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This report analyzes the compatibility of eco-labeling standards and green procurement policies with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, specifically for World Bank borrowers. It concludes that WTO rules generally do not present significant legal barriers to 'greening' project procurement, primarily because government procurement is largely excluded from the main WTO agreements for goods and services. However, the report highlights significant concerns from developing countries regarding the costs, technical burdens, and potential market access restrictions associated with eco-labels, particularly those based on non-product-related process and production methods (npr PPMs).

This 2005 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that fuel cells can be cost-effective distributed energy resources (DER) by capturing economic benefits beyond simple energy generation, such as deferring utility distribution investments and providing premium reliability for the digital economy.

This report, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre for the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, examines the results of Ecological Tax Reforms (ETR) in selected European Union countries, specifically Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. It analyzes how shifting the tax burden from labour to consumption and resource use can simultaneously improve environmental quality, reduce unemployment, and increase economic competitiveness. The document provides detailed case studies of these four nations and offers specific policy recommendations for implementing a similar green tax reform in Estonia.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the challenges facing the European Union (EU) following its expansion to 25 members on 1 May 2004. The author, Erik Jones, examines the institutional, political, and financial pressures resulting from enlargement, specifically focusing on decision-making, diversity, and the redistribution of resources.

This fact sheet, published by Friends of the Earth International, provides an overview of the European Investment Bank (EIB), detailing its governance, financial mechanisms, and its complex relationship with the European Union. The document critiques the EIB for its lack of transparency, insufficient environmental and social safeguards, and its tendency to operate as a private bank despite its public status.

This fact sheet, published by Friends of the Earth International in September 2004, evaluates the environmental policies and practices of the European Investment Bank (EIB). It contrasts the EIB's official declarations and commitments to sustainable development and EU environmental standards with the criticisms from NGOs, who argue that a significant gap remains between the bank's rhetoric and its actual investment practices.

This 2004 report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues that environmental rights are fundamental human rights, essential for survival, health, and dignity. It documents numerous global case studies where neoliberal economic globalization and corporate activities have led to the violation of these rights, including the displacement of indigenous peoples, toxic pollution, and the privatization of water. The document advocates for a framework of environmental justice, the recognition of new rights for climate refugees, and the enforcement of corporate accountability through legal mechanisms and international norms.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities from July 2003 to June 2004. It focuses on implementing six strategic goals related to research network growth, scientific agenda definition, capacity building in scientifically weaker countries, knowledge synthesis, dissemination of results, and increasing the institute's institutional profile.

The IAI Annual Program July 2004/June 2005 outlines the institutional, scientific, and administrative goals of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. The program focuses on managing research networks, enhancing capacity building through workshops in Costa Rica and Mexico, upgrading data systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and ensuring financial sustainability through resource mobilization and external auditing.

The document outlines the Annual Program of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the period from July 2004 to June 2005. It details a comprehensive operational plan divided into institutional management, scientific programs, capacity building, co-financing, communications, data systems, and administration.

This report from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the activities of its Directorate between December 2002 and May 2003. It outlines progress across six strategic goals, including the expansion of Climate Research Networks (CRNs), capacity-building in member countries, and improving the dissemination of research. The document highlights numerous international diplomatic and scientific engagements, new institutional agreements, fundraising efforts for training courses, and internal administrative reforms, while also addressing a financial and administrative dispute regarding project CRN-038.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and progress between December 2002 and May 2003. It outlines the implementation of six core strategies focused on consolidating research networks, developing a new scientific agenda, enhancing capacity building in scientifically weaker member countries, and increasing the institute's visibility through international partnerships and advisory services.

This briefing paper examines the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) within the WTO framework, focusing on its structure, the challenges of reaching consensus, and its implications for sustainable development and developing countries.

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 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.

A response to a Washington Post commentary arguing that European nations are not hypocrites for not yet ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, as they are waiting for the completion of the treaty's implementing rules.

This commemorative report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI), published in June 2001, celebrates its 30th anniversary by documenting community-led sustainability projects across its global network of 66 independent groups. The document highlights local initiatives in forest preservation, organic food systems, biodiversity conservation, climate action, and resistance to neoliberal economic globalization.

This 2001 research paper by CIEL argues for a comprehensive review of the WTO's TRIPS Agreement under Article 71.1 to ensure it supports sustainable development and the interests of developing countries. The authors highlight concerns over declining technology transfer, extreme industry consolidation in biotechnology, and a lack of general exceptions for public health and the environment. They recommend expanding the use of compulsory licensing, imposing obligations on patent holders, and maintaining the moratorium on non-violation complaints to prevent private property rights from overriding essential public policy goals.

The Quito Declaration is a statement issued by representatives of Indigenous organizations in May 2000, calling for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples' roles in environmental conservation and demanding their active participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes, specifically regarding COP 6 and the Clean Development Mechanism.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between corruption and development, with a specific focus on South Africa. It argues that corruption is a global phenomenon that distorts public spending, undermines efficiency, and discourages investment, thereby hindering economic growth and social equity. The authors contend that while economic liberalisation and democratisation can create opportunities for better governance, they are not panaceas; instead, a multifaceted approach involving institutional reform, legal frameworks, and strong political will is required to eradicate corruption and promote sustainable development.