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This IISD report analyzes the inclusion of Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) and International Regulatory Cooperation (IRC) provisions in regional trade agreements (RTAs), with a primary focus on the USMCA and a comparison with CETA. It examines how these provisions aim to reduce non-tariff trade costs and improve regulatory transparency and stakeholder engagement, while highlighting the administrative and political challenges these obligations may pose for developing countries.

This report by the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) provides preliminary estimates of global energy subsidies by source for 2007, detailing the assumptions and calculations used for nuclear energy, renewable energy, biofuels, fossil fuels, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

This case study examines LIMBUA Group Limited, a Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) specializing in the processing and marketing of organic macadamia, avocado, and mangoes. The document assesses the company's compliance with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) using a specialized RAI Tool. The analysis finds that LIMBUA generally demonstrates a high level of responsible agricultural investment through its sustainable business model, inclusive employment practices, and support for smallholder farmers in central Kenya.

This policy brief describes the results of a Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) conducted in Namibia from January to June 2009. The assessment aimed to identify 'green' opportunities and threats within international trade law and technical standards to support Namibia's Vision 2030 and National Development Plan (NDP3). It emphasizes that Namibia should avoid the bulk export models of Western nations or South Africa, instead focusing on high-value niche sectors based on its comparative advantages in biodiversity, landscapes, and rangelands.

This 2007 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization within Thailand's electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector. It highlights the tension between the sector's role in export-led growth and the resulting environmental challenges, specifically the rapid increase in e-waste and the risks associated with mid-stream production and informal recycling.

This seminar note, authored by Halina Ward of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, examines the tension between the precautionary principle—which advocates for protective action before full scientific proof of risk—and the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It explores differing regional interpretations of risk assessment, the legal status of precaution in international law, and the specific WTO agreements (GATT, TBT, and SPS) that intersect with environmental and health regulations.

The Sustainable Development Timeline is a fact sheet published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that chronicles key environmental, social, and economic milestones from 1962 to 2007. It tracks the evolution of sustainable development through the formation of advocacy groups, the adoption of international treaties, scientific discoveries regarding climate and ozone depletion, and major ecological disasters.

The report concludes that Alberta's oil sector faces a bleak long-term outlook due to technological shifts, climate action, and market volatility. Modelling indicates that price volatility could cause significant losses in GDP and employment. The authors recommend that the government pivot industrial policy away from combustible hydrocarbons toward economic diversification to manage the transition for workers and communities.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development lists the top 15 cotton-producing countries in 2016 and references data sources regarding sustainable markets and crop distribution.

This fact sheet identifies the top 15 sugarcane-producing countries in 2016 and provides a framework for categorizing their production by harvest area and compliance with Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the global tea market, focusing on the growth of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and the potential for expanding sustainable production in Low Human Development Countries (LHDCs). It examines production trends, trade flows, and the systemic challenges facing the tea industry, such as climate change and inequitable wealth distribution.

The report 'État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020' examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international environmental governance, the shift to virtual negotiations, and the resulting effects on climate and biodiversity goals. It highlights the challenges of maintaining political momentum and scientific output during lockdowns while noting that the pandemic underscored the interconnectedness of human health and environmental degradation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the outcomes of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn in June and August 2009. It outlines the progress and persistent divisions between developed and developing nations across four key pillars—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance—as they worked toward a global post-2012 agreement intended for adoption at COP-15 in Copenhagen.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the necessity and current state of leadership training for young professionals in the sustainable development sector. It identifies a critical leadership gap driven by the retirement of senior practitioners and a growing demand for 'green jobs' that exceeds the current training capacity. The document surveys various non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations to analyze existing training models, identify essential cross-cutting skills—such as communication and innovation—and propose collaborative frameworks for networking alumni and evaluating program effectiveness.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive analysis of how states can terminate old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It examines the legal frameworks under public international law, analyzes common termination and survival clause models, and reviews recent state practices. The document offers strategic recommendations for states on whether to terminate BITs unilaterally or by consent, how to handle survival clauses to reduce investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) risks, and provides drafting suggestions for new treaties to avoid the pitfalls of older models.

The Trade Knowledge Network (TKN) is an initiative of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) launched in 1997 to integrate sustainable development into trade policy and practice across national, bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.

This report examines the potential, challenges, and opportunities of expanding tiger shrimp aquaculture on sandy land in Vietnam's central provinces. It highlights a shift toward utilizing previously unproductive coastal sandy areas to alleviate poverty and diversify livelihoods, while warning against unplanned expansion that could lead to environmental degradation and groundwater depletion.

This draft concept paper, developed by the Hemispheric Working Group on Trade and Environment, proposes the creation of an Americas Environmental Accord (AEA) to coordinate environmental sustainability and trade policies across the Western Hemisphere. It analyzes existing sub-regional models—including Mercosur, CARICOM, the Andean Community, the Central American Common Market, and NAFTA—to identify best practices for transparency, civil society participation, and the integration of environmental standards into economic agreements. The document argues that the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process should be supported by a coherent ecological cooperation agenda to ensure long-term sustainable development.

This briefing analyzes an August 5, 2002, interim ruling by a NAFTA Chapter 11 Tribunal in the case of Methanex vs. the United States of America. The Tribunal ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over Methanex's original claims because the California environmental measures banning MTBE did not have a "legally significant connection" to Methanex, which supplied a component (methanol) rather than the regulated product (MTBE). The Tribunal left open a narrow path for jurisdiction if Methanex can prove a specific discriminatory intent to harm the company, giving the claimant 90 days to provide evidence for this argument.

This policy brief, released in April 2001, proposes a 'triple-win strategy' to integrate trade liberalisation, environmental protection, and social development within the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process. It argues for moving away from a sanctions-based approach toward a cooperation-driven model to overcome protectionist fears and civil society opposition.