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This fact sheet describes the application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology to two assets in Manitoba, Canada: Stephenfield Reservoir and Pelly's Lake. The assessment compares the costs of maintaining these natural and built assets against the capital and operational costs of replacing their services with 'grey' (engineered) infrastructure, while simulating baseline and climate change scenarios from 2019 to 2050.

This seminar note, authored by Halina Ward of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, examines the tension between the precautionary principle—which advocates for protective action before full scientific proof of risk—and the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It explores differing regional interpretations of risk assessment, the legal status of precaution in international law, and the specific WTO agreements (GATT, TBT, and SPS) that intersect with environmental and health regulations.

The Sustainable Development Timeline is a fact sheet published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that chronicles key environmental, social, and economic milestones from 1962 to 2007. It tracks the evolution of sustainable development through the formation of advocacy groups, the adoption of international treaties, scientific discoveries regarding climate and ozone depletion, and major ecological disasters.

The report concludes that Alberta's oil sector faces a bleak long-term outlook due to technological shifts, climate action, and market volatility. Modelling indicates that price volatility could cause significant losses in GDP and employment. The authors recommend that the government pivot industrial policy away from combustible hydrocarbons toward economic diversification to manage the transition for workers and communities.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the readiness of governments to manage mine closures and the post-mining transition. Based on a 2019-2020 survey of 17 member countries and 14 Mining Policy Framework (MPF) assessments, the document finds that while awareness is high, many jurisdictions lack the policies, financial assurance, and administrative capacity to effectively manage the environmental and social risks associated with closing medium- to large-scale mines.

This briefing, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in August 2021, evaluates the readiness of governments to manage mine closures and the transition to post-mining land use. Based on a survey of 17 Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) members and 14 Mining Policy Framework (MPF) assessments across 30 countries, the document finds that while awareness is high, many governments lack the necessary policies, financial guarantees, and technical capacities to effectively manage the hundreds of medium- and large-scale mines expected to close over the next 20 years.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the outcomes of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn in June and August 2009. It outlines the progress and persistent divisions between developed and developing nations across four key pillars—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance—as they worked toward a global post-2012 agreement intended for adoption at COP-15 in Copenhagen.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines Argentina's efforts to reduce fossil fuel production subsidies, specifically focusing on the phase-out of oil production incentives while maintaining support for unconventional gas development in the Vaca Muerta field.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development details the Government of Canada's efforts to reform and phase out fiscal subsidies for fossil fuel exploration and development, primarily through the adjustment of tax expenditures between 2011 and 2022.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the necessity and current state of leadership training for young professionals in the sustainable development sector. It identifies a critical leadership gap driven by the retirement of senior practitioners and a growing demand for 'green jobs' that exceeds the current training capacity. The document surveys various non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations to analyze existing training models, identify essential cross-cutting skills—such as communication and innovation—and propose collaborative frameworks for networking alumni and evaluating program effectiveness.

This fact sheet outlines three impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian food systems: an increase in home gardening, high transmission rates and concentration in the meat processing industry, and rising food insecurity.

A fact sheet detailing the contribution of agriculture to Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for natural climate solutions to reduce those emissions by 2030.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the tension between Canada's goals to increase agricultural exports and the associated social and environmental sustainability costs.

This fact sheet provides data on the distribution of agricultural land in Canada and the relationship between farming intensity, biodiversity, and soil health.

This fact sheet provides a brief overview of irrigation and water stress in Canadian agriculture, highlighting the scale of water use and the risks posed by climate change.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive analysis of how states can terminate old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It examines the legal frameworks under public international law, analyzes common termination and survival clause models, and reviews recent state practices. The document offers strategic recommendations for states on whether to terminate BITs unilaterally or by consent, how to handle survival clauses to reduce investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) risks, and provides drafting suggestions for new treaties to avoid the pitfalls of older models.

The Trade Knowledge Network (TKN) is an initiative of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) launched in 1997 to integrate sustainable development into trade policy and practice across national, bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.

This draft concept paper, developed by the Hemispheric Working Group on Trade and Environment, proposes the creation of an Americas Environmental Accord (AEA) to coordinate environmental sustainability and trade policies across the Western Hemisphere. It analyzes existing sub-regional models—including Mercosur, CARICOM, the Andean Community, the Central American Common Market, and NAFTA—to identify best practices for transparency, civil society participation, and the integration of environmental standards into economic agreements. The document argues that the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process should be supported by a coherent ecological cooperation agenda to ensure long-term sustainable development.

This policy brief, released in April 2001, proposes a 'triple-win strategy' to integrate trade liberalisation, environmental protection, and social development within the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process. It argues for moving away from a sanctions-based approach toward a cooperation-driven model to overcome protectionist fears and civil society opposition.

This research paper by Howard Mann of the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how international trade and investment agreements, specifically NAFTA and WTO rules, impact the management of water as a public good. The author argues that while states retain legal jurisdiction, these agreements can severely limit sovereign control, lock in weak domestic management practices, and prioritize foreign investor rights over local and indigenous needs through secretive arbitration processes.