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This report examines the status of the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce among World Trade Organization (WTO) members as of February 2021, specifically analyzing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these negotiations and the broader digital economy. It details the acceleration of e-commerce adoption, the persistence of the digital divide, and the progress of ten thematic small groups working toward a consolidated negotiating text for the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This white paper examines the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) within sustainable public procurement (SPP), arguing that current models often fail to deliver the best value for taxpayers by overemphasizing upfront purchase prices over long-term operational and environmental costs. The authors identify systemic barriers—including conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of professional expertise, and data gaps—and recommend that LCC be integrated into high-level public expenditure and resource allocation policies rather than remaining a routine procurement task.

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 outlines the importance of democratic governance at local levels for the effective disbursement of climate change funding in developing countries. It references a September 2010 civil society meeting in Cape Town where experts discussed national and subnational experiences with the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

This policy brief, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2011, examines the governance of climate change funds—specifically the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)—across several developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It highlights systemic issues regarding accountability, stakeholder representation, and the risk of private sector interests overriding local needs.

The 'Protocolos Comunitarios Bioculturales: Kit de Herramientas para Facilitadores Comunitarios' is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice. It provides a framework and practical tools for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These protocols are designed to help communities manage their territories, protect their rights, and engage constructively with external actors such as governments, researchers, and corporations, thereby reducing power asymmetries and preventing conflicts over natural resources.

The "Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators" is a guide published by Natural Justice to help Indigenous peoples and local communities document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes. These protocols serve as instruments to manage interactions with external actors—such as governments, researchers, and companies—ensuring that community rights and stewardship of their territories are respected. The toolkit provides a comprehensive framework for facilitators to lead communities through the process of endogenous development, legal empowerment, and strategic advocacy.

This report by Natural Justice and Kalpavriksh analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ conserved territories and areas (ICCAs). It identifies systemic threats to these areas, including a lack of legal recognition for customary land rights and the imposition of exclusionary conservation models. While noting positive developments in international law and specific national initiatives, the report argues that state institutions often continue to undermine ICCAs through discriminatory legislation and inaccessible judicial systems. It provides comprehensive recommendations for governments and international bodies to recognize the self-determination of Indigenous peoples and support the integrity of ICCAs through both legal reform and non-legal support mechanisms.

This briefing by Natural Justice analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Territories and Areas of Conservation by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (TICCAs). It examines the gap between international human rights standards and national implementation, highlighting how fragmented laws and a lack of recognition for customary land rights undermine the ability of Indigenous and local communities to maintain the ecological integrity of their territories.

This report by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) outlines best practices for using decentralised renewable energy (DRE) to electrify rural health care facilities. It argues that DRE is the most cost-effective and rapid solution for providing essential power for medical equipment, vaccines, and emergency services, particularly in the context of pandemics like COVID-19. The document proposes a public-private partnership model combining 'smart grants' for initial capital and market-based compensation mechanisms, such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to ensure long-term financial and technical sustainability. It includes 16 case studies from various regions to demonstrate diverse delivery models and technological applications.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the historical evolution of Brazil's regional identity and its transition toward becoming a regional power. It argues that Brazil historically distinguished itself from 'Latin America'—which it viewed as synonymous with Spanish America—and has only recently shifted its foreign policy focus toward active engagement and leadership within South America.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on South Africa, arguing that FDI does not automatically guarantee economic growth or job creation. The author suggests that the government should prioritize public investment in economic infrastructure and industrialization over the mere attraction of FDI, particularly in sectors like retail where large foreign entities may displace local businesses.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Africa's potential to become a global green hydrogen hub and outlines how G20 members can support a just energy transition on the continent. It highlights Africa's competitive advantages in renewable energy and infrastructure while detailing specific national projects and regional frameworks necessary for scaling production.

This guide from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) presents tools and resources designed to support participatory water management and the planning of community aqueducts, with a particular focus on integrating social dimensions of poverty and inequality into water resource management in Colombia.

The EU-UNDP Low Emission Capacity Building Programme is a collaborative initiative funded by the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. It aims to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of developing countries to transition toward low-emission, climate-resilient pathways by supporting the development of GHG inventories, Low-Emission Development Strategies (LEDS), and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).

This scoping paper analyzes the progress, challenges, and best practices in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across 13 Latin American countries. It focuses on three primary dimensions: the mainstreaming of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national policies, the operationalization of these goals through institutional and budgetary frameworks, and the level of ownership among diverse social actors. The document identifies a significant diversity in progress, ranging from initial set-up phases to the establishment of advanced monitoring systems, while highlighting systemic barriers such as short-term political cycles, lack of cross-sectoral coordination, and budgetary constraints exacerbated by economic recessions.

This technical annex, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in November 2018, identifies research needs to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and a related target from SDG 8. Using a combination of literature reviews and an expert workshop, the report focuses on three key themes: cross-cutting issues, natural resource management, and food waste and loss, with a particular emphasis on the Swedish context while considering both developed and developing country perspectives.

The TRANSrisk project (2015-2018), funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme, is an initiative designed to assess technically, economically, socially, and environmentally feasible low-emission transition pathways. The project integrates quantitative models with qualitative stakeholder consultations to provide analytical tools for risk- and uncertainty-aware policy making, supporting both EU and global climate goals.