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This report, submitted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to the UNFCCC First Global Stocktake, analyzes the failure of governments to align public financial flows with the Paris Agreement. It argues that public support for fossil fuels remains high and often increases, creating a financial barrier to clean energy deployment. The document provides evidence of subsidy trends, the impact of COVID-19 recovery packages, and offers a framework for fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) to accelerate the energy transition while ensuring social equity.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the implications of the July 2025 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, specifically regarding environmentally harmful subsidies. It argues that the ICJ's findings transform the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies from a political commitment into a legal imperative, potentially exposing states to international and domestic litigation.

This report is a response from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to the United Nations Secretariat regarding the mandate review of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). IISD recommends renewing the IGF's mandate for a second five-year term but argues that the forum must evolve from a general discussion space into a multi-function body with greater analytic capacity, increased transparency in its governance, and stronger linkages to global policy issues such as sustainable development and climate change.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes a watershed-scale bioeconomy that utilizes naturally occurring plant materials and agricultural by-products to create sustainable industries. By bundling tangible products (like bioenergy and bioplastics) with ecosystem services (such as nutrient recovery and carbon credits), IISD aims to improve water quality and rural economies. Examples include using cattails in the Lake Winnipeg region of Canada and common reeds at Wuliangsuhai Lake in China to remove excess nutrients from the environment while generating commercial revenue.

This fact sheet describes the activities of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Energy Program, which provides guidance to authorities on transitioning to sustainable energy systems, reforming fossil fuel subsidies, and implementing international climate commitments.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, with a specific focus on Manitoba, Canada. It details the services wetlands provide—such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—while highlighting the severe loss of these ecosystems due to agriculture and urbanization. The document also explores innovative uses for cattails as bioenergy and discusses regional conservation and restoration initiatives.

The document is a brochure for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), an independent policy research organization. It outlines the organization's mission to provide the knowledge necessary for sustainable development through six core programs: Sustainable Economies, Clean Energy, Fresh Water, Resilient Communities, SDG Knowledge, and Reporting Services.

This fact sheet describes the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) approach to freshwater management, which integrates scientific research from the IISD Experimental Lakes Area with policy solutions for watershed management, bioeconomies, and international basin cooperation.

This fact sheet outlines the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) Arctic Initiative, which focuses on supporting bottom-up transformations to sustainability in the Arctic region. The initiative addresses root causes of sustainability challenges through four primary areas: climate change adaptation and food security, extractive industries, infrastructure and renewable energy development, and transformative knowledge.

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 policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines agricultural cooperatives as a model for inclusive investment. It details the different types of cooperatives, their benefits for smallholder farmers, the role of foreign investment in these structures, and the necessary legal and governmental frameworks to support their success.

This briefing paper analyzes the prospects and challenges of negotiating a multilateral investment agreement within the World Trade Organization (WTO) following the Doha Ministerial Statement. It critiques existing international investment agreements (IIAs), specifically NAFTA's Chapter 11 and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), for prioritizing investor rights over public welfare and sustainable development. The author argues that the WTO may lack the institutional capacity to deliver a balanced agreement and proposes a new framework that incorporates obligations for investors and home states alongside the rights of host states to regulate in the public interest.

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 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 document consists of the final submissions made by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on October 16, 2000, to an arbitral tribunal. The IISD is petitioning for amicus curiae status in the Chapter 11 NAFTA arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States of America, arguing that the case involves significant public interest and environmental issues that warrant independent legal perspectives.

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 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explores the communication channels, education opportunities, and networking patterns of youth across the circumpolar region. Based on a limited sample of 19 interviews and media scans, the study identifies a lack of youth-specific mainstream media, significant barriers to formal education in Northern Canada, and a reliance on personal, face-to-face interaction for effective engagement. The report highlights the role of the OOKPIK website in hosting directories of youth networks and media to improve connectivity among young Northerners.

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 briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines the water science community's perspective on the role of water in the green economy, emphasizing that water security is fundamental to food and energy production and requires integrated management to address climate and land-use change.

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.