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JOINT POST-HEARING SUBMISSION BY AMICI TO THE TRIBUNAL
This joint post-hearing submission by four amici (IISD, CBE, Bluewater Network, and CIEL) argues that the tribunal in the Methanex v. United States arbitration should recognize that bona fide environmental protection measures are non-expropriatory under international law, similar to public health measures.
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Document type: Briefing
JOINT POST-HEARING SUBMISSION BY AMICI TO THE TRIBUNAL
This joint post-hearing submission by several amici curiae (including the International Institute for Sustainable Development) addresses the legal status of environmental measures under the police powers exclusion from expropriation in the NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States.
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Document type: Briefing
Methanex Corporation v. United States of America, Application of Amici for Leave to File a Post-Hearing Written Submission
This document is a formal application submitted on June 29, 2004, by a group of Amici—including the Center for International Environmental Law and the International Institute for Sustainable Development—requesting leave to file a post-hearing written submission in the arbitration case Methanex Corporation v. United States of America.
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Document type: Statement
SUBMISSION OF NON-DISPUTING PARTIES
This document is a submission by non-disputing parties (Bluewater Network, Communities for a Better Environment, and the Center for International Environmental Law) to an arbitration tribunal regarding a dispute between Methanex Corporation and the United States. The submission argues that California's ban on the gasoline additive MTBE was a legitimate exercise of government power to protect public health and the environment, and should therefore be granted substantial deference under NAFTA and international law.
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Document type: Report
SPACE HEATING
This 2004 RMI guide outlines strategies for reducing home heating costs, emphasizing that a well-insulated building shell is the primary investment. It compares the efficiency (AFUE), installation costs, and operational expenses of furnaces, boilers, in-space heaters, air-source and geothermal heat pumps, and active solar systems, while providing guidelines for system sizing and replacement timing.
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Document type: Guide
no new rights for big business at the wto
Friends of the Earth International argues against the launch of investment negotiations at the WTO, claiming such rules would prioritize multinational corporations over environmental protections and public interest. The document cites failures of previous agreements like NAFTA Chapter 11 and argues that the WTO is an inappropriate forum for corporate accountability rules.
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Document type: Statement
no más privilegios para las grandes empresas en la omc
A position paper by Friends of the Earth International from August 2003 urging WTO member states to reject negotiations on a multilateral investment agreement at the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Cancún, arguing such an agreement would prioritize corporate rights over public interest and environmental protection.
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Document type: Statement
An Introduction to Green Building
This guide provides an introduction to selecting environmentally sensitive building materials, emphasizing the reduction of embodied energy, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the impact of industrial manufacturing on global ecosystems.
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Document type: Guide
An Energy Resource Investment Strategy for the City of San Francisco
This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) presents a scenario analysis to guide the City of San Francisco's energy resource investment strategy through 2012. It evaluates three distinct paths—Central Generation, More Imports, and Distributed Resources—to replace the aging Hunter's Point Power Station while meeting growing electricity demand and reliability requirements.
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Document type: Report
The New Business Climate
The New Business Climate is a 2002 guide by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) designed to help corporations and institutions reduce carbon emissions while improving business performance. It argues that climate change presents both risks to asset values and opportunities for innovation, advocating for a transition from incremental thinking to radical resource efficiency and the use of emerging carbon markets to manage costs.
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Document type: Guide
Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency
This case study describes a scenario where the Western Oil & Gas Company evaluated a $2 million capital improvement project to upgrade motor systems at its Richmond, California refinery to improve energy efficiency and reliability.
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Document type: Case study
Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency
This case study examines a proposed $2 million motor system upgrade at the Western Oil & Gas Company refinery in Richmond, California. Despite potential energy efficiency and reliability gains, the project faced internal hurdles including high operational risks, low strategic priority, and capital constraints due to other regulatory expenditures. The document explores how the involvement of an energy services company (ESCo) and a specialized financing firm provided the technical expertise and alternative funding structures—such as performance-based financing—necessary to make the project viable.
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Document type: Case study
California Dreaming
This document consists of a letter and a subsequent note written by Amory B. Lovins, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Institute, addressed to The American Spectator. Lovins refutes claims made by writer William Tucker regarding the causes of the California electricity crisis, specifically challenging Tucker's assertions that Internet growth drove a surge in electricity demand and that the state suffered from a lack of generating capacity.
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Document type: Statement
Brittle Power: Energy Strategy for National Security
This preface to the 2001 re-release of 'Brittle Power: Energy Strategy for National Security' argues that U.S. energy security is compromised by a reliance on centralized, vulnerable infrastructure. The authors contend that domestic energy sources are not inherently secure and that true resilience requires a shift toward diverse, dispersed, and renewable energy systems.
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Document type: Statement
AMENDED PETITION OF COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, THE BLUEWATER NETWORK OF EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE, AND THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW TO APPEAR JOINTLY AS AMICI CURIAE
An amended petition filed on October 13, 2000, by Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), the Bluewater Network of Earth Island Institute, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) requesting permission to participate as amici curiae in the NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States.
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Document type: Statement
Hypercar® Vehicles Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Hypercar® is a conceptual vehicle developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) that integrates ultralightweight construction, ultra-aerodynamic design, and hybrid-electric propulsion to achieve extreme fuel efficiency without sacrificing safety or performance.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Water Efficiency: The Next Generation
This 1998 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute examines water-saving technologies and practices for residential use, moving beyond the 1992 National Plumbing Standards to explore high-efficiency fixtures, graywater and rainwater systems, and sustainable landscaping.
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Document type: Report
HONDA OF AMERICA MANUFACTURING, INC.: Lean Manufacturing and Environmental Management at Honda
This case study examines the integration of lean manufacturing principles with environmental management at Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. (HAM), specifically focusing on its Ohio-based plants. It explores how Honda's 'localization' policy and lean philosophy—emphasizing waste reduction, employee empowerment, and continuous improvement—contribute to environmental performance and the company's pursuit of ISO 14000 certification, while comparing these practices to those of its competitor, Toyota.
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Document type: Case study
IKEA and The Natural Step
This case study examines IKEA's integration of environmental sustainability into its global business model, specifically focusing on its partnership with The Natural Step (TNS) and the implementation of these principles within its North American operations during the 1990s.
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Document type: Case study
REINVENTING THE WHEELS
The report 'REINVENTING THE WHEELS' proposes the 'Hypercar'—an ultralight hybrid-electric vehicle—as a way to increase fuel efficiency tenfold compared to 1990s standards. The authors argue that combining advanced composite materials to reduce weight and aerodynamic drag with a hybrid-electric drive to recover braking energy can create vehicles that are safer, cleaner, and cheaper to manufacture than traditional steel cars. The document advocates for a shift in industrial strategy and the use of 'feebates' to accelerate the transition away from the 'Iron Age' of automotive manufacturing.
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Document type: Report