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The report analyzes over 400 infant formula products from Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott. It finds that these companies use product differentiation and 'premium' branding to increase profit margins, particularly in Asian markets, without clear scientific justification for the variety of products offered. The study highlights significant price disparities between countries and a reliance on industry self-regulation for nutritional quality.

The report examines over 400 products from Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott, finding that the proliferation of 'premium' formulas is based on market research into consumer purchasing power rather than nutritional science. It highlights significant price disparities between countries for the same products and the high financial burden on families in Asian markets, while noting a lack of government oversight regarding nutritional quality and compliance with WHO marketing regulations.

The report concludes that breastmilk substitute (BMS) manufacturers use product differentiation and 'premium' branding to increase profits rather than to improve nutritional outcomes. Analysis of over 400 products from Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott across 14 markets reveals that formulation variations are often based on market research and consumer willingness to pay rather than scientific rationale. This is particularly evident in high-growth Asian markets, where 'super-premium' formulas can cost a significant portion of a family's monthly salary.

The Human Rights Committee (CCPR) is increasingly linking climate change to human rights obligations under the ICCPR, particularly the right to life. In 2018, General Comment No. 36 established that climate change and environmental degradation are serious threats to the right to life, creating a due diligence obligation for States to take reasonable positive measures against foreseeable threats. In 2019, the CCPR began issuing climate-related recommendations to States, including Cabo Verde, and addressing climate issues in lists of issues for the United States and Dominica. In the case of Teitiota v New Zealand, the Committee acknowledged that climate change impacts could trigger non-refoulement obligations if they violate the right to life, though the specific petition was rejected. Additionally, a pending case involves Torres Strait Islanders against Australia, alleging that failure to mitigate emissions and adapt to climate change violates their rights to life and culture.

The document asserts that climate change violates fundamental human rights, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, and argues that international law mandates effective remedies, including reparations. It criticizes the UNFCCC's voluntary funding approach and the explicit exclusion of compensation in the Paris Agreement and the Loss and Damage Fund. The authors propose a human rights-based approach to loss and damage that includes restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and satisfaction, funded by the 'polluter pays' principle through mechanisms like windfall taxes on fossil fuel companies. It also emphasizes the need for universal social protection, debt cancellation for the Global South, and protections for climate-induced displaced persons.

The document examines the rapid scaling of offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS), highlighting that at least 38 new proposals worldwide aim to store over 165 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030. It argues that the technology is unproven, citing issues with Norway's flagship projects, and warns of severe risks including groundwater contamination, induced earthquakes, and CO2 leaks. A primary concern is the use of legacy oil and gas wellbores in areas like the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, which provide pathways for leakage. The brief further contends that offshore CCS relies on leak-prone infrastructure, creates monitoring challenges for regulators, and threatens marine ecosystems through acidification. Economically, it asserts that these projects depend on public subsidies, diverting funds from renewable energy. Finally, it claims CCS fails to deliver promised emissions reductions and often facilitates enhanced oil recovery (EOR), thereby prolonging fossil fuel reliance.

The document examines demand-side timber legality laws across five major importing markets, comparing their scope, actor obligations, and enforcement mechanisms to identify effective legislative options for reducing illegal logging.

The document argues that the increasing use of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in consumer and industrial products creates significant risks in the waste stream due to unknown toxicity and difficulties in characterization. It demands that governments and companies implement extended producer responsibility, restrict the transboundary movement of MNM waste, and establish public registries of nano-products, particularly within the European Union, to ensure safe recycling and disposal.

The document argues that manufactured nanomaterials (NM) in waste streams pose risks to health and the environment due to incomplete toxicity understanding. It demands the implementation of extended producer responsibility, restrictions on transboundary movements of NM waste, and the creation of a public registry of nano-products in the EU to ensure transparent quantification of waste flows. Additionally, it advocates for public funding of research into waste prevention and the development of safe recycling and disposal technologies that prevent cross-contamination of secondary materials.

The document examines the interpretation of risk assessments (RA) and the precautionary principle under the WTO's SPS Agreement in the context of the EC – Biotech case. It argues that the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety could serve as a critical source of factual information and a guide for interpreting the SPS Agreement, particularly regarding the triggering conditions for provisional measures under Article 5.7.

