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This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes a leaked draft of the investment chapter of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA/ALCA). The analysis argues that the draft largely replicates the controversial Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA/TLCAN), potentially expanding corporate protections at the expense of national sovereignty, democratic processes, and environmental and social protections.

This research paper examines the intersection of international environmental law and foreign direct investment (FDI), analyzing how emerging legal principles, multilateral treaties, and public financing standards influence private capital flows. It highlights the tension between global economic expansion and sustainable development, specifically addressing the risks of 'pollution havens' and the increasing trend of transnational environmental litigation against multinational corporations in their home country courts.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how modern investment treaties and investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms can undermine environmental regulations and public health protections by allowing foreign investors to sue host states for 'indirect expropriation'.

This research paper critiques a utilitarian (Millsian) approach to the intersection of international trade and environmental protection, arguing instead for a Kantian framework. The author contends that environmental imperatives—such as species preservation—are categorical duties that should not be balanced against economic benefits. The paper proposes a model of "competitive sustainability" to harmonize environmental standards upward through market incentives and trade rule reforms.

This 1993 testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works by the Center for International Environmental Law and the National Audubon Society argues that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare a legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The authors contend that NAFTA constitutes a major federal action with significant environmental effects and that such a review is compatible with existing trade laws and the separation of powers doctrine.

This report examines the evolving role of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in addressing the intersection of climate change and states' obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). It details the Committee's initial steps toward integrating climate-related concerns into its state reporting procedures and recommendations, particularly regarding Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent.

This research paper examines the intersection of international intellectual property (IP) rights, global trade, economic development, and environmental protection. It analyzes how IP regimes—specifically patents, copyrights, and trademarks—impact the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and the conservation of biological diversity, focusing on the tensions between industrialized nations (led by the US) and developing countries within frameworks like GATT, NAFTA, and the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the conflict between international trade policy and environmental protection, arguing that the World Trade Organization (WTO) typically prioritizes trade over the environment. The authors critique the U.S. government for abdicating its leadership in this area and propose a new foreign policy agenda that integrates environmental protection and worker rights into trade agreements, specifically regarding NAFTA and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

This report chapter argues that secure tenurial rights are a fundamental prerequisite for successful community-based conservation (CBC). It contrasts the failures of state-owned 'public' tenure—which often leads to 'open access' degradation—with the effectiveness of community-based systems that derive legitimacy from local participants. The authors advocate for the state recognition of community perimeters to protect biodiversity and prevent the disenfranchisement of rural populations by domestic and international elites.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law examines mechanisms for public participation and transparency in international fisheries management, specifically focusing on Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Using the 'three pillars' of the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21—access to information, access to decision-making, and access to justice—the author analyzes how modern multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) can serve as models for RFMOs to enhance legitimacy, improve decision-making, and ensure accountability.

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 briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative, produced for COP22, analyzes the growth and governance of the green bond market. It highlights the shift toward private sector issuance, the increasing role of emerging markets like China, and the necessity of reaching USD 1 trillion in annual green emissions by 2020 to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

This guide outlines the eligibility criteria for residential and commercial buildings in Mexico to be certified under the Climate Bonds Standard, focusing on emissions intensity trajectories and Minergie certification requirements.

An official statement from Mexico's Directorate-General for Climate Action Policies confirming the country's support for the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Common Position on Climate Change and Health for COP30, detailing how health is integrated into Mexico's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0.

This fact sheet from the Climate Policy Initiative provides an overview of public adaptation finance flows, primarily for the year 2013, detailing the sources, instruments, sectors, and geographic destinations of these funds.

This fact sheet from the Climate Policy Initiative explains Catastrophe (CAT) bonds, which are high-yield debt instruments used by insurers and governments to transfer natural disaster financial risks to capital market investors. The document details the structural triggers of these bonds, the roles of various providers, the capacity requirements for implementation, and the specific challenges and solutions for different market maturity levels.

This guide from the Climate Policy Initiative explains parametric insurance, a financial tool that provides rapid, fixed payouts based on predetermined triggers (such as wind speed or rainfall) rather than assessed losses. It details the instrument's role in maintaining fiscal liquidity and debt sustainability, the capacity requirements for governments to implement it, and the various commercial and concessional providers available globally.

This fact sheet describes risk pooling mechanisms that aggregate risks across countries or portfolios to diversify exposure and secure rapid liquidity after disasters. It details the application of these pools in disaster risk management, agriculture, and urban resilience, highlighting the role of parametric instruments and catastrophe bonds in protecting sovereign balance sheets.

This fact sheet outlines the regulatory frameworks for On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) and emission testing across various global regions, including Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, specifying the standards used for light and heavy vehicles.

This briefing by Ember analyzes the implications of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) 'Net Zero by 2050' report for the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, arguing that achieving 100% clean power is a necessary precursor to broader carbon neutrality.