Search Climate Insights Directory

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.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines the theories, institutions, and impacts of the global trade system, arguing that its core principles are fundamentally flawed and prioritize economic growth and corporate interests over environmental sustainability, social equity, and human development.

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and other representatives urging the U.S. Congress to strengthen environmental safeguards in the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and to reject them as models for future trade initiatives.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how international financial institutions, investment treaties, and trade agreements pressure national governments to privatize water services, potentially compromising the human right to water and limiting regulatory flexibility.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how international trade and investment agreements, along with policies from international financial institutions (IFIs), can lock developing countries into the privatization of water services. It argues that these mechanisms may conflict with the recognized human right to water and limit the ability of national governments to regulate essential services for the public good.

The Action List from the Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held from 3-5 June 2003 in Boulder, USA, records the administrative and financial decisions made during the session. Key outcomes include the election of the Bureau, approval of the 2003/2004 Core Budget and Annual Program, and the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Relations with Member States.

This document is a list of actions and decisions from the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Boulder, United States, from June 3 to 5, 2003.

This executive summary analyzes the use of agri-environmental and rural development measures within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework, specifically focusing on the 'Green Box' of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). It examines the practices of the 'Quad' countries (EU, Canada, US, and Japan) and evaluates the potential impacts of the Doha Round negotiations on developing countries' ability to support food security and rural development.

This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the international legal framework for foreign investment, arguing that current treaties and agreements prioritize investor rights and liberalization over environmental protection, social goals, and corporate accountability.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and progress between December 2002 and May 2003. It outlines the implementation of six core strategies focused on consolidating research networks, developing a new scientific agenda, enhancing capacity building in scientifically weaker member countries, and increasing the institute's visibility through international partnerships and advisory services.

This report documents the 3rd Collaborative Research Network (CRN) PI/IAI-IGBP Meeting held on January 27-28, 2003, in Mendoza, Argentina. The meeting served as a forum for 14 Principal Investigators (PIs) to present progress on IAI-funded projects concerning global change in the Americas and to discuss strategic partnerships between the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP).

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Status Report as of April 30, 2003, details the institute's financial standing for the 2002/2003 fiscal year, including core and program budgets, as well as administrative updates regarding staffing and office space.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

The document contains the approved minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the transition to a new Director, financial audits, the restructuring of working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment and scientific capacity building in the Americas.

Minutes from the 16th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the appointment of a new Executive Director, financial audits, the restructuring of ad hoc working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted a core budget request for the 2003/2004 fiscal year, maintaining a total request of $939,170, identical to the previous year. The document outlines a 'zero growth' approach to operating expenses while proposing an 8% increase in member country contributions to avoid a cash deficit by 2005/2006.

This research paper analyzes the environmental implications of NAFTA'S Chapter 11, arguing that its broad definitions of 'SSSS and expansive interpretations of investor protections may undermine public welfare and the right of governments to regulate for health, safety, and the environment.

This policy brief examines how the World Bank, IMF, and international trade/investment agreements (such as GATS and BITs) pressure developing countries to privatize water services. It argues that these mechanisms often create 'lock-in' effects, where legally binding international obligations prevent governments from regulating water prices or reversing privatization to protect the human right to water. The document emphasizes that water is a social and cultural good, not merely a commodity, and urges policy makers to conduct thorough human rights and environmental assessments before committing to liberalization.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the status of agricultural negotiations following the Doha Ministerial Declaration. It outlines the 'Doha Mandate' for market access, export subsidies, and domestic support, while highlighting the deep divisions between developed nations, the Cairns Group, and the Like-minded Group of developing countries regarding the implementation and definition of these commitments.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) details the status of negotiations within the WTO TRIPs Council regarding intellectual property rights, public health, and geographical indications following the 2001 Doha Declaration.