Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines five essential elements for establishing a 'gender lens' in international trade policy. It discusses the ongoing efforts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG) to integrate gender equality and women's economic empowerment into trade rules, arguing that a comprehensive framework is necessary to ensure trade policies support the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights commitments.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs argues that trade policy should facilitate a 'just and inclusive global green economy' by balancing regulatory requirements ('sticks') with supportive measures ('carrots'). It suggests that WTO members should align trade-related environmental measures with established principles of international environmental law and adopt a data-driven diagnostic approach to identify specific barriers to green transitions across different countries and sectors.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the historical and current tensions between international trade rules and environmental protection. It highlights the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), arguing that the removal of harmful subsidies in fossil fuels, fisheries, and agriculture is essential for achieving sustainable development and meeting climate goals.

This policy brief examines the polluter-pays principle (PPP), which requires pollution producers to bear the costs of managing and preventing environmental and human health damage. While established in European Union and OECD frameworks, the PPP faces challenges in universal international application due to ambiguities in defining 'the polluter' and differing national legal systems. The document explores the PPP's intersection with international climate change law, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), and efforts by global financial institutions to implement carbon pricing.

This legal briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the decision of an arbitral tribunal to deny an amicus curiae submission by CIEL and the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale in the case of Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. v. United Mexican States. The briefing argues that the denial undermines the legitimacy of the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system and ignores the significant environmental and human rights risks associated with the Don Diego seabed mining project.

This report analyzes the global development of green taxonomies, highlighting three main approaches: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria (TSC), and principle-based. It focuses on the alignment between the EU and China taxonomies, noting that while the EU emphasizes six environmental objectives and strict 'do no significant harm' (DNSH) criteria, China focuses on three broader objectives aligned with its national pollution and climate goals. The report emphasizes the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT) as a tool to reduce market fragmentation and facilitate cross-border investment. It also discusses implementation, noting mandatory disclosure requirements in the EU and mandatory labeling for onshore green bonds in China.

This policy guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development advocates for the integration of health and environmental sectors to address the "triple planetary crisis" of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It aims to bridge the gap between health professionals and global environmental policy negotiations to support planetary health and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) synthesizes the activities of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the Committee's use of the State reporting procedure to address mitigation, adaptation, extractive activities, and climate finance, while also reviewing the Committee's General Comments on science and land rights.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reviews the activities of the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the Committee's increasing focus on climate-related recommendations, its inquiries into fossil fuel extraction and public participation, and the implications of specific individual communications on state obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The 'State of Global Environmental Governance 2022' report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reviews the progress of multilateral environmental negotiations in 2022. It highlights a significant rebound in face-to-face diplomacy following the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in landmark agreements on biodiversity and the establishment of a loss and damage fund for climate-vulnerable nations. The report also examines the integration of human rights into environmental policy and the impact of geopolitical conflicts, specifically the war in Ukraine, on global environmental governance.

An open letter from the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) to its partners detailing joint accomplishments in 2021, focusing on scaling resilience innovations, promoting shared learning, and convening diverse voices to influence global policy and investment.

This case study examines mine waste governance and leadership in Ghana and the Province of British Columbia, Canada, highlighting how different economic sizes and mining histories can both implement best practices to mitigate environmental and social risks.

This report documents the 52nd meeting of the Executive Council (EC-52) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held via videoconference on November 18, 2021. The meeting focused on implementing decisions from the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29), reviewing the operational budget, and updating the Council on scientific projects and capacity-building initiatives across the Americas.

The report details the 52nd meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council, held via videoconference on 18 November 2021. The meeting focused on implementing decisions from the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29), reviewing the core budget and endowment fund, and updating the Council on science and capacity-building initiatives, including a new drought information system for southern South America.

This statement from the Africa Policy Research Institute and other signatories condemns the travel restrictions imposed on Southern African countries following the detection of the Omicron variant. The authors argue that these bans are scientifically unjustified, racially biased, and economically damaging, while highlighting a systemic failure in global vaccine equity.

A statement by several African policy leaders criticizing the imposition of unilateral travel bans on Southern Africa following the detection of a COVID-19 variant, arguing that such measures are ineffective, economically damaging, and ignore the systemic inequities in global vaccine distribution.

This research paper explores the intersection of trade policy and the transition to a low-carbon circular economy, arguing that circular solutions are indispensable for achieving global decarbonization goals. The authors advocate for government incentives to prioritize secondary materials over primary resources, the scaling of business models focused on product longevity and reuse, and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to eliminate barriers to circular goods and services.

An analysis by Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs regarding opportunities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address environmental crises and sustainable development during its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This policy brief examines the development and implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding global treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from mercury emissions and releases. It details the transition from regional marine protections to a comprehensive global framework, the specific challenges posed by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), and the reasons why mercury was addressed separately from other toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium.

A statement by research organizations tracking global recovery spending calling for the redirection of COVID-19 stimulus away from carbon-intensive activities toward nature- and climate-positive investments to align with the 1.5°C temperature limit of the Paris Agreement.