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CRN – Summary of discussions at the XV SAC Meeting
The report evaluates the initial year of the CRN program, highlighting a strong scientific output and significant capacity building through graduate courses and workshops across the Americas. While many projects successfully leveraged millions in additional funding, the IAI identified critical administrative gaps, specifically the lack of a standard reporting format and difficulties in international fund transfers.
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Document type: Report
Selection Process for IAI Director in 1995
The document details the 1995 selection process for the IAI Director, managed by a Selection Committee appointed by the Executive Council (EC). The process involved a multi-stage filtering system: an initial review of nominations based on a standard form and specific ranking criteria, telephone interviews to create a long-list, and formal presentations by a short-listed group of candidates. The Selection Committee then recommended the most qualified candidates to the Conference of the Parties (CoP), which conducted the final election via secret ballot.
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Document type: Report
Reform of the Electric Power Sector In Developing Countries: Case Study of Argentina
The document examines the restructuring of Argentina's electric power sector, which transitioned from state dominance to a privatized model of unbundled generation, transmission, and distribution. It analyzes the political economy of this shift, highlighting the influence of the World Bank and other multilateral development banks in promoting neoliberal reforms. The study finds that while the reforms improved technical efficiencies and reduced wholesale prices, they often resulted in regressive social impacts, such as the elimination of social tariffs for low-income groups and significant job losses. Environmental concerns were largely relegated to compliance with pre-existing manuals, and energy efficiency initiatives were hindered by the unbundling of the sector and low electricity prices. The report concludes that the reforms were largely irreversible due to a strong government commitment to the market model, despite emerging governance challenges and public dissatisfaction following major service failures like the 1999 EDESUR blackout.
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Document type: Case study
Hidden assets: Young Professionals in Knowledge Networks
The report examines how young professionals—including graduate students, interns, and young employees—contribute to and benefit from knowledge networks dedicated to sustainable development. It argues that while youth bring critical ICT skills and fresh perspectives, they are often relegated to technical roles and excluded from strategic decision-making due to a lack of experience and organizational hierarchies. The document provides specific recommendations for network managers, funders, and young professionals to better integrate youth into the leadership and research processes of these networks.
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Document type: Report
The Monsanto Company: Quest for Sustainability (A)
Under CEO Robert Shapiro, Monsanto pivoted to the 'life sciences' by spinning off its chemicals business and investing $8 billion in seed and biotechnology acquisitions. While the company achieved significant financial growth and market dominance in genetically engineered (GE) crops, it faced intense consumer and NGO backlash in Europe and developing countries over health, environmental, and ethical concerns.
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Document type: Case study
XII Reunión del Consejo Ejecutivo del IAI / XII IAI Executive Council Meeting
The document is a participants list for the XII IAI Executive Council Meeting, which took place in San José, Costa Rica, from December 4 to 5, 2000.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Vil Reunién de la Conferencia de las Partes del IAI / VI IAI Conference of the Parties Meeting
The document is a participant list for the VI IAI Conference of the Parties Meeting held in July 2000 in Mexico. It identifies representatives from various national governments, international organizations, and the IAI staff.
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Document type: Fact sheet
“On Behalf of My Delegation,...”
The document serves as a 'Survival Guide' for developing country climate negotiators, combining an overview of the international climate regime with strategic advice on negotiating skills. It details the structure of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, the role of formal and informal bodies, and the dynamics of negotiating blocs like the G-77. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the challenges faced by 'handicapped' negotiators—those with limited domestic mandates or resources—and offers specific coping strategies for drafting, speaking, and coalition-building to increase their influence in a process often dominated by developed nations.
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Document type: Guide
Décima Reunión del Consejo Ejecutivo del IAI
This document is a participant list for the Tenth Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), which took place in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 02-03, 1999.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Report of the Director to the 10th EC Meeting
The report details the IAI's institutional progress, including new agreements with Argentina and Venezuela, the hiring of a CRN Manager, and the status of the Initial Science Program (ISP). It highlights capacity-building through the IAI/UM Summer Institute and various international workshops on climate variability and agriculture. Finally, it presents a financial breakdown of voluntary contributions from member countries, noting significant outstanding balances from several nations.
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Document type: Report
A CITIZENS GUIDE TO THE WORLD BANK INSPECTION PANEL
The document explains the role and procedures of the World Bank Inspection Panel, a quasi-independent body created in 1993 to investigate claims from people harmed by Bank-financed projects. It details eligibility requirements for filing claims, the step-by-step process from registration to Board decision, and the practical challenges claimants face, such as political manipulation and the risk of reprisals. The guide also compares the Panel to accountability mechanisms at the Inter-American Development Bank and Asian Development Bank, and provides resources for accessing World Bank policies.
