Reports

2010

Organic Farming in the Philippines

This is the third report in a series presenting positive examples of ways to develop agriculture based more on local resources, biological diversity and ecosystem services. Together, these examples show that it is possible to decrease the need for chemicals and fossil fuels while rendering agriculture less vulnerable to climate change. The present report highlights the work being done by the network organisation MASIPAG to develop more sustainable agriculture in the Philippines. The MASIPAG model for sustainable rural development integrates ecological and socioeconomic aspects and is fully in line with the rapid transition prescribed by a growing number of relevant international expert studies; a paradigm shift in favour of sustainable cultivation methods that really benefit the world’s approx. 500 million small farmers and contribute to secure access to food for the world’s poorest people.

• Organic Farming in the Philippines

• To draw the line
• Menés en bateau (in French)
• Un mar de injusticias y esperanzas (in spanish)

Organic Farming in Brazil

- Participatory certification and local markets for sustainable agricultural development

This report is based around the unique work of Centro Ecológico in southern Brazil and shows that it is possible to increase food production and secure livelihoods with the aid of participatory certification, small-scale trade and organic farming that maintains biological diversity and draws benefit from ecosystem services. By being active in a range of different networks, Centro Ecológico has been able to influence the development of organic farming nationally and internationally.

• Organic farming in Brazil

Retooling the Planet?

As the climate crisis become ever more apparent, as new science indicates an even more serious situation, and as international climate negotiations prove disappointingly slow and unambitious, the attraction of quick, techno-fix solutions seems to be gaining ground. Geoengineering – the large-scale intentional modification of oceans, atmosphere and land to counter the effects of climate change – has over only a few years gone from the realm of science-fiction to now being discussed by established scientists, policy-makers and media. Still, most people, even those working on climate change, are largely unaware of what is going on. This report, prepared by the ETC Group for the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, outlines the politics and interests in play, and the many risks and concerns associated with geoengineering. It argues for precaution, technology assessment and the need for civil society to monitor both the technologies and those favoring them. If not, the world run a serious risk of choosing "solutions" that turn out to be new global problems

• Retooling the Planet?

Global Europe and Sustainable Development

This report examines the EU trade policy ‘Global Europe’ and the trade negotiations being conducted with a range of less influential developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, where a large proportion of the world’s poorest people live. The report analyses how trade policy and the various trade agreements can affect the possibilities for developing countries to pursue a sustainable development policy and thereby adapt themselves to global warming and strengthen their agriculture. The report also examines Sweden’s attitude and contribution to EU trade policy.

• Global Europe and Sustainable Development - Implications for Climate Change and Agriculture

2008

An Assessement of the World Bank's Clean Energy for Development Investment Framework

SSNC has commissioned this report from IVL – The Swedish Environmental Research Institute – in order to provide a scientific analysis on the development impacts of the World Bank’s "Clean Energy for Development Investment Framework", as well as provide a basis for our positions on how Sweden can support sustainable climate change policies. The facts and conclusions in this report should be attributed to the authors and not be seen as the official viewpoints of SSNC.

• An Assessement of the World Bank’s Clean Energy for Development Investment Framework

Slipping throught the net

This report, commissioned by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, has been carried out with the aim to provide an updated picture of certification and eco-labelling systems for wild capture fisheries in developing countries and the effects these might have. With an increasing interest in the North for consuming fish and other marine species that has been captured in a way not depleting the resource, a number of national and international labeling systems have emerged. However, the majority is driven by Northern importers, retailers, producers and consumers – a fact that leaves the question of to what extent these certification systems respond to and addresses the challenges that small-scale and artisanal fisheries in developing countries face.

• Slipping through the net

Ecological in Ethiopia

This report presents a project in agriculture in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. An area that long have had severe problems with soil erosion and recurring periods of drought, but farmers in a number of villages have succeeded in reversing the negative trend towards one of increasing yields and better living conditions. The local population in the villages have developed new irrigation methods, prevented erosion and have begun to use compost. The methods are now being implemented in several other regions throughout the country.

• Ecological in Ethiopia

T-Shirts With a Murky Past

In this report, SSNC shows that the use of nonylphenol ethoxylates continues to be a problem for the textile industry, more than six months after we first detected nonylphenol ethoxylates in towels. The import of nonylphenol ethoxylates via textiles into the EU presumably explains why we are still finding nonylphenols in the sludge of wastewater treatment plants, in spite of the fact that the use of nonylphenol ethoxylates and nonylphenols is now in principle prohibited within the EU.

• T-Shirts With a Murky Past

2007

Food, Climate, and Development

With this report, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation aims to spread the information generated by researchers in recent years concerning climate change, ecosystem status and the capacity to feed a growing population. Our hope is to contribute to a deeper discussion among decision-makers and practitioners concerning these issues.

• Food, Climate, and Development

Fuel For Development?

This study, a background report, which has been carried out with the aim to critically examine the biofuels issue in a broader perspective, has been commissioned by the SSNC.

• Fuel For Development?

Forcing Product to Go Green

This study looks at current trends in the development of eco-design law in EU. It takes a broad view, including to what extent the EEB type of comprehensive producer responsibility is being considered as a viable proposal.

• Forcing Product to Go Green

2005

The Importance of Water Issues Within the Millennium Development Goals

A seminar report from a seminar arranged by Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Swedish Water House, on World Water Day, March 22nd, 2005.

• The Importance of Water Issues Within the Millennium Development Goals

2003

Environmentally Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

This report suggests a number of criteria that would improve the environmental sustainability of the industry. Environmental impacts such as mangrove conversion, seed bycatch, introduction of alien species and diseases, water use, supplementary feeding, nutrient loading, and chemical and antibiotic use are analysed with the ambition to ameliorate some of the environmental concerns.

• Environmentally Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

Critical Analysis of Certified Organic Shrimp Aquaculture in Sidoarjo, Indonesia

The scope of this assignment was to evaluate the certified shrimp farms on-site based on the consultant's long-term research experience of shrimp farming and sustainability concerns.

• Critical Analysis of Certified Organic Shrimp Aquaculture in Sidoarjo, Indonesia

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• Report Archive (in Swedish)