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The IISD Global Connectivity Program examines how the 'global connectivity system'—including ICTs and internet governance—can facilitate the flow of knowledge and leadership required for sustainability. The program identifies key trends such as the rise of 'smart' systems for resource efficiency, a global digital economy that exceeds the agriculture and energy sectors in consumption and expenditure, and the shift toward networked, social-media-driven information exchange. IISD emphasizes the need for open, accessible communications infrastructure to gather environmental data and monitor resources, while simultaneously seeking to minimize the negative environmental impacts of ICTs.

The manual defines Conflict-Sensitive Conservation (CSC) as the programming and execution of conservation actions that account for the causes, actors, and impacts of conflict. It outlines a three-step organizational process: assessing institutional capacity, assigning human resources (such as a CSC Champion and Team), and adopting guiding principles. For field projects, it details a two-step operational process: conducting a conflict analysis using tools like conflict trees, conflict maps, and stakeholder profiles, and subsequently designing and monitoring CSC solutions. The guide emphasizes that conservation can either inadvertently fuel conflict—by restricting resource access or creating unequal benefit distribution—or support peace by addressing root causes of environmental degradation and fostering cooperation.

The report details a forum held in Kampala, Uganda, where negotiators from 40 developing countries discussed the risks of traditional Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) and the need for regulatory space to pursue sustainable development. Key discussions focused on the 'African Mining Vision', the dangers of 'land grabbing' in agriculture, and the systemic biases of investor-state arbitration. Participants advocated for a shift toward regional cooperation, the use of 'police powers' exceptions in treaties to protect public interest, and the implementation of domestic laws that prioritize national economic policies over investor demands.

The Guidelines for Knowledge Partnerships establish a structured approach for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to leverage external expertise and collaborative learning. Grounded in the bank's Strategy 2020, the guide defines knowledge partnerships as associations that share a purpose and contribute resources to create solutions for development challenges. It provides a performance framework based on OECD DAC criteria—relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact—and details essential building blocks for partnership design. The document also outlines various organizational models, from strategic alliances to grassroots collaborations, and identifies key success factors such as focus, leadership, and risk management to ensure that partnerships translate into tangible development outcomes.

The report examines the state of ICT and Internet policy in West Africa, highlighting the transition from state-led telecommunications to private-sector-driven growth. It details a survey conducted across seven West African countries and Kenya, which reveals overwhelming support for national multi-stakeholder Internet governance forums (IGFs). The findings emphasize that while mobile penetration has grown rapidly, significant gaps remain in broadband access, digital literacy, and regional interconnectivity. The document argues for a holistic policy approach that integrates Internet governance with sustainable development goals, including environmental stewardship and e-governance, while advocating for a shift from top-down government control to inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The report advocates for the adoption of sustainable public procurement (SPP) during post-disaster and post-conflict reconstruction. It highlights that the high volume of public spending during these periods—often ranging from 2% to 15% of annual GDP for recovery—can be used to signal long-term demand for green goods and services, stimulate private sector innovation, and build domestic capacity for sustainable production. The author provides evidence that integrating sustainability into infrastructure rebuilding, such as mangrove conservation in Vietnam or flood-resistant works in China, significantly reduces future disaster losses and improves resilience. However, the report notes that implementation is often hindered by a lack of dedicated SPP laws and political instability in lower-income economies.

The report details a task force meeting in Manila, Philippines, focused on the 'Development Dividend' in REDD—the balance between greenhouse gas reductions (quantity) and sustainable development benefits (quality), such as poverty alleviation and indigenous rights (equity). Key discussions centered on the technical and political challenges of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), the implementation of socio-environmental safeguards, and the role of market versus non-market financing. The document also provides updates on national REDD strategies from various countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and proposes a research agenda to clarify forest definitions and governance structures for benefit sharing.

The IISD Partnership Review evaluates how the organization defines and manages its collaborations. It distinguishes between formal partnerships, which are focused on project implementation and reciprocity, and other modalities such as knowledge-sharing networks, donor relationships, contractual agreements, and strategic 'critical friend' collaborations. The review emphasizes a shift toward personal networks of staff and associates as a primary driver of effectiveness and recommends a more refined, reciprocity-based definition of partnership.

