The sustainability of large hydropower has been under discussion already before the Three Gorges Project. Policy must consider the difficult and often negative environmental and social implications of large hydropower structures. In an effort to find a consensus and develop standards, the World Commission on Dams (WCD) has established authoritative recommendations. The dialogue on this report was taken forward by the Dams and Development Project, hosted by UNEP. Consensus was reached on the WCD Core Vales and Strategic Priorities. On the basis of these values, Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines and an associated Sustainability Assessment Protocol were developed by the International Hydropower Association.

As a result of its development to a mature and much-used technology, wind power has been confronted with numerous environmental concerns. The World Wind Energy Association has, in October 2005, provided Sustainability and Due Diligence Guidelines to promote greater consideration of the environmental, social and economic aspects of new wind projects.

The changing competitiveness of renewable fuels in the transport fuel market and the consequent policies in a number of countries have created a whole range of opportunities for bioenergy, even for global bioenergy trade. This rapid growth in a multitude of technologies for production and use is fuelling concerns about sustainability. WWF has proposed Sustainability Standards for Bioenergy elaborated by the Öko-Institute.

In a publication of April 2007, UN-Energy, the collaborative framework on energy for all UN bodies, structures the complex matter of bioenergy. Sustainable Bioenergy: A Framework for Decision Makers identifies the issues that need further analysis and valuation in order for appropriate trade-offs to be made: while the energy needs of the people are to be met, the local and global environment must be protected. The lead in this effort was taken by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FA0) of the UN.

FAO is also playing a central role in the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), which is working for sustainable bioenergy development by formulating standard guidlines.

In a publication of September 2007, the Round Table on Sustainable Development at the Organsation of Economic Coooperation and Development (OECD) takes a critical look at current bioenergy policies. The paper entitled Biofuels: Is the Cure Worse than the Disease? argues that the sustainable potential of biofuels in its currently commercialised form is lower than widely assumed and that government policies are inefficient and not a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially when hindering international trade. The Round Table proposes to refocus strategies and objectives regarding biofuels, phase out specific commercialisation subsidies for first-generation biofuels and reinforce R&D for second-generation biofuels, create a single and credible global certification system, discuss the design of such a system with the WTO, and support developing countries in identifying economic opportunities from biofuels. The Round Table singles out carbon taxes as policy instrument of choice.