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Economic growth is a key driver of poverty reduction, but its impact on the poor depends on growth patterns and policies. It is increasingly accepted that economic growth that advances development must be both socially inclusive and ecologically sustainable. Unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to contain a goal on sustainable and inclusive growth. Some have challenged the revived focus on growth, both for ecological reasons and ...

The dynamics in and the perceived relevance of regional cooperation in the European (Sub-)Arctic reflect current and anticipated future developments in the region. While the Arctic Council mirrors the increasing interest and potential future challenges in the region, other cooperation fora are less likely to face major changes or attract attention any time soon. They nevertheless remain very relevant, not least for engaging with Moscow at a time when ties with Russia are strained.

While the United States has abundant supplies of cheap gas thanks to the 'shale revolution', the EU remains dependent on gas imports. The Ukrainian crisis has given rise to increasing concerns about the security of the EU's gas supply. At the request of the European Council, the European Commission has analysed the situation, and published a European Energy Security Strategy. Among other elements, the strategy focuses on increasing energy production in the EU and diversifying external supplies. This ...

The present study examines the human rights impacts of the extractive industries on indigenous peoples worldwide. It finds that there continue to be significant human rights risks associated with mining, oil and gas extraction falling disproportionately on indigenous peoples. It argues that the growing demand for non-renewable resources and the need to explore and exploit resources in ever more invasive ways suggest that such activities are likely to impinge even more on the lands of indigenous communities ...

EU-Russian energy relations are characterised by mutual interdependence. Within the EU, however, the level of Member States’ dependence on Russia varies largely according to Member States’ abilities to diversify their energy mix and their imports. This has created a fragmented internal energy market, as demonstrated by the wide range in gas prices among Member States. Energy supply diversification has become a key concern for the entire EU, although energy policies are still largely overseen by Member ...

China signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Iceland earlier this year. This is China's first FTA with a western European state. Once in force it will waive most tariffs in trade between the two countries. However, the tiny size of Iceland's market and the fact that the agreement does not provide low-tariff entry for China's products onto other European markets raises questions over China's motives. In particular, it is suggested that China is using this FTA to promote its strategic goals, such ...

In the context of the legislative procedure related to the Commission proposal for a Regulation on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (COM(2012) 576), the European Parliament requested the organisation of a workshop to discuss the Commission’s legislative proposal putting special emphasis on the challenges of implementing the Nagoya protocol both at global and EU level, and on future perspectives.

Mit diesem Dokument soll eine erste Bewertung der Stärken und Schwächen der Folgenabschätzung der Kommission durchgeführt werden, die dem Vorschlag der Kommission über den Zugang zu genetischen Ressourcen beigefügt ist. Es analysiert, ob die in den eigenen Leitlinien der Kommission zur Folgenabschätzung festgelegten wichtigsten Kriterien sowie die vom Parlament in seinem Handbuch zur Folgenabschätzung identifizierten zusätzlichen Faktoren durch die Folgenabschätzung erfüllt werden. Es versucht nicht ...

Das Europäische Parlament hat eine Entschließung angenommen, die vorschlägt, Forschung und Entwicklung auf die Substitution kritischer Rohstoffe zu konzentrieren, um eine nachhaltige Entwicklung zu unterstützen und das Wachstum im europäischen Wirtschaftsraum zu fördern. Diese Studie behandelt die Frage, welche Maßnahmen die Substitution kritischer Rohstoffe in der Europäischen Union fördern könnten. Die wesentliche Schlussfolgerung der Studie ist, dass die Substitution kritischer Rohstoffe einer ...

The Arctic region is experiencing major changes, which are occurring more rapidly than in any other region of the world, mainly as a result of global warming and climate change. Coupled with new technology, changes in the Arctic have rendered resources that were once well beyond our reach accessible. Commercial ships, for example, are now using Arctic routes each summer to shorten the length of their trips between continents; such routes that would have been impassable only a few decades ago. The ...