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This research paper by Mark Halle examines the failures of the current multilateral trading system and proposes how it could be restructured to support a 'Great Transition' toward sustainable development. The author argues that while the fundamental principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are sound, the system has become a 'one size fits all' model that primarily benefits rich nations and ignores social and environmental goals. The paper explores three future archetypes—Agoria, Ecodemia, and Arcadia—demonstrating that a rules-based trading system can be adapted to serve any of these diverse socio-economic models if trade is treated as a tool for sustainable development rather than an end in itself.

This RMI fact sheet presents several case studies of green building projects across residential, commercial, and urban redevelopment sectors, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable design, such as energy savings, increased property value, and reduced marketing costs.

This research paper examines the relationship between remittances and political influence in Cape Verde, the Comores, and Lesotho. It argues that the political weight of a diaspora is not determined by its size or the volume of remittances, but rather by the structure and organization of the recipient state.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the challenges facing the European Union (EU) following its expansion to 25 members on 1 May 2004. The author, Erik Jones, examines the institutional, political, and financial pressures resulting from enlargement, specifically focusing on decision-making, diversity, and the redistribution of resources.

This fact sheet, published by Friends of the Earth International in September 2004, evaluates the environmental policies and practices of the European Investment Bank (EIB). It contrasts the EIB's official declarations and commitments to sustainable development and EU environmental standards with the criticisms from NGOs, who argue that a significant gap remains between the bank's rhetoric and its actual investment practices.

A statement from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) regarding the Political Dialogue Project in Burundi, detailing the project's funding, objectives, and the role of consultant Jan van Eck in facilitating peace and reconciliation.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how international financial institutions, investment treaties, and trade agreements pressure national governments to privatize water services, potentially compromising the human right to water and limiting regulatory flexibility.

This 2003 fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International describes the European Investment Bank (EIB) as a powerful yet 'invisible' financial institution that operates with limited public oversight. The document criticizes the EIB for its lack of transparency, inadequate environmental and social safeguards, and its failure to be held accountable by EU institutions or the public, particularly regarding its lending activities outside the European Union.

This document is a petition submitted on August 29, 2002, to an ICSID arbitral tribunal by a group of Bolivian civil society organizations, individuals, and Friends of the Earth-Netherlands. The petitioners seek standing to intervene as parties or amici curiae in an arbitration between Aguas del Tunari, S.A. and the Republic of Bolivia. The dispute concerns a 40-year water concession in Cochabamba that was terminated following widespread public protests over rate increases. The petitioners argue that the tribunal's decision will directly impact water access and public finances in Bolivia and that the process must be transparent to be legitimate.

The report details the proceedings of the 11th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Lima, Peru, on April 19-20, 1999. The meeting focused on updating the status of research programs, addressing institutional conflicts of interest, and planning future scientific collaborations and training initiatives.

This research paper examines the emergence of markets for global environmental services in Central America, focusing on greenhouse gas emission reduction trading in Costa Rica and the role of shade-grown coffee in biodiversity and carbon sequestration in El Salvador.

This 1998 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the U.S. Department of Energy examines how energy-efficient building design—specifically improvements in lighting, heating, and cooling—can lead to significant increases in worker productivity, reduced absenteeism, and improved work quality. Through eight case studies of commercial and industrial facilities, the authors argue that the economic gains from productivity often far exceed the direct energy cost savings, making efficient design a highly cost-effective business strategy.

This report examines the application of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) in post-apartheid South Africa, reviewing international experiences and local urban challenges. It argues that while the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) identifies environmental design as a key pillar, implementation is limited by a lack of practitioner knowledge and the enduring spatial inequalities created by apartheid planning. The document proposes a 'Safer by Design' strategy based on flexible national guidelines, local pilot projects, and a system of incentives rather than rigid enforcement.

This position paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlines twelve principles to guide the implementation of Joint Implementation (JI) under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). The document argues against moving from the JI pilot phase to full crediting without an independent evaluation and a comprehensive legal framework, highlighting significant technical, environmental, and socio-economic risks associated with the project-by-project approach.

This research paper by Sarah Meek of the Institute for Security Studies summarizes a United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice report on civilian-owned firearms. It analyzes global trends in firearms regulation, trafficking, and ownership, with a specific focus on South Africa's standing relative to other nations and providing policy recommendations for the South African government.

This case study describes a corporate crisis involving Treeton Chemical, a U.S.-based firm, and its Italian acquisition, Tossico Chemical. The venture, Treeton-Tossico, became the center of an international scandal after it was revealed that the company improperly exported 650 tons of toxic waste to Nigeria in 1987, leading to severe legal, financial, and reputational threats from the Italian government and European environmental coalitions.

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 Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other organizations have written to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Heritage urging the expansion of the Online Harms Act (OHA) to address disinformation and systemic risks posed by big tech platforms.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a statement to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs in September 2015 regarding South Africa's position for COP21. The CER argues that climate change mitigation is a Constitutional obligation under section 24, and that current state decisions to build new coal-fired power stations directly contradict these legal duties and national climate policies.

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.