The document presents a collection of statements from legal experts and policy advisors asserting that international law, supported by rulings from bodies such as the International Court of Justice, requires states to phase out fossil fuels to prevent climate harm and protect human rights.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) was established in 1990 as a three-year pilot program to address global warming, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, and international water pollution. Operated by the World Bank, UNDP, and UNEP, the GEF provides grant or concessional funding for projects that offer global environmental benefits but lack economic viability without assistance. However, the facility faces significant criticism from NGOs and developing countries regarding its lack of transparency, restricted membership—due to a SDR $4 million contribution requirement—and the potential for 'greenwashing' World Bank projects. As the pilot phase ends in 1993, there are calls for restructuring to ensure universal membership and greater accountability to the climate change and biodiversity conventions.

The document synthesizes the work of UN human rights treaty bodies (HRTBs) in addressing climate change, specifically focusing on Concluding Observations issued to States. It highlights that while climate change is not explicitly in key human rights treaties, HRTBs increasingly use their monitoring roles to argue that protecting human rights requires specific climate action. The report details recommendations across several themes, including the disproportionate impacts on women, children, and indigenous peoples, the need for gender-sensitive and child-sensitive climate strategies, and the obligation of some States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel extraction to meet human rights standards. It provides detailed analysis of the three most active bodies: CEDAW, CESCR, and CRC.

The document outlines the CESCR's monitoring of the ICESCR, highlighting how climate change threatens substantive rights such as the right to water, food, and health. It details the Committee's increasing use of Concluding Observations to urge States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy, and protect vulnerable groups, particularly indigenous peoples, from climate impacts.

The briefing counters arguments from 'big polluters' regarding the ICJ's climate advisory proceedings, asserting that the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement do not displace customary international law, human rights obligations, or the duty to prevent transboundary harm. It argues that states have a legal obligation to phase out fossil fuels to meet these duties and that historical emissions since the 1960s are legally relevant due to scientific foreseeability. The document concludes that states must be held responsible for climate-related injuries through cessation of wrongful conduct and reparations, which could include debt cancellation and ecosystem restoration.

The document proposes using user fees to fund an international capacity-building fund for developing countries and a no-fault insurance fund for states injured by invasive alien species. It highlights the severe economic and biodiversity impacts of invasive species, citing costs such as US$373 million annually for rabbit control in Australia and US$3.1-5.0 billion in damages to US and European industrial plants from aquatic invasives between 1988 and 2000. The text urges the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development to move the international community from planning to implementation of the goals set by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The document outlines nanomaterial definitions from the ISO, OECD, EU, and various US and Canadian agencies, noting that most center on a size range of 1nm to 100nm. It highlights that the European Union uses a specific particle number distribution threshold (50% or more) and a surface area by volume ratio proxy. The briefing concludes that divergent definitions lead to legal uncertainty, where a substance may be regulated as a nanomaterial in one jurisdiction or product category but treated as a bulk substance in another.

The document argues that the increasing use of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in consumer, industrial, and medical products is leading to their proliferation in waste streams, posing risks to human health and the environment that are not yet fully understood. Signatories demand that governments and companies implement extended producer responsibility, restrict the transboundary movement of MNM waste, and establish a public registry of nano-products in Europe to ensure transparency. The statement also advocates for the development of safe recycling technologies and the integration of waste prevention into publicly funded nanotechnology research to support a safe circular economy.

The Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials argues that the increasing presence of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in waste streams poses risks to human health and the environment due to uncertainties regarding their toxicity. The signatories call for the implementation of full producer responsibility, the restriction of transboundary waste movements, and the creation of an EU-wide public nano-product registry to ensure transparent quantification of waste flows. They further advocate for innovation in waste prevention, the development of safe recycling and disposal technologies, and the establishment of verifiable end-of-waste criteria to support a circular economy without introducing new environmental risks.

The document argues that the European Commission's conclusions on nanomaterial transparency are biased toward industry interests and ignore the need for an EU nanoregister. It highlights significant data gaps in current REACH registrations, the potential health and environmental risks of nanomaterials like nanosilver, and the benefits of traceability for workers and consumers. The authors contend that a mandatory register would improve risk management and transparency without significantly harming competitiveness or innovation.