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The Sustainable Development Communications Network, 1996-2001: An Evaluation
The evaluation of the Sustainable Development Communications Network (1996-2001) finds that the network successfully established the SD Gateway as a leading global portal for sustainable development knowledge, particularly for the global south, and effectively built the communications capacity of its members through collaborative projects. However, it faced challenges with institutional priorities overriding network goals and a lack of member-led fundraising. The report recommends shifting to a 'community of practice' model focused on individual practitioners rather than institutional membership.
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Document type: Report
An Introduction to Green Building
This guide introduces the concept of 'green building' as a holistic, integrated approach to design and construction aimed at reducing resource consumption and enhancing quality of life. It emphasizes that resource efficiency is achieved through early interdisciplinary collaboration and the optimization of interlinked systems rather than the piecemeal addition of environmental components.
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Document type: Guide
bansignfin2001-e23ea7c9beaf988c.pdf
A statement from the Basel Action Network and other environmental organizations opposing the United States government's intent to selectively ratify the 1989 Basel Convention while refusing to implement the 1995 Basel Ban Amendment.
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Document type: Statement
Report of the Fifteenth Meeting of the IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)
The report details the fifteenth meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held in May 2001. The committee focused on filling SAC vacancies, reviewing the progress of Collaborative Research Network (CRN) projects, planning a Human Dimension (HD) open science meeting, and discussing the development of a standard reporting system for researchers.
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Document type: Report
Assessing the Impact of NAFTA on Environmental Law and Management Processes
This research paper analyzes how trade and investment disciplines under NAFTA and the WTO impact the ability of governments to enact and implement environmental laws. The author argues that while there is no inherent conflict between trade rules and environmental protection, the cumulative and retroactive nature of these disciplines creates significant legal and capacity risks for governments, particularly regarding older measures and the expansive interpretations of investment protections in NAFTA Chapter 11.
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Document type: Research paper
IKEA and The Natural Step
This case study examines IKEA's integration of environmental sustainability into its global business model, specifically focusing on its partnership with The Natural Step (TNS) and the implementation of these principles within its North American operations during the 1990s.
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Document type: Case study
ECOLABELLING: ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINA
This 1996 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the development and implications of China's national ecolabelling program. It details the program's structure, its role in reducing domestic environmental stress, and the potential for environmental labels to act as trade barriers for developing countries. The document evaluates the impact of foreign ecolabelling on Chinese exports—specifically in the textile and refrigerator sectors—and provides recommendations for strengthening China's program through increased transparency, the adoption of life-cycle analysis, and international cooperation to achieve mutual recognition of standards.
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Document type: Report
Interbasin Water Transfers After NAFTA
This briefing discusses the risk of diverting Canada's fresh water resources to the southwestern United States and Mexico due to increasing water scarcity and the influence of trade agreements like NAFTA and the 1988 FTA, which may limit Canada's ability to restrict water exports.
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Document type: Briefing
Exhibit 6_7[5].pdf
This document is an atlas published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that examines the impact of environmental hazards on children's health. It categorizes risks into 'traditional' hazards, such as air pollution and poor water and sanitation, and 'emerging' hazards, including chemical exposures, e-waste, and climate change. The report aligns these challenges with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advocates for multisectoral cooperation to reduce preventable child mortality and lifelong disease risks.
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Document type: Report
Assessing the Effects on Forests of Proposed Trade Liberalization in the Forest Product Sector
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) arguing that proposed trade liberalization in the forest product sector could exacerbate forest degradation and loss. CIEL contends that the current U.S. environmental review process is inadequate and calls for the administration to halt negotiations until a comprehensive assessment, guided by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is completed. The document emphasizes that trade liberalization can intensify negative impacts if countries lack robust forest protection frameworks, and suggests that developed nations provide technical and financial assistance to developing ones to establish sustainable management systems.
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Document type: Statement
REGULATORY COOPERATION IN THE AREA OF CHEMICALS
This statement outlines a trilateral framework for regulatory cooperation on chemicals between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The initiative aims to enhance the safeguarding of health and the environment through the exchange of scientific data, capacity-building, and the alignment of chemical assessment and management programs across North America.
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Document type: Statement
Human Rights Impacts of DecaBDE Pollution on People
This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the human rights implications of decaBDE (decabromodiphenyl ether), an additive flame retardant used in plastics and textiles. It details the chemical's adverse health effects, its bioaccumulative nature, and how its presence in consumer products and the environment violates rights to health, life, adequate housing, food, water, and information.
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Document type: Report
Analysis of the Draft Text
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). The analysis concludes that the draft largely mirrors or expands upon the investor-state protections found in NAFTA Chapter 11, which the authors argue undermines democratic governance, environmental protection, and national sovereignty by granting corporations the power to challenge domestic laws in international tribunals.
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Document type: Report
Transparency in 21st Century Fisheries Management: Options for Public Participation to Enhance Conservation and Management of International Fish Stocks
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.
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Document type: Research paper
A call for strengthening climate change education for all health professionals
An open letter from the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate Change and Health urging health professional educational institutions to integrate climate change and environmental degradation into their curricula to prepare the workforce for future health risks.
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Document type: Statement
Призыв к активизации просвещения в вопросах изменения климата для всех специалистов здравоохранения
An open letter from the WHO-Civil Society Working Group on Health and Climate Change calling for the integration of climate and health education into medical curricula and professional training to prepare healthcare workers for the impacts of environmental degradation.
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Document type: Statement
Accelerating the Introduction of High-Octane, Low-Carbon (HOLC) Fuels in the United States
This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines a vision for deploying high-octane, low-carbon (HOLC) fuels in North American vehicle powertrains to meet 2025 greenhouse gas emission standards. It details infrastructure progress, fuel specifications, engine testing, and the strategic importance of increasing octane ratings to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
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Document type: Briefing
HYBRID BUSES COSTS AND BENEFITS
This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute outlines the technology, environmental benefits, and economic considerations of hybrid-electric buses compared to conventional diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in North America.
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Document type: Fact sheet
side-by-side-farm-bill-2024-wood-innovations-grants-program-2b6d6fcf4a18f216.pdf
This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a legislative side-by-side comparison of the Wood Innovations Grants Program under current law and the House version of the 2024 Farm Bill.
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Document type: Briefing
wires-brochure-may-2017-fd86b72f1be2e0b9.pdf
This brochure describes the mission, vision, and value proposition of WIRES, an international non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting investment in the North American electric transmission system.
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Document type: Fact sheet