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This executive summary describes the Circumpolar Young Leaders (CYL) program and other initiatives aimed at training the next generation of northern leaders to address sustainable development in the Arctic. It identifies systemic barriers facing northern youth and recommends a coordinated regional strategy to build leadership capacity through education, mentorship, and increased indigenous ownership of training programs.

This report analyzes the environmental and social impacts of China's role as a leading producer, importer, and exporter in the global cotton and textile supply chain. It examines the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental degradation, proposing a transition toward sustainable production practices and a strategic shift in sourcing toward rain-fed regions in Africa to reduce global environmental pressure.

This report, authored by Louis B. Brown, President of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, provides recommendations to amend the Rules of Procedure for the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The primary focus is resolving quorum issues to ensure the CoP can function effectively, alongside proposals to streamline delegation credentials, extend invitation timelines, and increase participation from smaller member countries with limited resources.

This research paper examines the environmental and economic potential of the organic agriculture sector in Lao PDR, noting that while the industry is inherently environmentally friendly, significant growth could lead to negative impacts like deforestation and increased carbon emissions.

Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources Institute and founder of the US Climate Action Partnership (US CAP), provided a statement to the US House Select Committee on Global Warming on October 10, 2007. He advocated for a federal, economy-wide cap-and-trade program and a long-term roadmap of emissions reductions to provide market certainty for private sector investment in low-carbon technologies.

This document is a written testimony submitted by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to the U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming on September 14, 2007. It argues that carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) is a critical near-term technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal, as other low-carbon energy sources are currently unable to offset coal use at the necessary scale. WRI advocates for increased public funding for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) and the implementation of a carbon cap and trade regime, while noting that current cap and trade proposals may not provide high enough carbon prices to offset initial CCS capture costs.

This research paper by Amory B. Lovins argues that climate change, oil dependence, and nuclear proliferation can be addressed through profitable, market-driven energy efficiency and decentralized renewable energy. The author contends that saving fuel is cheaper than buying it, and that transitioning away from oil and nuclear power is economically advantageous and enhances global security.

This research paper, written by Dale S. Rothman of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Environment Canada, serves as a conceptual document for the development of the Canadian Environmental Outlook (CEO). It defines the CEO as an integrated environmental assessment designed to provide a forward-looking analysis of the interactions between society and the environment to support strategic decision-making and policy formulation in Canada.

This policy report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill to better integrate renewable energy production into US agriculture policy. The authors argue that agriculture policy should be viewed as energy policy to boost rural income, enhance national security, and mitigate climate change. The report identifies a significant gap between the authorization of energy programs in the 2002 Farm Bill and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the actual appropriations provided to implement them, calling for a transition toward a diversified agriculture portfolio that prioritizes sustainable biomass, local ownership of biorefineries, and expanded research and education.

Dr. Jonathan Pershing's 2007 testimony to the US House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality outlines the urgency of global climate action, the necessity of differentiated responsibilities for countries, and the need for a multi-faceted approach involving carbon pricing, technology development, and adaptation strategies.

In his 2007 Blue Planet Prize acceptance remarks, Amory B. Lovins argues that Japan is uniquely positioned to lead a global transition to benign and affordable energy, provided it overcomes complacency in energy efficiency, leverages its renewable energy potential, adopts distributed generation, and reforms bureaucratic energy policies.

This 2006 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission outlines a strategy to integrate environmental restoration with economic development along the Cuyahoga River ship channel in Cleveland. It proposes a transition from traditional industrial land use to a 'restoration economy' through projects focusing on stormwater management, aquatic habitat restoration, brownfield remediation, green industrial building standards, and industrial symbiosis (Waste = Revenue).

A statement from North American civil society organizations prepared for the Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF). The document outlines recommendations for global environmental governance, focusing on chemicals management, energy transition, and sustainable tourism, while emphasizing the specific responsibilities of North American governments and the vulnerability of the Arctic region.

An open letter from civil society organizations to the Member States of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), urging the adoption of clear, objective, and public guidelines for civil society participation and access to information ahead of the Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the UPOV Council on October 27, 2005.

This statement from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to Senator Olympia Snowe proposes a series of short-term measures to reduce U.S. demand for conventional crude oil by 5% to 9%. RMI argues that such a reduction would stabilize global oil prices by increasing excess capacity to between 2.5 and 3.8 million barrels per day, thereby mitigating the impact of price shocks and speculation.

A joint statement from a coalition of environmental and health organizations urging the U.S. Congress to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by passing implementing legislation that ensures timely action, respects state laws, and provides clear legal authority to the EPA.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) argues that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires the integration of environmentally sustainable strategies across all goals, specifically focusing on freshwater, energy, and sanitation. The study identifies significant gaps in current MDG planning, particularly regarding the water requirements for food production and the need for innovative sanitation solutions. It estimates that an annual investment of USD 107 billion is required between 2005 and 2015 to meet targets for water, food, sanitation, and energy using sustainable pathways.

This report, a collaboration between the Center for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in adopting the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. It details the organizational benefits, implementation barriers, and specific case studies of CEDHA and IISD, ultimately recommending that the GRI develop a dedicated sector supplement for CSOs or service-providing organizations to better address their unique operational realities.

This policy submission by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the challenges of aid delivery to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It argues that while per capita aid is often higher for SIDS than for mainland developing countries, overall aid levels declined by over 50 percent between 1994 and 2004. The document proposes eight reforms to make aid more effective, including untying aid from donor procurement, harmonising policies across donors, and replacing GDP-per-capita assessments with vulnerability indices.

This research paper analyzes the tension between multi-stakeholder collaborations aimed at creating sustainability standards for the coffee sector and the constraints of U.S. anti-trust law. It examines how efforts to address market failures—particularly regarding pricing and producer welfare—can be interpreted as illegal restraints of trade under the Sherman Act, and proposes procedural safeguards and intergovernmental involvement to mitigate these legal risks.