ALBERT

Description: The report highlights the fact that many of the world’s most pressing problems are also incredibly complex — including climate change, environmental pollution, economic crises and the digital transformation of societies. What’s more, the scientific knowledge around these areas can often be uncertain or contested. Science is one of many sources of knowledge that inform policy. Its unique strength is that it is based on rigorous enquiry, continuous analysis and debate, providing a set of evidence that can be respected as valid, relevant and reliable. Science advice supports effective policymaking by providing the best available knowledge, which can then be used to understand a specific problem, generate and evaluate policy options and monitor results of policy implementation. It also provides meaning to the discussion around critical topics within society. The advice works best when it is guided by the ideal of co-creation of knowledge and policy options between scientists and policymakers. The relationship between science advisers and policymakers relies on building mutual trust, where both scientists and policymakers are honest about their values and goals. Scientific knowledge should always inform societal debate and decision-making. Citizens often have their own experiences of the policy issue under consideration and should be included in the ongoing process of deliberation between scientists, policymakers and the public.

Description: This report discusses the use of country systems by Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), focusing on social and environmental systems. It presents a brief history of the emergence of the country systems approach and the building of a global consensus on the need for greater use of country systems, within an agenda of development effectiveness. The study compares the country systems approach in social and environmental safeguards of seven DFIs: six multilateral banks and a national development bank. For each of the analysed institutions, the study sought to unravel their commitment to make greater use of country systems for the assessment and mitigation of social and environmental impacts, as well as the objectives, governance and instruments for the integration and strengthening of such systems. The study also focuses on the system of a specific country: Brazil. The current status of Brazilian social and environmental governance was assessed based on five case studies, encompassing different types of projects in the energy and transportation/logistics sectors. The analysis comprises rules, policies and practices applicable to each case. Lastly, following the lead of the young institution set up by the BRICS, the New Development Bank (NDB), the study discusses challenges and opportunities for greater use of country systems by the entity and how it could improve the design and implementation of innovative solutions for the strengthening of social and environmental country systems under a South-South Cooperation (SSC) perspective. The analyses concluded that initiatives aiming at the use and strengthening of social and environmental country systems by DFIs have yielded unsatisfactory results due to the presence of four big challenges: i) Inadequacies between the planning/financial instruments and the measures for the strengthening of national systems; ii) Limitations in the process for dealing with setbacks in the national system; iii) Failures in the methodologies for measuring the benefits and results of the use of country systems; and iv) Incoherencies and additional risks in situations in which there are financial intermediaries. The biggest challenge for the NDB is to not confine itself in a restrictive view of its own potential role, as a development partner, of ensuring a high level of social and environmental protection, in proper balance with the principles of sovereignty and horizontality. In this sense, the unique characteristics of NDB, such as its “lean” policy framework and its commitment to sovereignty, are, at the same time, points of concern and a unique opportunity for the development of innovative methods and instruments for the assessment of the capacity of clients to abide by their own commitments, and to put in motion effective solutions to overcome weaknesses in order to enable a development based on projects capable of creating transformational changes and that are truly sustainable.

Description: This study was initiated by the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action, and attributed to a team of experts from Ramboll, the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Universität Kassel Center for Environmental Systems Research, IOM Law, and CE Delft. The study’s objectives are to build a better understanding of novel CCU technologies with three main sub-objectives: 1. to assess the readiness and map the roll out of different CCU technologies in order to clarify which types of technologies are viable for support, including from the planned Innovation Fund under the EU ETS; 2. to examine the EU regulatory set up related to the technologies concerned and assess whether specific provisions are necessary to reflect the contribution by these innovative technologies to climate mitigation while preserving the environmental integrity of the relevant legislation; and 3. to engage with stakeholders for better understanding of the technologies and the legislative setup. To achieve its objectives, the study team conducted a review of the literature on CCU; a web search on the status of existing technologies; a review of relevant legislation; as well as stakeholder consultations in the form of a survey, interviews, two stakeholder workshops and an open event. The study draws from existing knowledge and research, and represents a state-of-the-art review of the current technological and policy status of CCU in Europe.

Description: Renewable energy auctions are gaining popularity worldwide. However, practical experiences remain ambiguous. This holds especially true for on-time implementation rates. In Brazil, only 17% of the awarded capacity in the first ten auction rounds reached commercial operation within the set out deadline. In this article, we investigate the causes for these delays and discuss potential mitigation measures, based on expert interviews and extensive data analysis. The most severe delays were caused by expansion to the transmission grid. Delays in the supply of wind turbines also led to significant project setbacks. Other factors could be considered of minor relevance, but have led in individual cases to significant delays. These include factors related to project financing, project or environmental licenses, logistics, land-use conflicts and poor project management. Brazil effectively reduced delays caused by transmission grid expansion through amendments to the auction design. Our analysis also shows that options to further mitigate delays through an advanced auction design are limited, as they lead to conflicts with other energy policy objectives, e.g. local production of wind turbines, or because the delays are caused by factors beyond the control of the project developers.