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The report examines the technical and legal implications of the proposed Multilateral Framework on Investment Facilitation (MFIF) within the WTO. It identifies significant overlaps between the MFIF and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as well as potential conflicts with the existing regime of International Investment Agreements (IIAs). The analysis warns that despite explicit exclusions of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) from the MFIF, the framework's disciplines could still be invoked in ISDS tribunals through 'umbrella clauses,' Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) standards, and Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) clauses found in IIAs.

The document examines the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), highlighting the urgent need to move beyond the status quo to reverse unprecedented biodiversity loss. It details the CBD's three main goals—conservation, sustainable use, and the fair sharing of benefits—and evaluates the impact of related agreements like the Nagoya and Cartagena protocols. The text also addresses the challenges posed by emerging technologies such as synthetic biology and digital sequence information, concluding that the failure to meet Aichi Biodiversity Targets necessitates an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The report analyzes Canadian infrastructure investment flows and stocks from 2009 to 2019, noting significant growth in hydroelectric power and pollution abatement but a sharp decline in wind and solar investments. It highlights a total infrastructure value of 250 billion dollars in 2019, dominated by electricity assets. The author argues that current data is incomplete, lacking coverage of energy efficiency, natural infrastructure, and building renovations, and proposes a new classification system to better align investments with long-term climate goals and avoid 'path dependency' where current projects fail to meet future resilience needs.

The Canadian Climate Institute introduces a framework of 11 indicators to track 'clean growth' in Canada, balancing economic prosperity with climate action. The report identifies that while most provinces have decoupled GDP growth from GHG emissions since 2005, significant gaps remain in technology adoption, data collection for climate costs, and the protection of vulnerable populations and ecosystems. It argues for a 'skeptical optimism' approach, where governments actively resolve barriers to transition rather than assuming growth will naturally follow emission declines.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) announced the election results from its 28th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-28) held on 19 August 2020. The Executive Council for 2020–2022 includes Canada, Chile, Jamaica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the United States, and Uruguay, with the United States serving as Chair. Additionally, the document lists the newly elected members of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), including their respective areas of expertise and institutional affiliations.

The report analyzes the gap between Canada's GDP and GHG emissions, noting that while national decoupling has occurred, significant regional disparities exist. It highlights that Canada's economy remains more carbon-intensive than other developed nations and suggests three primary pathways for achieving low-carbon growth: reducing emissions intensity, reallocating resources, and accelerating the growth of low-carbon firms.

The report details Ghana's response to COVID-19 up to June 23, 2020, highlighting the tension between public health restrictions and economic survival. It describes the strain on health infrastructure, the government's financial interventions, and the socio-economic hardships faced by vulnerable groups and the informal sector. The text also notes the shift in national spending priorities, the local production of medical supplies, and the challenges of maintaining electoral processes during the pandemic.

The document is a participant list for the 28th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, dated 19 August 2020. It identifies representatives from various member nations and the chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

The 28th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research approved the operating budgets for 2020-2021 and 2021-2023, as well as the auditors' report. The meeting established a requirement for annual performance evaluations of the Executive Director and mandated the development of a whistleblower mechanism in the employee manual and gender policies for projects. Additionally, the Conference invited Mitacs in Canada to become an associate of the Institute.

The document examines India's energy sector response to COVID-19, noting a trend of continued support for domestic coal and thermal power despite global clean energy goals. It highlights that while some clean energy initiatives exist, such as electric vehicle policies in Delhi and solar power for farmers in Andhra Pradesh, fossil fuel support remains dominant. The briefing advocates for a comprehensive green industrial policy for solar manufacturing, the phase-out of inefficient thermal plants, and the implementation of 'just transition' frameworks to support coal-dependent communities.

The report evaluates a pilot energy efficiency auction proposed by ANEEL for Boa Vista, Roraima. It identifies five primary risks: the 'winner's curse' due to the closed-envelope bidding format, measurement and verification (M&V) failures, underutilization of EE potential due to treatment group restrictions, lack of incentive for energy distributors to promote rational energy use, and limited external validity for national replication. The authors suggest adopting open second-price auctions and synthetic control methods for M&V to mitigate these risks.

