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This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 2006 WTO panel reports in the EC-Biotech dispute, specifically focusing on the panel's refusal to integrate Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) into the interpretation of WTO law. The author argues that the panel's narrow interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties deviates from previous Appellate Body jurisprudence, such as the US-Shrimp case, and undermines the principle of 'mutual supportiveness' between trade and environmental policies.

This briefing from the Center for International Environmental Law examines the environmental implications of Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations within the WTO Doha Development Agenda. It focuses on two primary areas: the informal pursuit of sectoral agreements for total tariff elimination in environmentally-sensitive sectors and the classification and negotiation of non-tariff barriers (NTBs). The document argues that environmental considerations are being neglected in tariff negotiations and warns against the potential for NTB negotiations to undermine legitimate public policy objectives regarding health, safety, and environmental protection.

This briefing reports on a November 2004 workshop organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) during the 3rd World Conservation Congress in Bangkok. The session focused on the challenges facing conservation efforts in Nepal due to the ongoing conflict between the government and Maoist rebels, drawing on global strategies to sustain environmental protection during armed conflict.

This briefing, prepared for COP-7 in February 2004, outlines strategies for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to build capacity to combat invasive alien species (IAS). It emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive legislative frameworks, regional coordination, and the utilization of existing science and technology to prevent, control, and eradicate IAS.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International argues that children and unborn babies are disproportionately exposed to and vulnerable to pesticides in food and the home. It criticizes the UK government for a lack of specific legal protections for children and calls for a ban on hormone-disrupting pesticides, the extension of strict pesticide limits to all foods, and a target of 30 per cent organic farmland by 2010.

This briefing by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment examines the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on honey bees, biodiversity, and global food security, with a specific focus on the agricultural landscapes of Ontario and Québec.

This briefing describes the Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) project in Mongolia, a public-private partnership supported by the World Bank. The program uses an index of aggregated criteria, such as regional livestock mortality rates, to trigger payouts rather than individual loss assessments. This approach aims to provide financial security to herders facing climate-related risks, specifically 'dzuds' (extreme weather events), while encouraging the adoption of sustainable grazing practices to build long-term resilience.

This October 2009 briefing document from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs outlines the logic, guiding principles, and stakeholder responses regarding the establishment of 'Listed Activities' and their associated minimum emission standards under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA). It details the transition from the older Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (APPA) to the AQA, the technical process for setting standards via the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), and the department's refusal to allow 'grandfathering' for old industrial plants.

This briefing describes the activities of the Human Rights Committee (CCPR) regarding climate change across its three primary functions: the State reporting procedure, General Comments and Statements, and the Communications procedure. It highlights the Committee's evolving interpretation of the right to life under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in the face of environmental degradation.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) could allow Canadian mining companies to challenge Greek mining regulations. It argues that CETA's 'domestic regulatory disciplines'—which require licensing processes to be objective, transparent, and simple—conflict with the discretionary and evolving nature of Greek environmental and technical mining laws.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should apply the full spectrum of international law—including human rights, the law of the sea, and customary law—to determine State obligations regarding climate change. It counters arguments from 'big polluters' who claim that the UN climate regime (UNFCCC and Paris Agreement) is the sole relevant legal framework and that its obligations are merely procedural. The document asserts that States have longstanding duties to prevent transboundary environmental harm and protect human rights, which necessitates a phase-out of fossil fuels and the provision of reparations for climate-related injuries.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative, produced for COP22, analyzes the growth and governance of the green bond market. It highlights the shift toward private sector issuance, the increasing role of emerging markets like China, and the necessity of reaching USD 1 trillion in annual green emissions by 2020 to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines how European financial centres can leverage green bonds to enhance their competitiveness and scale up sustainable finance. It details the role of stock exchanges, sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, and regulators in developing green bond markets, providing specific case studies from cities such as London, Luxembourg, Stockholm, Milan, Paris, and Dublin.

This briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance argues for the scaling and integration of climate adaptation and health financing. It highlights a significant funding gap, the inefficiency of siloed governance, and the potential for cross-sectoral adaptation to protect public health and health systems.

This briefing by the Global Climate and Health Alliance outlines the synergies between combating climate change and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It argues that interventions in energy, transport, and food systems can provide 'co-benefit' solutions that simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and NCD risk factors such as air pollution, physical inactivity, and poor diet.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative defines carbon finance and details the various instruments, markets, and regulatory frameworks used to price greenhouse gas emissions to incentivize reductions and fund climate mitigation.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines a vision for deploying high-octane, low-carbon (HOLC) fuels in North American vehicle powertrains to meet 2025 greenhouse gas emission standards. It details infrastructure progress, fuel specifications, engine testing, and the strategic importance of increasing octane ratings to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

This briefing by the American Gas Foundation, presented to Congressional staff, outlines the potential of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) as a carbon-neutral energy source derived from biomass, landfills, and wastewater treatment facilities. It highlights RNG's versatility across multiple sectors, its compatibility with existing pipeline infrastructure, and its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a legislative side-by-side comparison between current law and the House Agriculture Committee's proposed amendments for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program within the 2024 Farm Bill.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a legislative side-by-side comparison of the Wood Innovations Grants Program under current law and the House version of the 2024 Farm Bill.