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This report, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre for the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, examines the results of Ecological Tax Reforms (ETR) in selected European Union countries, specifically Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. It analyzes how shifting the tax burden from labour to consumption and resource use can simultaneously improve environmental quality, reduce unemployment, and increase economic competitiveness. The document provides detailed case studies of these four nations and offers specific policy recommendations for implementing a similar green tax reform in Estonia.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the incidence, magnitude, and control of money laundering in Southern Africa. It analyzes predicate crimes—primarily drug trafficking and corruption—the role of informal remittance systems, and the legislative and institutional challenges facing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in implementing anti-money laundering frameworks.

This fact sheet, published by Friends of the Earth International in September 2004, evaluates the environmental policies and practices of the European Investment Bank (EIB). It contrasts the EIB's official declarations and commitments to sustainable development and EU environmental standards with the criticisms from NGOs, who argue that a significant gap remains between the bank's rhetoric and its actual investment practices.

This report, produced by the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative (a partnership between UNDP, UNEP, and OSCE), assesses the linkages between environmental stress and human security in the Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia). It identifies how environmental degradation, natural hazards, and Soviet-era industrial legacies can exacerbate social tensions and conflict, while proposing that technical environmental cooperation can serve as a tool for peace-building and regional stability.

This draft issue brief examines the intersection of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), the OECD Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits, and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM). It analyzes how the 'safe haven' clause in the ASCM protects OECD members' export credits from being classified as prohibited subsidies, the resulting competitive disadvantages for developing countries, and the legal precedents set by the Brazil-Canada aircraft disputes. The document also highlights the lack of comprehensive environmental and social guidelines governing ECA activities.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and WWF International examines the potential conflicts between the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and domestic water management policies. The authors argue that while water management requires flexibility and adaptive planning to protect ecosystems, the GATS favors legal predictability and 'locking in' policy choices, which may constrain a state's ability to regulate water rights, pollution, and resource extraction.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the complexities of trade-related subsidies, focusing on the divide between developed and developing nations. It argues that current WTO indicators for measuring subsidies are inadequate for resolving trade disputes and proposes the use of 'terms-of-trade' as a more effective metric. The document provides detailed case studies on the subsidy regimes and trade impacts in India, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and Brazil, highlighting how subsidies in OECD countries often harm the economies of developing nations, particularly in agriculture.

This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the international legal framework for foreign investment, arguing that current treaties and agreements prioritize investor rights and liberalization over environmental protection, social goals, and corporate accountability.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It examines the official Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, various unofficial scientific and NGO forums, and the perceived failures of the decade following the Rio Earth Summit.

The North Central Arizona Water Demand Study Phase I Report examines water use, conservation, and alternative supplies for non-reservation communities on the Coconino Plateau. It establishes a baseline of current water demand, evaluates existing conservation efforts, and proposes a detailed methodology for a Phase II study to forecast future potable and nonpotable water needs under various investment scenarios.

This 2002 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the severe economic decline of Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe. It details the collapse of the agricultural sector due to the fast-track land resettlement program, the resulting hyperinflation, and the failure of the manufacturing and tourism industries. The document outlines the role of external actors, including Libya and South Africa, and proposes a comprehensive recovery scenario based on the restoration of the rule of law, democratic governance, and macroeconomic stabilization.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyses the observations of six domestic, regional, and international missions regarding the 2002 Zimbabwe presidential election. It examines the legislative framework, the political environment, and the conduct of the polling and counting processes, highlighting significant discrepancies in how different observer groups weighted evidence of violence and transparency to reach their final conclusions on the election's legitimacy.

This report analyzes the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and its implications for environmental policy makers. It argues that the GATS, which functions as both a trade and investment agreement, may constrain the ability of national and sub-national governments to implement environmental regulations. The authors highlight risks associated with market access obligations, national treatment standards, and proposed disciplines on domestic regulation, while recommending the use of Sustainability Impact Assessments and the introduction of a broader environmental exception clause in the GATS text.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines the review of Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS Agreement. It argues that strong intellectual property (IP) protections over life-forms may hinder development in developing countries by restricting innovation, increasing market concentration, and conflicting with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

This research paper analyzes how trade and investment disciplines under NAFTA and the WTO impact the ability of governments to enact and implement environmental laws. The author argues that while there is no inherent conflict between trade rules and environmental protection, the cumulative and retroactive nature of these disciplines creates significant legal and capacity risks for governments, particularly regarding older measures and the expansive interpretations of investment protections in NAFTA Chapter 11.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a review of dispute resolution options for negotiators of the Draft Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Central and Western Pacific Region. It analyzes the existing legal frameworks of UNCLOS and the SSA, evaluates the effectiveness of various international tribunals and arbitration, and draws lessons from other international regimes—such as the WTO and the Montreal Protocol—to recommend mechanisms that enhance transparency, scientific rigor, and efficiency in fisheries management.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive overview of 21 international agreements and instruments governing the trade of domestically prohibited goods (DPGs). It categorizes these goods into chemicals, pharmaceutical products, consumer products, and hazardous wastes, analyzing the legal and voluntary frameworks designed to protect importing countries—particularly developing nations—from risks to human, animal, plant health, and the environment.

This executive summary analyzes the relationship between trade liberalization, economic growth, and environmental impact in Argentina during the 1990s. It distinguishes between the manufacturing sector, where trade opening did not significantly clean the export basket, and the agricultural sector, where technological adoption led to a 'virtuous cycle' of increased production and environmental benefits.

This report, prepared by Dr. Peter Hardi of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in June 1998, details a technical assistance project to design a monitoring system for sustainable development within the Sarhad Province Conservation Strategy (SPCS) in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The document outlines a capacity assessment of data availability, the results of a multi-stakeholder workshop in Abbottabad, and the resulting outputs, including an integrated assessment system and a set of measurement tools.

This report examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Southern Cone of South America, specifically within the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay). It analyzes how the transition from military rule to democracy, combined with regional economic integration, inadvertently facilitated the flow of weapons to criminal organizations. The document provides detailed case studies on the 'culture of violence' in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, highlighting the roles of drug trafficking, police corruption, and socio-economic instability in driving the demand for firearms.