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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 research paper, prepared by Matthew Stilwell for the Center for International Environmental Law and published by the World Wide Fund for Nature in October 1999, proposes the use of the Expert Panel on Trade and Sustainable Development (EPTSD) Framework to reconcile conflicts between international trade, environment, and development policies. Using the WTO Shrimp-Turtle dispute and the potential US-EU GMO labelling conflict as case studies, the paper argues that formal WTO dispute settlement is often too adversarial to resolve underlying environmental and development issues. It advocates for a staged process of dispute prevention—moving from international cooperation and consultation to third-party assisted mediation before resorting to binding arbitration—to promote policy coherence and sustainable development.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Greenpeace analyzes the tensions between international trade rules, primarily those of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the conservation of global fisheries. It argues that current trade interpretations often hinder sustainable fisheries management by prohibiting regulations based on production and processing methods (PPMs). The authors propose a framework to integrate the precautionary approach into trade law, eliminate destructive subsidies, and ensure that investment liberalization does not undermine the ability of states to protect marine resources and traditional fishing communities.

This amicus curiae brief, submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), supports petitioners Miguel Ignacio Fredes González and Andrea Tuczek Fries in their claim against Chile. The document argues that the Chilean government violated the right to access information by providing incomplete data regarding the location and nature of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) released into the environment. CIEL provides technical details on the scientific uncertainty and risks associated with GMOs and analyzes international legal frameworks—including the Cartagena Protocol and the Aarhus Convention—to assert that transparency and public participation are essential for managing biosafety risks.

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.

This statement from the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the World Health Organization (WHO) must actively analyze and intervene in the intellectual property (IP) provisions of bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs). The document asserts that these agreements often impose standards that exceed the TRIPS Agreement, potentially undermining the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health and restricting access to affordable medicines in developing countries.

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes the Indonesian green bond market, identifying it as the largest in ASEAN. It details significant barriers to growth, including high currency hedging costs, market illiquidity, low international credit ratings, and a lack of bankable green projects. The document proposes a roadmap of solutions involving government subsidies, regulatory reforms (such as allowing English Law for bonds), and the use of blended finance and credit enhancements from Multilateral Development Banks to attract international investors.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the palm oil supply chain in the Berau district of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It examines the potential for increasing production through yield improvement rather than land expansion to support regional sustainability goals. The study identifies significant inefficiencies facing smallholders, including lack of land tenure and financing, while noting that large plantation companies operate more efficiently. It also highlights the absence of local refineries, which results in most crude palm oil (CPO) being exported from the region raw.

This fact sheet by Ember provides global electricity insights ahead of COP27, detailing the acceleration of clean energy, regional trends in Europe and Asia, and the role of coal mine methane emissions.

This report by Friends of the Earth International analyzes the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). It argues that these 'new generation' agreements are part of a global strategy led by the US and EU to bypass the World Trade Organization (WTO), prioritize corporate interests over democratic decision-making, and dismantle social and environmental regulations.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues that rural poverty is inextricably linked to environmental degradation and the imposition of neoliberal economic models. It contends that the exploitation of natural resources by transnational corporations and the policies of international financial institutions (IFIs) exacerbate poverty, while community-led management of natural resources offers a sustainable path toward poverty eradication.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the social and environmental consequences of privatizing water and biodiversity across 34 global case studies. It argues that neoliberal policies promoted by international financial institutions (IFIs) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) prioritize corporate profit over human rights and ecological sustainability, disproportionately marginalizing the poor and Indigenous Peoples.

This report by Friends of the Earth International highlights community-led solutions across the Asia Pacific region to combat climate change and inequality. It showcases specific projects in forest management, cooperatives, sustainable tourism, and legal rights, calling for governments to scale up these models through enabling policy environments and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies.

This report by Friends of the Earth (FoE) Asia Pacific outlines community-led solutions to combat inequality and climate change across the Asia Pacific region. It highlights specific projects in forest management, sustainable finance, food rights, renewable energy, and eco-tourism, calling for governments to scale up these models through supportive policy frameworks and legislative reforms.

This document provides the key terms and methodology for the Forest Declaration Assessment, focusing on indicators for forest loss, degradation, and restoration. It details the use of a linear reduction pathway to reach 'gross zero' deforestation by 2030 and outlines the data sources and cost-effectiveness thresholds used to estimate global restoration potential through 2050.

This policy analysis examines the development of a legally binding international treaty to end plastic pollution following UN Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14. It argues that for the treaty to be effective, it must address the overproduction of virgin plastics, the failures of the international waste trade (highlighting the impact of China's 2017 import ban), and the need for coordination between environmental goals and World Trade Organization (WTO) trade policies.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the agricultural negotiation priorities for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It emphasizes that while food security is a central goal, success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments, particularly regarding export restrictions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), domestic support, and public stockholding.

This briefing analyzes the agricultural negotiations for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on food security, domestic support, and the specific needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It argues that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments to regulate food and agricultural trade.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the use of registration and approval requirements in investment treaties to limit their scope of application. It examines how these criteria are used by states to control the quality of investments and limit exposure to international arbitration, providing a comparative analysis of regional agreements (ASEAN, COMESA) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), alongside an analysis of arbitral awards that have interpreted these provisions.

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), analyzes the social and environmental impacts of China's rapid economic growth within the forestry, cotton, and E-products sectors. It provides strategic recommendations for the Chinese government to transition these supply chains toward sustainable development to support the national goal of achieving a "harmonious society" (HeXieSheHui) by 2020.