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This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the large-scale mining sector. It analyzes immediate impacts on direct and indirect labor, the role of national lockdown policies, and the long-term structural shifts toward automation and localized supply chains, while providing recommendations for building future resilience.

This case study describes the application of the Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRiSTAL) and CARE's Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (CVCA) in the municipality of Santa Teresa and other areas of the Peruvian Andes. Implemented by CARE Peru as part of the Adaptation to the Impact of Rapid Glacier Retreat in the Tropical Andes Project (PRAA), these tools helped 14 communities identify and implement climate-resilient development measures tailored to local perceptions of risk.

This briefing note, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International, Geneva, examines the challenges faced by developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide and capacity gaps that hinder these nations' ability to participate in negotiations and implement future agreements. The document proposes shifting from a narrow focus on regulatory cooperation toward a comprehensive approach that includes 'enabling issues' such as infrastructure and technical assistance, and suggests adopting a hybrid Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) model based on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to ensure capacity-building commitments are enforceable.

This report, submitted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to the UNFCCC First Global Stocktake, analyzes the failure of governments to align public financial flows with the Paris Agreement. It argues that public support for fossil fuels remains high and often increases, creating a financial barrier to clean energy deployment. The document provides evidence of subsidy trends, the impact of COVID-19 recovery packages, and offers a framework for fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) to accelerate the energy transition while ensuring social equity.

This policy brief examines China's strategic pursuit of bauxite resources in the Mekong region, specifically Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, to support its growing aluminum industry. It analyzes the economic drivers, the role of Chinese state-owned enterprises, the regulatory challenges in host countries, and the significant environmental and social risks associated with bauxite mining and smelting.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of negotiations regarding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the 2009 COP 15 in Copenhagen. It examines the technical and political challenges surrounding the scope of REDD, financing mechanisms, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, and institutional governance, providing guidance for developing countries to navigate these negotiations.

This report summarizes a regional workshop held in Panama City in February 2014 by SDplanNet-LAC. The workshop used a rapid foresight exercise to envision the governance and planning practices required for a Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) country to achieve its sustainable development goals by 2030, subsequently comparing this ideal state to the actual governance practices of 2013 to identify capacity-building needs for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

This report, produced for the SEED Initiative and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), identifies critical success factors and performance indicators for start-up social and environmental enterprises in developing countries. Based on a literature review and empirical research with ten SEED-supported enterprises, the document proposes a rapid assessment framework to help entrepreneurs and investors determine the viability of nascent ventures and monitor their progress across economic, social, and environmental goals.

This fact sheet lists the top 15 cocoa-producing countries as of 2016, referencing data on harvest area and Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) compliance.

A fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development mapping the distribution of coffee production across the top 15 producing countries in 2016, focusing on harvest area, production volume, and Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) compliance.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the financial and environmental impact of butane gas subsidies in Morocco and proposes a 'swap' reform. This strategy involves reducing fossil fuel subsidies and reinvesting the savings into clean energy technologies, specifically solar pumping for agriculture and solar water heaters for households, to facilitate a socially acceptable energy transition.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive analysis of how states can terminate old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It examines the legal frameworks under public international law, analyzes common termination and survival clause models, and reviews recent state practices. The document offers strategic recommendations for states on whether to terminate BITs unilaterally or by consent, how to handle survival clauses to reduce investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) risks, and provides drafting suggestions for new treaties to avoid the pitfalls of older models.

This policy brief outlines the importance of democratic governance at local levels for the effective disbursement of climate change funding in developing countries. It references a September 2010 civil society meeting in Cape Town where experts discussed national and subnational experiences with the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

This policy brief, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2011, examines the governance of climate change funds—specifically the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)—across several developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It highlights systemic issues regarding accountability, stakeholder representation, and the risk of private sector interests overriding local needs.

This research paper examines the rise of transnational organised crime (TCOs) as a global security threat, analyzing how globalisation and the erosion of state authority have facilitated the growth of criminal networks. It explores the relationship between TCOs and various state types—particularly weak and transitional states—and provides a typology of state roles in facilitating or combating illicit activities. The document details the operational characteristics of TCOs, including their use of ethnic networks and risk management strategies, and assesses the specific threats they pose to national security, financial systems, and human rights.

The 'Protocolos Comunitarios Bioculturales: Kit de Herramientas para Facilitadores Comunitarios' is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice. It provides a framework and practical tools for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These protocols are designed to help communities manage their territories, protect their rights, and engage constructively with external actors such as governments, researchers, and corporations, thereby reducing power asymmetries and preventing conflicts over natural resources.

The "Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators" is a guide published by Natural Justice to help Indigenous peoples and local communities document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes. These protocols serve as instruments to manage interactions with external actors—such as governments, researchers, and companies—ensuring that community rights and stewardship of their territories are respected. The toolkit provides a comprehensive framework for facilitators to lead communities through the process of endogenous development, legal empowerment, and strategic advocacy.

A letter dated February 24, 2014, addressed to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim from a coalition of 168 organizations and individuals, urging the revival of B-SPAN, the Bank's Internet-based webcasting system.

This document is a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, provided by a coalition including Natural Justice and Forest Peoples Programme. It outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity conservation, highlighting successful local practices, systemic barriers such as 'fortress conservation' and non-recognition of land rights, and the increasing risks faced by environmental defenders.

This fact sheet describes Peru's participation in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) SNAP initiative to develop national planning for the mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). It outlines the establishment of institutional frameworks, the use of technical toolkits for emission inventories and cost-benefit analysis, and specific sectoral actions targeting diesel vehicles, cookstoves, and brick production to improve air quality and public health.