Liquid biofuels made from biomass are
attracting increasing interest worldwide. Industrial
countries see biofuels as a way of reducing greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions from the transport sector and diversifying
energy sources. Developing countries see biofuels as a way
to stimulate rural development, create jobs, and save
foreign exchange. Both groups view biofuels as a means of
increasing energy security. These concerns, taken together

This paper analyzes the impact of
climate change on animal husbandry in Africa. It regresses
the net revenue from raising animals in small and large
farms across Africa on climate, soil, and other control
variables to test the climate sensitivity of livestock. The
study is based on a survey of over 9,000 farmers across 11
countries conducted by the World Bank and the Global
Environment Facility. From this dataset, 5,400 farms were

Poland has by far the highest hard coal
production of any country in the European Union and hard
coal will continue to play a crucial role regarding energy
security for Poland. Most importantly, hard coal can reduce
both the price and supply risks for Poland associated with
oil and gas imports. Poland has a number of low cost mines
with good quality coal where production can be expanded so
that it is feasible for coal to meet domestic demand without

In the last 10 years, World Bank
activity in the fisheries sector of the Pacific Islands
region has been limited to two regional economic reports, a
study of coastal resources management, and a few technical
assistance missions. The purpose of this study was to
conduct a brief internal review of the Pacific fisheries
sectors past performances, based on the existing literature
and experience of the individuals involved. The

This report addresses the issues
associated with trade in liquid biofuels is a second Energy
Sector Management Assistance Program report on biofuels, and
part of a broader assessment of bioenergy undertaken by the
World Bank. The report asks how liberalizing trade in liquid
biofuels might affect biofuel production and consumption.
Bioenergy is playing an increasingly important role as an
alternative and renewable source of energy. Bioenergy

The strategic / sectoral social and
environmental assessment of power development options (SSEA)
offers an overview analysis of major regional power
development options and regional transmission
interconnections in the Nile Equatorial Lakes region in
Eastern Africa. The assessment provides a solid foundation
for planning the development of the power sectors of the
region as it contains a proposed development strategy and a

This paper develops the structural
Ricardian method, a new approach to modeling agricultural
performance using cross-sectional evidence, and uses the
method to study animal husbandry in Africa. The model is
intended to estimate the structure beneath Ricardian results
in order to understand how farmers change their behavior in
response to climate. A survey of over 5,000 livestock
farmers in 10 countries reveals that the selection of

In this issue: making finance work for
Africa; focus on water in the Middle East: how to manage
scarcity; fungibility, and the apos;flypaper effectapos; of
aid; do girls gain from migration-induced male absence? The
distributional effects of World Trade Organization (WTO)
agricultural reforms in rich and poor countries;
clientelism, credibility, and policy choices of young
democracies; and entry regulation as a barrier to entrepreneurship.

This study analyzes CO2 emissions
reduction targets for various countries and geopolitical
regions by the year 2030 in order to stabilize atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 at the level of 450 ppm (550 ppm
including non CO2 greenhouse gases). It also determines CO2
intensity cuts that would be needed in those countries and
regions if the emission reductions were achieved through
intensity-based targets while assuming no effect on

This paper has been prepared in
accordance with the terms of reference for a study on power
system planning in India: incorporating externality costs
and benefits. It reviews estimates of the external costs of
power in international studies as well as in India and
compares the figures available. It also comments on the
validity of the external cost estimates available and the
use made of them in power system planning and regulation

This paper reviews the status of weather
and climate services in Europe and Central Asia
(ECA).Worldwide, the accuracy and value of weather and
climate services are rising, bringing great economic
benefits. However, many National Meteorological and
Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in Europe and Central Asia are
in decline. As a result, these potential gains are often
missed. Much more could be done to mitigate weather

This study answers the key questions on marine protected areas (MPAs) by assessing country experience with these and other tools along the marine management area continuum that have been adopted to address loss of biodiversity and fisheries and other marine resource degradation, which have eroded traditional use rights and cultural identify.