Publications & Documents

Aligning Policies for a Low-carbon Economy

This major report produced in co-operation with the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Transport Forum (ITF) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) identifies the misalignments between climate change objectives and policy and regulatory frameworks across a range of policy domains (investment, taxation, innovation and skills, trade, and adaptation) and activities at the heart of climate policy.

OECD Development Centre and China

China is joining a group of 48 OECD and non-OECD countries that are members of the OECD Development Centre. The Centre helps decision makers find policy solutions to stimulate growth and improve living conditions in developing and emerging economies. China is also an OECD Key Partner, like Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, which are already members of the OECD Development Centre.

6th ITD Global Conference

The International Tax Dialogue (ITD) is organising its 6th global conference at the OECD. This year’s conference will focus on Tax and the Environment, an issue of growing importance and of direct relevance in the lead up to the COP21 meeting taking place later in the year. The ITD is a joint initiative of the EC, IDB, IMF, OECD, World Bank and CIAT.

Measuring environmental innovation using patent data - Environment Working Paper

This paper refines indicators to measure innovation in environment-related technologies, drawing on recent methodological advances that allow a more accurate assessment of environment-related innovation in a broader range of countries. Three indicators are discussed: an indicator of technology development; an indicator of international collaboration in technology development and an indicator of technology diffusion.

Taxing Energy Use 2015 - OECD and Selected Partner Economies

Energy taxes misaligned with environmental impacts of energy use

Governments are under-utilising taxation as a tool to curb the environmental consequences of energy use, foregoing revenue and weakening their attack on the principal source of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change and air pollution, according to new OECD analysis.

Competitiveness Impacts of the German Electricity Tax - Environment Working Paper

Proposals to increase environmentally related taxes are often challenged on competitiveness grounds. The concern is that value creation in certain sectors might decline domestically if a country introduces environmentally related taxes unilaterally. This paper provides evidence on the short-term competitiveness impacts of the German electricity tax introduced unilaterally in 1999.

Green growth and water

According to the "OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050: The Consequences of Inaction", global water demand is projected to increase by 55% between 2000 and 2050, and tensions could increase as domestic users, manufacturing, electricity generation and other economic sectors compete with agriculture for access to resources. By 2050, over 40% of the global population are likely to be living in river basins under severe water stress.

Green Growth Indicators in Latin American Countries

On 11 June 2015, high-level officials from the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and the representatives of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) visited the OECD to learn more about the Organisation’s work on environment and green growth.

Investment in clean energy: A worthwhile goal - Insights Blog

Most of us would agree that clean energy is a worthwhile goal, and the world has invested more than $2 trillion on renewable-energy plants in the past decade. But are we doing enough?