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This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the Swedish Ozone Layer Protection programme (OLP), a bilateral initiative from 1999 to 2006 designed to support the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in developing countries and economies in transition. The report identifies country ownership, capacity building, and stakeholder participation as critical governance factors for the successful national phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). It argues that a shift from top-down regulation to bottom-up governance is necessary for sustainable implementation and provides recommendations for reforming the incentive structures of implementing agencies and the status of national ozone units.

This report, based on a survey of 20 humanitarian and development professionals, examines the role of land ownership and tenure in community resilience and recovery following natural disasters. It highlights the critical gap between immediate humanitarian relief and long-term reconstruction, arguing that secure land rights are essential for economic regeneration and reducing future vulnerability.

This research paper examines the state of human trafficking research in South Africa as of 2006, arguing that existing data is rudimentary, methodologically weak, and overly focused on sexual exploitation. It calls for more sophisticated, dispassionate research and the adoption of innovative methodologies to inform the development of specialized anti-trafficking legislation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an update on the status of subsidy negotiations within the WTO's Doha Round as of November 2005. It analyzes the slow progress across agriculture, fisheries, services, and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), noting that while fisheries have seen some conceptual movement, other sectors remain stalled due to technical complexities, political disputes, and a lack of consensus on definitions.

This research paper examines the impact of European Union (EU) sugar subsidy reforms and World Trade Organisation (WTO) rulings on African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) sugar-producing countries. It argues that while developed-country subsidies distort global trade, the rapid removal of preferential access threatens the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers and requires more substantial adjustment assistance and a phased transition to ensure sustainable development.

This report, prepared for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, assesses the status of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations as of August 2005. It highlights the central role of agricultural liberalization and the significant deadlock between the US, EU, and developing nations, arguing that the round has failed to live up to its designation as a 'Development Agenda'.

This briefing from the Center for International Environmental Law examines the environmental implications of Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations within the WTO Doha Development Agenda. It focuses on two primary areas: the informal pursuit of sectoral agreements for total tariff elimination in environmentally-sensitive sectors and the classification and negotiation of non-tariff barriers (NTBs). The document argues that environmental considerations are being neglected in tariff negotiations and warns against the potential for NTB negotiations to undermine legitimate public policy objectives regarding health, safety, and environmental protection.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes draft provisions for the protection of traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions/folklore against misappropriation, specifically within the context of the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee (IGC). The document argues that current draft provisions lack sufficient focus on the intellectual property (IP) system, which is where misappropriation primarily occurs. It advocates for a legally binding international instrument and specific IP-related measures—such as disclosure requirements and stricter patentability criteria—to prevent the illegitimate granting of IP rights over TK.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the ongoing WTO negotiations on environmental goods. It argues that current lists of goods for liberalization are dominated by developed countries and proposes including environmentally preferable products (EPPs) and implementing Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) to ensure a balanced distribution of trade gains for developing nations.

This 2005 IISD report examines food security as a fundamental human right, moving beyond simple supply metrics to include distribution and individual access. It evaluates four strategies for achieving food security: food self-sufficiency, trade liberalization, food sovereignty, and multi-functional agriculture. The report argues that while trade can stabilize supply, it can also undermine local production and increase vulnerability. It concludes that a pragmatic approach combining flexible trade rules with national policy space and sustainable agricultural practices is necessary to ensure long-term food security.

The report analyzes the impact of bilateral trade agreements on copyright and access to knowledge, noting that agreements involving the U.S. often impose protections (such as 70-year terms and anti-circumvention of TPMs) that exceed multilateral standards. It also summarizes IP disputes in the WTO regarding pharmaceutical compulsory licensing and genetic resource disclosure, as well as tensions at WIPO over the Substantive Patent Law Treaty.

This report assesses progress toward the human development Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) between 2000 and 2005, focusing on the challenges of scaling up skilled providers, ensuring sustained financing, and improving governance to translate resources into effective service delivery in health, education, water, and sanitation.

This briefing paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that the US government is implementing a policy to make the contamination of the food supply with experimental genetically modified (GM) crops 'acceptable.' The document details the risks of such contamination, the lack of rigorous regulation for field trials, and the potential for these traits to spread globally through US food exports.

The South Centre and CIEL IP Quarterly Update for the second quarter of 2004 analyzes international intellectual property (IP) policy-making, focusing on the upcoming WIPO General Assembly and developments across multilateral, plurilateral, and bilateral fora. The report highlights the challenges developing countries face when developed nations shift negotiations to bilateral 'TRIPS-plus' agreements to circumvent multilateral flexibilities. Key areas of concern include the protection of genetic resources, the proposed broadcasting treaty, and the Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT).

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the South Centre provides a first-quarter 2004 update on international intellectual property (IP) policy. It highlights a strategic shift by developed countries, particularly the United States, away from multilateral forums like the WTO toward bilateral and regional trade agreements to implement 'TRIPS-plus' standards. The document specifically analyzes the risk of 'non-violation complaints' being applied to IP in these bilateral deals, which could erode the flexibilities available to developing countries under the TRIPS Agreement.

The report provides a quarterly update on international intellectual property (IP) developments for the third quarter of 2004, focusing on the intersection of IP and development. It specifically analyzes the implementation of the FAO's International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and tracks IP-related negotiations across multilateral bodies like the WTO and WIPO, as well as regional and bilateral free trade agreements.

The report provides an overview of international intellectual property (IP) developments in the fourth quarter of 2004, focusing on the tension between IP protection and development goals. It details ongoing negotiations within the WTO Council for TRIPS, WIPO, and various bilateral and regional trade agreements, highlighting the efforts of developing countries to maintain flexibilities and prevent 'TRIPS-plus' standards.

This report by Friends of the Earth International and the International Rivers Network (IRN) argues that large hydroelectric dams should be excluded from renewable energy initiatives. It contends that large-scale hydro projects fail to support sustainable development, harm ecosystems and people, and undermine energy security, whereas decentralized renewable energy technologies provide a more effective path toward poverty eradication and climate mitigation.

The report details a 2003 workshop on integrating public benefits—such as rural electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy—into power sector reforms in developing countries. It concludes that while reforms can threaten traditional public service obligations, they also provide opportunities to establish transparent, accountable regulatory frameworks that can sustain and expand these benefits. The document emphasizes that the achievement of public benefits is independent of ownership structure but requires explicit policy integration and expanded capacity building for a wider range of stakeholders, including NGOs and academia.

This executive summary examines the domestic import regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) across various global regions and analyzes their compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It highlights the contrast between the stringent regulatory regimes in the European Union and the more flexible approach in the United States, while also detailing the emerging biosafety frameworks in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The document specifically evaluates potential legal conflicts regarding mandatory labelling, traceability, and the 'precautionary principle' within the context of WTO agreements such as the SPS and TBT Agreements.