The research establishes a baseline for sustainable development (SD) among 1,551 tenth grade students in Manitoba using three composite indexes. Findings indicate that while students possess relatively high knowledge (mean 2.12) and favourable attitudes (mean 2.14) toward SD, their actual supportive behaviours are less pronounced (mean 2.83). Regression analysis reveals that knowledge and attitudes only explain 21% of the variation in sustainable behaviours, with attitudes being a more influential predictor than knowledge. The study highlights a particular strength in students' support for gender equality and environmental protection, but notes confusion regarding the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), brought together 150 stakeholders to address the eutrophication of Lake Winnipeg. The summit shifted the narrative from viewing nutrient loading as a purely environmental crisis to an economic opportunity for Manitoba to develop a 21st-century bioeconomy. Participants developed a vision for 2040 centered on sustainable development, emphasizing the link between the health of the lake and its broader basin. Key outcomes include the establishment of a five-year action plan, the Lake Winnipeg Bioeconomy Initiative, and the creation of Technical and Strategic Advisory Committees to coordinate governance and policy reform.

The report analyzes the surge in foreign acquisitions and long-term leases of agricultural land and water, driven by food and energy security concerns and the 2008 food crisis. It highlights a critical lack of transparency and public contracts, which obscures the impact on local communities. The authors argue that a complex interplay between national laws, investment contracts, and International Investment Agreements (IIAs) often prioritizes foreign investor protections over the rights of local users and the regulatory autonomy of host states, potentially hindering sustainable development and public health measures.

The report investigates how positions are formulated within the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), highlighting the tension between intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. It uses the 2009 Copenhagen climate negotiations as a case study to show how national interests and regional rivalries—such as those between Ethiopia and Sudan—undermine a unified African voice. The document also critiques the EU's approach to Africa, particularly the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), arguing that the EU often ignores the complexity of African regional dynamics. Finally, it assesses peace and security architectures in Southern Africa (SADC) and the Horn of Africa (IGAD), noting that external financial incentives often drive missions that lack a solid local mandate.

The report argues that carbon trading is an ineffective and often corrupt mechanism for addressing climate change in Africa. It examines the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and voluntary markets, finding that they frequently favor large industrial polluters over sustainable development and marginalize local communities. Through case studies in South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the authors illustrate how 'additionality' is often fabricated and how projects can lead to land grabs or the subsidization of fossil fuel expansion. The document concludes that the carbon market is structurally flawed and should be abolished in favor of direct public funding and low-carbon development pathways based on historical responsibility.

The Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP) is an environmental analysis tool that uses an environmentally extended input-output model to assess the global environmental impact of consumption at national, regional, and local levels. It tracks greenhouse gases, ecological footprints, and energy sources across the entire life cycle of products and services, including imports. The tool includes a scenario function to model the effects of political decisions, population changes, and shifts in consumption or transport habits. Originally developed in the UK in 2006, a Swedish version was introduced in April 2011.

The document evaluates 76 CDM bioenergy projects to determine which types offer the most sustainable development benefits. It finds that projects using agricultural residues, particularly on-farm residues, claim the highest benefits, while forest residue projects claim the fewest. The analysis highlights a lack of verification systems for these claims and notes that very few projects improve rural energy access.

The report analyzes the BASIC group's role in global climate diplomacy, arguing that while they appear as a unified bloc, their cooperation is conditioned by diverse domestic priorities and broader geopolitical ambitions. It examines the specific drivers for Brazil, South Africa, India, and China, and explores how the group balances its identity as developing nations with its rising global influence.

The document serves as a comprehensive guide for interns in South Africa's environmental sector, bridging the gap between academic study and professional work. It outlines the roles of various government and civil society entities, explains the national environmental policy landscape rooted in the Constitution, and provides practical tools for time management, communication, and workplace ethics. Additionally, it offers guidance on performance appraisals, the rights and responsibilities of interns, and strategies for transitioning into full-time employment within the green economy.

The document argues that religious beliefs can both increase and decrease vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks. Using a case study from El Salvador, it demonstrates that faith influences how people perceive hazards like floods and droughts and determines whether they adopt preventive measures. The author notes that while religion can improve the lives of the poor, certain interpretations of disasters may hinder sustainable development, highlighting a gap in policy guidance for integrating belief systems into adaptation and risk reduction programmes.

A coalition of environmental NGOs argues that the JSE's SRI Index is 'fatally flawed' because it includes companies that are 'serious and serial offenders' of environmental legislation. The letter provides evidence from National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Reports (NECERs) and government reports showing that several listed companies—including Exxaro Resources, Arcelor Mittal South Africa, and Sasol—have committed criminal offences related to air emissions, waste disposal, and water use licenses. The NGOs call for the JSE to revise its criteria to explicitly require legal compliance and strengthen its verification methods.

The document argues that climate compatible development (CCD) planning in developing countries is often skewed toward external accountability to secure international finance, which can lead to ineffective domestic outcomes. To address this, the authors analyze experiences from the Rio Conventions and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) processes, recommending multi-stakeholder engagement, evidence-based planning, wide communication, integrated planning across sectors and scales, and robust monitoring and evaluation to ensure that CCD strategies address real domestic needs while meeting international standards.