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A statement by various organizations opposing the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), citing the risk to public interest and environmental policies.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law provides an overview of cases from 2013 involving the harassment, criminalization, and killing of land and environmental rights defenders globally. It highlights the systemic risks faced by individuals opposing extractive industries, large-scale development projects, and land grabbing, noting that these defenders are often targeted by both state forces and non-state actors, including corporations.

This executive summary from the Climate Policy Initiative outlines a 'Production and Protection' (P&P) strategy for Brazil to integrate economic growth in the agricultural sector with the preservation of natural resources. It identifies key barriers to productivity—such as deficient infrastructure, limited credit access for family farmers, and underdeveloped land leasing markets—while emphasizing the need to combat deforestation in private lands and non-Amazonian biomes like the Cerrado.

This 2013 report by the Climate Policy Initiative proposes a 'Production and Protection' (P&P) strategy for Brazil to simultaneously grow its rural economy and protect natural resources. The analysis finds that agricultural productivity can be increased without further deforestation by addressing non-geographical barriers such as poor infrastructure, limited access to credit for small farmers, and underdeveloped land rental markets. While Brazil has succeeded in reducing large-scale Amazon deforestation, the report highlights new challenges, including small-scale forest clearing and the need for better protection of the Cerrado biome through incentive-based policies.

This executive summary outlines a 'Production and Protection' (P&P) framework for Brazil, aiming to balance economic growth in agriculture with the conservation of natural resources. The document identifies opportunities to increase agricultural productivity through improvements in finance, technology, land rental markets, cooperatives, and infrastructure, while simultaneously strengthening environmental protections through better monitoring and market-based incentives.

This case study analyzes the IFC-PPCR project in Nepal, which seeks to integrate climate resilience into the private sector's business model within the agricultural sector. By providing grants for farmer training and creating a risk-sharing facility for commercial banks, the project aims to increase agricultural productivity and income for 15,000 farmers while ensuring long-term profitability for agribusinesses. While early results are promising, the study highlights risks such as low farmer adoption and market price volatility, and notes that replicating this model in other LDCs like Zambia, Mozambique, and Niger is hindered by poor investment climates and data gaps.

This policy brief analyzes the controversy over the EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) in Texas. It refutes claims by Texas officials and Luminant Generation Co. that the rule would jeopardize the electric grid or cause excessive job losses, arguing that many plants already possess the necessary control technology. The document asserts that Texas's inclusion in the SO2 program was justified by emission data and that the rule would significantly improve public health within the state.

This research paper by GreenCape examines the use of Performance-Based Contracts (PBCs) to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW), drawing on international experiences from countries such as Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Ireland. It outlines the technical, financial, and managerial challenges of NRW reduction and provides guidance on scoping, risk-reward balancing, and ensuring the sustainability of water savings for public utilities, with a particular focus on the South African context.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that national economic decision-making is overly reliant on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fails to adequately measure 'natural capital' and 'inclusive wealth'. The author contends that shifting focus toward a portfolio of produced, financial, natural, human, and social assets would promote long-term sustainability and better integrate economic, environmental, and social development goals.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores how public procurement can transition from buying discrete products to procuring functions and services through performance-based specifications. It argues that this shift can drive resource efficiency, stimulate private sector innovation, and reduce costs, provided the business models are aligned with the environmental impacts of the specific product categories.

This research paper examines the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and net investment income on South Africa's current account deficit. It argues that while FDI is beneficial for growth, the trend of transnational companies prioritizing short-term shareholder value over long-term reinvestment creates economic vulnerabilities, particularly during downturns. The author recommends policy shifts to attract FDI that is labour-absorbing, export-oriented, and focused on reinvesting profits within the domestic economy.

This policy briefing examines the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) within the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), arguing that the process can transform non-state actors from adversaries into governance partners. While the APRM mandates CSO inclusion in national assessments and governing structures, the author identifies significant challenges in maintaining momentum post-review and ensuring the quality of representation. The document provides recommendations for governments to involve CSOs in the implementation phase and for CSOs to leverage their exposure to state dynamics for sustained policy dialogue.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the institutional failures and labour tensions in South Africa's mining sector following the 2012 Marikana massacre. The author argues that a 'prisoners' dilemma' exists where rival unions and mining firms are incentivized toward conflict rather than cooperation due to a majoritarian bargaining system. The document proposes structural reforms to labour legislation, the introduction of profit-sharing models, and the empowerment of the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to penalize violent strikes to stabilize the industry.

This policy note by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the first decade of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), analyzing its structural challenges, achievements in opening political space, and the systemic failures in implementing National Programmes of Action (NPoAs).

This research paper examines the environmental and socio-economic impacts of pig farming in the Neman/Nemunas river basin, spanning Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Russia's Kaliningrad region. It finds a strong trend toward large-scale industrial farming, which has increased nutrient pollution and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. The report highlights a lack of transboundary coordination and a disconnect between manure-producing pig farms and crop farms that need fertilizer. It recommends promoting nutrient reuse, improving manure handling through technologies like biogas plants, and strengthening regional regulatory frameworks to ensure corporate accountability of foreign investors.

This World Resources Institute working paper details the first phase of the Adaptation Finance Accountability Initiative (AFAI), which maps international-to-national adaptation finance flows and assesses institutional contexts in Nepal, the Philippines, Uganda, and Zambia.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides three primary recommendations for Dr Tax, the new Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), focusing on the implementation of existing commitments, improved private sector engagement, and increased transparency of regional processes.

Natural Justice, a not-for-profit association, issued a statement of support for its Fellow in India, Stella James, following her public accounts of sexual harassment. The organization condemned all forms of harassment and abuse of women, particularly within the legal profession, and requested that media refer to James's original statements and respect her privacy.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International for the 2013 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, highlighting the persistence of gender-based violence and the specific threats faced by women engaged in political and environmental activism.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), supported by the Environmental Monitoring Group and the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, submitted comments on the draft Infrastructure Development Bill (B49-2013). The CER argues that the Bill violates Constitutional rights, disregards national environmental policies, and undermines the legal framework for sustainable development and integrated environmental management in South Africa.