Each thematic research program produces several online features and briefs every year. Research Briefs are short summaries of current research written by researchers in the Sustainable Rural and Urban Development team. Articles | Briefs 
|
WB Research on the Challenges of Adapting to Climate Change
December 3, 2007
The World Bank conducts rigorous research on climate change to guide its operational strategies and offer better advice to member countries. An important aspect of this research agenda is its focus on adaptation to climate change – an issue that has received increasing attention since Kyoto. For most UNFCCC parties with relatively low emissions, adaptation is the critical challenge in framing policies that respond to climate change.
Climate Changes and Impact on Coastal Countries: Risk of Sea-Level Rise: High Stakes for Developing Countries
February 12, 2007
The impact of sea level rise from global warming could be catastrophic for many developing countries. The World Bank estimates that even a one meter rise would turn at least 60 million people in the developing world into environmental refugees. This is the finding of a new World Bank working paper, "The impact of sea level rise on developing countries: a comparative analysis."
Toxic Pollution from Agriculture: Costs and Remedies
November 28, 2006
In recent decades, the indiscriminate use of agricultural pesticides has created very serious health and environmental problems in many developing countries.
One to five million farm workers are estimated to suffer pesticide poisoning every year (WHO, UNEP) and at least 20,000 die annually from exposure, many of them in developing countries.
Saving the Forests (new Policy Research Report)
October 23, 2006
Preserving the world’s rapidly shrinking tropical forests and improving the economic prospects of millions of poor people requires an urgent strengthening of national forest governance. Globally, this calls for strong financial incentives, says a new World Bank policy research report, “At Loggerheads? Agricultural Expansion, Poverty Reduction and Environment in the Tropical Forests.” 
Disclosing Emissions Information Helps Check Pollution in Asia
April 3, 2006
Public disclosure of emissions information has proved very useful in developing countries with obvious regulatory problems, as in joint program with EcoWatch in the Philippines where compliance has increased 50 percent in over 45 rated factories between 1997 and 1998. New research on environmental pollution and health, focusing on implications for people has become part of a broad research program for the World Bank. 
Do Roads Bring Jobs to People? Lessons in Economic Geography
January 19, 2006
Authorities need to better understand the factors that influence location decisions for manufacturing firms, and also need to view the outcomes of potential policy interventions, such as investment in transport infrastructure to imrpove market accessibility of lagging regions, in a new ‘economic geography’ context.
Country Stakes in Climate Change Negotiations
October 2007, Craig Meisner and Uwe DeichmannUsing a comprehensive geo-referenced database of indicators relating to global change and energy, a set of composite measures were derived to gain insight into countries’ likely attitudes toward international treaties that regulate carbon emissions. When countries are classified according to source and impact vulnerability using these composite measures clear differences emerge in the factors that determine likely negotiating positions. Successful negotiation of a global protocol will likely require compensation and cross-subsidy mechanisms that reflect, at a minimum, the dimensions of vulnerability considered in this study. Climate Change: The Final Blow for Agriculture in Africa?
August 2007, Ariel Dinar
A recent cross-country study using the Ricardian approach shows that the effects of climate change on the African continent may force large regions of marginal agriculture out of production by the end of this century, while helping others.
The study highlights the importance of equipping millions of agriculture-dependent and water-deprived Africans in the most vulnerable countries with the information, technologies, and supporting institutions they need to adapt to further climate deterioration. Road Upgrading and Trade Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa
December 2006, Uwe DeichmannImproving transport infrastructure in the land-locked interior of Africa is a high priority of the World Bank’s Africa Action Plan. A new research study investigates the likely trade benefits of investing in upgrading and maintaining a trans-African highway network. The estimated benefits are significant. On the road from Bangui in the Central African Republic to Kisangani in Congo DR, for instance, the increase in trade volume is estimated at 793 percent.
|
RSS