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A submission from a collaborative of eight health organizations to Environment and Climate Change Canada advocating for an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power plants to maximize public health and climate benefits.

This research paper analyzes the investment regulations published on December 30, 2016, by South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry to bring the Protection of Investment Act into force. The author argues that the regulations are overly focused on dispute settlement through mediation, which may be insufficient for high-stakes investment disputes and raises concerns regarding the confidentiality of privileged information.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued a statement opposing the nomination of Rex Tillerson as US Secretary of State, citing his leadership of ExxonMobil and the resulting conflicts of interest regarding climate policy, human rights, and foreign relations.

This commentary examines the emergence of renewable energy jobs in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, positioning the local shift as representative of a global transition where growth in renewables replaces job losses in the fossil fuel industry.

The article introduces CRAFTY-Sweden, an agent-based model used to simulate the Swedish forestry sector from 2010 to 2100. Findings indicate that landowner behavior and socio-economic factors are more influential than climatic change in driving land-use change. The model predicts increased timber harvesting and a decoupling of supply and demand for forest ecosystem services.

Friends of the Earth International issued a statement expressing concern over the arrest and prolonged detention of Hiroji Yamashiro and other peaceful protesters opposing US military base construction in Okinawa, Japan.

This research paper qualitatively examines the implementation of Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) projects in the Asia-Pacific region, identifying both contributions to adaptive capacity and systemic shortcomings in project management and impact.

Richard Ottinger, EESI Board Chair Emeritus, proposes that the United States treat climate change mitigation as a form of risk management or an insurance policy to protect against the catastrophic outcomes predicted by 95 percent of climate scientists.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other health organizations advocate for the integration of comprehensive human health impact assessments into Canada's federal environmental assessment processes to better address the link between ecological health and human wellness.

This case study describes the efforts of the City of Menlo Park and the nonprofit Menlo Spark to achieve a zero-carbon future by 2025. It details a comprehensive approach to the built environment, including updated zoning and general plans that mandate renewable energy for all energy uses, sustainable building standards, and strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled in a car-centric suburb.

This summary report, prepared by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd for Thabametsi Power Company Proprietary Limited, details the climate change and palaeontological impact assessments for the proposed 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station near Lephalale, Limpopo Province. The report was produced to satisfy conditions 10.5 and 10.6 of the project's Environmental Authorization following an appeal by the Centre for Environmental Rights. It evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate resilience risks, and potential impacts on fossil heritage, concluding that while GHG impacts are high, they are not a fatal flaw given South Africa's energy policy framework.

This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for the widespread ratification of the Mauritius Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration. The document explains how the Convention provides a mechanism for states to 'opt-in' to the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency for disputes arising from investment treaties concluded before April 2014, thereby increasing public accountability and democratic governance in investor-state arbitrations.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the rule of exhaustion of local remedies (ELR) in international investment law. It analyzes how the customary international law requirement—that individuals seek redress in domestic courts before initiating international proceedings—has been largely dispensed with in investment treaties, while recently being reintroduced by several states to protect domestic sovereignty. The document reviews treaty practices, case law from ICSID and other tribunals, and provides policy recommendations for states negotiating investment agreements.

This commentary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) criticizes Cadbury's decision to replace Fairtrade International certification with an in-house sustainability standard for its cocoa sourcing. The author argues that this shift reduces public oversight, increases transaction costs for producers, and undermines the participatory governance and market credibility provided by independent international standards.

This guide provides a comprehensive three-phase framework for governments to develop, implement, and monitor strategies for managing Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). It emphasizes the need for inclusive governance, the categorization of mining practices by impact, and the use of tailored economic and regulatory instruments to integrate informal mining into legal and economic systems while reducing social and environmental harm.

The "Guide IGF à l'intention des gouvernements : Gérer l'activité minière artisanale et à petite échelle," published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in January 2017, provides a structured, three-phase framework for governments to develop and implement strategies for managing artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The guide aims to integrate informal ASM into legal and economic systems while reducing social and environmental harms.

The 'IGF Guidance for Governments: Managing artisanal and small-scale mining' provides a structured, three-phase framework for governments to develop and implement national strategies for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It focuses on integrating informal activities into legal and economic systems while reducing social and environmental harms.

This briefing paper proposes a systematic, science-informed methodology to assess the adequacy of Canadian public policy in addressing threats to freshwater resources and aquatic biodiversity. It introduces a hierarchical threat classification system and a framework for identifying gaps between existing management instruments and scientific research needs to inform a pan-Canadian approach to freshwater management.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines climate adaptation readiness in Southern Africa by analyzing the region's response to the severe 2015/16 El Niño-induced drought. The author argues that while the El Niño cycle is a natural phenomenon, the resulting drought serves as a critical test of the region's institutional and policy capacity to handle severe environmental stress. The paper identifies significant gaps in national and regional response capacities, highlighting the need for a shift from reactive 'response' to proactive 'prevention' and the scaling of successful local and regional adaptation strategies.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines electoral trends in Africa based on elections held in 2015 and early 2016. While noting progress in democratic institution building since the 1990s, the authors identify four critical trends—constitutional manipulation, electoral calendar tampering, harassment of opposition, and low voter turnout—that threaten to reverse democratic gains. The document advocates for stricter adherence to African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Community (REC) standards to ensure credible and inclusive elections.