United Nations

The report, produced by UNEP's Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative (SBCI), a think tank and partnership between the United Nations and leading companies and organisations in the building sector, presents results from almost three years of research and collaboration with leading experts around the world. Buildings contribute well over one third of global energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions, but also have a huge potential to achieve drastic emission reductions at virtually no cost. For example, landmark structures such as New York City's Empire State Building, at 102 stories and 242,000 square meters, is set to reduce its current emissions by 38 percent by 2013 through a US$20 million retrofit, resulting in annual savings of US$4.4 million. According to the report, the current climate footprint from buildings is equivalent to 8.6 billion tons of CO2 a year and is predicted to almost double-15.6 billion tons of CO2 by 2030.

The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is widely regarded as an international trade law global standard and represents one of the most successful treaties in that field. Its provisions have inspired legislative reform also at the national level. The CISG is divided into four parts: 1) the scope of application of the Convention and the general provisions, 2) the rules governing the formation of contracts for the international sale of goods, 3) the substantive rights and obligations of buyer and seller arising from the contract, and 4) the final clauses of the Convention concerning such matters as how and when it comes into force, the reservations and declarations that are permitted and the application of the Convention to international sales where both States concerned have the same or similar law on the subject.

"The Commonwealth Finance Ministers Reference Report" is an annual publication providing Commonwealth Finance Ministers with a central source of information regarding macro- and micro- financial issues and trade relations that affect Commonwealth nations. It includes case studies of successful projects with transferable solutions, articles on the key issues discussed at the Finance Ministers Meeting and in-depth analyses from economic experts within the financial community. This volume was produced for the Finance Ministers Meeting in Guyana, held in Castries, Saint Lucia, from 6-8th October 2008.

Normally, foreign direct investment (FDI) requires peace and stability. The purpose of this study is to examine the reverse relationship: whether, when and how FDI can be attracted and utilised in post-conflict conditions to promote economic stability and development, thereby making a contribution to peace-building. Focusing on Croatia and Mozambique, this study examines questions of FDI attraction and benefits arising in post-conflict countries: What kinds and volumes of FDI inflows can be expected when conflict ends and over what timeframes? What policy measures impact these outcomes? What are the key contributions of FDI, and how can these be improved by government policies and programmes? Croatia and Mozambique have balanced these competing agendas effectively, thus managing to both attract and benefit from FDI in their economies. FDI has made significant contributions towards the economic growth and stability that have helped entrench peace in both countries since emerging from conflict in the early 1990s.

This new report focuses on the global trends in sustainable energy development, covering both the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. It shows that in spite of the global economic downturn, investment in sustainable energy is still strong.

Cette publication s’intéresse aux investissements massifs et à la mobilisation d'importantes ressources financières nouvelles qui seront nécessaires afin de poursuivre la lutte contre les changements climatiques au niveau mondial. La première partie de ce livre (chapitres 1 à 4) passe en revue les mécanismes existants de financement de projets d’efficacité énergétique et d’énergies renouvelables ainsi que les critères de succès de ces mécanismes. La deuxième partie (chapitres 5 à 9) s’attache à l’analyse des conditions techniques et économiques et des réglementations de chaque région et propose un résumé des principales activités menées par les gouvernements nationaux et les institutions internationales, avec une attention particulière portée aux travaux des Commissions régionales des Nations Unies.

This publication provides a comprehensive collection of statistical data relevant to the analysis of international trade, investment and development, for individual countries and for economic and trade groupings. It presents consolidated reference statistics considered of particular importance for describing how developing countries have evolved in the context of globalisation. Data are presented in an analytical way in order to facilitate their interpretation. This Handbook is a valuable tool for research, policy making and education, which can also be used in conjunction with the DVD, available separately or in a package, which contains the full time series of data.

This publication includes, among other things, practical guidance on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to marine scientific research based on the outcome of the meeting of the group of experts. The General Assembly of the United Nations has consistently highlighted the importance of marine science for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas.

En el marco de las crisis financieras y económicas el sector marítimo ha tenido una reacción diferente cada vez, más allá del denominador común que es la forma en que las crisis impactan en la economía real, variando el nivel de actividad. En tal sentido, el sector marítimo to como proveedor de servicios to es afectado a través de la baja en la demanda y los niveles de precios. En términos generales, la industria marítima en su conjunto siente el impacto (por ver alterado el equilibrio entre oferta y demanda), en un cierto marco de expansión o de contracción de la capacidad ofrecida, anterior a la ocurrencia de la crisis, generada por la inelasticidad de oferta que caracteriza a esta industria. El presente documento analiza las principales crisis económicas desde 1970 a la fecha, poniendo en paralelo los efectos sobre la industria marítima, tanto desde el punto de vista de la demanda de transporte marítimo, como de la oferta (la flota operativa y la proyectada).

Adoptée par la CNUDCI le 1 juillet 2009, cette publication est destinée à l'usage des praticiens et des juges qui travaillent dans le domaine de l'insolvabilité. Elle aborde les aspects pratiques de la coopération et de la communication dans les cas d'insolvabilité transfrontalière. L'information contenue dans cet ouvrage se fonde sur l'expérience et la pratique observées et se focalise sur l'usage et la négotiation des accords transfrontaliers. Cette publication contient une analyse de plus de 39 accords, allant des accords écrits et formels aux accords verbaux entre différentes parties qui ont été enregistrées dans les procédures aux cours des dix dernières années. Elle contient un certain nombre de clauses types qui pourraient faciliter la coopération transfrontalière. Elle inclut également les résumés des cas dans lesquels les accords qui forment la base de l'analyse ont été utilisés.

Por conducto de las voces de siete jóvenes de todo el mundo, el suplemento de la juventud ilustra la relación entre las cuestiones tratadas en el informe principal y los jóvenes. En lugar de presentar muchos datos y análisis, el suplemento de la juventud narra historias de la vida real de las personas. A medida que se van intensificando los efectos del cambio climático, los jóvenes enfrentan cada vez más dificultades y además tendrán que hacerse cargo en el largo plazo de resolver un problema generado antes de que nacieran. Los jóvenes deben estar desde ahora involucrados en la respuesta al cambio climático: están tan afectados como los demás y, en consecuencia, merecen tener un lugar en la mesa de debates y que se tomen en serio las cuestiones que les interesan.

En 2009, los países de América Latina y el Caribe acusaron los embates de la crisis financiera global en sus niveles de actividad, por lo que la región experimentó un retroceso de un 1,9% del PIB. Sin embargo, ya en la segunda mitad del año, la mayoría de los países de la región inició una vigorosa recuperación que se consolidará en 2010 y permitirá una expansión del PIB regional del 5,2%. Con ello la región, junto con los países emergentes de Asia, se situará entre las más dinámicas del globo. Los factores que propiciaron este positivo desempeño son de índole externa e interna. Entre los primeros, cabe destacar la continuidad en el dinamismo de ciertas economías asiáticas clave, cuya sostenida demanda de productos de la región ha creado condiciones para una importante recuperación de las exportaciones, sobre todo en el caso de América del Sur. Del mismo modo, la recuperación de la economía de los Estados Unidos, si bien gradual, contribuye a un mejor escenario para México y Centroamérica.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) have formed a partnership to promote a regional network of computable general equilibrium (CGE) modellers that facilitates the exchange of analytical findings, techniques and data, with the ultimate objective of better serving policymakers in policy formulation. The regional meetings of CGE modellers, held annually in a different country of the region, have been instrumental in promoting interregional transfer of analytical technologies and in bringing the region closer to international best practices. This book contains a selection of studies discussed in past annual regional meetings on modelling.