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Brittle Power: Energy Strategy for National Security
This preface to the 2001 re-release of 'Brittle Power: Energy Strategy for National Security' argues that U.S. energy security is compromised by a reliance on centralized, vulnerable infrastructure. The authors contend that domestic energy sources are not inherently secure and that true resilience requires a shift toward diverse, dispersed, and renewable energy systems.
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Document type: Statement
Battling Fuel Waste in the Military
The report 'Battling Fuel Waste in the Military' by Amory Lovins (RMI) argues that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) suffers from systemic fuel inefficiency due to a failure to account for the high cost of fuel delivery (logistics). By ignoring these costs during the design of weapons platforms and ships, the DOD maintains inefficient equipment that increases operational costs and inhibits warfighting capability. The author suggests that adopting fuel-saving technologies and 'green design' could save billions of dollars annually and improve military agility and security.
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Document type: Report
Clean Renewables and Efficiency, not Coal, are the Key
This statement by Ken Wicker and Karl R. Rábago of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues against the increased use of coal for electricity generation in Colorado, advocating instead for a diversified energy portfolio centered on energy efficiency and clean renewable resources.
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Document type: Statement
AMENDED PETITION OF COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, THE BLUEWATER NETWORK OF EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE, AND THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW TO APPEAR JOINTLY AS AMICI CURIAE
An amended petition filed on October 13, 2000, by Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), the Bluewater Network of Earth Island Institute, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) requesting permission to participate as amici curiae in the NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States.
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Document type: Statement
Comments on Draft Terms of Reference for the International Advisory Group for the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline
The Center for International Environmental Law and a coalition of NGOs provided comments on the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the International Advisory Group (IAG) for the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline. The authors argue that the IAG must have a specific mandate to monitor human rights, possess enforcement authority to suspend loan disbursements if conditions are not met, and maintain a transparent appointment process involving civil society input.
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Document type: Statement
Assessing the Impact of NAFTA on Environmental Law and Management Processes
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.
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Document type: Research paper
ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRADE IMPLICATIONS OF CHINA’S WTO ACCESSION
This report provides a preliminary analysis of the potential environmental and trade implications of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on industrial restructuring, pollution levels, environmental management, and international trade dynamics.
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Document type: Report
Seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the IAI
This report details the decisions made during the Seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Merida, Mexico, on July 27-28, 2000. The meeting focused on administrative governance, financial approvals, the establishment of an external evaluation process, and the election of leadership for the IAI Executive Council and Scientific Advisory Committee.
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Document type: Report
Normas del IAI sobre Conflictos de Intereses y Estándares de Conducta Ética
The 'Normas del IAI sobre Conflictos de Intereses y Estándares de Conducta Ética' is a policy document adopted by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to maintain institutional integrity and public trust. It establishes rules for identifying and managing conflicts of interest regarding funding, budgeting, and grant administration, specifically targeting IAI staff, the Executive Council, and advisory committees.
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Document type: Policy brief
CIEL BRIEF
This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the World Bank's proposed transition from Operational Directive (OD 4.30) to Operational Policy (OP 4.12) regarding involuntary resettlement. CIEL argues that the new policy relaxes standards for restoration of living conditions, prioritizes cash over land compensation, and removes protections for vulnerable groups and 'voluntary' settlers.
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Document type: Briefing
Profiting From a Nuclear-Free Third Millenium
This report by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues that nuclear power has suffered a historic economic collapse and is obsolete compared to end-use efficiency, distributed generation, and new energy technologies. Lovins asserts that nuclear power is more expensive than its competitors and that transitioning away from it would improve global security by making nuclear materials harder to acquire.
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Document type: Report
LÍNEAS DIRECTRICES DE POLÍTICA DE FINANCIAMIENTO DE PROYECTOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN
This document outlines the funding policy guidelines for research projects under the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN) program of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), published in October 1999. It details the legal and financial responsibilities of beneficiary institutions, the roles of Principal Investigators (PIs), and the administrative requirements for managing grants, including reporting, budget modifications, and data sharing.
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Document type: Guide
Effective Dispute Resolution
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.
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Document type: Report
Memoria del Foro Regional sobre Comercio y Medio Ambiente Realizado en San Salvador del 7 al 10 de julio de 1999
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).
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Document type: Report
Issue Brief on the World Trade Organization Supremacy Clause in the POPs Convention
This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law argues against the inclusion of a "supremacy clause" in the draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Convention. The author contends that such a clause, which suggests the convention will not affect rights and obligations under existing international agreements, would effectively subordinate environmental goals to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and undermine the ability of nations to implement trade-related environmental measures.
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Document type: Briefing
INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH NETWORK PROGRAM GRANT POLICY GUIDELINES
The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) published these Grant Policy Guidelines in July 1999 to define the award and administration of grants under its Collaborative Research Network Program (CRN). The document details the legal and financial responsibilities of Grantees, the roles of Principal Investigators (PIs), reporting requirements, and the financial standards for managing IAI funds.
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Document type: Guide
PROPUESTA DEL PRESUPUESTO ADMINISTRATIVO PARA EL AÑO FISCAL 1999/2000
This document is a draft administrative budget proposal for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the 1999/2000 fiscal year, detailing projected expenditures, estimated cash balances, and member country contributions.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change Mitigation in Southern Africa Zambia Country Study
The Zambia Country Study, published in January 1999 by the Stockholm Environment Institute, evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation strategies for Zambia. The report establishes baseline and mitigation scenarios for the energy and forestry sectors up to 2030, identifying low-cost options to reduce CO2 emissions, such as improving household cooking efficiency and enhancing natural forest regeneration.
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Document type: Report
GRAND MINES (PTY) LTD v GIDDEY NO 1999 (1) SA 960 (SCA)
This case study examines a legal dispute between Grand Mines (Pty) Ltd and the liquidator of Bercon Mines (Pty) Ltd regarding whether the obligation to rehabilitate an opencast mine was reciprocal to the obligation to pay for delivered coal. The Supreme Court of Appeal ultimately dismissed the appeal by Grand Mines, ruling that the obligations were not reciprocal.
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Document type: Case study
Pakistan: Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Trade
This research paper examines the environmental impacts of cotton production and textile processing in Pakistan, analyzing the sector through the lens of global commodity chains. It highlights the ecological and health costs of heavy pesticide use in farming and the pollution caused by chemical dyes in textile manufacturing, while evaluating the governance structures that hinder or facilitate a transition to sustainable practices.
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Document type: Research paper