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This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and regional free trade agreements prioritize corporate profit over environmental sustainability and human rights, leading to the loss of livelihoods for millions of small-scale farmers, fishers, and indigenous peoples. The document details how trade liberalization facilitates the privatization of natural resources, undermines food sovereignty, and exacerbates climate change and desertification across various global regions.

This 2005 research paper analyzes India's marine seafood export supply chain, highlighting a stark contrast between the high hygiene standards of exporters and the poor conditions at the fisherman and supplier levels. While India is a global leader in fish production, the author argues that sustainability requires a bottom-up approach, including the formation of fishermen cooperatives and improved infrastructure at landing centers. The paper also examines the influence of stringent EU and U.S. import regulations, noting that while process regulations (like HACCP) have organized the industry, product regulations based on 'zero tolerance' for residues are often viewed as non-tariff trade barriers.

This report by the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment (SAWTEE) analyzes tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting five select Nepalese agricultural exports: tea, natural honey, floriculture, medicinal plants, and vegetable seeds. It examines market access across 12 international markets, distinguishing between the high tariff barriers found in neighboring South Asian countries and the high incidence of non-tariff measures (NTMs) in developed economies.

A statement from North American civil society organizations prepared for the Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF). The document outlines recommendations for global environmental governance, focusing on chemicals management, energy transition, and sustainable tourism, while emphasizing the specific responsibilities of North American governments and the vulnerability of the Arctic region.

This report examines the potential for integrating disclosure requirements into the global intellectual property (IP) system to ensure mutual supportiveness between the WTO TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It focuses on requiring patent applicants to disclose the origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge, as well as providing evidence of prior informed consent (PIC) and benefit-sharing, to prevent 'biopiracy' and ensure equitable returns to provider countries and indigenous communities.

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 document is a facilitator's summary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) North American Regional Civil Society Consultation held on 28 October 2005. The meeting aimed to gather recommendations from North American civil society organizations to inform the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) and the preceding Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF). The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment.

This inaugural address by the National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) argues that Africa's development depends on internal accountability, leadership, and a shift away from aid-dependency. The author highlights the rise of China and India as shifting global power dynamics and urges African states to implement industrial strategies to avoid a new 'scramble' for raw materials. The speech emphasizes the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the need for a vibrant civil society to hold governments accountable.

This RMI fact sheet presents several case studies of green building projects across residential, commercial, and urban redevelopment sectors, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable design, such as energy savings, increased property value, and reduced marketing costs.

This briefing paper, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in September 2005, provides background on international chemicals management for participants of the 7th Global Civil Society Forum. It details the challenges of global chemical regulation, the roles of various intergovernmental organizations and civil society networks, and the development of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

This statement from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to Senator Olympia Snowe proposes a series of short-term measures to reduce U.S. demand for conventional crude oil by 5% to 9%. RMI argues that such a reduction would stabilize global oil prices by increasing excess capacity to between 2.5 and 3.8 million barrels per day, thereby mitigating the impact of price shocks and speculation.

This report chapter provides a military history of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), tracing its evolution from the liberation movements of the 1960s through the Angolan Civil War to its status as a peacetime national institution. It details the integration of three primary military wings—FAPLA, ELNA, and FALA—and the significant role of foreign intervention from the Soviet Union, Cuba, the United States, Zaire, and South Africa in shaping the conflict and the eventual formation of the FAA.

A joint statement from a coalition of environmental and health organizations urging the U.S. Congress to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by passing implementing legislation that ensures timely action, respects state laws, and provides clear legal authority to the EPA.

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.

The report proposes a model for implementing Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) in Winnipeg to engage neighbourhoods in local environmental action. It suggests a service-innovation and delivery focus, anchored by existing community-based organizations and supported by a multi-partite agreement between the City of Winnipeg, Environment Canada, and the Province of Manitoba.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), develops a conceptual methodology called the 'Impact Pathway approach' to value changes in agri-environmental indicators. The report tests this methodology on five specific indicators: Risk of Water Erosion, Risk of Water Contamination by Phosphorus, GHG Emissions, Energy Use Efficiency, and Wildlife Habitat Availability. It identifies critical data gaps, particularly in transport modelling for water-related indicators, and explores linkages between these valuations and integrated economic-environmental modelling and social indicators.

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 action list documents the decisions and elections made during the Twelfth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held on May 5-6, 2005, in Montreal, Canada.