropped-favicon-20180207-2-150x150.jpg?modtime= SEI https://www.sei.org/ 32 32 Energising Kenya’s future: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving development aspirations https://www.sei.org/publications/energising-kenya-greenhouse-gas-emissions-development/ This discussion brief presents potential energy pathways for achieving Kenya’s NDC, and highlights conflicts, synergies and public perception issues that generate uncertainties and risks. This discussion brief presents potential energy pathways for achieving Kenya’s NDC, and highlights conflicts, synergies and public perception issues that generate uncertainties and risks.

]]> Sun, 18 Mar 2018 15:15:05 +0000 Oliver Johnson; Hannah Wanjiru; Mbeo Ogeya; Francis X. Johnson https://www.sei.org/publications/energising-kenya-greenhouse-gas-emissions-development/ Publication Aligning fossil fuel production with the Paris Agreement https://www.sei.org/publications/aligning-fossil-fuel-production-paris-agreement/ This brief explains the rationale for considering fossil fuel supply under the UNFCCC Talanoa Dialogue, and highlights available policy options. This brief explains the rationale for considering fossil fuel supply under the UNFCCC Talanoa Dialogue, and highlights available policy options.

]]> Fri, 16 Mar 2018 21:19:32 +0000 Cleo Verkuijl; Georgia Piggot; Michael Lazarus; Harro van Asselt; Peter Erickson https://www.sei.org/publications/aligning-fossil-fuel-production-paris-agreement/ Publication Climate change mitigation consultancy: final report https://www.sei.org/publications/climate-change-mitigation-consultancy-final-report/ This report analyzes GHG mitigation opportunities in the energy, forestry, waste, transport, and buildings sectors in Jamaica. This report analyzes GHG mitigation opportunities in the energy, forestry, waste, transport, and buildings sectors in Jamaica.

]]> Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:54:32 +0000 Jason Veysey; Taylor Binnington https://www.sei.org/publications/climate-change-mitigation-consultancy-final-report/ Publication Economic and climate challenges in the Mendoza wine region https://www.sei.org/publications/economic-climate-challenges-mendoza-wine-region/ This brief provides an overview of Argentina’s Mendoza wine region and identifies its water supply challenges. This brief provides an overview of Argentina’s Mendoza wine region and identifies its water supply challenges.

]]> Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:07:49 +0000 Laura Forni https://www.sei.org/publications/economic-climate-challenges-mendoza-wine-region/ Publication Getting the numbers right: revisiting woodfuel sustainability in the developing world https://www.sei.org/publications/getting-numbers-right-revisiting-woodfuel-sustainability-developing-world/ This paper identifies the woodfuel “hotspots” where interventions are more likely to reduce deforestation or degradation. This paper identifies the woodfuel “hotspots” where interventions are more likely to reduce deforestation or degradation.

]]> Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:40:36 +0000 Rob Bailis https://www.sei.org/publications/getting-numbers-right-revisiting-woodfuel-sustainability-developing-world/ Publication Would constraining US fossil fuel production affect global CO2 emissions? A case study of US leasing policy https://www.sei.org/publications/case-study-us-leasing-policy/ This article examines the emissions implications of a cessation of new leases for fossil fuel extraction on U.S. federal lands and waters. This article examines the emissions implications of a cessation of new leases for fossil fuel extraction on U.S. federal lands and waters.

]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:33:42 +0000 Peter Erickson; Michael Lazarus https://www.sei.org/publications/case-study-us-leasing-policy/ Publication Framing stranded assets in an age of disruption https://www.sei.org/publications/framing-stranded-assets-age-disruption/ The sustainability transition is gaining momentum. This is good news for all who believe a transition is necessary, and it also means many new markets and industries will grow, such as wind and solar power, electric vehicles and many others. The sustainability transition is gaining momentum. This is good news for all who believe a transition is necessary, and it also means many new markets and industries will grow, such as wind and solar power, electric vehicles and many others.

]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:51:50 +0000 Luca De Lorenzo https://www.sei.org/publications/framing-stranded-assets-age-disruption/ Publication How to harness the potential of border carbon adjustments https://www.sei.org/publications/harness-potential-border-carbon-adjustments/ More than two decades after border carbon adjustments (BCAs) were first proposed as a way to alleviate the negative impacts of uneven climate efforts, these frequently proposed but rarely implemented policy tools are again emerging in political debate. More than two decades after border carbon adjustments (BCAs) were first proposed as a way to alleviate the negative impacts of uneven climate efforts, these frequently proposed but rarely implemented policy tools are again emerging in political debate.

