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This report examines the mining sector in Tanzania, focusing on the economic contributions of the industry, the challenges of securing a 'social licence to operate' from local communities, and a case study of the Barrick Gold Corporation's operations within the country.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in November 2009, provides a technical and strategic analysis of the negotiations surrounding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen. It examines the evolving scope of REDD, financing options, measurement and verification systems, and the institutional frameworks required to implement these mechanisms in developing countries.

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.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of international carbon market mechanisms within the context of negotiations for a post-2012 climate change agreement. It reviews the existing Kyoto Protocol instruments—International Emissions Trading (IET), Joint Implementation (JI), and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)—and explores potential expansions or new mechanisms, such as sectoral crediting and REDD, to enhance cost-effectiveness and engage developing countries in mitigation efforts.

This report by Friends of the Earth International and the World Rainforest Movement examines how European Union trade policies and corporate consumption drive the establishment of monoculture tree plantations in the Global South, specifically disempowering women. Through case studies in Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Brazil, the document details the loss of land, livelihoods, and cultural identity, while highlighting the gender-specific impacts of these industrial models.

This report by Friends of the Earth International critiques the European Union's 'Global Europe' strategy, arguing that its pursuit of a 'new generation' of bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) prioritizes the competitiveness of European transnational corporations over sustainable development, food sovereignty, and the sovereignty of developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

This report by Friends of the Earth International critiques the European Union's 'Global Europe' strategy, arguing that it uses Association Agreements and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to secure raw materials, energy reserves, and open markets for European transnational corporations at the expense of the sovereignty and food security of countries in the Global South.

This policy brief series by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and IUCN examines the intersection of international trade, foreign aid, and security. It argues that current global trade rules and aid practices often exacerbate instability and conflict in developing countries by promoting economic dependence on volatile primary commodities, maintaining inequitable market access, and supporting unaccountable regimes. The document proposes a shift toward 'conflict-sensitive' policies, including the restriction of 'conflict resources,' the promotion of transparent natural resource revenue management, and the implementation of responsible business conduct to prevent the funding of violent conflicts.

This research paper examines the impact of foreign aid on political stability in the Melanesian Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu). It argues that while aid is officially presented as altruistic, it is often used by donor nations like Australia, Japan, and China to secure geo-strategic influence and resource access. The author finds that aid can support stability through governance and peace-building initiatives, but can also 'abet' instability by fostering corruption, widening wealth gaps, creating aid dependency, and inadvertently financing internal repression.

This policy submission by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the challenges of aid delivery to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It argues that while per capita aid is often higher for SIDS than for mainland developing countries, overall aid levels declined by over 50 percent between 1994 and 2004. The document proposes eight reforms to make aid more effective, including untying aid from donor procurement, harmonising policies across donors, and replacing GDP-per-capita assessments with vulnerability indices.

This research paper, authored by Rachel Goldwyn and Jason Switzer, critiques existing impact assessment tools used by the extractive industry—specifically Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Social Impact Assessments (SIA), and political risk analysis—from a conflict-sensitive perspective. It argues that while these tools are standard, they often fail to identify or mitigate the drivers of violent conflict. The authors propose the development of a Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice (CSBP) toolbox to integrate conflict analysis into the project lifecycle, helping companies minimize their contribution to violence and contribute to peacebuilding.

This 2004 report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues that environmental rights are fundamental human rights, essential for survival, health, and dignity. It documents numerous global case studies where neoliberal economic globalization and corporate activities have led to the violation of these rights, including the displacement of indigenous peoples, toxic pollution, and the privatization of water. The document advocates for a framework of environmental justice, the recognition of new rights for climate refugees, and the enforcement of corporate accountability through legal mechanisms and international norms.

This December 2003 report by Friends of the Earth International argues that International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including multilateral development banks and bilateral export credit agencies, should phase out funding for the extractive industries. The document contends that IFI-supported oil, gas, and mining projects frequently lead to environmental disasters, human rights abuses, and the marginalization of indigenous peoples, while failing to alleviate poverty in resource-rich developing nations.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that international financial institutions (IFIs) should cease funding extractive industries—specifically oil, gas, and mining—due to their devastating impacts on local communities, human rights, and the global environment. Through multiple case studies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the document illustrates how public funding for these projects often exacerbates poverty, fuels corruption, and contributes to climate change, while providing minimal economic benefit to host countries.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) documents 22 campaigns against multinational corporations whose activities cause biodiversity loss and harm local communities. It argues that corporate globalization, driven by industrial agriculture, mining, and logging, prioritizes shareholder profit over ecological stability and human rights. The document calls for binding international laws to hold companies legally and economically accountable for environmental damage and advocates for the recognition of 'ecological debt' owed by Northern industrial nations to the Global South.

This report assesses the socio-economic value of South Africa's commercial fisheries—which generated R8.0 billion in wholesale value in 2013—against the potential impacts of marine phosphate mining. It highlights a significant spatial overlap between proposed mining areas and hake and small-pelagic fishing grounds, warning that sediment plumes and exclusion zones could threaten the industry's sustainability and employment.

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.

This report summarizes a workshop held during COP19 as part of the Many Strong Voices (MSV) Programme. The dialogue focused on the challenges of climate-induced community-based relocation, specifically in the Arctic and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), emphasizing the need for participatory decision-making, international finance, and the protection of human rights and cultural identity.

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 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.