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This research paper examines the tension between the 'green growth' agenda promoted by Mexico and the 'sustainable development' concept advocated by Brazil during the 2012 G-20 summit. It analyzes how Brazil's domestic industrial and energy policies often conflict with green economy goals due to a preference for autonomous industrialization and short-term economic growth, while also assessing Brazil's diplomatic coordination with other BRICS nations on climate issues.

This research paper evaluates the 2012 Policy for the Small Scale Fisheries Sector in South Africa, examining its ability to address the challenges of poverty alleviation and marine resource sustainability. Through a case study of the coastal community of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, the author analyzes the failures of previous co-management attempts and the ongoing struggle of small-scale fishers to obtain commercial fishing rights.

This paper examines climate compatible development in Rwanda, detailing the government's transition from national strategy and policy formulation to the practical implementation of sustainable development across budgetary, sectoral, and district levels.

This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on October 30, 2013, argues that the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly regarding toxic chemicals. CIEL warns that mechanisms like regulatory harmonization, mutual recognition, and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) may lower safety standards to a 'lowest-common denominator' and chill the development of more protective laws in the U.S., EU, and globally.

This policy brief examines how the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can achieve its objective of initiating a 'paradigm shift' towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development. It argues that such a shift requires moving from small, project-by-project approaches to programmatic ones, ensuring strong country ownership, and providing significant financial resources. The document discusses the challenges of defining 'paradigm shift' and 'transformational change', the role of performance indicators, and the need for funding conditions that incentivize higher ambition while respecting national priorities.

This executive summary analyzes the adoption of the Direct Planting System (DPS), a no-till farming method in Brazil. The study finds that social learning—farmers learning from peers—is a primary driver of adoption, but this process is hindered by soil dissimilarity within municipalities. The authors argue that public policy should focus on disseminating information and providing temporary training in areas with high soil similarity to trigger social learning mechanisms.

This report by Friends of the Earth International provides a critical analysis of forestry governance in Malaysia and the timber procurement policies of Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It argues that existing 'sustainable' and 'legal' timber frameworks are often rudimentary technical responses that fail to address systemic issues such as corruption, lack of transparency, and the violation of indigenous customary land rights in producer countries. The document highlights a significant gap between official policy and the reality on the ground, noting that importer countries often rely on the 'faith' of producer-country governance rather than independent verification.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the China National Renewable Energy Center (CNREC), examines how Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR) and earmarked tax revenues can fund the deployment of renewable energy technologies in China. Drawing on eight international case studies, the document argues that environmental taxes do not necessarily hinder economic growth and can provide a stable, transparent funding mechanism for green energy, offering a potential alternative or supplement to China's current reliance on electricity surcharges.

This executive summary examines Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR) as a mechanism to fund renewable energy deployment in China. By analyzing eight international case studies, the report explores how environmental taxes and carbon trading can generate revenue for green energy while mitigating impacts on economic growth and competitiveness. It specifically discusses the role of earmarking revenues to increase transparency and investor confidence, while noting the political and economic challenges of implementing such measures within the Chinese context.

This policy brief examines how diesel price increases affect the Indian trucking industry, identifying structural vulnerabilities such as poor road quality, toll delays, and a lack of bargaining power for small operators. It proposes short-term relief through minimum freight rates and toll reductions, and long-term structural reforms including improved fuel efficiency and computerized exchange networks.

This research paper by Ellen Vaughan and Jim Turner argues that mandatory, minimum building codes are the most effective and least expensive method to protect public health, safety, and the environment. The authors advocate for the adoption and enforcement of current model codes—specifically those updated every three years—to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and vulnerability to natural disasters while stimulating economic innovation in the building sector.

This document is an executive summary for a report prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Sustainable Development Strategies Group (SDSG). It describes a transparency template based on the International Bar Association Mining Law Committee's Model Mining Development Agreement (MMDA 1.0), which serves as a framework for negotiations between host country governments and mining companies.

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute (WRI) outlines strategies for North Carolina to reduce power sector carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to comply with expected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. WRI analysis suggests the state can reduce emissions 29 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 using existing policies and infrastructure, with the potential for a 69 percent reduction by 2030 through expanded programs.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources regarding the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill, 2013. The CER criticizes the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) for failing to meaningfully consult civil society and mining-affected communities, identifies numerous drafting errors in the Bill, and provides detailed legal objections to proposed changes concerning environmental authorizations, penalty regimes, and the granting of mining rights.

A joint submission by five environmental organisations to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources regarding the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Amendment Bill [B15-2013]. The submission argues that the Bill and the principal Act fail to protect constitutional rights to fair administrative action and access to information for parties affected by mining.

A joint submission by several environmental organisations to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources arguing against the MPRDA Amendment Bill's proposal to transfer environmental authorisation and enforcement powers for mining activities to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). The authors contend that the DMR lacks the human resource capacity, budget, and track record to implement the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and that such a transfer creates an inherent conflict of interest between promoting mining and protecting the environment.

This joint submission by several environmental organisations and a consultant to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources addresses the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill [B15-2013]. The authors focus on the issues of mine closure, rehabilitation, and financial provision, specifically arguing against a proposed 20-year limit on the retention of funds for latent environmental impacts and calling for better alignment between the MPRDA and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

This research paper examines the formation and evolving role of the BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) in international climate change negotiations, arguing that their cooperation is driven by the realization that global resource constraints make the development pathways of industrialized countries unsustainable.

This policy brief by Kiran Sura and Nadia Schweimler examines how Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can utilize 'climate diplomacy' to drive more ambitious international climate action both within and outside the UNFCCC framework.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines policy tools for transitioning to a green economy, focusing on financing mechanisms. It uses Costa Rica's Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a case study to illustrate how direct financial support, funded by taxes and international agreements, can reduce deforestation and create green jobs, while discussing the challenges of securing public funding in Manitoba.