Recent estimates of global fossil fuel subsidies for production and consumption are staggering, putting the total near US$730 billion annually or higher. In a time of economic hardship, dangerous climate change, and growing demand for reliable and cleaner sources of energy, these fossil fuel subsidies are a reckless and irrational use of taxpayer money and government investments.

This report provides the foundation and overview for a series of papers focusing on the particular challenges posed by the cumulative effects of climate change, migration, and conflict in some of our world’s most complex environments. In the papers following this report, plan to outline the effects of this nexus in northwest Africa, in India and Bangladesh, in the Andean region of South America, and in China.

The Nation Solar Mission is dependent the performance of its first phase and its later phases are contingent on the first phase outcomes. Certain portion of the subsidy is also contingent under a potential climate deal in future. There is thus an emergent need for accelerated progress for implementing the targets in the First Phase. Particularly, hurdles related to land availability and finance must be taken up not only by the Central Government but by the State Governments. Rural development institutes such as NABRAD should be integrated in the solar energy development.

The European Union (EU) and the Government of India are currently negotiating a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that aims to liberalise 'substantially all trade' between the two trading blocks on a reciprocal basis. Beyond trade in goods, the FTA will contain chapters on services, investment, public procurement, intellectual property rights and other areas. In all these areas, commitments are likely to go far beyond current commitments agreed on within the WTO. Officially, the EU Commission and the Government of India are aiming to conclude the agreement by February 2012 .

Two years after the Copenhagen summit, the real world is moving away from a safe and equitable climate future faster than ever. Political leaders are busy fighting the global financial crisis. But the lack of public interest and disengagement of relevant actors in the UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC) has – in light of the rise of the G-20 as the new and powerful global governance forum – the potential to conceal what is really at stake.

Although the world's population has reached seven billion people, there is sufficient food in the world to feed the global population. Still about 1 billion are undernourished. How can we feed the world? And what role do environmental issues in agriculture play?

This publication, “Sharing Solutions: Transatlantic Cooperation for a Low-Carbon Economy”, highlights the main lessons on how to build a clean economy despite economic and political challenges through transatlantic dialogue. It discusses how regions with a strong coal, manufacturing or rural economy are affected by climate and energy policies, and what policies can soften the impact of structural change toward a low-carbon economy.

The research assesses policies and practices for gender-just adaptation in India. The recommendations are based on consultative research carried out in 3 States of India – viz Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The research report highlights the causes and concerns of women due to climate change. It rightly points out that climate change would put an extra pressure on women activities in villages, Thus in India adaptation policies need to be ‘gender neutral’ than ‘gender blind’.

The case study analyzes the lessons learnt from ground realities on implementation of solar energy systems in rural India. This is an excellent case of making policy-practice connect viable. Off Grid Energy Solutions are viable in remote corners of country with community ownership harvesting the benefits to the maximum extent. The case study documents lessons learnt from implementation of Solar power energy solutions that should be addressed through legal policy frameworks during scaling up efforts. The case study aims to contribute and strengthen Solar Mission in India.

The governance of forests in India has been a complex realm to unravel. Due to the multiple claims to ownership, jurisdiction and management of forests through India's modern history, forests have remained a subject of intrigue for all those trying to understand the complex legalities that have operated within a single space. It is in this arena that the legal processes for the diversion of forests for non forest use has been practiced. The strategies of valuation of and compensation of forest loss are central to forest regulation in India.