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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 amicus curiae brief, submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), supports petitioners Miguel Ignacio Fredes González and Andrea Tuczek Fries in their claim against Chile. The document argues that the Chilean government violated the right to access information by providing incomplete data regarding the location and nature of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) released into the environment. CIEL provides technical details on the scientific uncertainty and risks associated with GMOs and analyzes international legal frameworks—including the Cartagena Protocol and the Aarhus Convention—to assert that transparency and public participation are essential for managing biosafety risks.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines how European financial centres can leverage green bonds to enhance their competitiveness and scale up sustainable finance. It details the role of stock exchanges, sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, and regulators in developing green bond markets, providing specific case studies from cities such as London, Luxembourg, Stockholm, Milan, Paris, and Dublin.

The report 'Playing With Fire' by Sandbag assesses plans to convert European coal power stations to burn biomass, primarily wood pellets. It argues that these conversions, driven by EU legislation and subsidies, risk accelerating climate change due to long carbon payback periods and significant forest loss, while providing minimal electricity relative to the cost and environmental impact.

This research paper proposes a flexible framework for electricity policy in a hypothetical "51st State," focusing on system optimization across affordability, reliability, and environmental performance. It outlines modernized principles for rate design and market structure that accommodate the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs) and smart-grid technologies, arguing that these innovations challenge the traditional view of utilities as natural monopolies.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that the 'financialization of nature'—the process of assigning prices to ecosystems and atmospheric services—creates new markets that benefit financial actors and corporations while failing to protect the environment and harming local communities.

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 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of investment treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms in global governance. It argues that traditional investment treaties, which prioritize investor protection, often fail to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and instead create significant financial and legal burdens for host states, potentially hindering sustainable development and climate action.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of investment treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms in global governance. It argues that traditional treaties, designed to protect foreign investors and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), often conflict with sustainable development goals by creating 'regulatory chill' and imposing high financial costs on host states. The document advocates for an ambitious reform of investment law to prioritize public interest, environmental protection, and human rights over investor protections.

This report analyzes South Africa's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019–2020 term. It examines the current geopolitical dynamics of the Council, the expectations placed on South Africa as a regional power, and provides strategic recommendations for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to maximize the country's international visibility and influence.

This pre-read document, authored by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), provides a comprehensive overview of the building energy modeling (BEM) industry in the United States to prepare attendees for the BEM Innovation Summit. It details the history of BEM, identifies systemic barriers to quality and credibility, analyzes the current state of simulation tools and practitioner training, and explores market drivers such as LEED certification and federal energy regulations.

This research paper by Shada Islam, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in May 2009, examines the European Union's (EU) use of 'strategic partnerships' to increase its global political influence. The author argues that while these agreements boost the EU's visibility, they often lack substance and are hindered by internal EU divisions, a reliance on 'soft power' over military capabilities, and diverging geostrategic interests with partners such as China and India.

The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact Guidebook outlines a global effort to decarbonize electricity systems through five key principles: hourly time-matching, local procurement, technology inclusivity, additionality of new generation, and maximizing system impact. It provides a roadmap for energy buyers, suppliers, and governments to transition from annual carbon-free claims to a more granular, hourly matching system using tools like Granular Certificates and smart metering.

This document is a book of abstracts from the Science and Research Symposium, a segment of the first-ever Global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference (SBEC) held in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 26th to 28th, 2018. It compiles nearly seventy abstracts submitted by global scholars and practitioners, focusing on the role of scientific research, technology, and innovation in harnessing the Blue Economy sustainably. The abstracts are organized into thematic areas including sustainable resource use, climate action resilience, global connectivity and transportation, and sustainable cities, with an additional focus on human resource capacity.

This document is the consolidated financial statements and independent audit report for the World Resources Institute (WRI) and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2016, and 2015. It details the organization's financial position, activities, cash flows, and the legal structure of its global entities, including offices in India, China, and Europe.

This report analyzes the global health and economic burden of red and processed meat consumption, finding that in 2021, these foods caused over 600,000 deaths and millions of years of healthy life lost. It highlights that wealthy nations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania face the highest disease burdens and often spend heavily on treating preventable conditions rather than investing in prevention. The report argues that dietary interventions, such as reducing meat intake, could save billions of dollars in healthcare costs—for example, a 30% reduction in processed meat burden could save the US USD 21 billion annually—and significantly reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.