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This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that international financial institutions (IFIs) should cease funding extractive industries—specifically oil, gas, and mining—due to their devastating impacts on local communities, human rights, and the global environment. Through multiple case studies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the document illustrates how public funding for these projects often exacerbates poverty, fuels corruption, and contributes to climate change, while providing minimal economic benefit to host countries.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of research on the interface between trade and the environment. Based on a survey of 315 publications from 2002 to 2003 and consultations with an expert group, the document identifies significant gaps in current research—particularly regarding developing countries and specific WTO negotiating options—and proposes a new research agenda to better support sustainable development.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political climate in Malawi as of November 2003, focusing on President Bakili Muluzi's efforts to amend the constitution to secure a third term in office. The document details the tension between the executive and the judiciary, the fragmentation of political parties based on leadership personalities rather than ideology, and the risk of Malawi regressing toward the autocratic patterns seen during the regime of Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

A fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law detailing concerns regarding foreign direct investment (FDI), investment rules, and investor-state arbitration, specifically in the context of the Americas Trade and Sustainable Development Forum.

This document is a table of contents and metadata page for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Monograph No 92, titled 'Violence, Reconciliation and Identity: The Reintegration of the Lord`s Resistance Army Child Abductees in Northern Uganda', authored by Angela Veale and Aki Stavrou in November 2003.

This draft issue brief examines the intersection of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), the OECD Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits, and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM). It analyzes how the 'safe haven' clause in the ASCM protects OECD members' export credits from being classified as prohibited subsidies, the resulting competitive disadvantages for developing countries, and the legal precedents set by the Brazil-Canada aircraft disputes. The document also highlights the lack of comprehensive environmental and social guidelines governing ECA activities.

This report by Friends of the Earth International and the International Rivers Network (IRN) argues that large hydroelectric dams should be excluded from renewable energy initiatives. It contends that large-scale hydro projects fail to support sustainable development, harm ecosystems and people, and undermine energy security, whereas decentralized renewable energy technologies provide a more effective path toward poverty eradication and climate mitigation.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of anti-personnel landmines and the development of peacekeeping standby forces in Africa. It analyzes the operational challenges posed by landmines in irregular African conflicts, the progress of the Ottawa Convention across the continent, and the specific legislative and policy frameworks adopted by South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to combat mine proliferation.

This research paper analyzes the military coup in São Tomé e Príncipe on 16 July 2003, examining the interplay between domestic political instability, the grievances of the armed forces, and the influence of former mercenaries from the Buffalo Battalion, while assessing the role of potential oil wealth in the event and its resolution.

This research paper examines the tension between the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the human right to water. The authors argue that because the realization of the right to water requires flexible, country-specific regulatory strategies, international trade law should be conceptualized in deference to national regulatory autonomy to prevent trade obligations from undermining the state's ability to ensure universal and affordable access to water.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) issued this response on October 27, 2003, to address submissions received during a 120-day public comment period regarding the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline and ACG Phase 1 projects. The document defends the projects' compliance with IFC and World Bank safeguard policies, specifically addressing concerns from NGOs and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) regarding environmental assessments, involuntary resettlement, and the treatment of vulnerable groups.

Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute provides a rebuttal to a response by Tromp et al. regarding hydrogen leakage rates. Lovins argues that the 10% to 20% leakage rate assumed by Tromp et al. is unsupported by evidence and technically implausible for commercial systems. He specifically disputes the claim that liquid hydrogen (LH2) boiloff from automotive tanks would contribute significantly to atmospheric emissions, asserting that such gases would be used as fuel or catalytically oxidized. Lovins further contends that the automotive industry is moving toward compressed gaseous hydrogen (GH2) over LH2 due to superior economics, safety, and weight, citing a concept SUV as evidence that high-pressure GH2 tanks can meet or exceed range benchmarks.

In a statement delivered on September 22, 2003, Daniel B. Magraw, Jr., President of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), evaluates the ten-year history of the World Bank Inspection Panel (WBIP). He argues that while the Panel has successfully promoted accountability and served as a model for other development institutions, it faces critical challenges regarding the sustainability of its outcomes, the Bank's relationship with human rights norms, and the potential erosion of accountability due to changes in safeguard policies and lending structures.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and WWF International examines the potential conflicts between the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and domestic water management policies. The authors argue that while water management requires flexibility and adaptive planning to protect ecosystems, the GATS favors legal predictability and 'locking in' policy choices, which may constrain a state's ability to regulate water rights, pollution, and resource extraction.

This report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in October 2003, examines the critical state of transport, financial, and social infrastructure within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that poor management and political apathy, rather than just physical decay, hinder regional economic competitiveness and integration.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, prepared for WWF-Japan, evaluates the potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reductions in Japan's power sector between 2000 and 2020. It compares a 'Business As Usual' (BAU) scenario, based on current trends and government projections, with a 'Power Switch' (PS) scenario characterized by aggressive transitions to non-fossil and low-carbon fuels and broad implementation of energy efficiency measures. The analysis demonstrates that the PS scenario can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with a relatively minor net cost to society, primarily by substituting natural gas for coal, phasing out nuclear power, and expanding renewable energy.

The report details a 2003 workshop on integrating public benefits—such as rural electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy—into power sector reforms in developing countries. It concludes that while reforms can threaten traditional public service obligations, they also provide opportunities to establish transparent, accountable regulatory frameworks that can sustain and expand these benefits. The document emphasizes that the achievement of public benefits is independent of ownership structure but requires explicit policy integration and expanded capacity building for a wider range of stakeholders, including NGOs and academia.

This report outlines a strategic framework for the disarmament, reintegration, and prevention of the arming of children and youth, focusing on policy mainstreaming, education, and peace-building efforts to address the impact of small arms and light weapons (SALW).

Botswana is characterized by a paradox of high GDP growth and strong fiscal management—driven largely by diamond mining—alongside declining human development indicators, high income inequality, and a severe HIV/AIDS crisis.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the complexities of trade-related subsidies, focusing on the divide between developed and developing nations. It argues that current WTO indicators for measuring subsidies are inadequate for resolving trade disputes and proposes the use of 'terms-of-trade' as a more effective metric. The document provides detailed case studies on the subsidy regimes and trade impacts in India, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and Brazil, highlighting how subsidies in OECD countries often harm the economies of developing nations, particularly in agriculture.