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A joint letter from various environmental and public interest organizations urging US federal agencies and officials to oppose liability relief and regulatory exemptions for operators of carbon dioxide (CO2) geologic sequestration (GS) sites.

A submission by 13 non-governmental organisations, coordinated by the Centre for Environmental Rights, addressed to the Minister of Mineral Resources regarding proposed amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA). The document argues that the current environmental regulatory regime for mining is inferior to that of other industrial sectors and calls for the integration of mining regulation under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) to ensure better environmental protection, public participation, and enforcement.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing 13 NGOs and CSOs, wrote to the Chief Executive of the Chamber of Mines to defend a request made to the Minister of Mineral Resources. The CER argues that existing statutory tools are insufficient to protect areas of critical biodiversity and hydrological value from mining, and therefore urges the Minister to use her discretion under Section 49 of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) to declare certain 'no-go areas'.

Economists from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) critiqued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rule on coal combustion residues, arguing that the accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis is flawed and biased toward the coal industry.

The case of City of Cape Town v Maccsand (Pty) Ltd and Others (2010) establishes that mining activities in South Africa are subject to concurrent jurisdiction across national, provincial, and local government spheres. The court ruled that the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) does not override local land use planning laws or national environmental legislation, requiring mining operators to obtain authorizations from multiple regulatory frameworks.

This research paper analyzes the environmental impacts of China's electrical power sector and explores how a sustainable trade strategy can be linked to energy policy. It details China's heavy reliance on coal, the resulting pollution, and the regulatory frameworks used to manage these effects. The document also surveys international best practices in low-carbon energy policy—including economic and regulatory instruments—and suggests policy options for China to improve efficiency and competitiveness.

The Vaal Triangle Priority Area AQMP Implementation Regulations, 2009, establish the legal framework for implementing and enforcing the Vaal Triangle Air-shed Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan (VTAQMP). The regulations mandate that identified stakeholders submit and periodically review emission reduction strategies to ensure ambient air quality objectives are met.

This report examines how Chile incorporates sustainable development, specifically environmental and labor issues, into its trade agreements and foreign direct investment (FDI) policies, while identifying gaps in climate change integration and enforcement.

This 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) for Ecuador. It analyzes the intersection of international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and environmental sustainability, focusing on five key sectors: flowers, shrimp, timber, tourism, and mining. The document highlights a systemic tension where economic growth driven by raw material exports often occurs at the expense of critical ecosystems, such as mangroves and native forests, and notes a lack of coordinated state policy to integrate environmental costs into productive models.

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.

A joint statement by Friends of the Earth and ten other environmental and consumer advocacy organizations criticizing a U.S. energy bill for failing to address global warming or oil dependence while providing subsidies to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries.

This report summarizes a September 2008 WTO Public Forum session organized by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE). The discussion, featuring legal experts, examined the evolution of WTO jurisprudence regarding environmental and health measures, the impact of the Brazil – Retreaded Tyres decision, and the specific challenges faced by developing countries in trade-environment dispute settlements.

The Threatened or Protected Species Regulations, 2007, issued under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004, establish a comprehensive legal framework for managing restricted activities involving listed threatened and protected species in South Africa. The regulations detail a permit system for activities such as hunting, breeding, and trade, and mandate the registration of facilities including captive breeding operations, game farms, and sanctuaries. It includes strict prohibitions on certain hunting methods and activities involving large predators and rhinoceros species, while providing mechanisms for risk assessments, appeals, and the establishment of a Scientific Authority.

This research paper argues that the U.S. federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 has failed to effectively manage industrial chemicals, leading many U.S. states to enact their own stricter regulations. The author contends that this state-level activism, combined with international regulatory trends—specifically in the European Union—is creating the necessary political pressure for a comprehensive overhaul of federal chemical policy.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes proposals from the European Communities (EC) and the NAMA-11 group to establish a 'facilitative mechanism' for resolving non-tariff measures (NTMs) within the WTO. The author argues that such a mechanism would move the WTO away from its rules-based dispute settlement system toward a confidential, non-binding process focused solely on trade impacts, potentially undermining environmental and public health regulations and leaving developing countries vulnerable to power politics.

These regulations, published under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, establish the administrative and operational framework for special nature reserves, national parks, and world heritage sites. They detail prohibitions on biodiversity disturbance, rules for biological resource use, access controls, commercial activity restrictions, and the establishment of advisory committees and management plans.

The IISD Model International Agreement on Investment for Sustainable Development is a proposed legal framework designed to replace traditional international investment agreements (IIAs). It seeks to balance the protection of foreign investors with the rights of host states to regulate for sustainable development, introducing binding obligations for investors and a reformed dispute settlement mechanism.

This document consists of responses from Glenn Wiser of the Center for International Environmental Law to questions posed by Chairman Paul E. Gillmor of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials. The responses focus on the legal and regulatory framework required for the United States to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), specifically addressing the separation of powers between the Executive and Legislative branches, the nature of treaty control measures, and the potential pitfalls of including cost-benefit balancing or 'sound science' language in implementing legislation.

A joint statement from 41 environmental, health, and labor organizations urging the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce to reject a June 17 draft of amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) intended to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The signatories argue the draft contains flaws that would hinder the U.S. from fulfilling treaty obligations and instead advocate for a draft proposed by Representative Hilda Solis.

This joint post-hearing submission by four amici (IISD, CBE, Bluewater Network, and CIEL) argues that the tribunal in the Methanex v. United States arbitration should recognize that bona fide environmental protection measures are non-expropriatory under international law, similar to public health measures.