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This fact sheet examines the challenges of balancing trade liberalization and environmental protection in the Mekong Subregion. It highlights the gap between regional policy rhetoric and actual implementation, the impact of illegal trade on biodiversity, and the dominant role of foreign donors in driving environmental agendas within trade policy.

This 2010 report examines food security in Indonesia, arguing that the country's focus on food self-sufficiency (Swasembada Pangan) has neglected the critical issue of food access. While national food supplies were adequate during the 2007/08 global food crisis, poor infrastructure and low incomes led to severe food insecurity in remote regions, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The report recommends shifting policy toward improving food access, investing in transportation infrastructure, and promoting food diversification.

This report reviews the economic feasibility of low-carbon and climate-resilient growth in developing countries. It finds that significant mitigation is possible with minimal GDP impact (1-2% reduction globally), often driven by low-cost energy efficiency. However, it highlights critical gaps in current research, specifically the failure to account for implementation costs, the over-reliance on static MACC models, and the lack of a clear framework for 'climate resilient growth' beyond simple adaptation. It emphasizes that while Middle Income Countries face higher pressure to reduce emissions, Low Income Countries can leverage co-benefits and carbon finance to align low-carbon paths with development goals.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in April 2010, synthesizes five research papers on the economic, environmental, and political dimensions of fossil-fuel subsidies. It argues that these subsidies lock economies into fossil-fuel reliance, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and divert funds from social services. The document provides a framework for reform, emphasizing the need for transparency, political strategy, and a two-track approach involving both domestic reporting and a new international data-gathering regime.

A joint submission by various civil society organizations to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) criticizing its Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards, and Disclosure Policy. The document argues that the IFC relies too heavily on unverified client data, fails to protect human rights—particularly those of indigenous peoples and women—and lacks transparency in its dealings with financial intermediaries and the extractive industry.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of negotiations and implementation pathways for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) following the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. It examines the outcomes of the Copenhagen Accord, the role of the UNFCCC's various working groups, and the technical challenges regarding monitoring, safeguards, and financing for REDD-plus activities in developing countries.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) negotiations following the 2009 Copenhagen Conference (COP15). It outlines the outcomes of the Copenhagen Accord, the methodological guidelines for REDD-plus, and the critical technical and political challenges remaining for implementation, including monitoring, financing, and the protection of indigenous rights.

This 2010 policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines how air pollution, energy production, and pesticide use threaten the ecosystem services necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It argues that the degradation of approximately 60 per cent of examined ecosystem services may prevent the eradication of hunger and poverty, particularly in developing regions.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the conflict between increasing food production to sustain a growing population and the conservation of ecosystem services under the pressure of climate change. It argues for a shift from managing ecosystems solely for food to a holistic approach that integrates food production with the maintenance of other nature-based services to avoid irreversible ecological tipping points.

This briefing by Frances Seymour argues that sustainable forest management provides a 'no regrets' synergy between immediate development needs and long-term climate adaptation and mitigation. While acknowledging potential trade-offs and governance challenges, the author advocates for ecosystem-based approaches and democratic processes to manage the transition.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International critiques the proposed Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing countries (REDD) mechanisms. The document argues that REDD focuses on reducing emissions rather than stopping deforestation, potentially rewarding polluters and industrial agriculture while marginalizing Indigenous Peoples and forest-dependent communities. It warns that funding REDD through carbon offsetting undermines global climate mitigation efforts and risks creating social and environmental harm, such as the replacement of natural forests with monoculture plantations.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in November 2009, provides a technical and strategic analysis of the negotiations surrounding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen. It examines the evolving scope of REDD, financing options, measurement and verification systems, and the institutional frameworks required to implement these mechanisms in developing countries.

This research paper examines the economic relationship between Indonesia and the European Union following the July 2009 signing of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), highlighting the challenges Indonesia faces in pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (IEUFTA) due to economic imbalances and differing views on trade liberalization.

This report by Friends of the Earth Netherlands and WALHI KalBar examines how European biofuel policies and the resulting demand for palm oil have driven unsustainable plantation expansion in the Ketapang District of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It details systemic failures in governance, including the issuance of 'fast track' permits that bypass environmental and social safeguards, leading to illegal deforestation, carbon emissions, and severe land conflicts with indigenous communities.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the status of international climate change negotiations as of September 2009, focusing on the outcomes of the Bonn II and Bonn III talks. It details the progress and divergences across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing—as member countries of the UNFCCC worked toward a post-2012 emission reduction regime to be adopted at COP 15 in Copenhagen.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines how the Asian Development Bank (ADB) finances projects that contribute to climate change and increase vulnerability in the Asia Pacific region. Through case studies in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, the report argues that the ADB's support for fossil fuels and destructive development projects outweighs its climate mitigation initiatives.

This research paper evaluates the 'price-gap approach' for measuring fossil fuel subsidies, arguing that while it provides a useful global benchmark, it systematically understates the total magnitude of government support by ignoring transfers that do not affect end-user prices.

This case study examines the role of investment incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to Indonesia's chemical industry and evaluates the resulting social and environmental impacts, specifically in Banten province.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how carbon markets can be leveraged to fund greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. It analyzes the current state of the market, estimates potential future demand and revenue, and proposes a phased approach for developing country participation, ranging from expanded project-based mechanisms to absolute emission caps.

This guide provides a comprehensive checklist for governments and stakeholders to evaluate the sustainable development impacts of investment incentives. It emphasizes a multi-level analysis covering individual projects, general incentive policy design, and the influence of international agreements, arguing that economic growth alone is an insufficient measure of success.