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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 details the proceedings of the 20th meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held in Ottawa, Canada, on April 1-2, 2004. The document outlines updates on the Small Grants Program (SGP) and Capacity Research Networks (CRN), proposes methods for synthesizing CRN I results, and expresses urgent concern regarding the stability of the Institute's scientific programs.

This 2004 guide by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides homeowners with strategies to reduce space cooling costs and energy use. It advocates for a hierarchical approach: first minimizing heat gain through passive measures, then utilizing low-energy ventilation, and finally selecting the most efficient mechanical cooling systems based on climate and budget.

This 2004 guide by RMI provides homeowners with strategies to reduce water heating costs and energy consumption through the use of efficient fixtures, maintenance of existing heaters, and the adoption of advanced heating technologies such as solar thermal, heat pumps, and drain-water heat recovery.

This 2004 guide by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides strategies for reducing energy consumption and environmental impact associated with home electronics. It emphasizes that changing user habits—such as unplugging devices and enabling power management—is often more effective for saving energy than simply purchasing more efficient hardware.

This 2004 briefing from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides guidance on reducing the energy and environmental impacts of kitchen appliances and food consumption. It details the efficiency gains in refrigerators and freezers, compares various cooking technologies and habits, and addresses the reduction of food-related waste in landfills.

A December 2003 letter from Friends of the Earth – U.S., on behalf of several environmental organizations, requesting investment-related documents from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), representing itself and three other environmental organizations, submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on December 19, 2003. The request seeks the disclosure of environmental chapters and related provisions from bilateral or regional free trade agreement negotiations conducted since the beginning of 2003.

The Report of the IAI Directorate to the Executive Council 18th Meeting, dated December 4-5, 2003, outlines the activities, strategic progress, and administrative status of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) since June 2003. It details efforts to increase institutional visibility through international partnerships, the implementation of regional training institutes, and the management of Core Research Network (CRN) projects.

The minutes of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held December 4-5, 2003, in San José, Costa Rica, detail the institute's scientific progress, financial instability due to member state arrears, and strategic planning for future research programs and institutional governance.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of research on the interface between trade and the environment. Based on a survey of 315 publications from 2002 to 2003 and consultations with an expert group, the document identifies significant gaps in current research—particularly regarding developing countries and specific WTO negotiating options—and proposes a new research agenda to better support sustainable development.

The document contains the minutes of the 17th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 2-3, 2003, in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The meeting focused on reviewing the IAI's financial status, updating its scientific agenda, and discussing administrative reforms to improve member country engagement and funding stability.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and progress between June and November 2003. It outlines the implementation of six strategic goals focused on strengthening Collaborative Research Networks (CRNs), capacity building in scientifically weaker member countries, and increasing the institute's visibility through international partnerships and educational institutes.

The document contains the minutes of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on June 2-3, 2003, in Boulder, Colorado. The meeting focused on reviewing the IAI's science programs, financial status, and administrative rules, while approving a revised Science Agenda to be forwarded to the Conference of Parties (CoP X).

The Status Report as of October 31, 2003, provides a financial and administrative overview of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). It details the core and program budgets, operational fund balances, and the status of various research grants and internal administrative reforms.

This financial status report for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), dated October 31, 2003, details the institute's core budget, programmatic spending, and administrative updates. It outlines member country contributions, operational fund balances, and the status of various research grants and programs such as the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) and Small Grant Programs.

A fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law detailing concerns regarding foreign direct investment (FDI), investment rules, and investor-state arbitration, specifically in the context of the Americas Trade and Sustainable Development Forum.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the complexities of trade-related subsidies, focusing on the divide between developed and developing nations. It argues that current WTO indicators for measuring subsidies are inadequate for resolving trade disputes and proposes the use of 'terms-of-trade' as a more effective metric. The document provides detailed case studies on the subsidy regimes and trade impacts in India, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and Brazil, highlighting how subsidies in OECD countries often harm the economies of developing nations, particularly in agriculture.