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This report documents the proceedings of the Fifth Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators, held in Kampala, Uganda, from October 17–19, 2011. The event, co-organized by the Government of Uganda, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the South Centre, brought together 79 participants from 40 countries to discuss how developing nations can align foreign direct investment (FDI) with sustainable development goals. The forum focused on the risks of existing bilateral investment treaties (BITs), the importance of regulatory space for host states, and regional cooperation in investment policy.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reviews Internet public policy and governance in West Africa. It examines the region's telecommunications infrastructure, the impact of privatization and liberalization, and the results of a 2010 survey conducted across seven West African countries to gauge stakeholder interest in national and regional Internet Governance Forums (IGFs).

The REDD Development Dividend Task Force Meeting Report documents a January 2011 gathering in Manila, Philippines, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and ASB-ICRAF. The meeting aimed to build policy capacity for developing country negotiators and land managers to ensure that Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) mechanisms deliver a 'Development Dividend'—balancing robust greenhouse gas reductions with sustainable development benefits, equity, and quality safeguards.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the potential sustainable development benefits of 76 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) bioenergy projects in India, Brazil, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis finds that benefits vary significantly by project type, with on-farm agricultural residue projects offering the highest potential for rural development, while industrial residue projects provide fewer benefits. The document highlights a lack of verification systems to ensure that claimed benefits are actually delivered.

This research paper examines how China can align its commercial policies with a 'sustainable trade strategy' consisting of five core objectives: rebalancing the economy, promoting added value, expanding the services sector, promoting Chinese brands and intellectual property, and supporting a sustainable international trade architecture. The authors analyze China's trade evolution since joining the WTO, the limitations of traditional reciprocity-based trade agreements, and the potential for soft-law initiatives and regional cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals.

This research paper examines the expansion of China's service sector and its role within a sustainable trade strategy. It analyzes the structural shift of the Chinese economy toward services, the current state of trade in services, and the challenges regarding international competitiveness and liberalization. The authors argue that service sector growth is linked to urbanization and suggest that relaxing migration restrictions and increasing competition are key to enhancing productivity and sustainability.

This briefing examines the tension between trade liberalization and environmental protection within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with a specific focus on the Mekong subregion. It argues that while regional strategies and national laws exist, actual implementation is often weak, frequently driven by foreign donor interests rather than internal political will, and hindered by a regional preference for non-binding 'soft law'.

This report analyzes the sustainability of biofuel production in Malaysia, specifically comparing national economic goals for biodiesel development against the local-level socio-economic and environmental impacts of palm oil expansion.

This research paper, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) for the UN High Level Task Force (HLTF), examines the intersection of the right to development and climate change. It focuses specifically on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol, evaluating whether its design and implementation align with human rights-based criteria for development. The author argues that while the CDM mobilizes private funds for mitigation, it suffers from governance gaps, inequitable geographical distribution of projects, and a lack of procedural safeguards for affected communities.

The Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment for Namibia identifies 'green' opportunities and trade-related threats, recommending a shift toward high-value niche sectors and improved inter-agency coordination to achieve Vision 2030 objectives.

This 2010 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how trade facilitation measures at multilateral, regional, and subregional levels impact the illegal wildlife and timber trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It analyzes the tension between economic growth driven by infrastructure and trade ease and the resulting depletion of biodiversity, providing recommendations for policymakers to mitigate environmental risks.

This research paper describes Alcoa's 'Sustainable Juruti Program' for its bauxite mine in the Brazilian Amazon, which aims to establish a sustainability benchmark for mining in ecologically sensitive regions through a combination of environmental respect, social responsibility, and economic success.

A letter from the Green Economy Coalition to G-20 Ministers of Finance urging the urgent implementation of the phase-out of fossil-fuel subsidies to combat climate change and support sustainable development.

A coalition of civil society organizations, including the Center for International Environmental Law and Earthjustice, submitted comments to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Trade Representative on July 31, 2009, regarding the review of the 2004 U.S. Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The coalition argues that the model BIT fails to balance investor rights with public interest protections and grants foreign investors greater substantive rights than those afforded to U.S. citizens under domestic law.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of international carbon market mechanisms within the context of negotiations for a post-2012 climate change agreement. It reviews the existing Kyoto Protocol instruments—International Emissions Trading (IET), Joint Implementation (JI), and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)—and explores potential expansions or new mechanisms, such as sectoral crediting and REDD, to enhance cost-effectiveness and engage developing countries in mitigation efforts.

This report examines the integration of sustainable development—specifically environmental, labor, and social concerns—into Peru's trade and investment agenda. It analyzes the shift from a 1990s policy of prioritizing foreign investment with minimal standards to a current framework where sustainable development commitments are largely driven by external requirements from free trade agreements (FTAs) and international trade partners.

This report examines how sustainable development issues are integrated into Brazil's international trade and investment agenda, noting a shift from official government resistance to practical adaptation by economic actors due to international pressures and domestic political evolution.

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 report examines the intersection of international trade, foreign direct investment, and sustainable development in Argentina. It analyzes how external pressures, international agreements, and domestic factors influence the adoption of environmental and labor standards, while highlighting specific natural resource management challenges and the role of multilateral negotiations like the Kyoto Protocol.

This report synthesizes research from a TKN-CINDES project involving case studies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. It examines the shift in South American countries from a defensive stance toward sustainable development in trade to the acceptance of environmental and labor chapters in free-trade agreements (FTAs), particularly those with the United States and Canada.