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Document type: Guide
Sixth Meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP)
The document is a participant list for the Sixth Meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) in Ottawa, Canada. It details representatives from member countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and the USA, as well as observers from Bolivia, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, and various international organizations such as the WMO, OAS, and CARICOM. It also lists IAI staff and Canadian support personnel.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Ninth Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC)
The document is a participant list for the Ninth Meeting of the IAI Executive Council in Ottawa, Canada. It identifies representatives from member countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay, the USA, and Venezuela, as well as observers from Colombia and the Asia-Pacific Network (APN). The list includes contact details for officials from various national science and environment agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Environment Canada, as well as IAI staff.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Proceedings of the Trade and Sustainable Development Workshop
The workshop focused on the complex relationship between trade liberalization and environmental protection, specifically for Pakistan. Participants discussed how WTO rules can constrain national policy and the risk of 'non-tariff barriers' used by developed nations. The proceedings highlight the need for national policy coherence, capacity building, and collective action among developing countries to ensure that trade supports rather than undermines sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
Los Acuerdos sobre Inversión en las Américas: Perspectivas Económicas, Ambientales y Sociales
The report warns against the deregulation of investment within the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), specifically criticizing the adoption of models from NAFTA and the OECD's Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). It argues that broad definitions of investment and restrictive rules on capital controls increase vulnerability to speculative 'hot money' and financial crises, as seen in Mexico and East Asia. Furthermore, it contends that such frameworks undermine environmental protection by allowing corporations to challenge public health and environmental regulations through secretive investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms and by prohibiting performance requirements like technology transfer.
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Document type: Report
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
The proceedings of the Trade and Sustainable Development Workshop, held in July 1999 in Midrand, South Africa, detail discussions between government, business, and NGO representatives on the intersection of international trade and environmental protection. The workshop focused on preparing South Africa for the WTO Millennium Round in Seattle, examining the risks of 'green protectionism' and 'eco-imperialism' versus the opportunities of 'greening' trade. Key analyses included case studies on the South African coal, steel, and citrus sectors, as well as the potential of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and ISO 14001 certification. The participants identified significant research gaps in the impact of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and the need for a coordinated national mechanism to support trade negotiators with empirical evidence.
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Document type: Report
COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL Y DESARROLLO SUSTENTABLE
The report analyzes how Argentina's trade liberalization in the 1990s affected its environmental footprint. It finds that while the manufacturing export pattern remained dominated by high-pollution sectors, the agro-industrial sector experienced a 'virtuous' cycle where technological adoption, such as no-till farming and transgenic crops, improved soil health and reduced certain chemical residues. The document argues that Argentina's competitive advantage in sustainable agriculture could be leveraged in international negotiations, provided that national policies continue to support research and development in 'soft' technologies.
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Document type: Report
Environmental Improvements without Environmental Policies
The document analyzes the impact of 1990s trade liberalization on Argentina's environment, finding a divergence between sectors. In manufacturing, liberalization did not shift the export pattern toward cleaner industries, though some firms improved management to reduce costs. In contrast, the agricultural sector in the Pampas region experienced a 'virtuous cycle' where growth and the adoption of technologies like direct sowing and GMOs led to environmental benefits, such as reduced soil erosion and carbon fixation, despite a lack of formal environmental policies.
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Document type: Research paper
COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL Y DESARROLLO SUSTENTABLE
The report examines the interaction between economic growth, trade liberalization, and the environment in Argentina during the 1990s. It finds that while manufacturing exports remained dominated by high-pollution sectors, the agricultural sector experienced a 'virtuous cycle' where production increases coincided with the adoption of conservationist technologies like no-till farming and transgenic crops, which mitigated some environmental impacts.
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Document type: Executive summary
The 1999 WTO Review of Life Patenting Under TRIPS
The document outlines public interest concerns regarding the expansion of intellectual property rights, specifically the 1999 WTO review of Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS Agreement. It argues against requiring WTO members to recognize patents on plants and animals, citing risks to biodiversity, indigenous rights, and market competition. The author contends that the current system favors industrialized nations and corporate interests, calling for a more democratic, socially managed approach to intellectual property that considers ethical and environmental impacts before further expanding patent requirements.
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Document type: Research paper