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This 2007 guide for parliamentarians examines how International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) can constrain domestic public policy. It highlights a systemic lack of parliamentary oversight in treaty negotiation and the use of international arbitration by foreign investors to challenge state regulations in countries like the US, Canada, and South Africa. The document details specific legal disputes, Bolivia's withdrawal from ICSID, and calls for greater transparency in UNCITRAL arbitration rules to protect human rights and state sovereignty.

This research paper by Amory B. Lovins argues that climate change, oil dependence, and nuclear proliferation can be addressed through profitable, market-driven energy efficiency and decentralized renewable energy. The author contends that saving fuel is cheaper than buying it, and that transitioning away from oil and nuclear power is economically advantageous and enhances global security.

This report, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), analyzes various voluntary and legally binding international options to reduce risks to human health and the environment from mercury pollution. It evaluates these options against seven global priorities, including reducing atmospheric emissions, managing mercury waste, and curbing global supply.

This briefing by Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa, explains the rationale and intended structure of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). It argues that the command is a necessary shift from Cold War-era organizational structures to a 21st-century approach that prioritizes security capacity building, prevention, and inter-agency cooperation to support African stability and U.S. national security.

Aaron Cosbey analyzes the May 10th U.S. Bipartisan Compact on Free Trade Agreements, questioning its potential to serve as a template for future trade deals, its impact on trade promotion authority (TPA), and its effectiveness in securing the passage of the two agreements it addresses.

This briefing details the FY 2008 appropriations for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE/RE) programs, highlighting that both the House and Senate proposed funding levels significantly higher than the Administration's request.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the trade policy challenges facing Malawi due to its dual membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It analyzes the technical and political implications of these overlapping memberships, particularly as these regional economic communities move toward forming customs unions, and evaluates the impact on Malawi's trade profiles and its negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

The document records the decisions made during the Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14-15, 2007. The meeting focused on administrative governance, budget approvals, and the appointment of key personnel and committees.

A joint statement by several environmental organizations praising the environmental provisions of the Peru Free Trade Agreement, specifically its measures to combat illegal logging and its requirements for adhering to Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

This research paper by Michael Tonry argues that incarceration rates are a matter of political policy rather than a response to crime levels, asserting that sentencing severity does not significantly impact crime trends. Using comparative data from several developed nations, the author contends that mandatory minimum sentences fail to deter crime or ensure consistency, and suggests that South Africa should reduce its imprisonment rates and adopt a structured approach to sentencing.

This report presents the findings of an external review conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The review evaluates the IAI's performance across its first 13 years, focusing on its scientific research, capacity building, funding, governance, and communication strategies.

The document is a list of participants for the 14th IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) Meeting and a Science Symposium held in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14-15, 2007. It lists representatives from various countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the United States, and Venezuela, as well as IAI directorate staff, external review committee members, and local staff from the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) assesses the environmental impacts of trade liberalization on Thailand's fisheries sector. It highlights the depletion of marine fish stocks, the ecological damage caused by intensive aquaculture, and the challenges of implementing environmental certification standards in the face of strong market demand for shrimp exports.

The report details the activities and findings of the Financial and Administrative Committee (FAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) following a meeting held from May 2-4, 2007, in Sao José dos Campos, Brazil. The committee reviewed the 2006/07 financial performance, the proposed 2007/08 budget, and the completion of the Procurement and Acquisitions Manual.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 2006 WTO panel reports in the EC-Biotech dispute, specifically focusing on the panel's refusal to integrate Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) into the interpretation of WTO law. The author argues that the panel's narrow interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties deviates from previous Appellate Body jurisprudence, such as the US-Shrimp case, and undermines the principle of 'mutual supportiveness' between trade and environmental policies.

The IAI Directorate Report (May 2006 - May 2007) outlines the institute's efforts to integrate global change science with policy, particularly regarding land-use change and biofuels in the La Plata Basin and Central Brazil. It details various international collaborations (e.g., with IDRC, NCAR, and SCOPE), the implementation of Collaborative Research Networks (CRN I and II), and the results of the Training Institute Seed Grants (TISG) program, which supported 44 scientists across 19 countries. The report also highlights fundraising efforts, including a proposal to the MacArthur Foundation for assessing climate change impacts on biodiversity in the Andes.

David Jhirad's testimony argues that climate change will complicate U.S. foreign aid and security, requiring the U.S. to re-engage internationally on mitigation and adaptation, expand economic focus to the global poor, and implement strong domestic actions to restore global leadership.

This policy report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill to better integrate renewable energy production into US agriculture policy. The authors argue that agriculture policy should be viewed as energy policy to boost rural income, enhance national security, and mitigate climate change. The report identifies a significant gap between the authorization of energy programs in the 2002 Farm Bill and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the actual appropriations provided to implement them, calling for a transition toward a diversified agriculture portfolio that prioritizes sustainable biomass, local ownership of biorefineries, and expanded research and education.

The minutes of the Twenty-Third Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), held on December 9-10, 2006, in Panama City, detail the strategic shift of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research toward interdisciplinary science and policy relevance. The meeting covered the closure of the CRN I program, the launch of CRN II, the creation of a Small Grant Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and efforts to broaden the IAI's institutional base through alliances with organizations like RIOCC and IICA. Financial discussions focused on member country contribution arrears and the appointment of a new Administrative and Financial Officer.

The document contains the minutes of the 23rd Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 9-10, 2006, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on strategic institutional expansion, the transition between the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) I and II programs, financial status, and the scientific reorientation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to better integrate human dimensions and policy relevance.