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This research paper, prepared for the Government of Manitoba by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, examines models for measuring sustainable development performance at the provincial, state, and municipal levels. It reviews specific initiatives in Alberta, Oregon, Colorado, Seattle, and Jacksonville to identify strengths and weaknesses in indicator selection and application. The document proposes a causal framework based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model to better link human activities to environmental and social outcomes, providing a methodological guide for developing a sustainable development reporting system in Manitoba.

This teaching note describes the 'Waste Reduction Always Pays' (WRAP) program at the Dow Chemical Company, an employee-centered initiative designed to reduce pollution through a contest for small-scale capital investments. The document analyzes the program's strengths, such as top management support and financial savings, and its weaknesses, including a lack of strategic alignment and limited employee participation, while contrasting it with a different approach used at the Bayside Division.

This research paper compares two methodologies for estimating national-level greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector, specifically analyzing CO2 emissions for 1988 and the additional heating effects of other combustion gases.

This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) analyzes the Public Finance Management (PFM) legislative frameworks of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, comparing them to the SADC PF Model Law on Public Financial Management. The study identifies a systemic gap between the existence of progressive PFM laws and their effective implementation, particularly regarding debt sustainability, parliamentary oversight, and the prevention of illicit financial flows (IFFs).

This briefing by Benito Muller of Oxford Climate Policy provides recommendations for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board on how to allocate resources. Drawing on lessons from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the author argues against a single unified allocation formula in favor of separate funding envelopes for different objectives to balance efficiency and equity.

This report, produced for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), provides an international review of air emission standards to support the implementation of Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEM:AQA). It analyzes regulatory frameworks in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia (specifically New South Wales), with additional references to India, Japan, Poland, and China. The document recommends a phased approach to listing industrial activities and setting minimum emission standards based on Best Available Technology (BAT), while suggesting the integration of command-and-control measures with market-based mechanisms like emissions trading.

This research paper by Donald M. Goldberg of the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund (MPMF) provides a superior governance and administrative model for the financial mechanism of the Framework Convention on Climate Change compared to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The author contends that the MPMF's structure ensures more equitable representation, transparency, and party-led project approval, whereas the GEF is overly dependent on World Bank management.

This document is an annex containing comparative tables that analyze the alignment and ambition levels between the Colombian Green Taxonomy and the EU Taxonomy across various economic activities in the energy, construction, waste, transport, ICT, manufacturing, and forestry sectors.

This technical report, prepared for the South African National Treasury by the Climate Policy Initiative and GreenCape, evaluates the international interoperability and usability of the South African Green Finance Taxonomy (SA GFT). The analysis focuses on three core pillars: Make a Substantial Contribution (MSC), Do No Significant Harm (DNSH), and Minimum Social Safeguards (MSS). While the SA GFT shows strong alignment with global standards in its environmental objectives and sectoral coverage, it faces significant challenges in the practical application and measurability of its DNSH and MSS criteria. The report recommends introducing more flexible alignment classifications, increasing the use of quantitative thresholds, and integrating existing national social regulations to enhance the taxonomy's usability and attractiveness for international investment.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative provides comparative scorecards for several countries, evaluating the progress between their previous Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and their new versions (often NDC 2.0 or 3.0). The analysis focuses on key criteria: needs scope and granularity, timeframe, conditionality, implementation readiness, private sector mobilization strategies, and alignment with national and sectoral plans.

This fact sheet, published by the Climate Policy Initiative, examines the productivity and profitability of different organizational models for smallholder oil palm farmers in Central Kalimantan. It compares individual partnerships, cooperatives, and company-managed plasma models, concluding that larger, integrated management structures yield higher harvests and profits.

This fact sheet by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluates the measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems used by China, Germany, Italy, and the United States to track greenhouse gas emissions and climate mitigation actions. The analysis assesses these systems against six criteria: transparency, comparability, reliability, usefulness, timeliness, and completeness.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation evaluates the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of natural gas versus coal power plants, concluding that while natural gas can reduce emissions compared to coal over a 100-year period, it is not a sufficient solution for climate change and can be counterproductive if methane leaks are high or if it displaces renewable energy.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that the current global trade and investment regime acts as a 'straitjacket' that prioritizes agribusiness and capitalist profitability over agroecology and food sovereignty. It details how international trade agreements and investment treaties restrict the ability of sovereign states to implement public policies that protect human rights, biodiversity, and small-scale food producers.

This technical report assesses the international interoperability and usability of the South African Green Finance Taxonomy (SA GFT). It evaluates the taxonomy's alignment with global standards across three pillars: Make Substantial Contribution (MSC), Do No Significant Harm (DNSH), and Minimum Social Safeguards (MSS). While the SA GFT shows high alignment in its environmental objectives and sectoral coverage, the report identifies significant challenges in the usability of DNSH and MSS criteria, specifically regarding the lack of quantitative thresholds and clear disclosure frameworks. The report provides detailed recommendations for improving technical screening criteria, enhancing governance structures, and integrating the taxonomy into a broader national ESG disclosure ecosystem.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for integrating environmental and public interest protections into the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The author argues that the new agreement should move beyond the 'soft legal obligations' of recent mega-regional deals like CETA and the TPP, instead strengthening the legacy of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) to ensure trade liberalization aligns with sustainable development.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development compares the costs of coal and renewable energy in Indonesia, highlighting the impact of coal subsidies and environmental externalities on energy competitiveness and electricity access.

This document is an annex to a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that evaluates the potential for Nature-based Infrastructure (NBI) to reduce the global infrastructure investment gap. It provides a literature review of infrastructure needs across sectors such as water, energy, and transport, and compares the costs and value generation of NBI against traditional 'grey' infrastructure using SAVi assessments.

This IISD report analyzes the inclusion of Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) and International Regulatory Cooperation (IRC) provisions in regional trade agreements (RTAs), with a primary focus on the USMCA and a comparison with CETA. It examines how these provisions aim to reduce non-tariff trade costs and improve regulatory transparency and stakeholder engagement, while highlighting the administrative and political challenges these obligations may pose for developing countries.

This fact sheet presents a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the N’Diaye wind farm in Senegal. The analysis compares the wind project's costs, risks, and externalities against coal-fired and heavy fuel oil (HFO)-fired electricity generation to determine their relative societal value and financial performance under different climate and risk scenarios.