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This document is an address by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) delivered to the 49th Session of UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board on September 25, 2012. Cosbey argues that the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference are insufficient for guiding states through the trade tensions arising from the transition to a green economy. He highlights the conflict between the use of green industrial policies—such as subsidies and local content requirements—and their impact on the multilateral trading system, particularly for developing countries. Cosbey calls for a non-legal, non-negotiating framework, potentially led by UNCTAD, to determine the propriety and effectiveness of these measures before they escalate into formal trade disputes.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks in Canada as they relate to Indigenous Peoples' Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs). It examines the tension between Canadian state law—characterized by a history of colonialism and assimilation—and the inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to govern their traditional lands and resources.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the impact of British Columbia's carbon tax and provides recommendations for its future. The document argues that the tax has successfully reduced emissions without hindering economic growth and suggests maintaining the current policy structure while addressing emerging challenges such as natural gas expansion and price misalignment with the United States.

This document describes the inaugural process of the Canadian Internet Forum (CIF), which took place from November 2010 to February 2011 to explore the public interest in the development and use of the Internet in Canada. The text also contains unrelated snippets regarding the use of dogs to detect oil spills under ice, a Parliamentary Budget Officer warning about the costs of a carbon capture tax credit, and the need for water infrastructure to mitigate climate change risks.

This case study report examines agricultural participation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) across four Canadian watersheds: the Okanagan Basin (BC), Lower Souris River (SK), Yamaska (QC), and Souris River (PEI). It analyzes the drivers and barriers to producer engagement, the institutional structures governing water management, and the resources provided by federal and provincial governments. The report concludes that while financial incentives are a primary driver for adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs), there is a critical need for better integration between high-level IWRM planning and on-the-ground agri-environmental implementation, supported by localized technical extension and consistent monitoring data.

This report presents the proceedings of a workshop held on June 1–2, 2010, at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The event brought together approximately 35 scholars to explore the role of social learning in environmental change, governance, and sustainability, focusing on its application across diverse contexts such as natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and formal education.

This report evaluates the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from university data centres in Canada by analyzing three relocation or modification scenarios and proposing a 'green community cloud' alternative. The study focuses on three institutions: Dalhousie University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Alberta.

This report, an excerpt from a paper presented at the Banff Dialogue in April 2010, argues for the creation of a coherent national energy strategy for Canada to better manage its diverse energy resources and navigate its heavy trade dependence on the United States while transitioning toward low-carbon energy.

This 2009 research paper examines the energy relationships between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, focusing on how their integrated energy infrastructure and differing regulatory regimes impact climate change policy. It details the energy profiles of each nation, discusses the role of agencies like the NEB and FERC, and identifies potential trade frictions such as 'Buy American' rules and low-carbon fuel standards. The author proposes three policy scenarios for 2020, concluding that a 'bottom-up' approach with increasing bilateral linkages between Canada and the U.S. is the most probable outcome.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), provides a literature review and conceptual foundation for developing sustainability indicators for the urban First Nations community in Winnipeg. It examines the historical context of First Nations in Canada, the challenges of data collection, and the application of culturally relevant frameworks, such as the medicine wheel, to measure well-being and guide policy action.

This 2007 guide for parliamentarians examines how International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) can constrain domestic public policy. It highlights a systemic lack of parliamentary oversight in treaty negotiation and the use of international arbitration by foreign investors to challenge state regulations in countries like the US, Canada, and South Africa. The document details specific legal disputes, Bolivia's withdrawal from ICSID, and calls for greater transparency in UNCITRAL arbitration rules to protect human rights and state sovereignty.

This research paper, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Environment Canada, outlines a conceptual framework for developing an Environment Outlook for Canada (EOC). It defines an environment outlook as a forward-looking integrated assessment that analyzes environmental change, causes, impacts, and policy responses to support proactive decision-making. The document details the potential scope, products, and governance structures for an EOC, emphasizing the need for a participatory process to ensure the resulting data is salient, credible, and legitimate.

This research paper, written by Dale S. Rothman of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Environment Canada, serves as a conceptual document for the development of the Canadian Environmental Outlook (CEO). It defines the CEO as an integrated environmental assessment designed to provide a forward-looking analysis of the interactions between society and the environment to support strategic decision-making and policy formulation in Canada.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), develops a conceptual methodology called the 'Impact Pathway approach' to value changes in agri-environmental indicators. The report tests this methodology on five specific indicators: Risk of Water Erosion, Risk of Water Contamination by Phosphorus, GHG Emissions, Energy Use Efficiency, and Wildlife Habitat Availability. It identifies critical data gaps, particularly in transport modelling for water-related indicators, and explores linkages between these valuations and integrated economic-environmental modelling and social indicators.

This research paper introduces MARKAL-Equity, a model developed to assess the distributional impacts of meeting Kyoto Protocol emission targets on different income groups in Canada's residential sector. The study finds that low-income households are the most vulnerable to energy price increases, experiencing the greatest reductions in energy service demand and consumption, and lacking the financial capacity to switch to more efficient technologies compared to middle- and high-income groups.

A letter from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment to the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada arguing that environmental sustainability is essential to the long-term economic sustainability of the Canadian health care system.

This case study examines the conflict between the U.S. pulp and paper industry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Greenpeace over the use of chlorine in bleaching processes. The central tension involves the production of toxic organochlorines, specifically dioxins, and the debate over whether the industry should move toward elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF) technologies. The document details the 'cluster rule' regulatory approach and the economic and environmental trade-offs associated with different bleaching standards.

A guide providing practical recommendations for physicians to reduce the environmental and health impacts of their medical offices through waste reduction, non-toxic procurement, and energy efficiency.

This executive summary examines provincial and municipal regulations regarding the use of pesticides for aesthetic purposes in Canada. It analyzes the structure, implementation, and effectiveness of these laws, identifying best practices and recommending improvements to reduce the use of non-essential pesticides.

The Advocacy and Mobilization Program (AMP) was a capacity-building initiative run by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) from 2022 to 2025. Designed to transform healthcare professionals (HCPs) into planetary health advocates, the program combined foundational knowledge with skills training in communications and government relations, culminating in a 'Hill Day' of direct political advocacy. While the program successfully increased participant confidence and advocacy skills, it faced challenges with staffing capacity and peer networking, leading CAPE to recommend more flexible, 'lighter-touch' training models for future engagement.