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This executive summary examines the domestic import regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) across various global regions and analyzes their compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It highlights the contrast between the stringent regulatory regimes in the European Union and the more flexible approach in the United States, while also detailing the emerging biosafety frameworks in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The document specifically evaluates potential legal conflicts regarding mandatory labelling, traceability, and the 'precautionary principle' within the context of WTO agreements such as the SPS and TBT Agreements.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how international financial institutions, investment treaties, and trade agreements pressure national governments to privatize water services, potentially compromising the human right to water and limiting regulatory flexibility.

The Action List from the Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held from 3-5 June 2003 in Boulder, USA, records the administrative and financial decisions made during the session. Key outcomes include the election of the Bureau, approval of the 2003/2004 Core Budget and Annual Program, and the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Relations with Member States.

This document is a list of actions and decisions from the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Boulder, United States, from June 3 to 5, 2003.

This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the international legal framework for foreign investment, arguing that current treaties and agreements prioritize investor rights and liberalization over environmental protection, social goals, and corporate accountability.

This report by Friends of the Earth International describes the role of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in Latin America in protecting and restoring biodiversity. It highlights specific local projects in Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay while critiquing the impact of industrial monocultures, the 'Green Revolution', and neoliberal trade policies on global biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that current global trade rules, particularly those of the WTO, undermine food sovereignty and sustainability. It advocates for a shift from industrial, export-oriented agriculture toward localized, sustainable food systems that prioritize the rights of small farmers and the environment over corporate interests.

The document contains the approved minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the transition to a new Director, financial audits, the restructuring of working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment and scientific capacity building in the Americas.

Minutes from the 16th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the appointment of a new Executive Director, financial audits, the restructuring of ad hoc working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment.

The report documents the 18th meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held on January 29-30, 2003, in Mendoza, Argentina. The meeting focused on reviewing the IAI Science Agenda, evaluating Core Research Network (CRN) projects, planning future funding calls, and discussing collaborations with international bodies like the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP).

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted a core budget request for the 2003/2004 fiscal year, maintaining a total request of $939,170, identical to the previous year. The document outlines a 'zero growth' approach to operating expenses while proposing an 8% increase in member country contributions to avoid a cash deficit by 2005/2006.

This report by Konrad von Moltke for the Commonwealth Secretariat argues for the creation of a Cotonou Investment Agreement to amplify the investment provisions of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). The author contends that existing bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are too narrow, focusing primarily on investor protection without empirical evidence of benefiting developing countries. The proposed agreement would balance investor rights with host state development goals, incorporate principles of good governance, and establish a Cotonou Investment Fund and an Observatory for ACP Investment to monitor progress toward sustainable development and poverty eradication in ACP countries.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the status of agricultural negotiations following the Doha Ministerial Declaration. It outlines the 'Doha Mandate' for market access, export subsidies, and domestic support, while highlighting the deep divisions between developed nations, the Cairns Group, and the Like-minded Group of developing countries regarding the implementation and definition of these commitments.

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 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').

The document contains the minutes and resolutions of the Tenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held on June 3 and 5, 2003, in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The meeting focused on approving the annual program and core budget for FY 2003/2004, updating the IAI Science Agenda, and addressing critical funding shortages caused by member country arrears.

The document contains the minutes and action lists from the Fifteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on June 25-26, 2002, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The meeting focused on financial management, the approval of scientific grants, the selection of new Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members, and the establishment of an External Review Committee.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and various civil society organizations calling on WTO member states to reject exclusive 'mini-ministerials' and 'Green Room' meetings, arguing these processes are undemocratic and lack transparency.

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.