All publications and documents

Cloud computing is changing the way computing is undertaken. Users of cloud computing infrastructure and services do not have to make upfront, capital-intensive investments in information technology (IT) infrastructure and software but, instead, can pay for computing resources in a pay-as-you go model. Cloud computing providers have significantly lower operating costs than companies would have if…

The concept of a ‘green economy’ has emerged from a long history of sustainable development practice and policy making. In the preparations for Rio+20, the term gained renewed political attention as a ‘new’ paradigm for achieving sustainable development. Two years on, as national policy frameworks for a green economy are in place and international institutions are channelling funding towards the…

Across Africa, the threats of desertification and land degradation are always present, especially in the Sahel and the southern edge of the Sahara. Poverty and hunger are a constant prospect. In response, farmers and communities in dryland areas are developing ways to sustainably manage forests, rangelands and other natural resources. A range of projects is supporting farmers in their efforts to…

Demand for animal products is rising fast. By 2050, consumption of meat and dairy is expected to have risen 76 per cent and 65 per cent respectively against a 2005–07 baseline, compared with 40 per cent for cereals.Currently, the biggest meat-consuming countries are China, the European Union, the United States and Brazil; major dairy consumers are China, India, the EU and the United States…

This working paper intends to suppor in country teams involved in building their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) by exploring the different possible forms the second contribution could take. It builds on discussions initiated under the MAPS Programme in the INDC Lab(Lima,July2014), together with subsequent research and national experiences in Peru, Chile, Colombia and South…

A new post-2015 development agenda demands a new vision and a responsive framework with sustainable development at its core. The “business as usual” scenario is not affordable, either socially or environmentally, or, in the long run, economically. The integration of economic growth, social protection and justice, and environmental stewardship should be at the core of the sustainable…