The report analyzes a pilot energy efficiency (EE) auction in Boa Vista, Roraima, identifying risks related to auction design, measurement and verification (M&V) methodologies, and the misalignment of incentives for electricity distributors. It suggests that the unique energy situation in Roraima—which is not part of the National Interconnected System and relies on expensive diesel plants—makes it a suitable pilot site but may limit the external validity of the results for other Brazilian states. Key recommendations include moving to open second-price auctions to avoid the 'winner's curse' and considering synthetic control methodology for M&V to maximize EE potential.

The report examines a pilot energy efficiency (EE) auction in Boa Vista, Roraima, proposed by ANEEL. It identifies risks such as the 'winner's curse' due to the closed-envelope format and potential measurement and verification (M&V) errors using the difference-in-differences method. The authors argue that Roraima's unique energy situation—being isolated from the National Interconnected System (SIN) and dependent on diesel thermoelectrics and Venezuelan imports—makes it a poor test case for replicating the model nationwide. It also highlights a conflict of interest where distributors are tasked with implementing policies that reduce their own revenue.

The report examines the nascent gender bond market, which as of March 2020 consisted of 13 issued bonds. It identifies a lack of universal standards, with most issuers relying on the Social Bond Principles or UN Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis categorises gender bonds into 'corporate behaviour' and 'financial inclusion' types, noting a significant gap in bonds funding products and services that directly benefit women. In sub-Saharan Africa, the report finds that while there is interest in gender lens investing, no gender bonds have been issued. South Africa is identified as the most viable market for commercial issuance due to a receptive investor base, while Kenya and Nigeria face challenges related to conservative institutional investors and debt capital market instability.

The document highlights that less than 10% of plastics are recycled in Canada, with over 3 million tonnes entering landfills or the environment annually. It notes that the COVID-19 pandemic increased reliance on single-use plastics and introduced new pollutants like personal protective equipment (PPE), which can contribute microplastic fibres to waterways. The author argues that Canada's linear waste management approach results in an economic loss of nearly CAD 8 billion and recommends a transition to a circular economy, a ban on harmful single-use plastics by 2021, and increased investment in freshwater plastic research.

The report examines how micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are addressed in trade agreements, noting a trend toward dedicated SME chapters in 'new-generation' RTAs. It highlights that while developed economies like the EU, Canada, and Japan lead in advanced provisions, developing countries often prioritize exemptions to protect domestic MSMEs from costly obligations. Most MSME provisions use 'best-endeavour' language and are excluded from dispute settlement, limiting their enforceability. The document also assesses the WTO's piecemeal approach to MSMEs and suggests expanding the scope of support in areas like e-commerce, government procurement, and gender equality to better integrate MSMEs into global trade.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the WTO's efforts to discipline fisheries subsidies. It details three main pillars: prohibiting subsidies for IUU fishing, addressing subsidies for overexploited fish stocks, and tackling overcapacity and overfishing. The brief outlines the current areas of convergence, such as the use of FAO definitions for IUU fishing, and the remaining points of contention, including the specific triggers for subsidy prohibitions, the level of deference given to national or regional determinations, and the appropriate special and differential treatment for developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The document provides a detailed update on the WTO negotiations to discipline fisheries subsidies, focusing on three main pillars: illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; overexploited stocks; and overcapacity and overfishing. It examines the proposed legal frameworks, the role of Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) for developing nations, and institutional questions regarding transparency, dispute settlement, and the legal form of the eventual instrument.

The report examines the socioeconomic impacts of industrial decline and evaluates the effectiveness of various transition responses. It argues that successful 'just' transitions require early strategic planning, multi-stakeholder governance, and a holistic approach to regional economic development that builds on existing local capabilities rather than seeking a single industrial replacement. Through case studies in the US, UK, Australia, and South Africa, the document highlights the risks of uneven benefit distribution, the importance of reskilling over simple monetary compensation, and the necessity of addressing environmental legacies to enable land reuse.

The Canadian federal government has introduced a strategic assessment requiring major infrastructure projects with lifespans extending beyond 2050 to provide a concrete plan for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. While some critics argue the measure lacks a rigorous 'climate test' or is an improper strategic tool, the author contends its primary value lies in providing decision-makers with additional information and signaling to promoters that strict climate policies are forthcoming. The document highlights that high-emission, high-cost projects face risks of stranded assets due to future policy shifts and investment reorientations. While the author notes that the strategic assessment alone may not prevent stranded assets—especially since it only applies to projects lasting past 2050—it is viewed as a step toward investment stability. The author suggests that a 'climate accountability framework' with intermediate emission reduction milestones would further bridge the gap between long-term goals and short-term actions.