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This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the rules and governing structures of various investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) institutions. It identifies critical areas for reform—specifically transparency, arbitrator independence, and the consistency of awards—and evaluates how different institutional frameworks (intergovernmental versus non-governmental) impact the ability of states to implement these changes.

This executive summary distils findings from the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report specifically for South Asia. It details observed climate changes, projected risks to food and water security, and the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies into regional development to protect vulnerable populations and economic growth.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) specifically for South Asia. It outlines how climate change is already impacting the region through temperature extremes and sea-level rise, and projects future risks including food and water shortages, flood damage, and heat-related mortality. The document emphasizes the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation into long-term development planning to avoid 'maladaptation' and leverage co-benefits across sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, and urban planning.

The GEC Strategy 2014-2017 outlines the Green Economy Coalition's plan to accelerate the transition to a green, fair, and inclusive economy. The strategy focuses on improving the narrative of the transition, establishing dialogue hubs, developing ethical frameworks for natural capital, and promoting equity and financial reform through civil society leadership.

This research paper examines the potential for fossil-fuel subsidy reform in Emerging and Developing Asia—specifically Southeast Asia, India, and China—to provide fiscal space and revenue for financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It argues that current subsidies are regressive, inefficient, and detrimental to environmental and health goals, and advocates for their phase-out in favor of targeted social welfare systems and corrective taxation.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews global studies to estimate the international finance required for climate change mitigation, specifically for a warming trajectory of no more than 2°C. It distinguishes between various metrics—such as total, incremental, and net climate-relevant investment—and highlights a significant gap between current funding and the needs of developing (non-OECD) countries.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute discusses the use of a systematic equity review to assess intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) for climate mitigation. Using the Climate Equity Reference Calculator, the authors demonstrate how different 'equity settings' regarding capacity and responsibility can define a country's 'fair share' of global mitigation, often revealing a gap between a nation's fair share and its domestic mitigation potential.

A pilot project in Bind Block, Bihar, India, demonstrated that treated human urine is a safe and effective substitute for commercial NPK fertilizers, providing similar or better crop yields for vegetables and fruits. By framing urine as a valuable resource rather than waste, the project overcame social stigmas associated with excreta handling and showed that families could save approximately 4,000 rupees annually. The initiative included the installation of urinals in schools and administrative offices, supported by field trials and laboratory analysis in Patna.

This fact sheet describes a 2012-2014 pilot project in Mohaddipur, Bihar, India, which introduced and adapted enclosed long-term composting (ELTC) sanitation technology to eliminate open defecation and provide agricultural fertilizer.

The Stockholm Environment Institute and WASHi established the Shree Krishna Gyan Mandir Water and Nutrient Testing Laboratory in Patna, Bihar, in August 2013. This non-profit facility supports ecological sanitation (ecosan) by verifying the safety and nutrient content of treated human waste for agricultural use, a service unique in the region. The lab also provides independent water quality testing for civil society and communities, identifying contaminants like arsenic to drive government action. To remain sustainable, the lab uses a cost-recovery tariff and offers educational courses, while seeking statutory accreditation to ensure long-term viability.

This fact sheet describes a sustainable sanitation pilot project implemented at the Tarumitra Bio-reserve and Ecology Centre in Patna, Bihar, India. The project, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented by the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Institute (WASHi) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), established an ecological sanitation (ecosan) complex to provide an alternative to open defecation and demonstrate the agricultural benefits of reusing human excreta.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the role of carbon finance in scaling up improved cookstove projects in India and Kenya. Based on a review of 75 project design documents and 49 stakeholder interviews, the study explores how carbon revenues are used to overcome barriers to adoption and implementation, while highlighting the risks associated with relying on volatile carbon markets.

This research synthesis brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) outlines the organization's work on climate finance and carbon markets, focusing on the governance of adaptation finance, the limitations of private sector investment in vulnerable regions, and the environmental integrity of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

This research synthesis brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) examines the challenges of managing chemicals for sustainable development, focusing on the gap in chemical safety between developed and developing nations, the role of international agreements like SAICM, and the need for new hazard assessments to address planetary boundary threats.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) submitted this 2014 Investor CDP Information Request detailing its internal climate change management, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the reporting period of October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013, and its strategies for operational sustainability.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law provides an overview of cases from 2013 involving the harassment, criminalization, and killing of land and environmental rights defenders globally. It highlights the systemic risks faced by individuals opposing extractive industries, large-scale development projects, and land grabbing, noting that these defenders are often targeted by both state forces and non-state actors, including corporations.

This research paper examines the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and net investment income on South Africa's current account deficit. It argues that while FDI is beneficial for growth, the trend of transnational companies prioritizing short-term shareholder value over long-term reinvestment creates economic vulnerabilities, particularly during downturns. The author recommends policy shifts to attract FDI that is labour-absorbing, export-oriented, and focused on reinvesting profits within the domestic economy.

Natural Justice, a not-for-profit association, issued a statement of support for its Fellow in India, Stella James, following her public accounts of sexual harassment. The organization condemned all forms of harassment and abuse of women, particularly within the legal profession, and requested that media refer to James's original statements and respect her privacy.

This research paper examines the tension between the 'green growth' agenda promoted by Mexico and the 'sustainable development' concept advocated by Brazil during the 2012 G-20 summit. It analyzes how Brazil's domestic industrial and energy policies often conflict with green economy goals due to a preference for autonomous industrialization and short-term economic growth, while also assessing Brazil's diplomatic coordination with other BRICS nations on climate issues.

This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on October 30, 2013, argues that the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly regarding toxic chemicals. CIEL warns that mechanisms like regulatory harmonization, mutual recognition, and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) may lower safety standards to a 'lowest-common denominator' and chill the development of more protective laws in the U.S., EU, and globally.