Search Climate Insights Directory

This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the obligations of OECD members regarding the trade of plastic wastes following the OECD's failure to reach a consensus on incorporating the Basel Plastic Amendments into the OECD Wastes Trade Decision. The analysis concludes that plastic wastes designated as "other wastes" under the Basel Convention have fallen outside the scope of the OECD Decision, requiring OECD members who are Basel parties to apply Basel's control and ban mechanisms. CIEL further argues that recent arrangements between the US and Canada, and within the European Union, fail to meet the requirements of Article 11 of the Basel Convention and are therefore invalid as alternatives to Basel controls.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the status of the United States' ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and evaluates proposed implementing legislation in the U.S. Congress. It argues that the Solis TSCA bill (H.R. 4800) is the only proposal that aligns with the treaty's health-based standards and supports state-level environmental protections.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) provides a critical analysis of the UNEP 'Options for Elements' Paper prepared for the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2). The document evaluates the proposed core obligations and control measures for a new legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, highlighting gaps where the Options Paper fails to reflect the ambition of Member State submissions, particularly regarding upstream production limits, chemical safety, and the protection of human health.

This guide, published by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provides local community leaders and indigenous peoples with information on human rights and legal tools to defend their interests within the context of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). It explains the REDD+ mechanism, its social and environmental safeguards, relevant international and national rights, and provides practical strategies for negotiation and reporting rights violations.

This briefing argues that the UNFCCC is the appropriate venue for addressing international and transboundary drivers of deforestation and that doing so does not inherently violate World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations. The authors contend that joint action by UNFCCC Parties to reduce emissions from deforestation is consistent with both UNFCCC principles and WTO exceptions for environmental protection.

This fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) highlights the environmental and health risks associated with the intentional addition of microplastics to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in industrial agriculture.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that WTO services trade negotiations must be integrated with existing multilateral environmental agreements and UN agency efforts to ensure that liberalization does not undermine sustainable development, human rights, or environmental protections.

A letter dated February 28, 2006, from several U.S. state Attorneys General to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce opposing specific provisions of HR 4591. The bill aims to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Treaty), but the signees argue it contains overly broad preemption language and flawed EPA review procedures that would hinder state and federal environmental protections.

This 1991 draft working paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines how the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) can operationalize its commitment to "environmentally sound and sustainable development." The authors argue that sustainable development requires a shift from short-term economic growth to a broader concept of development that values natural wealth, ensures intergenerational equity, and utilizes comprehensive environmental accounting and project appraisal mechanisms.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the conflict between international trade policy and environmental protection, arguing that the World Trade Organization (WTO) typically prioritizes trade over the environment. The authors critique the U.S. government for abdicating its leadership in this area and propose a new foreign policy agenda that integrates environmental protection and worker rights into trade agreements, specifically regarding NAFTA and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

This briefing describes the establishment, organizational structure, and financing of the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund, designed to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries to phase out ozone-depleting substances.

This report chapter argues that secure tenurial rights are a fundamental prerequisite for successful community-based conservation (CBC). It contrasts the failures of state-owned 'public' tenure—which often leads to 'open access' degradation—with the effectiveness of community-based systems that derive legitimacy from local participants. The authors advocate for the state recognition of community perimeters to protect biodiversity and prevent the disenfranchisement of rural populations by domestic and international elites.

This research paper, published in November 1999 by WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature and authored by experts from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), examines the conflict between World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and trade measures used in Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The authors argue that uncertainty regarding WTO consistency is used by some nations to 'chill' the development of effective environmental laws, specifically citing the Biosafety Protocol and the POPs Agreement. The paper recommends that WTO members adopt a political statement of consistency and negotiate a separate agreement to grant MEAs equal status with WTO rules.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law examines mechanisms for public participation and transparency in international fisheries management, specifically focusing on Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Using the 'three pillars' of the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21—access to information, access to decision-making, and access to justice—the author analyzes how modern multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) can serve as models for RFMOs to enhance legitimacy, improve decision-making, and ensure accountability.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations between the European Union and the United States threaten to undermine public health and environmental protections regarding chemical substances. The document contends that TTIP's focus on regulatory alignment could lead to a 'downward harmonization' of standards, favoring the weaker US federal system over the stricter EU policies.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Transatlantic Investment and Partnership Agreement (TTIP), also referred to as TAFTA, threatens to weaken European chemical regulations and public health protections in favor of less stringent US standards and corporate interests.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), also known as TAFTA, threatens to undermine public health and environmental protections regarding toxic chemicals by harmonizing regulations between the European Union and the United States.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides observations on the first draft of the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) response to a request from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). CIEL argues that WIPO must recognize the CBD's leading role in biodiversity issues and ensure that international intellectual property rules are modified to prevent the misappropriation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge through mandatory disclosure requirements.

This guide, authored by L. Brennan Van Dyke and John Barlow Weiner of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provides an introduction and critical evaluation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council's July 18, 1996, Decision on the circulation and derestriction of documents. The document explains the mechanisms for making restricted documents public and argues that the current system fails to facilitate meaningful public participation in trade policy-making.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative argues that natural gas is not a viable transition fuel due to significant methane leakage across its supply chain, which makes its climate impact comparable to coal. It highlights Japan's vulnerability due to its high reliance on LNG imports and proposes several policy measures to accelerate decarbonization.