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This report by the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment (SAWTEE) analyzes tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting five select Nepalese agricultural exports: tea, natural honey, floriculture, medicinal plants, and vegetable seeds. It examines market access across 12 international markets, distinguishing between the high tariff barriers found in neighboring South Asian countries and the high incidence of non-tariff measures (NTMs) in developed economies.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an update on the status of subsidy negotiations within the WTO's Doha Round as of November 2005. It analyzes the slow progress across agriculture, fisheries, services, and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), noting that while fisheries have seen some conceptual movement, other sectors remain stalled due to technical complexities, political disputes, and a lack of consensus on definitions.

An open letter from trade unions and civil society organizations to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy protesting the "undemocratic and deceptive" process used by the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial statement. The signatories argue that the process ignores the lack of consensus on specific trade objectives and threatens the policy space of developing countries.

An open letter dated October 27, 2005, addressed to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy by a coalition of civil society organizations. The letter protests the "anti-democratic" methods used by the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial declaration, specifically criticizing the manipulation of the 'consensus' rule to include contested objectives while excluding agreed-upon safeguards.

An open letter from various civil society organizations to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, criticizing the undemocratic process used by the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial declaration. The signatories argue that the current approach redefines 'consensus' by allowing the Chair to include non-consensual elements while requiring full agreement to remove them, potentially undermining the policy space of developing countries.

This report, prepared for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, assesses the status of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations as of August 2005. It highlights the central role of agricultural liberalization and the significant deadlock between the US, EU, and developing nations, arguing that the round has failed to live up to its designation as a 'Development Agenda'.

This briefing by Razeen Sally examines the challenges facing the World Trade Organization (WTO) amidst a shifting global power structure characterized by overwhelming US dominance and the decline of European and Japanese influence. The author argues that the WTO is suffering from regulatory overload, excessive legalisation, and political deadlock, which have crippled its ability to function as a negotiating mechanism. To survive as a vehicle for liberalisation, the author suggests the WTO must return to its core purpose of reducing trade barriers and secure clear US leadership supported by pragmatic coalitions in the Asia-Pacific region.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and various civil society organizations calling on WTO member states to reject exclusive 'mini-ministerials' and 'Green Room' meetings, arguing these processes are undemocratic and lack transparency.

This research paper examines the presence and activities of Chinese organised criminal groups and triad societies in South Africa. It details their evolution from niche trades like shark fins to diversified criminal enterprises including abalone smuggling, drug trafficking, and counterfeit goods, while analyzing the challenges faced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in monitoring these secretive, hierarchical organisations.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between corruption and development, with a specific focus on South Africa. It argues that corruption is a global phenomenon that distorts public spending, undermines efficiency, and discourages investment, thereby hindering economic growth and social equity. The authors contend that while economic liberalisation and democratisation can create opportunities for better governance, they are not panaceas; instead, a multifaceted approach involving institutional reform, legal frameworks, and strong political will is required to eradicate corruption and promote sustainable development.

This 1996 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the development and implications of China's national ecolabelling program. It details the program's structure, its role in reducing domestic environmental stress, and the potential for environmental labels to act as trade barriers for developing countries. The document evaluates the impact of foreign ecolabelling on Chinese exports—specifically in the textile and refrigerator sectors—and provides recommendations for strengthening China's program through increased transparency, the adoption of life-cycle analysis, and international cooperation to achieve mutual recognition of standards.

This case study examines Esprit de Corp's efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into its business model through the creation of 'Ecollection,' a specialized women's clothing line. It details the company's transition from a high-growth 1980s fashion brand to one attempting to balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility, highlighting the technical and financial challenges of organic textile production and the complexities of marketing 'green' products to skeptical consumers.

The 2005 WHO Global update on air quality guidelines provides health-based recommendations for particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Key revisions include lowering the ozone guideline to 100 ug/m3 (8-hour mean) and the sulfur dioxide 24-hour guideline to 20 ug/m3. The guidelines for NO2 remained unchanged. The document emphasizes that no safe threshold exists for many pollutants, meaning guidelines aim to reduce risk rather than eliminate it entirely. It also introduces interim targets to help highly polluted areas progressively reduce concentrations.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) arguing that proposed trade liberalization in the forest product sector could exacerbate forest degradation and loss. CIEL contends that the current U.S. environmental review process is inadequate and calls for the administration to halt negotiations until a comprehensive assessment, guided by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is completed. The document emphasizes that trade liberalization can intensify negative impacts if countries lack robust forest protection frameworks, and suggests that developed nations provide technical and financial assistance to developing ones to establish sustainable management systems.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law, prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme, evaluates the effectiveness of trade and positive measures within the Montreal Protocol. It analyzes how these mechanisms—ranging from import/export bans on ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to financial assistance for developing nations—have driven near-universal ratification and compliance to reduce global emissions of controlled substances.

This 1996 report summarizes a regional workshop in Hong Kong focused on making environmental law more effective in East and Southeast Asia. The participants concluded that environmental protection is often undermined by a lack of integration with economic planning, corruption, and poor land-use planning. Key recommendations include simplifying laws to reduce corruption, improving inter-agency coordination, increasing public participation and transparency in monitoring and EIAs, and adopting alternative dispute resolution methods that align with local cultural contexts.

The Climate Bonds Initiative's CONNECT 2026 is a global event series for sustainable finance leaders, including government and private sector stakeholders. Following a 2025 attendance of 1,540 professionals, the 2026 series will focus on climate crisis solutions and feature the Climate Bonds Awards. Sponsorship tiers (Platinum, Gold, and others) offer branding, speaking opportunities, and networking access, with discounts available for Climate Bonds Network Members.

This white paper by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the exposure of the Indian financial sector to climate-related risks and outlines a pathway for integration and product innovation. It highlights the vulnerability of India's economy to climate change, the current gaps in risk management and data within the banking, insurance, and capital markets, and provides a framework for implementing climate stress tests and disclosures aligned with international standards like the TCFD.

This guide by Energy Innovation outlines eight quantifiable urban planning principles designed to help China develop prosperous, low-carbon cities. It argues that high-density cities cannot be designed around the car and must instead prioritize public transport, walking, and bicycling to avoid gridlock, pollution, and economic stagnation.

This research paper by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the conceptual, legal, and geopolitical challenges of implementing Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs). It analyzes BCAs as tools to address industrial competitiveness and carbon leakage, while evaluating their compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and their potential impact on international climate negotiations.