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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.

This commemorative report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI), published in June 2001, celebrates its 30th anniversary by documenting community-led sustainability projects across its global network of 66 independent groups. The document highlights local initiatives in forest preservation, organic food systems, biodiversity conservation, climate action, and resistance to neoliberal economic globalization.

This research paper analyzes the substantive scope of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), specifically focusing on Article I:3, which determines whether 'public services' are covered by the agreement. The author examines the legal definitions of services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority, evaluates the inconsistent interpretations provided by the WTO Secretariat and member states, and applies principles of public international law to argue for potential methods of narrowing the agreement's scope to protect national policy objectives.

This research paper describes the development and application of a set of six criteria used to assess 'good practices' in climate change mitigation policies and measures (PAM) across six Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), the project aimed to help economies in transition find low-emission development paths and build institutional capacity to meet UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol obligations.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between corruption and development, with a specific focus on South Africa. It argues that corruption is a global phenomenon that distorts public spending, undermines efficiency, and discourages investment, thereby hindering economic growth and social equity. The authors contend that while economic liberalisation and democratisation can create opportunities for better governance, they are not panaceas; instead, a multifaceted approach involving institutional reform, legal frameworks, and strong political will is required to eradicate corruption and promote sustainable development.

This 1998 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute presents two contrasting future scenarios for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) up to the year 2030: a Conventional Development Scenario (CDS) and a Sustainability Vision. The report argues that a 'business-as-usual' approach will lead to increased environmental pressure and persistent socio-economic disparities, whereas a transition to sustainability requires proactive policy interventions, technological decoupling of growth from resource use, and a shift in human values.

This report examines the risks associated with foreign investment and privatization in developing and transitioning economies, arguing that while such investment can provide necessary capital, it often facilitates the transfer of hazardous technologies from industrialized Western nations to economically weaker regions.

This report, produced for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), provides an international review of air emission standards to support the implementation of Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEM:AQA). It analyzes regulatory frameworks in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia (specifically New South Wales), with additional references to India, Japan, Poland, and China. The document recommends a phased approach to listing industrial activities and setting minimum emission standards based on Best Available Technology (BAT), while suggesting the integration of command-and-control measures with market-based mechanisms like emissions trading.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law, prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme, evaluates the effectiveness of trade and positive measures within the Montreal Protocol. It analyzes how these mechanisms—ranging from import/export bans on ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to financial assistance for developing nations—have driven near-universal ratification and compliance to reduce global emissions of controlled substances.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the World Bank's approach to governance, civil society, and human rights. It argues that the Bank's adherence to a narrow economic view of development, rooted in its Articles of Agreement, has led it to treat these critical social and political factors as mere instrumentalities for project goals rather than essential components of sustainable development.

This 1991 draft working paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines how the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) can operationalize its commitment to "environmentally sound and sustainable development." The authors argue that sustainable development requires a shift from short-term economic growth to a broader concept of development that values natural wealth, ensures intergenerational equity, and utilizes comprehensive environmental accounting and project appraisal mechanisms.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law outlines several reform options for Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) to be considered by UNCITRAL Working Group III. The document argues that current ISDS mechanisms are asymmetrical, often ignoring state obligations and public interest, and proposes alternatives such as multilateral treaty termination, the allowance of state counterclaims, public interest carve-outs, 'clean hands' clauses for investors, the requirement to exhaust local remedies, and expanded third-party access to proceedings.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines how European financial centres can leverage green bonds to enhance their competitiveness and scale up sustainable finance. It details the role of stock exchanges, sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, and regulators in developing green bond markets, providing specific case studies from cities such as London, Luxembourg, Stockholm, Milan, Paris, and Dublin.

This research paper analyzes the impact of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on low-carbon investment and innovation in manufacturing firms. Based on interviews with approximately 800 firms across six European countries, the study examines how carbon pricing influences energy-saving measures, R&D for clean processes and products, and the strategic behavior of firms within the carbon market.

This fact sheet from the Climate Policy Initiative outlines the financial risks and opportunities for China, the European Union, India, and the United States in transitioning to a low-carbon economy based on an IEA two-degree scenario.

This report by Sandbag assesses the 2017 Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) deal, which sets emission reduction targets for non-ETS sectors in the EU for 2021-2030. The authors argue that the current -30% target is insufficient for Paris Agreement goals and advocate for project-based cooperation between Member States to achieve reductions cost-effectively and avoid carbon lock-in in lower-income countries.

The report 'Playing With Fire' by Sandbag assesses plans to convert European coal power stations to burn biomass, primarily wood pellets. It argues that these conversions, driven by EU legislation and subsidies, risk accelerating climate change due to long carbon payback periods and significant forest loss, while providing minimal electricity relative to the cost and environmental impact.

This guide details the methodology used by Ember for its monthly wind and solar capacity dataset, which as of March 20, 2026, covers 25 countries and regions representing approximately 92% of global solar and 91% of global wind capacity.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International critiques the environmental policies and practices of the European Investment Bank (EIB), arguing that there is a significant gap between the Bank's official rhetoric on sustainable development and its actual investment activities.

This briefing by the Green Economy Coalition outlines ten priority options for governments and stakeholders to ensure that economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is just, green, and transformative. It argues that recovery efforts should address systemic risks—including climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality—by aligning stimulus packages with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.