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The report documents IISD's contributions to the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 2008 to 2011. It details workshops that explored the co-evolution of Internet governance and global challenges, the development of indicators to measure the impact of ICTs on sustainable development, and the use of scenarios planning to anticipate future technological and social shifts. The document emphasizes the need for a broader multistakeholder approach that includes non-technical sectors—such as health, education, and environment—and highlights the importance of regional and national dialogue over purely global processes. It concludes with a toolkit of evidence- and consent-based tools for practitioners to facilitate public policy dialogue.

The document addresses the tension between the pursuit of a green economy and the existing international trade system. It argues that while Rio+20 provided general guidance, it failed to establish what constitutes 'appropriate state behaviour' regarding green industrial policies, such as subsidies and local content requirements. The author highlights a rise in trade frictions—including disputes between the U.S., China, and the EU over solar and wind technology—and asserts that the WTO's Dispute Settlement Mechanism is ill-suited to resolve these issues because they stem from a lack of international consensus on policy propriety rather than simple rule breaches. The text advocates for the creation of an institutional space, such as through UNCTAD, to evaluate the effectiveness of green tools and their impacts on trading partners, particularly developing nations, to ensure a just transition.

China transitioned from being 'slow off the mark' in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to dominating the market by employing a coordinated capacity-building strategy and strong governmental oversight. Central to this success was the appointment of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) as the Designated National Authority (DNA), ensuring that climate policy was managed by a powerful 'heavy-hitting' ministry rather than a less influential environment ministry. China implemented unique restrictions to protect its interests, including a floor price for Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), revenue levies ranging from 2% to 65% to fund the state-controlled CDM Fund, and requirements for Chinese control of project entities. These experiences have served as a foundation for China's transition toward a domestic emissions trading system, with pilot programs in cities like Beijing and Shanghai starting in early 2013 and a nationwide goal for 2015. Furthermore, China integrated carbon intensity reduction goals into its national 5-year plans, linking the performance of local officials to the achievement of these environmental targets.

The study explores the synergy between development policies and climate change adaptation in Mozambique's rice production sector, suggesting that integrating adaptation into development frameworks, institutional arrangements, and resource management can increase adaptive capacity.

The document examines China's strategic approach to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), highlighting the role of powerful ministries, coordinated capacity building, and specific market restrictions to ensure local benefits.

The document argues that Internet policy must move beyond technical management to include broad societal impacts on rights, security, and sustainable development. It advocates for a multistakeholder model involving government, the private sector, civil society, and academia to ensure legitimacy and effectiveness. The toolkit details eight specific tools—ranging from expert roundtables and policy mapping to online surveys and public forums—designed to generate evidence and foster public consent. It emphasizes 'adaptive policy making' and the principle of subsidiarity, suggesting that policy action should occur at the lowest jurisdictional level consistent with effectiveness.

The document examines the role of fiscal incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), arguing that tax exemptions cannot compensate for a weak investment climate. It critiques the use of blanket tax holidays, which can lead to tax avoidance and minimal domestic economic embedding. Instead, the author proposes a framework of 'timely, targeted and temporary' incentives, advocating for performance-based measures such as tax credits, accelerated depreciation, and green bonds. The paper suggests that governments should gradually move toward a uniform low corporate tax rate to create a level playing field for domestic and foreign investors while ensuring that incentives are administered through transparent tax codes rather than discretionary sector ministries.

The document examines Africa's role in the 'global nuclear renaissance,' noting that the continent holds 18% of world uranium resources. It details the production activities of Namibia, Niger, Malawi, and South Africa, while identifying emerging exploration in countries like the Central African Republic and Tanzania. The author argues that while uranium mining provides significant GDP contributions and employment, it is plagued by governance challenges, including a lack of institutional capacity to monitor environmental and health impacts. The paper compares African practices with those in Canada and Australia and suggests that strengthening government capacity and adopting international best practices, such as those from the IAEA and EITI, are essential for sustainable development.

The report outlines the progress of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, highlighting over 100 commitments from governments and businesses, including more than USD $50 billion from the private sector. It details a four-step country-action process adopted by 55 developing countries and identifies 50 high-impact opportunities across 11 action areas. The document also proposes a distributed global network for future implementation and a baseline report to track progress toward 2030 goals.

The document argues that local stakeholder consultations for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in India and Mexico are frequently inadequate or falsified due to a lack of clear guidelines and oversight. In India, project proponents often omit meeting details from public notices, provide documents in English that are inaccessible to impoverished villagers, and produce reports that omit unfavorable comments. The author provides case studies from Gujarat involving a solar project and a biogas project to illustrate how villagers were excluded or ignored. To improve transparency and sustainable development, the document recommends mandatory videography of consultations, publishing notices in local languages and multiple newspapers, and ensuring the public is informed about their 2% share of carbon credit sales.