]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:29:17 +0000 Harro van Asselt; Cleo Verkuijl https://www.sei.org/publications/harness-potential-border-carbon-adjustments/ Publication Managing natural resources in Rwanda’s districts under competing development pressures https://www.sei.org/publications/managing-natural-resources-rwanda/ Rwanda has committed itself to becoming a middle-income country by 2020. The country’s Vision 2020 and Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies both set out goals to intensify agriculture, increase national energy output and improve access to modern energy services. However, these development goals – in tandem with increasing population growth and urbanization – place increasing pres-sure on limited water and biomass resources, and the major challenge of how to translate national... Rwanda has committed itself to becoming a middle-income country by 2020. The country’s Vision 2020 and Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies both set out goals to intensify agriculture, increase national energy output and improve access to modern energy services.

However, these development goals – in tandem with increasing population growth and urbanization – place increasing pres-sure on limited water and biomass resources, and the major challenge of how to translate national priorities and strategies into local action remains.

]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:18:24 +0000 Oliver Johnson; Mbeo Ogeya; Cassilde Muhoza; Tom Ogol; Louise Karlberg https://www.sei.org/publications/managing-natural-resources-rwanda/ Publication Making DiDRR a reality: a three-step approach to empowering people with disabilities to become agents of change and resilience https://www.sei.org/publications/empowering-people-with-disabilities-agents-of-change-resilience/ People with disabilities (PWDs) are among the most vulnerable groups during disasters. PWDs are four times more likely to die when a disaster strikes than those without disabilities. Yet they remain largely unaccounted for in disaster risk reduction (DRR). People with disabilities (PWDs) are among the most vulnerable groups during disasters. PWDs are four times more likely to die when a disaster strikes than those without disabilities. Yet they remain largely unaccounted for in disaster risk reduction (DRR).

]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:42:24 +0000 Karlee Johnson https://www.sei.org/publications/empowering-people-with-disabilities-agents-of-change-resilience/ Publication Water-Energy Nexus: A Review of Methods and Tools for Macro Assessment https://www.sei.org/publications/water-energy-nexus-review-macro-assessment/ Over the past decade, analyzing issues within the ‘water-energy nexus’ has become a topic of increasing attention for the scientific and policy communities. Based on an extensive survey of recent scientific literature on the water-energy nexus, the authors identify 70 studies and selected 35 as comprehensive case studies for review. These were classified and assessed according to groupings based on both geographic scale and their “nexus scope”. Over the past decade, analyzing issues within the ‘water-energy nexus’ has become a topic of increasing attention for the scientific and policy communities.

Based on an extensive survey of recent scientific literature on the water-energy nexus, the authors identify 70 studies and selected 35 as comprehensive case studies for review. These were classified and assessed according to groupings based on both geographic scale and their “nexus scope”.

]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:07:56 +0000 Guoyi Han https://www.sei.org/publications/water-energy-nexus-review-macro-assessment/ Publication Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report: Present-day ozone distribution and trends relevant to human health https://www.sei.org/publications/tropospheric-ozone-assessment-report/ Ozone found at the Earth’s surface is an air pollutant harmful to human health. The regulatory ozone limit values designed to protect human health vary by country. The research conducted was a component of the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR), an international effort to improve scientific understanding of ozone’s global distribution and trends. The results provide the most ambitious ever ground-level ozone assessment, using data from over 4,800 monitoring stations across the globe. Ozone found at the Earth’s surface is an air pollutant harmful to human health. The regulatory ozone limit values designed to protect human health vary by country. The research conducted was a component of the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR), an international effort to improve scientific understanding of ozone’s global distribution and trends. The results provide the most ambitious ever ground-level ozone assessment, using data from over 4,800 monitoring stations across the globe.

