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This research paper analyzes how the accounting of international greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets affects the integrity of global climate mitigation pledges. Using a spreadsheet model based on marginal abatement costs, the authors examine scenarios where offsets are either double-counted (credited to both the buyer and seller) or counted only for the buyer. The study finds that double-counting could significantly dilute the ambition of current pledges, potentially reducing global abatement by up to 1.6 billion tons of CO2e by 2020, thereby increasing the gap to meet 2°C warming targets.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the trend toward increasing transparency in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). It analyzes how states are moving away from the traditionally confidential nature of private commercial arbitration by integrating specific transparency rules into bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and free trade agreements (FTAs), particularly regarding public notice, document access, open hearings, and amicus curiae submissions.

This 2011 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between urban sanitation system trends in developing regions and the disposal of menstrual absorption materials. It identifies that menstrual products, particularly those with super-absorbent materials, frequently cause blockages in water-borne sewerage systems and accelerate the filling of on-site pit latrines. The report argues that menstrual management is largely ignored in sanitation design and advocates for the integration of women's needs and the promotion of solid waste disposal routes for menstrual materials.

A statement by Natural Justice regarding Canada's endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) on November 12, 2010, contrasting this move with Canada's previous obstructionist behavior at the COP10 biodiversity conference.

This policy report analyzes the intersection of climate change and ASEAN-facilitated trade and investment policies within the Mekong subregion, highlighting the tension between economic growth through trade liberalization and the vulnerability of natural resources to climate risks.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the efficacy of targeted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe's ruling elite. It details the various restrictive measures implemented by Western governments and international bodies, argues that these 'smart sanctions' have been largely ineffective due to implementation loopholes and regional support for the Mugabe regime, and suggests a conditional, middle-ground approach to lifting some restrictions to encourage political progress under the Inclusive Government.

A statement delivered by Amelia Broodryk on May 7, 2010, at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, representing a group of non-governmental experts from New Agenda Coalition (NAC) countries. The statement outlines seven specific criteria for measuring the success of the 2010 Review Conference in advancing international peace, security, and the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world.

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.

A coalition of civil society organizations, including the Center for International Environmental Law and Earthjustice, submitted comments to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Trade Representative on July 31, 2009, regarding the review of the 2004 U.S. Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The coalition argues that the model BIT fails to balance investor rights with public interest protections and grants foreign investors greater substantive rights than those afforded to U.S. citizens under domestic law.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn from March 29 to April 8, 2009. It details the progress and points of contention across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing—as countries worked toward a comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement intended for adoption at COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the outcomes of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn from March 29 to April 8, 2009. It outlines the progress made across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance—as parties worked toward a global post-2012 climate agreement intended for conclusion at COP-15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) in climate change mitigation. It analyzes the potential for carbon sequestration in developing countries, the technical and financial obstacles to including these sectors in international agreements, and the specific policy positions and regulatory frameworks of Canada.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute synthesizes country submissions to the UNFCCC regarding technology and financial support for climate mitigation, mapping party positions across the stages of innovation from research and development to commercial deployment.

This research paper examines South Africa's domestication of the Rome Statute through the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002 (ICC Act). It analyzes how the Act enables the national prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, the establishment of the Priority Crimes Litigation Unit, and the legal mechanisms for cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This 2008 research paper examines the concept of "embodied carbon"—the total CO2 emitted during a product's lifecycle from raw material extraction to delivery. It contrasts production-based emissions accounting with consumption-based accounting, noting that developed Annex B countries are typically net importers of embodied carbon. The paper discusses the potential for border carbon adjustments to address competitiveness imbalances but highlights significant legal uncertainties regarding non-discrimination principles in trade law and the technical challenges of data availability in developing nations.

This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes global forest product commodity chains with China as the central manufacturing hub. It examines how China imports primary raw materials from developing nations—specifically focusing on case studies in Mozambique and Russia—and exports finished wood products to developed Western markets. The report identifies a systemic failure in sustainability where capital from timber sales often fails to return to forest regeneration, leading to asset-stripping and illegal logging, exacerbated by poor governance in supplier countries and irresponsible corporate behavior. It provides a series of policy recommendations for the Chinese government to transition toward sustainable procurement, capacity-building in supplier nations, and international leadership in carbon accounting and legality verification.

This report explores the development of environment and sustainable development (ESD) policies in K–12 schools in Manitoba and across Canada. It identifies three primary approaches to policy development: government-led "whole school" initiatives, independent certification and award programs, and individual school district policy development. The document highlights a gap between the advanced sustainability policy frameworks in the tertiary education sector and the more sporadic, often fragmented approach in K–12 education, particularly in Manitoba where many schools act without district-level mandates.

This report analyzes the global forest product commodity chain with China as the central processing hub, importing raw materials from developing nations and exporting finished goods to Western consumers. It identifies systemic sustainability challenges, including illegal logging and poor forest governance in supplier countries like Mozambique and Russia, and suggests policy reforms for the Chinese government to ensure long-term timber security and improve its global reputation.

This report, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, examines the complex relationship between international trade and climate change. It presents perspectives from political representatives and environmental organizations on how trade policy can either hinder or support climate goals, arguing for a paradigm shift that prioritizes environmental standards and global solidarity over market liberalization.

This briefing, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, examines the tensions and potential synergies between international trade policy and climate change mitigation. It features contributions from the Socialist Group, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), arguing that while trade can drive emissions through transport and unsustainable consumption, it can also support climate goals through the liberalisation of environmental goods, the implementation of high energy efficiency standards, and the alignment of WTO rules with multilateral environmental agreements.