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This fact sheet describes a research project focused on the Rio de la Plata Basin, examining the drivers and consequences of land use change, specifically the trade-offs between food and biofuel production and the maintenance of ecosystem services.

This fact sheet describes the oceanographic mechanisms of upwelling in the Patagonian shelf of the Southwestern Atlantic. It explains how deep ocean currents, rather than wind, drive the ascent of nutrient-rich waters to the surface, supporting significant biological productivity, large-scale fisheries, and carbon sequestration.

This research paper argues for a fundamental shift in how ecosystems are valued and managed to address the combined threats of climate change and unsustainable resource demands. The authors contend that current economic models treat ecosystems as undervalued commodities, leading to market failures and degradation. They propose an 'ecosystems approach' that integrates ecosystem-based mitigation and adaptation into the heart of political and economic decision-making to ensure climate stability and the continued delivery of essential services.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in November 2009, provides a technical and strategic analysis of the negotiations surrounding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen. It examines the evolving scope of REDD, financing options, measurement and verification systems, and the institutional frameworks required to implement these mechanisms in developing countries.

This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the role of woody biomass from forest management as a renewable, low-carbon substitute for fossil fuels in the United States. It argues that while biomass can support forest stewardship and rural economies, federal policy must ensure sustainability to avoid overharvesting and biodiversity loss. The document provides a comprehensive set of policy recommendations across five areas: forest sustainability, renewable energy incentives, bioenergy incentives, feedstock development, and research and outreach.

This research paper examines the potential for climate change mitigation through land-use measures in the agriculture and forestry sectors, focusing on the challenges of integrating these sectors into international policy frameworks like the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. It analyzes technical barriers such as permanence and leakage, the role of REDD in developing countries, and Canada's domestic approach to carbon accounting and emissions trading.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) in climate change mitigation. It analyzes the potential for carbon sequestration in developing countries, the technical and financial obstacles to including these sectors in international agreements, and the specific policy positions and regulatory frameworks of Canada.

This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes global forest product commodity chains with China as the central manufacturing hub. It examines how China imports primary raw materials from developing nations—specifically focusing on case studies in Mozambique and Russia—and exports finished wood products to developed Western markets. The report identifies a systemic failure in sustainability where capital from timber sales often fails to return to forest regeneration, leading to asset-stripping and illegal logging, exacerbated by poor governance in supplier countries and irresponsible corporate behavior. It provides a series of policy recommendations for the Chinese government to transition toward sustainable procurement, capacity-building in supplier nations, and international leadership in carbon accounting and legality verification.

This report analyzes the global forest product commodity chain with China as the central processing hub, importing raw materials from developing nations and exporting finished goods to Western consumers. It identifies systemic sustainability challenges, including illegal logging and poor forest governance in supplier countries like Mozambique and Russia, and suggests policy reforms for the Chinese government to ensure long-term timber security and improve its global reputation.

This executive summary describes an economic valuation of ecosystem services within the proposed Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage site, conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development to support a UNESCO application. The assessment aims to demonstrate that the site's natural state provides higher value than current economic activity suggests, focusing on services such as carbon sequestration, air and water filtration, and recreation.

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.

The document contains the approved minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the transition to a new Director, financial audits, the restructuring of working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment and scientific capacity building in the Americas.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It outlines the IAI's participation in official sessions and alternative forums, specifically focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem monitoring.

This report documents the proceedings of the Regional Forum on Trade and Environment held in San Salvador from July 7 to 10, 1999. Organized by SG-SICA, CCAD, IISD, IDRC, and IUCN, the forum aimed to establish a regional agenda for Central America to integrate environmental sustainability into global and regional trade negotiations, particularly within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

This research paper examines the emergence of markets for global environmental services in Central America, focusing on greenhouse gas emission reduction trading in Costa Rica and the role of shade-grown coffee in biodiversity and carbon sequestration in El Salvador.

This executive summary examines the emergence of environmental services markets in Central America, focusing on Costa Rica's leadership in carbon emission reductions and El Salvador's potential for biodiversity and carbon sequestration through shade-grown coffee. It analyzes how international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention on Biological Diversity create financial opportunities for developing nations to link environmental conservation with sustainable economic development.

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.

The document proposes a strategic commercialization path for fuel cells and hydrogen (H2) that avoids the need for immediate, massive bulk-supply infrastructure. The strategy relies on the development of "Hypercars"—ultralight, high-efficiency vehicles—and the integration of fuel-cell deployment between buildings and vehicles. By first establishing fuel cells in buildings for co- or trigeneration and using decentralized "hydrogen appliances" for production, the market can build the volume necessary to reduce fuel-cell costs to levels competitive for vehicles. Ultimately, the strategy envisions a transition from decentralized production to bulk supply, including wellhead reforming of natural gas with carbon sequestration and the conversion of hydroelectric dams into "Hydro-Gen" plants.

The AES Corporation, an independent power producer, faced a conflict between its 'least-cost' strategy—which relied on coal—and its commitment to social responsibility. To address the projected 15 million tons of carbon emissions from its Thames plant in Connecticut, the company evaluated several offset options, including energy conservation, carbon scrubbing technology, and reforestation in tropical developing countries, while also considering a long-term strategic shift toward natural gas or renewables.

This case study describes the implementation of a reforestation project inSSS by The AES Corporation in Guatemala to offset carbon dioxide emissions from its Thames power plant, as well as the company's subsequent creation of a Sustainability Task Force to evaluate long-term fuel alternatives to coal.