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This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a set of policy options and principles to inform the African preparatory process for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). It argues that the current international environmental governance (IEG) regime is fragmented and fails Africa, which suffers acutely from environmental degradation. The document proposes reforms focused on implementation, accountability, and the transformation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) into a more powerful international institution.

This report documents a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan African Parliament, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS). It examines the surge of foreign direct investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabs," and provides recommendations for parliamentarians to ensure such investments benefit local communities and align with national development goals.

This report documents a seminar held by the Pan-African Parliament in July 2011 regarding foreign investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabbing." It examines the drivers of these investments, their negative impacts on local communities and human rights, and the legal frameworks governing them. The document provides recommendations for parliamentarians to increase transparency, reform land tenure, and ensure that investments benefit local populations through inclusive business models and genuine community consultation.

This report documents a seminar held in July 2011 by the Pan-African Parliament, in collaboration with the IISD and PLAAS, focusing on foreign investment in African agricultural land and water resources. It examines the phenomenon of 'land grabbing,' its legal implications, and the role of parliamentarians in ensuring that such investments benefit local populations and align with sustainable development goals.

This report documents a seminar organized by the Pan-African Parliament in July 2011 to address the phenomenon of 'land grabbing' in Africa. It examines the drivers of foreign investment in arable land and water, the legal implications of such investments, and the resulting socio-economic impacts on local communities, particularly women. The document provides a set of recommendations for parliamentarians to improve transparency, reform land tenure, and ensure that investments align with national development strategies and human rights standards.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) describes an assessment framework designed to help governments and First Nations communities understand the relationship between the boreal environment and community well-being. Developed through collaboration with the Bloodvein and Poplar River First Nations in Manitoba, the framework simplifies international ecosystem assessment models to identify how environmental products, services, and cultural benefits support health, security, livelihoods, and social relations in remote Canadian settings.

This report reviews literature on the linkages between ecosystem services and human well-being, with a focus on how these relationships intersect with poverty. It examines conceptual frameworks like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and discusses the necessity of integrating ecosystem-based policies with poverty-alleviating measures to build community resilience, particularly for those whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources.

The October 2011 PSC Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on peace and security issues across Africa, focusing on the volatile situation in Darfur, the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria, and political instability and terrorism threats in Niger. It also details the upcoming African Union Commission elections and regional counter-terrorism efforts.

The report "TURB CHARGING EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS" by RMI provides a framework for electric utilities to increase energy savings by pursuing both "broader" (increasing participant numbers) and "deeper" (increasing savings per participant) strategies. It identifies systemic barriers, such as the historical monopoly structure of utilities and rigid regulatory frameworks, and offers recommendations to improve marketing, sales execution, transaction costs, and collaboration.

This policy briefing examines the presence and operations of Indian mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically focusing on the copper, cobalt, tin, and tantalum sectors. It highlights the growth of small and medium-sized Indian firms, their reliance on self-funding rather than state or Western capital, and the environmental and political risks they face in the Katanga province.

This research paper examines the governance challenges facing Uganda's Nile perch fishery in Lake Victoria, highlighting a significant gap between regional policies and local implementation. While the fishery is a critical economic resource and foreign-exchange earner, it is threatened by overfishing, illegal gear, and corruption. The author argues that the sustainability of the resource depends on passing stalled legislation, improving funding models, and strengthening community-based management units.

This research paper serves as an input for the sixth meeting of the International Partnership on Mitigation and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) held in Panama City in October 2011. It reviews the first five meetings of the Partnership to identify lessons learned and suggest ways to enhance the Partnership's value to the international climate community.

The Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted on 28 September 2011 by a group of international law and human rights experts, clarify the obligations of States to respect, protect, and fulfil economic, social, and cultural rights beyond their own borders. The document establishes that States are responsible for acts or omissions that have foreseeable effects on human rights extraterritorially and outlines the duties of States to regulate non-State actors, such as corporations, and to cooperate internationally to create an enabling environment for the universal realization of these rights.

This research paper describes an integrated hydro-economic modeling framework used to analyze water and agricultural policies in a basin in Spain's central arid region, focusing on the tension between groundwater conservation and rural livelihoods.

This workshop report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the technical challenges of implementing nodal pricing in European power markets to facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable energy. It compares the European approach, including the EU Target Model, with the experience of US Independent System Operators (ISOs) and PJM, focusing on the conflicts between market flexibility and system security, the integration of energy and reserve markets, and the use of shadow prices to inform grid investment.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute explains the mechanics, energy sources, and benefits of district energy systems, which provide centralized heating and cooling to multiple buildings via underground pipe networks.

This research paper by Dr Niu Haibin examines China's strategic motivations for participating in the BRICS group, framing it as a means to collectively reshape global governance and move toward a multipolar international order without acting as a direct counterbalance to Western powers.

This 2011 report analyzes transport-related CO2e and pollutant emissions in Tallinn, finding that while overall vehicle mileage and GHG emissions rose by nearly 50% between 2000 and 2009, local pollutants like NOx and PM decreased due to better engine technology. It highlights that municipal service vehicles contribute about 10% of the city's transport CO2e, with city buses and waste trucks being the largest contributors. The report recommends implementing eco-driving training, which could save up to 2,660 tons of CO2e and nearly 1 million euros annually for municipal companies. Broader recommendations for Tallinn include congestion charging, low-emission zones, and prioritizing public transport and cycling over private car use.

A statement from a coalition of international, regional, and local NGOs urging the 18th session of the Human Right Council to renew the mandate of the Special Procedure on the adverse effects of the management, movement, dumping and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights for another three years.

This policy brief discusses the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as drivers of the green economy, highlighting their economic scale, their potential to increase efficiency through smart systems and dematerialization, and the environmental challenges posed by the ICT sector itself.