Search Climate Insights Directory

This 2004 policy paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the rapid growth of global aviation is unsustainable due to its significant contribution to climate change and local pollution. It highlights that aviation's radiative forcing makes its emissions three times more damaging than ground-level CO2 and criticizes government subsidies that artificially stimulate demand. The report recommends a shift toward demand management, including the internalisation of external costs, shifting short-haul passengers to rail, and implementing strict noise and emission limits at airports.

The research paper examines the formation and early challenges of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, a partnership aimed at increasing the influence of developing nations in global economic and security governance.

A coalition of organizations wrote to the U.S. Trade Representative in 2004 requesting that the USTR increase transparency in trade negotiations by publishing proposed agreement texts and negotiating proposals on its website and soliciting public comment via the Federal Register. The authors argue that the current ad hoc disclosure process risks bias and excludes non-insider stakeholders, suggesting that the U.S. should require negotiating partners to agree to such transparency as a condition of entry into negotiations.

The South Centre and CIEL IP Quarterly Update for the second quarter of 2004 analyzes international intellectual property (IP) policy-making, focusing on the upcoming WIPO General Assembly and developments across multilateral, plurilateral, and bilateral fora. The report highlights the challenges developing countries face when developed nations shift negotiations to bilateral 'TRIPS-plus' agreements to circumvent multilateral flexibilities. Key areas of concern include the protection of genetic resources, the proposed broadcasting treaty, and the Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT).

This 2004 guide by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides strategies for reducing energy consumption and environmental impact associated with home electronics. It emphasizes that changing user habits—such as unplugging devices and enabling power management—is often more effective for saving energy than simply purchasing more efficient hardware.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of research on the interface between trade and the environment. Based on a survey of 315 publications from 2002 to 2003 and consultations with an expert group, the document identifies significant gaps in current research—particularly regarding developing countries and specific WTO negotiating options—and proposes a new research agenda to better support sustainable development.

This briefing by Razeen Sally examines the challenges facing the World Trade Organization (WTO) amidst a shifting global power structure characterized by overwhelming US dominance and the decline of European and Japanese influence. The author argues that the WTO is suffering from regulatory overload, excessive legalisation, and political deadlock, which have crippled its ability to function as a negotiating mechanism. To survive as a vehicle for liberalisation, the author suggests the WTO must return to its core purpose of reducing trade barriers and secure clear US leadership supported by pragmatic coalitions in the Asia-Pacific region.

A position paper by Friends of the Earth International from August 2003 urging WTO member states to reject negotiations on a multilateral investment agreement at the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Cancún, arguing such an agreement would prioritize corporate rights over public interest and environmental protection.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) examines how multilateral trade negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) could negatively impact the rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically regarding territorial rights, traditional knowledge, and the management of protected areas and natural resources.

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 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 report "Failing the challenge" by Friends of the Earth International is a critical response to Shell's 2003 corporate report. It argues that despite public commitments to sustainable development and human rights, Shell continues to cause significant environmental damage and health crises in communities surrounding its global operations, particularly in the Global South.

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 Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) details the status of negotiations within the WTO TRIPs Council regarding intellectual property rights, public health, and geographical indications following the 2001 Doha Declaration.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the progress of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules following the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha. It examines the divisions between developed and developing nations regarding anti-dumping measures, subsidies—specifically fisheries subsidies—and the governance of regional trade agreements (RTAs).

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the progress of the WTO Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance (WGTDF). Established by the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the group aims to analyze how the multilateral trading system can help resolve the external indebtedness of developing and least-developed countries and improve coherence between trade and international financial policies.

The report 'Empowering Communities Through Corporate Transparency' by the International Right to Know (IRTK) coalition advocates for the creation of disclosure standards for U.S.-based or U.S.-traded corporations operating abroad. It argues that a 'right-to-know loophole' exists where companies are not required to disclose environmental, labor, and human rights data overseas that they must disclose domestically under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). Through various case studies, the report illustrates how lack of transparency has contributed to industrial disasters, toxic pollution, and human rights abuses.

This 2003 research paper examines the linkages between the information society and sustainable development, arguing that policy coherence is needed between these two often-isolated fields. It identifies six analytical frameworks: environmental information systems (EIS), eco-efficiency and innovation, negative environmental impacts of ICT, modifying consumer demand, public participation, and poverty reduction. While highlighting benefits like dematerialization, transport efficiency, and poverty mapping, the paper warns of the 'rebound effect' and toxic waste from ICT products.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It examines the official Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, various unofficial scientific and NGO forums, and the perceived failures of the decade following the Rio Earth Summit.