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This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the challenges and recommendations regarding the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) efforts to develop social responsibility (SR) standards. IISD argues that ISO must move beyond its 'business as usual' approach to ensure meaningful participation from developing countries and the broader sustainable development community, while clearly defining the objective of any proposed SR standard.

This report, produced by the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative—a partnership between UNDP, UNEP, and OSCE—analyzes the intersection of environmental degradation and human security in the South Caucasus. It identifies priority risk areas in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, focusing on how resource scarcity, industrial legacy, and urban growth can exacerbate social tensions or, conversely, serve as catalysts for regional cooperation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of research on the interface between trade and the environment. Based on a survey of 315 publications from 2002 to 2003 and consultations with an expert group, the document identifies significant gaps in current research—particularly regarding developing countries and specific WTO negotiating options—and proposes a new research agenda to better support sustainable development.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in August 2003, analyzes the intersection of agricultural trade and sustainable development in Central America. It characterizes the region's agricultural structure, examines trade trends and projections, evaluates the environmental impacts of key agro-industrial activities, and discusses the role of international trade negotiations (WTO, CAFTA, and FTAA) in shaping support mechanisms for sustainable farming.

A statement from various civil society organizations urging the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) to incorporate the World Commission on Dams (WCD) recommendations into its new Code of Ethics, coinciding with ICOLD's 21st Congress in Montréal.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that sustainable development and environmental justice are symbiotically related, asserting that the former cannot be achieved without the latter. The document explores the legal nexus between human rights and the environment, emphasizing the right to a healthy environment, community-based property rights, and procedural rights as essential components for achieving global sustainability and justice.

This fact sheet describes the work and results of the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) North America project, culminating in the June 2002 final report 'Towards Change'. The project aimed to identify how the North American mining and minerals industry could move toward sustainable development through collaborative research, scenario planning, and a sustainability assessment framework.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a series of suggested amendments to the Chairman's Paper for the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). CIEL argues that the original paper overemphasizes economic growth and national governance while neglecting environmental protection, human rights, and the necessity of multilateral cooperation.

An open letter from WWF and CIEL providing recommendations for the March 2002 WTO symposium on the assessment of trade in services, urging for a holistic approach that includes environmental, social, and developmental dimensions beyond narrow economic trade aspects.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) calls for all International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including Multilateral Development Banks and Export Credit Agencies, to phase out financing for mining and fossil fuel projects within five years to support local community self-determination and combat climate change.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the strategic, economic, and political role of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Reserve Force (RF) system. It analyzes the challenges of transforming the RFs to be racially and culturally representative of a democratic South Africa while maintaining operational readiness for conventional deterrence, police support, and international peace missions.

The Report of the Data Policy Working Group provides an update on the status of the IAI-DIS, a distributed database system designed to disseminate Global Change research information via the Internet using standardized formats.

This research paper analyzes the substantive scope of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), specifically focusing on Article I:3, which determines whether 'public services' are covered by the agreement. The author examines the legal definitions of services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority, evaluates the inconsistent interpretations provided by the WTO Secretariat and member states, and applies principles of public international law to argue for potential methods of narrowing the agreement's scope to protect national policy objectives.

A joint statement from several environmental organizations providing recommendations to the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure that the proposed United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) protects environmental standards, incorporates the precautionary principle, and avoids trade liberalization in sensitive sectors like forestry and mining.

A joint statement by several environmental organizations providing public comments on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Chile. The document argues that the FTA must not weaken environmental laws and should instead promote higher environmental standards, the precautionary principle, and transparency in dispute resolution.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides comments on the Joint Working Group on Compliance (JWGC) Co-Chairs' "Elements" paper regarding the Kyoto Protocol's compliance system. CIEL advocates for a standing compliance body with distinct facilitative, enforcement, and eligibility branches, emphasizing transparency, civil society participation, and a dynamic Compliance Fund to replace "borrowing" as a remedy for non-compliance.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law argues against the inclusion of a 'WTO supremacy clause' in the proposed POPs Convention and advocates for the use of multilateral trade measures to eliminate persistent organic pollutants. It explains how such measures can be justified under WTO environmental exceptions and argues that multilateral agreements should be presumed WTO-consistent.

This report presents the results of a victimisation survey conducted in July 1997 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It aims to provide a more accurate picture of crime levels and the nature of victimisation than official police statistics, highlighting the disproportionate impact of violent crime on African residents and the widespread dissatisfaction with police services.

This report summarizes a May 1997 search conference convened by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the North-South Institute (NSI). The conference aimed to implement recommendations from the November 1996 'Connecting with the World' report, advocating for the integration of knowledge and information and communication technologies (ICTs) into Canadian foreign policy to enhance international development and Canada's transition to a knowledge-based economy.

The report 'REINVENTING THE WHEELS' proposes the 'Hypercar'—an ultralight hybrid-electric vehicle—as a way to increase fuel efficiency tenfold compared to 1990s standards. The authors argue that combining advanced composite materials to reduce weight and aerodynamic drag with a hybrid-electric drive to recover braking energy can create vehicles that are safer, cleaner, and cheaper to manufacture than traditional steel cars. The document advocates for a shift in industrial strategy and the use of 'feebates' to accelerate the transition away from the 'Iron Age' of automotive manufacturing.