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This document is an address by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) delivered to the 49th Session of UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board on September 25, 2012. Cosbey argues that the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference are insufficient for guiding states through the trade tensions arising from the transition to a green economy. He highlights the conflict between the use of green industrial policies—such as subsidies and local content requirements—and their impact on the multilateral trading system, particularly for developing countries. Cosbey calls for a non-legal, non-negotiating framework, potentially led by UNCTAD, to determine the propriety and effectiveness of these measures before they escalate into formal trade disputes.

This case study examines how China leveraged the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol to build expertise in carbon markets and prepare for a domestic emissions trading system. It highlights the role of powerful government ministries, coordinated capacity building, and specific regulatory controls used to ensure local sustainable development benefits and protect national economic interests.

This report details the lessons learned from REDD+ readiness activities in the Republic of Congo, focusing on technical capacity, institutional strengthening, and the necessity of early stakeholder engagement to integrate REDD+ into sustainable development.

This policy brief examines how China successfully leveraged the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote sustainable development. It highlights the role of powerful government ministries, coordinated capacity building, and the implementation of specific market restrictions to protect national interests and ensure local benefits.

The 'Toolkit on Internet Public Policy Dialogue' is a guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in September 2012. It provides policy practitioners with a structured, multistakeholder approach to gathering evidence and securing public consent for Internet and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies. The toolkit emphasizes 'adaptive policy making' to respond to the rapidly evolving technological landscape and provides eight specific tools—ranging from expert roundtables and policy mapping to online surveys and public forums—to facilitate inclusive dialogue across government, private sector, civil society, and academia.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the effectiveness of investment incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). It argues that fiscal incentives cannot compensate for a weak investment climate and recommends a transition from automatic tax holidays toward targeted, performance-based incentives and transparent tax administration.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for understanding and assessing the performance of collaborative networks and communities of practice (CoPs). It distinguishes between networked governance, inter-organizational relationships, and inter-individual collaborative relationships, arguing that the latter should be assessed based on social capital, value creation, and structural evolution rather than rigid terminology.

The Green Economy Coalition expresses strong disappointment with the Rio+20 Summit's Declaration, arguing that it lacks the concrete measures, targets, and timelines needed to transition to a green economy, create jobs, and address global inequity.

This research paper analyzes the compatibility of the Australian Government's Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It examines the bill's proposals to ban illegally logged timber imports and domestic processing, while requiring due diligence from importers and processors. The authors conclude that the legislation is likely WTO-compatible provided it is implemented non-discriminatorily and does not afford protection to domestic products.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the process of establishing a multistakeholder Internet public policy dialogue in Togo. It details the country's ICT landscape, the methodology used for public consultations between 2010 and 2011, and the resulting policy needs, emphasizing the gap between infrastructure growth and the lack of formal national ICT policy.

This policy briefing examines the tropical timber trade from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to and through Uganda into the wider East African region. It highlights the challenges of regulating a trade characterized by informal operators and middlemen, and provides recommendations for improving regional coordination, domestic regulation in Uganda, and the use of existing platforms like the ICGLR and the Albertine Rift Strategic Planning Process to promote sustainable development.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI Tallinn) analyzes the history, current state, and future needs of nature and environmental education in Estonia. Based on a January 2012 survey of teachers and specialists, it highlights a lack of a national development plan and a fragmented, project-based system. The document advocates for a coordinated national approach, potentially through a joint agency managed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Education and Research, to ensure equitable access and sustainability.

This case study examines Grenada's use of the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) to integrate climate resilience into poverty reduction and sustainable development, highlighting lessons on country-specific responses, comprehensive mainstreaming, and the role of multilateral finance.

The document introduces a framework for analyzing Sustainable Development – Policies and Measures (SD-PAMs), which are policy proposals designed to promote sustainable development with climate benefits as side effects, particularly within the context of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) by developing countries.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines the influence of Shell and other corporate entities on the UN's Rio+20 process. It details how Shell utilizes a network of interlinked business associations and lobbying groups—including the ICC, WBCSD, and the UN Global Compact—to shape global sustainability standards and policy, often operating through 'BINGOs' (business-backed NGOs) to gain privileged access to UN decision-making.

This briefing describes a risk management approach to decision-making in the Caribbean, as outlined in the Implementation Plan (IP) for the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. The document emphasizes the need for a transformational change in policy setting to build low-carbon, climate-resilient economies by integrating risk management into national planning and sustainable development goals.

This report provides a guide for policy-makers, particularly in developing countries, on how to use public spending to catalyze private investment for climate-friendly infrastructure and clean energy.

This report presents the results of a three-year investigation into the triple bottom line (TBL) performance of 1,337 small, medium-sized and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in developing countries. Conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the SEED Initiative, the study analyzes the social, environmental, and business targets of these enterprises across three cohorts of applicants. It highlights the critical role of technology, skills training, and research partnerships in the 'green economy,' while identifying significant barriers such as lack of financing, inadequate local environmental enforcement, and gender-based disparities in business management capacity.

This report summarizes a side event held on March 26, 2012, organized by the 'Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform' to build consensus on reforming fossil-fuel subsidies ahead of the Rio+20 summit. The event featured perspectives from the IMF, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and representatives from Ethiopia, Costa Rica, and Sweden, focusing on the fiscal, environmental, and social implications of subsidy removal.

A report describing the potential for sugar cane bioenergy to enhance rural livelihoods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy security and economic competitiveness in Southern and Eastern Africa.