]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2018 21:52:37 +0000 Chris Malley https://www.sei.org/publications/tropospheric-ozone-assessment-report/ Publication Increasing access to post harvest technologies to women farmers https://www.sei.org/publications/service-design-kenya-report/ Findings of a study on opportunities to enhance an initiative to reduce post-harvest food loss in Kenyan mango value chains. Findings of a study on opportunities to enhance an initiative to reduce post-harvest food loss in Kenyan mango value chains.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:19:38 +0000 Matthew Osborne; Ylva Ran; Cassilde Muhoza; Marie Jürisoo https://www.sei.org/publications/service-design-kenya-report/ Publication Beyond headline mitigation numbers: We need more transparent and comparable NDCs to achieve the Paris Agreement on climate change https://www.sei.org/publications/transparent-comparable-ndcs-achieve-paris-agreement/ Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) were key to reaching the Paris Agreement and will be instrumental in implementing it. Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) were key to reaching the Paris Agreement and will be instrumental in implementing it.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 12:47:19 +0000 Pieter Pauw; Richard J.T. Klein; Adis Dzebo https://www.sei.org/publications/transparent-comparable-ndcs-achieve-paris-agreement/ Publication Privileged coal: the politics of subsidies for coal production in Colombia https://www.sei.org/publications/privileged-coal-colombia/ This working paper analyses the political factors that shape subsidies to coal extraction in Colombia, and explores why and how those subsidies have been promoted. This working paper analyses the political factors that shape subsidies to coal extraction in Colombia, and explores why and how those subsidies have been promoted.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 12:34:37 +0000 Claudia Strambo; Aaron Atteridge https://www.sei.org/publications/privileged-coal-colombia/ Publication Adaptive governance as a catalyst for transforming the relationship between development and disaster risk through the Sendai Framework? https://www.sei.org/publications/adaptive-governance-development-disaster-risk-sendai-framework/ This paper presents evidence of adaptive governance in the Sendai Framework and explores its potential as a non-traditional approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR). This paper presents evidence of adaptive governance in the Sendai Framework and explores its potential as a non-traditional approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR).

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 10:35:14 +0000 Åsa Gerger Swartling; Frank Thomalla https://www.sei.org/publications/adaptive-governance-development-disaster-risk-sendai-framework/ Publication How does tillage intensity affect soil organic carbon? A systematic review https://www.sei.org/publications/tillage-intensity-soc-systematic-review/ This article presents the findings of a systematic review showing that reduced tillage increases soil carbon storage, but only in upper soil levels. This article presents the findings of a systematic review showing that reduced tillage increases soil carbon storage, but only in upper soil levels.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 08:49:36 +0000 Neal Haddaway https://www.sei.org/publications/tillage-intensity-soc-systematic-review/ Publication Tillage intensity affects total SOC stocks in boreo-temperate regions only in the topsoil: a systematic review using an ESM approach https://www.sei.org/publications/tillage-intensity-soc-esm/ No- and low-tillage agriculture improve soil carbon storage, but effects below the upper layer are often overestimated, according to this study. No- and low-tillage agriculture improve soil carbon storage, but effects below the upper layer are often overestimated, according to this study.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 08:36:21 +0000 Neal Haddaway https://www.sei.org/publications/tillage-intensity-soc-esm/ Publication Why efforts to make small and mid-size enterprises more sustainable need to address gender and social equity https://www.sei.org/publications/enterprises-sustainable-gender-social-equity/ This discussion brief, an output of the first phase of SEI’s Gender and Social Equity Programme, identifies a significant gap in efforts to make SMEs more sustainable: a lack of attention to gender equality and inclusion. This discussion brief, an output of the first phase of SEI’s Gender and Social Equity Programme, identifies a significant gap in efforts to make SMEs more sustainable: a lack of attention to gender equality and inclusion.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 08:17:57 +0000 José Vega Barbero; Bernadette P. Resurrección https://www.sei.org/publications/enterprises-sustainable-gender-social-equity/ Publication A robust decision support framework to address climate change in Can Tho city, Vietnam https://www.sei.org/publications/climate-change-tho-city-vietnam/ As the economic engine of the Vietnam Mekong River Delta, Can Tho city is at the forefront of climate change adaptation. As the economic engine of the Vietnam Mekong River Delta, Can Tho city is at the forefront of climate change adaptation.

]]> Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:58:02 +0000 Chu Thai Hoanh; Jamie Kemsey; Niall O'Connor https://www.sei.org/publications/climate-change-tho-city-vietnam/ Publication