Our Blog
Sharp opinion and analysis on issues that are critical to sustainable development.
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September 9
Why Infrastructure is Key to the Success of the SDGs
Infrastructure is core to our quality a life—a fact that explains the prevalence of infrastructure, both implicitly and explicitly, in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Population growth,...
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September 4
Fossil fuel subsidy reform in Canada: A post-partisan issue
Almost unnoticed in Canada’s federal election campaign is the fact that all national political parties have agreed on the need to reform fossil fuel subsidies.The Greens, Liberals and New...
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September 2
Between a Rock and a Dry Lake Bed: Developed and developing economies coping with drought
Of all the specific challenges we face around the world today, a prevalent natural disaster that is often forgotten in light of floods, cyclones and other more sudden events is one that has been...
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August 21
New Research Links Water Security and Economic Growth
While it is intuitively clear that economic growth is related to water security there has been very little empirical evidence of this relationship to date.Laura Turley, an independent consultant on...
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August 6
Fossil fuel subsidy reform – turning the tide?
The recent announcement from UAE that it will reform domestic fossil fuel subsidies is the latest in a growing number of countries taking the opportunity to reform subsidies within the energy sector.
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August 4
Accountability and the SDGs: Three reasons for optimism
It is traditional wisdom that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In the chain of governance needed to ensure that humanity moves resolutely towards sustainable development, the weak link is accountability, particularly at the international level.
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July 29
How Going Glocal Could Help Fix Our Water Troubles
The need for water management has never been more critical. In North America, the media spotlight has focused most acutely on California, which is facing one its most severe droughts on record.
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July 27
The Way Forward: How scenario analysis will help countries implement the SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intended to offer a ‘supremely ambitious and transformational vision’ for our common future till 2030.
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July 23
Fuel Subsidies in Nigeria: There are better ways to help the poor (and the economy and the environment)
The downturn in oil prices over the past year has hit Nigeria’s public budget hard. When money is tight, it seems obvious that governments should first phase out programmes that are expensive and have low benefit to their intended beneficiaries.
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October 22
A Crash Course on Subsidy Definition by Dante, Shakespeare and Russian Folklore
Do you know what a subsidy is and what is not? If your answer is a definite “yes”, you are either new to the field or recklessly optimistic.
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