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This briefing analyzes the agricultural negotiations for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on food security, domestic support, and the specific needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It argues that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments to regulate food and agricultural trade.

This briefing by Thiru Balasubramaniam of Knowledge Ecology International examines the stalled negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding a waiver of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to improve global access to COVID-19 health technologies ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the outcomes of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC held in Durban, South Africa, in 2011. It evaluates the progress made toward a binding global climate agreement, the operationalization of financing and adaptation mechanisms, and the remaining gaps in mitigation ambition.

This fact sheet outlines the economic and environmental benefits of Green Public Procurement (GPP) based on the IISD GPP model, highlighting that GPP can offset its own costs through energy, health, and environmental savings.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how performance requirements (PRs)—stipulations imposed on foreign investors to achieve specific development goals—are treated in international investment treaties. It analyzes the tension between the use of PRs to foster sustainable development and the prohibitions on such measures found in WTO agreements and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), highlighting the risks to the policy space of developing countries.

This case study examines Botswana's strategy to develop downstream diamond beneficiation by leveraging its strong bargaining position during license negotiations with De Beers. The government established a framework to move from raw diamond extraction into cutting, polishing, and trading, though it faces ongoing challenges from low-cost Asian competitors and depleting reserves.

This research paper examines the complex relationship between anthropogenic climate change and forced human migration. It challenges simplistic predictions of mass migration, arguing that displacement is driven by a combination of climate processes (slow-onset changes) and climate events (sudden hazards), mediated by non-climate factors such as governance, poverty, and adaptive capacity. The author outlines three speculative scenarios for future migration based on IPCC emission storylines and discusses the significant development implications for the poorest countries, which are expected to bear the greatest burden of providing for climate migrants.

This briefing paper, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development on 14 December 2004, presents the collective understanding of an international research collaboration on the future of the global climate regime following the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period. The authors explore two primary strategies—'Cap First' and 'Empower First'—to reach a long-term global solution consisting of a cap-and-trade scheme, technology development agreements, and assistance for developing countries.

This 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the use and impact of investment incentives used by Southeast Asian nations to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). It analyzes how these incentives affect economic growth, government revenue, technology transfer, employment, and the environment, while exploring the dynamics of investment competition within the region and with China.

This research paper by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the conceptual, legal, and geopolitical challenges of implementing Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs). It analyzes BCAs as tools to address industrial competitiveness and carbon leakage, while evaluating their compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and their potential impact on international climate negotiations.

This briefing note, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International, Geneva, examines the challenges faced by developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide and capacity gaps that hinder these nations' ability to participate in negotiations and implement future agreements. The document proposes shifting from a narrow focus on regulatory cooperation toward a comprehensive approach that includes 'enabling issues' such as infrastructure and technical assistance, and suggests adopting a hybrid Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) model based on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to ensure capacity-building commitments are enforceable.

This report examines the status of the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce among World Trade Organization (WTO) members as of February 2021, specifically analyzing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these negotiations and the broader digital economy. It details the acceleration of e-commerce adoption, the persistence of the digital divide, and the progress of ten thematic small groups working toward a consolidated negotiating text for the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This fact sheet, based on a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, outlines the potential climate and financial impacts of fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and fossil energy taxation across 32 countries by 2030.

This September 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the financing requirements for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. It analyzes the gap between current funding levels and estimated needs, evaluates various proposed funding mechanisms—including national and international levies—and discusses the governance challenges of managing these funds within the UNFCCC framework ahead of the COP 15 negotiations in Copenhagen.

This executive summary examines the potential impacts of proposed World Trade Organization (WTO) fisheries subsidy rules on the Southern Longline (SLL) tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The study focuses on South Pacific albacore and analyzes six primary fleets to determine how prohibitions on subsidies for illegal fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity would affect vessel profitability and regional management.

This policy brief examines the legal complexities of invoking force majeure during the COVID-19 pandemic, warning governments that arguing against the concept to hold companies accountable may undermine their own future legal defenses for pandemic-related state actions.

This report, submitted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to the UNFCCC First Global Stocktake, analyzes the failure of governments to align public financial flows with the Paris Agreement. It argues that public support for fossil fuels remains high and often increases, creating a financial barrier to clean energy deployment. The document provides evidence of subsidy trends, the impact of COVID-19 recovery packages, and offers a framework for fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) to accelerate the energy transition while ensuring social equity.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes a watershed-scale bioeconomy that utilizes naturally occurring plant materials and agricultural by-products to create sustainable industries. By bundling tangible products (like bioenergy and bioplastics) with ecosystem services (such as nutrient recovery and carbon credits), IISD aims to improve water quality and rural economies. Examples include using cattails in the Lake Winnipeg region of Canada and common reeds at Wuliangsuhai Lake in China to remove excess nutrients from the environment while generating commercial revenue.

This brochure describes the activities and focus areas of the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) Economic Law and Policy Program, which provides technical expertise and policy advice to government officials in developing countries to foster equitable and environmentally sustainable economic development.

This fact sheet describes the Economic Law and Policy program of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), which provides technical support, legal advice, and global platforms to help governments and stakeholders design economic policies that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote low-carbon, equitable growth.