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This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the progress and obstacles regarding trade and environment mandates following the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference (Doha). It details negotiations on the relationship between WTO rules and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), the liberalisation of environmental goods and services, and non-negotiating mandates such as market access and labelling.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the global trend of water privatization and the role of international financial institutions and corporations in commodifying water resources. It argues that water should be treated as a fundamental human right and a social good rather than a commodity, detailing various local and international resistance movements against corporate control of water.

This research paper reviews the ongoing debate within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding environmental labelling (eco-labels). It identifies structural obstacles, such as the lack of negotiating authority in the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), and substantive obstacles, such as the legal status of non-product-related process and production methods (nprPPMs). The paper highlights how issues like GMO labelling and labour standards complicate negotiations and emphasizes the critical need for technical assistance for developing countries to prevent eco-labels from becoming tools of "green protectionism."

This report analyzes the adoption and impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Argentine agriculture from the 1990s to 2003. It details the rapid expansion of glyphosate-tolerant soybean, the regulatory framework managed by CONABIA, and the socio-economic shifts resulting from structural reforms and technological intensification. The document evaluates the distribution of benefits between producers and multinational seed companies, the environmental effects of the 'no-till' (siembra directa) system, and the challenges posed by illegal seed markets ('bolsa blanca').

This report by Jenny Clover for the Institute for Security Studies examines the debate over Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Africa, specifically within the context of a food crisis in Southern Africa in 2002. The author argues that while GM technology offers potential productive gains, it cannot solve hunger on its own because food security is a complex issue involving economic, social, and political factors. The document highlights the tension between immediate humanitarian needs for food aid and long-term concerns regarding biodiversity, multinational corporate control of seeds, and trade restrictions, particularly with the European Union.

This briefing paper assesses the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held from 26 August to 4 September 2002 in Johannesburg. It details the resulting political declarations, implementation plans, and partnership commitments, while analyzing the political tensions between developed and developing nations regarding renewable energy targets, corporate accountability, and the role of the WTO in environmental governance.

This research paper examines the failure of the patent system to prevent the misappropriation of traditional knowledge (TK) and explores the use of the patent system as a defensive measure. It specifically analyzes how TK can be formally recognized as 'prior art' to defeat patent claims that lack novelty or an inventive step. The author reviews prior art definitions in the US, Japan, and Europe, as well as the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) framework, and provides recommendations for improving search procedures, implementing disclosure requirements, and developing standardized TK databases.

This research paper examines agri-environmental and rural development programs within the WTO framework, specifically focusing on the 'Green Box' of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). It analyzes the practices of the 'Quad' countries (EU, US, Canada, and Japan) and evaluates how the Doha Round negotiations might impact the ability of developing countries to implement similar sustainable agriculture policies.

This research paper, prepared for a Royal Institute of International Affairs conference, examines the implications of the Doha Ministerial Declaration's commitment to sustainable development. The author argues that achieving this objective requires a fundamental shift in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) institutional structure, moving beyond narrow commercial goals toward integrated impact assessments and increased transparency.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines how the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations following the 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference may undermine the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The document highlights conflicts between trade liberalization and biodiversity protection, specifically regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), agricultural subsidies, and intellectual property rights.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International argues that children and unborn babies are disproportionately exposed to and vulnerable to pesticides in food and the home. It criticizes the UK government for a lack of specific legal protections for children and calls for a ban on hormone-disrupting pesticides, the extension of strict pesticide limits to all foods, and a target of 30 per cent organic farmland by 2010.

This report analyzes the compliance system of the Kyoto Protocol, describing it as more robust than typical multilateral environmental agreements due to its quasi-judicial enforcement mechanisms and specific penalties for developed nations that fail to meet emissions targets.

The New Business Climate is a 2002 guide by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) designed to help corporations and institutions reduce carbon emissions while improving business performance. It argues that climate change presents both risks to asset values and opportunities for innovation, advocating for a transition from incremental thinking to radical resource efficiency and the use of emerging carbon markets to manage costs.

The Marrakech Accords establish a robust compliance system for the Kyoto Protocol, featuring a two-branch compliance committee (facilitative and enforcement) with membership based on equitable geographical representation and double majority voting. Annex I Parties failing to meet emissions targets face specific penalties, including deductions from future assigned amounts and loss of emissions trading privileges. While the system provides for public participation and appeals, the legal nature of its 'binding' consequences remains a point of contention among Parties, specifically the Umbrella Group.

A statement from the Basel Action Network and other environmental organizations opposing the United States government's intent to selectively ratify the 1989 Basel Convention while refusing to implement the 1995 Basel Ban Amendment.

This research paper analyzes the substantive scope of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), specifically focusing on Article I:3, which determines whether 'public services' are covered by the agreement. The author examines the legal definitions of services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority, evaluates the inconsistent interpretations provided by the WTO Secretariat and member states, and applies principles of public international law to argue for potential methods of narrowing the agreement's scope to protect national policy objectives.

This report provides a preliminary analysis of the potential environmental and trade implications of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on industrial restructuring, pollution levels, environmental management, and international trade dynamics.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a review of dispute resolution options for negotiators of the Draft Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Central and Western Pacific Region. It analyzes the existing legal frameworks of UNCLOS and the SSA, evaluates the effectiveness of various international tribunals and arbitration, and draws lessons from other international regimes—such as the WTO and the Montreal Protocol—to recommend mechanisms that enhance transparency, scientific rigor, and efficiency in fisheries management.

This 1999 guide by the Center for International Environmental Law provides activists with legal arguments to defend mandatory genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling against challenges from the World Trade Organization (WTO). It analyzes the application of the TBT and SPS Agreements, arguing that labeling is consistent with trade rules when based on the consumer's right to know and non-food-safety considerations.

This document contains the proceedings of a Trade and Sustainable Development Workshop held on 1-2 July 1999 in Midrand, South Africa. Hosted by the IUCN, the Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM), and the Trade and Industrial Policy Secretariat (TIPS), and funded by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the workshop aimed to identify international and domestic trends, research focus areas, and strategic interventions for South Africa regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trade policy negotiations to promote sustainable development.