Estimates of the costs and mitigation potential of climate change mitigation projects are incorrectly reported in the literature since they don't adequately account for costs of transactions, and for the role that barriers play in reducing the market penetration of projects. IES group is developing estimates of transaction costs of such projects in the US and abroad, and quantify the impact of barriers on mitigation potential. The analysis will result in two major reports on these two topics that are of interest to the research community engaged in integrated analysis of climate change.

In addition:

IES group has developed a series of models and approaches for greenhouse gas accounting of projects. These tools are being further modified and applied to selected case studies in several developing countries.

• IES group also participates in several international fora to disseminate the tools and findings. The activities will help support EPA programs such as Climate Leaders, and international offset programs.
• This project will result in the training of project developers and consolidators for the preparation of offset projects.
  

IES group continues several activities related to energy use in developing countries and climate change.

• The first one examines ways to implement appliance energy efficiency standards and labels as part of the new energy conservation law in India. LBNL/CLASP staff provides assistance to Indian entities.
  
• The second activity focuses on conducting case studies on sustainable development and climate change. The case studies focus on LPG use in households, transport and local air pollution in Cape Town, and on the utilization of coal bed methane, and evaluate local environmental and economic benefits of climate change mitigation. Results of these and other case studies will form the basis for helping South Africa draft its new environmental legislation.
  

IES group assists governments, in selected developing and transitioning countries, to:

• identify strategies which can attract private investment for projects which produce economic benefits for the country and reduce GHG emissions; and
  
• build support in the country and with international donors for implementing these strategies.
  
• Initial efforts have been focused on actors from Indian government agencies to assist them in prioritizing and developing projects in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy.