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This research paper by Tom Rotherham of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the institutional framework of quality assurance—comprising rule-making, conformity assessment, and accreditation—and its role in facilitating international trade. It analyzes how the harmonization of these three pillars through international standards and mutual recognition agreements helps reduce technical barriers to trade and lowers compliance costs for producers.

This research paper by David H. Stanger for the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the development of an international framework for accreditation to facilitate sustainable trade. It details the roles of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), their respective Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs), and the technical distinctions between laboratory accreditation and certification.

This research paper by Howard Mann of the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how international trade and investment agreements, specifically NAFTA and WTO rules, impact the management of water as a public good. The author argues that while states retain legal jurisdiction, these agreements can severely limit sovereign control, lock in weak domestic management practices, and prioritize foreign investor rights over local and indigenous needs through secretive arbitration processes.

This research paper by Mark Halle examines the integration of environmental concerns and sustainable development within the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author argues that while formal negotiations and the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) have seen limited progress, the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) and Appellate Body have significantly advanced environmental principles by interpreting WTO law in the context of public international law and sustainable development.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra examines the role of services trade in transitioning to a circular economy. Based on a survey of 96 firms and 16 in-depth interviews, the report identifies key services—such as IT, R&D, and waste management—that enable circular business models. It analyzes the modes of service delivery, the impact of digitalization, and the regulatory barriers that hinder the international exchange of these services, ultimately proposing an integrated trade policy approach to support global resource efficiency.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) issued this statement to define its position on the interrelation between international trade, development, and the environment, specifically addressing the stagnation following the Seattle Ministerial Conference.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provide comments on draft rules for transparency in investor-State arbitration. The document argues for an 'opt-out' approach to ensure transparency is the default, criticizes broad tribunal discretion that could entrench a secretive status quo, and proposes specific modifications to draft articles regarding the publication of documents, awards, and hearing transcripts.

This discussion paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the rise of unsolicited proposals (USPs) in infrastructure procurement. It synthesizes findings from a Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) report, highlighting the risks USPs pose to transparency and value-for-money, and provides recommendations for governments to establish robust management frameworks. The paper specifically examines the tension between the expediency of USPs and the principles of sustainable public procurement (SPP), which emphasizes life-cycle costs and strategic needs analysis.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that urban planning, specifically the creation of "complete communities," is an underutilized tool for reducing energy consumption and emissions, particularly in North America's car-centric cities.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explores the intersection of the mining industry and Water-Energy-Food (WEF) security. It proposes a methodological framework using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model and hydrological modelling to manage the risks and opportunities associated with mining developments, featuring a current application of this approach in Suriname.

A fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development detailing the economic and operational benefits of water retention projects for livestock farm owners and their neighbors in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, highlighting the need for integrated policy approaches to avoid unintended consequences when managing these three interdependent essentials. It details IISD's efforts to operationalize WEF security through watershed-based management in Canada and stakeholder engagement in Suriname.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the difficulties of achieving consistency and coherency in watershed indicators across Canada and in transboundary contexts. Based on activities conducted by the Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) in 2014–2015, including webinars and a workshop, the document identifies systemic challenges such as jurisdictional fragmentation, varying data collection methodologies, and imbalanced institutional capacities. It provides a series of recommendations for developing and improving indicator frameworks to better inform policy and environmental management.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) describes the role of watershed indicator systems in overcoming planning barriers such as data gaps and jurisdictional fragmentation. It outlines IISD's expertise in designing these systems and provides two case studies: the Lake Balaton Region in Hungary and the city of Winnipeg in Canada.

This briefing sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) summarizes water quality and nutrient loading in the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB) based on data from 2018 and 2019. It details assessments of four monitoring sites, highlighting exceedances in total phosphorus and certain metals, and analyzes the river's role as a major nutrient contributor to Lake Winnipeg.

This case study examines the socioeconomic importance of Manitoba's winter road network and the provincial government's efforts to enhance its resilience in response to climate change. It details how warming winters have shortened the operational window of these roads, leading to increased costs and safety risks, and describes the subsequent policy and funding interventions used to adapt the system.

This report provides a gendered analysis of employment and skills within Mongolia's large-scale mining sector, examining legal frameworks, workforce demographics, and educational pipelines. It identifies a persistent gender gap in technical roles and decision-making, despite the existence of gender-responsive policies and a new Labor Code that introduces more flexible roster schedules to encourage female participation.

This report provides a gendered analysis of employment and skills within Zambia's large-scale mining (LSM) sector. It establishes a baseline of women's participation, identifying significant underrepresentation in technical and leadership roles, pervasive data gaps, and structural barriers such as gender stereotyping and inadequate workplace infrastructure. The document recommends transforming gender policies into actionable, resourced plans, improving the collection of gender-disaggregated data, and promoting STEM education to prepare women for the 'mine of the future'.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the status of implementation-related issues following the WTO Doha Ministerial Conference. It details the disputes over whether these issues are subject to negotiation or mere discussion, and reviews the failure of various WTO committees to meet deadlines or reach consensus on key trade areas including textiles, subsidies, anti-dumping, and intellectual property.

This briefing, published by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), outlines the status of trade in services negotiations under the WTO Doha Round as of February 2003. It details the mandated deadlines for market access requests and offers, the disagreements between developed and developing nations regarding 'credit' for autonomous liberalisation and the assessment of trade in services, and the ongoing debates over the establishment of an emergency safeguard mechanism (ESM).