The document examines the economic and social impacts of fuel and electricity subsidies in Nigeria, noting that fuel subsidies in 2011 exceeded NGN 2.19 trillion but primarily benefited the wealthy and fostered corruption. It highlights that under-pricing electricity between 2005-2009 cost between NGN 232.5-356.5 billion, leading to poor infrastructure maintenance and reliability issues. The guide aims to inform citizens about these costs and the necessity of reforms, such as gradual tariff increases for electricity and the removal of gasoline subsidies.

The document argues that collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential for sustainable development and proposes a shift from focusing on institutional partnerships to fostering networks of individual experts. It defines three types of collaboration: networked governance, inter-organizational relationships (IORs), and inter-individual collaborative relationships (ICRs). For ICRs, the authors suggest assessing performance through four key lenses: focus and extensiveness, structural evolution, social capital, and value creation (divided into applied and realized value). The report also suggests various diagnostic tools for these assessments, including Social Network Analysis and the Cynefin Framework.

The report examines China's agricultural investment strategy, noting a transition from market dependence to foreign direct investment. While China remains largely self-sufficient in staple grains, it requires imports of soybeans, cotton, and palm oil for its industrial and energy sectors. The document details various investment models, including aid-driven demonstration farms, joint ventures, and direct land acquisitions. It confirms 54 Chinese projects covering 4.8 million hectares across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while cautioning against the social and environmental risks associated with large-scale land acquisitions.

The global trade union movement criticizes the Rio+20 Summit Declaration for lacking targets, timelines, and a strategic vision for planetary justice. The statement argues that the summit failed to provide a new model of development to address unemployment, poverty, and environmental destruction, while noting a significant lack of public trust in government economic decision-making.

The paper analyzes the WTO implications of Australia's Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill, which seeks to ban the import and domestic processing of illegally logged timber. It concludes that the bill is likely WTO-compatible provided it avoids discrimination between domestic and imported products and is implemented in a non-trade-restrictive manner. The author argues that GATT Article XX(g), relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources, provides the strongest legal defense for such measures. To minimize the risk of successful WTO challenges, the paper recommends that Australia align its due diligence requirements with international standards, such as the EU's FLEGT licenses, and provide capacity-building assistance to exporting nations.

The report analyzes FDI in Laos' agriculture sector, focusing on land concessions and contract farming. While FDI has driven macroeconomic growth, the authors argue it often fails to align with local economic development and food security goals due to poor transparency, land tenure insecurity, and a lack of rigorous social impact assessments.

The report examines foreign investment in agriculture across MERCOSUR, identifying three primary models: state-level cooperation agreements, direct private land purchases, and foreign direct investment in production via contract farming. It highlights a general lack of reliable data, though estimates suggest foreign ownership varies significantly, from 1.7% of arable land in Brazil to 19.4% of national territory in Paraguay. While Brazil and Argentina have implemented laws to restrict foreign land ownership, Uruguay is debating similar measures, and Paraguay has seen little public discussion on restrictions despite high foreign ownership. The document recommends the establishment of national land registries and clear definitions of 'foreign stakeholders' to better manage and monitor these investments.

The report examines the ICT and Internet policy landscape in Togo, highlighting a history of political instability that hindered early policy development. Through surveys and workshops, it identifies critical needs for affordable broadband, cyber security laws, and inclusive multistakeholder dialogue. It argues that the Internet can drive sustainable development in Togo's phosphate and agriculture sectors if supported by proactive government coordination and private sector investment.

The document examines the flow of tropical timber from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Uganda and the wider East African region. It highlights the challenges of regulating this trade due to its informal nature and the influence of powerful middlemen. The authors argue that regional cooperation, improved infrastructure, and the promotion of plantation forestry in Uganda are essential to reduce illegal trade and pressure on natural forests. Key recommendations include utilizing the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) for coordination and aligning timber certification standards across the DRC and East African Community (EAC) members.

The report examines the trade of tropical timber from the eastern DRC through Uganda to regional and international markets. It finds that approximately 80% of timber leaving the eastern DRC enters Uganda, where it is either consumed locally or transited to Kenya and South Sudan. The trade is characterized by high levels of informality, significant revenue loss for the DRC, and a profit structure that heavily favors middlemen and politically connected traders over primary producers and transporters. While international markets are increasingly regulated by frameworks like EU FLEGT and the US Lacey Act, regional trade remains largely unregulated due to timber shortages in East Africa. The report highlights the role of the Northern Transit Corridor in facilitating these flows and suggests that bottom-up regional cooperation, similar to the Albertine Rift Strategic Planning Process, could improve sustainability and governance.