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This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the global energy system is unsustainable and unjust, driven by corporate power and 'extractivism'. It advocates for a transition to a 'climate-safe, just and sustainable' system based on the principle of energy sovereignty, while warning against the risks of corporate capture during the shift to renewable energy.

This document provides the key terms and methodology for the Forest Declaration Assessment, focusing on indicators for forest loss, degradation, and restoration. It details the use of a linear reduction pathway to reach 'gross zero' deforestation by 2030 and outlines the data sources and cost-effectiveness thresholds used to estimate global restoration potential through 2050.

This report by the Green Economy Coalition reviews the first ten years of the SEED Awards (2005-2015), an initiative founded by UNEP, UNDP, and IUCN to support social and environmental enterprises. It analyzes the survival and impact of 202 SEED Winners across 37 countries, highlighting the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships and tailored support in fostering green and inclusive growth at the grassroots level.

This document is a Vietnamese translation of excerpts from the 'Boom & Burst Coal 2024' report by Global Energy Monitor and its partners. It analyzes global coal power trends in 2023, highlighting a dichotomy where new construction has hit a 9-year low outside China but an 8-year high within China. The report provides a detailed assessment of Vietnam's energy transition, focusing on the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), while noting that global coal capacity reached an all-time high in 2023.

A December 2019 briefing by Global Energy Monitor detailing the financial risks associated with Japanese public finance institutions' continued support for coal power projects in South and Southeast Asia amidst falling renewable energy costs.

This document is a joint public comment submission by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) regarding the draft South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). The submission argues that the current draft over-relies on private investment and market liberalisation, neglecting the role of state-led industrial policy, public ownership, and the protection of workers' rights during the energy transition.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice analyzes the impact of President Donald Trump's second administration's tariff policies on African nations and proposes a strategic response based on rerouting trade, subverting US policy through industrialization, and collective negotiation.

This fact sheet describes the advisory and capacity development services provided by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help low- and middle-income governments and regional bodies establish legal and policy frameworks for responsible private sector investment in agriculture.

This report examines the tension between trade liberalization and environmental conservation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It highlights how rapid economic growth and infrastructure development have exacerbated illegal wildlife and timber trade and increased vulnerability to climate change, while regional governance remains hampered by non-binding agreements and limited administrative capacity.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the use of registration and approval requirements in investment treaties to limit their scope of application. It examines how these criteria are used by states to control the quality of investments and limit exposure to international arbitration, providing a comparative analysis of regional agreements (ASEAN, COMESA) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), alongside an analysis of arbitral awards that have interpreted these provisions.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a set of guidelines for the design and implementation of Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) regimes. Based on two years of national stakeholder consultations and Global Stakeholder Dialogues, the document offers recommendations to help policy-makers balance climate ambition with the need to avoid trade frictions and regulatory fragmentation.

This fact sheet describes the Trade Knowledge Network (TKN), a global collaboration of research institutions coordinated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) since 1998. The TKN aims to promote sustainable development by strengthening research capacity in developing countries and generating policy analysis on trade and investment.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. It details the current legislative status, the deployment of emissions trading systems (ETS), and the challenges associated with carbon taxes and international trade implications, such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

This 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the use and impact of investment incentives used by Southeast Asian nations to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). It analyzes how these incentives affect economic growth, government revenue, technology transfer, employment, and the environment, while exploring the dynamics of investment competition within the region and with China.

This policy brief examines China's strategic pursuit of bauxite resources in the Mekong region, specifically Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, to support its growing aluminum industry. It analyzes the economic drivers, the role of Chinese state-owned enterprises, the regulatory challenges in host countries, and the significant environmental and social risks associated with bauxite mining and smelting.

This 2004 research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the relationship between international investment agreements (IIAs) and sustainable development. It argues that the traditional model of IIAs, which focuses heavily on investor protections, has failed to empirically prove its ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and often conflicts with the regulatory needs and development priorities of host states. The paper advocates for a 'Southern Agenda' that balances private investor rights with public goods, transparency, and the specific needs of developing countries.

This 2012 case study examines investment incentives for renewable energy in Viet Nam, finding that while a policy framework exists (including tax breaks and price subsidies), these incentives have a limited impact on investment decisions. Major barriers include uncompetitive electricity off-take prices set by the state utility EVN, regulatory opacity, and a lack of trust in government guarantees.

This white paper examines the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) within sustainable public procurement (SPP), arguing that current models often fail to deliver the best value for taxpayers by overemphasizing upfront purchase prices over long-term operational and environmental costs. The authors identify systemic barriers—including conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of professional expertise, and data gaps—and recommend that LCC be integrated into high-level public expenditure and resource allocation policies rather than remaining a routine procurement task.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) defines and establishes operating principles for 'formal knowledge networks' designed to influence sustainable development policy. It distinguishes these from other collaboration models—such as communities of practice or information networks—by emphasizing a structured, outcome-oriented approach that targets decision-makers rather than just facilitating information exchange among members.

This 2011 report assesses Vietnam's capacity to integrate sustainability criteria into public infrastructure procurement. It finds that while Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are compulsory, they are poorly enforced due to limited resources. Sustainability standards are largely absent from bidding laws, appearing only in technical specifications with low weighting (10-20%) compared to cost. The report highlights a significant information gap regarding international standards like ISO 26000 and notes that SMEs are driven by market pressures rather than government guidance. As ODA funding declines, the report warns that the shift toward Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) could potentially compromise environmental and social standards to attract investors. Key recommendations include developing a formal SPP roadmap, integrating sustainability into the pre-selection of suppliers, and utilizing accredited external auditors for EIA compliance.