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This report provides a stylized review of the relationships between biomass, livelihoods, and international trade, focusing specifically on the trade and technical cooperation axis between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This report by Friends of the Earth International critiques the European Union's 'Global Europe' strategy, arguing that it uses Association Agreements and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to secure raw materials, energy reserves, and open markets for European transnational corporations at the expense of the sovereignty and food security of countries in the Global South.

Minutes from the 26th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 17-18, 2008, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The document details discussions on scientific programming, financial status, strategic planning, and administrative relations with member countries and the host nation, Brazil.

The document contains the minutes of the Twenty-Sixth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on June 17-18, 2008, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The meeting focused on science program updates, financial reporting, strategic planning for the next decade, and administrative challenges regarding the Host Country Agreement with Brazil.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International challenges the sustainability claims of the Malaysian palm oil lobby, specifically the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). The document argues that palm oil expansion, particularly in the state of Sarawak, is driving deforestation, violating indigenous land rights, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions through the drainage and burning of peatlands, often fueled by European and American demand for biofuels.

This research paper examines the role of product energy performance standards and processes and production methods (PPMs) in mitigating climate change and their interaction with international trade law. It argues that while energy efficiency standards are highly cost-effective and should be supported by trade regimes, PPM-based measures are more legally complex and controversial, particularly regarding their impact on developing country exporters and their consistency with WTO rules.

This research paper examines the role of product standards, energy labelling, and processes and production methods (PPMs) in addressing climate change and their interactions with international trade law and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This July 2008 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) details the status of cellulosic biofuel production in the United States, highlighting the number of biorefineries in development, the technologies and feedstocks used, and the federal and state investments supporting the industry.

This report by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for financing large-scale, export-oriented biofuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document argues that these projects exacerbate social inequality, threaten biodiversity, and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use changes, while failing to alleviate rural poverty.

The minutes of the Fifteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held June 19-20, 2008, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, detail the institute's operational progress, financial status, and strategic planning. The meeting focused on the science-policy dialogue, the development of a new strategic plan, and the approval of the FY 2008-2009 core budget and country contributions.

The document contains the minutes of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-XV) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 19-20, 2008. The meeting focused on national reports from member countries, the approval of the 2008-2009 annual program and operating budget, the development of a new strategic plan, and the election of members for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Executive Committee (CE).

This report, commissioned by the European Parliament, evaluates sustainability criteria for the proposed EU Directive on renewable energy, specifically focusing on liquid biofuels. It analyzes the potential for biofuel production globally and within Europe, the impacts of land-use change on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the feasibility of using degraded lands for energy crops. The document provides technical critiques of GHG accounting methodologies and suggests harmonizing EU standards with international frameworks like the IPCC and UNFCCC to ensure environmental integrity and global equity.

The International Federation of Friends of the Earth rejects the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), arguing that its certification process provides a 'greenwash' for multinational corporations and agribusinesses while ignoring the systemic social and environmental damage caused by industrial soy monocultures.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the extent and cost-effectiveness of government support for the ethanol and biodiesel industries in Australia. It analyzes various subsidies, including excise tax rebates, capital grants, and research funding, concluding that the level of assistance is high relative to other industries and often fails to deliver cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions or energy security compared to alternative policy options.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an interpretive analysis of three major international scientific assessments—the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IAASTD, and GEO-4—to determine their implications for the policy goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The analysis focuses on 11 key themes, including climate change, biotechnology, and energy production, evaluating how these global trends affect Canada's agricultural competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management.

This report, prepared by the FiFo Institute of Public Economics for the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), tests a proposed standardized notification template for subsidies to be used by World Trade Organization (WTO) Members. Using Germany as a case study, the authors demonstrate a significant discrepancy between official WTO notifications and the actual volume of specific subsidies granted by the federal government and the sixteen Länder (states). The report proposes technical improvements to the notification process, including a unique subsidy identifier, to increase transparency and compliance with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM).

A formal complaint submitted to the Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman on March 31, 2008, by community members and former employees regarding the operations of Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, S.A. (NSEL). The complainants allege that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) failed to comply with its own social and environmental sustainability policies when approving a $55 million loan (Project 25331) to NSEL for sugarcane production and ethanol plant construction.

Losing Ground is a 2008 report by Friends of the Earth, LifeMosaic, and Sawit Watch detailing the human rights violations associated with the expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia. The report argues that the industry's growth, driven in part by European biofuel targets, leads to widespread land dispossession, environmental degradation, and the erosion of indigenous cultures.

This report examines the environmental and social implications of trade liberalization within the bio-diesel sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between energy security goals and potential ecological degradation.

This research paper examines the potential for biodiesel production in the Lao PDR as a means to reduce dependence on imported fuels amidst trade liberalization through ASEAN and the WTO. It evaluates various feedstock options, identifies significant environmental risks associated with land-use change, and recommends the creation of a cohesive national biofuels policy integrated with strategic environmental assessments.