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Offshore Wind: Can the United States Catch up with Europe?
As of 2016, Europe dominated the global offshore wind market, with the UK, Germany, and Denmark leading in installed capacity. The United States, while possessing vast potential (over 4,000 GW), was in the early stages of deployment with its first commercial project at Block Island. The document highlights the technical advantages of offshore wind—such as stronger winds and proximity to coastal population centers—and notes the significant job creation potential in the EU sector.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Restoring Multilateral Trade Cooperation
This policy brief, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs, provides recommendations to restore multilateral trade cooperation and the central role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) amidst a systemic crisis characterized by the failure of the Doha Round and the rise of Mega-Preferential Trade Arrangements (MPTAs).
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Document type: Policy brief
Uruguay muestra el camino al dejar las negociaciones del acuerdo secreto del TISA
A statement by Friends of the Earth International announcing and celebrating the decision of the Uruguayan government to withdraw from the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations following a successful public mobilization campaign.
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Document type: Statement
Les prescriptions de résultats dans les traités d’investissements
This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines performance requirements (PRs) in investment treaties, analyzing their types, their prohibition under WTO rules, and their treatment in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). It evaluates how these requirements impact the policy flexibility of developing countries and provides options for states to preserve their ability to impose PRs to maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of foreign direct investment.
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Document type: Guide
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Through Transformative Governance Practices and Vertical Collaboration at the National and Subnational Levels in Asia Pacific
This report summarizes the outcomes of the SDplanNet-Asia Pacific Regional Workshop Series held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2014. It analyzes existing governance practices for sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, identifies gaps in vertical and horizontal integration, and proposes a capacity-building agenda for 2014–2015 to help national and subnational planners implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Document type: Report
China and Liberia: Engagement in a Post-Conflict Country
This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the diplomatic, economic, and security engagement between China and Liberia from 2003 to 2013. It analyzes China's role in the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), bilateral development aid, trade imbalances, and large-scale mining investments, concluding that the relationship is characterized by a significant imbalance where China is the 'absolute winner'.
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Document type: Research paper
Statement of Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on October 30, 2013, argues that the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly regarding toxic chemicals. CIEL warns that mechanisms like regulatory harmonization, mutual recognition, and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) may lower safety standards to a 'lowest-common denominator' and chill the development of more protective laws in the U.S., EU, and globally.
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Document type: Statement
La Politique Etrangere du Sénégal Depuis 2000
This research paper analyzes the evolution of Senegal's foreign policy from 2000 to 2013, focusing on the transition from the administration of President Abdoulaye Wade to that of President Macky Sall. It examines the shift toward 'technicization' and economic diplomacy, the concentration of power within the executive branch, and the influence of pan-Africanism.
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Document type: Research paper
The Foreign Policy of Senegal Since 2000
This research paper analyzes the foreign policy of Senegal from 2000 to 2013, highlighting a shift from traditional diplomacy to a technical, economy-driven approach under President Abdoulaye Wade. It details the concentration of diplomatic power in the presidency, the marginalization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the legislature, and the pursuit of South-South cooperation with emerging powers like China and Dubai. The paper concludes that the 2012 election of President Macky Sall marked a return to more classical diplomacy, prioritizing relations with France and neighboring states.
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Document type: Research paper
CRED v.1.4 Technical Report
The CRED v.1.4 Technical Report describes the methodology of the Climate and Regional Economics of Development (CRED) model, an integrated assessment model designed to estimate the optimal pace and distribution of global investment in emissions mitigation and climate policy costs.
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Document type: Report
Sustainable Development of the Chinese Copper Market
This report analyzes the structure, production, and sustainability of the Chinese copper supply chain as of 2010. It details China's position as the world's largest producer and consumer of refined copper, examines the environmental and social impacts of the industry, and outlines the regulatory framework governing smeltingS smelting, imports, and exports.
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Document type: Report
The Economics of Intellectual Property Rights in Developing Countries
This policy briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic relationship between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and development in developing countries. It analyzes the trade-offs between providing incentives for innovators through temporary monopolies and ensuring public access to essential knowledge and medicines. The document reviews the impact of IPRs across various sectors, the role of international agreements like TRIPS, and the debate over whether strong IPR protection stimulates or hinders economic growth and technology transfer in developing nations.
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Document type: Briefing
Environmental Goods Negotiations
This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the ongoing WTO negotiations on environmental goods. It argues that current lists of goods for liberalization are dominated by developed countries and proposes including environmentally preferable products (EPPs) and implementing Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) to ensure a balanced distribution of trade gains for developing nations.
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Document type: Research paper
Aiding or Abetting?
This research paper examines the impact of foreign aid on political stability in the Melanesian Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu). It argues that while aid is officially presented as altruistic, it is often used by donor nations like Australia, Japan, and China to secure geo-strategic influence and resource access. The author finds that aid can support stability through governance and peace-building initiatives, but can also 'abet' instability by fostering corruption, widening wealth gaps, creating aid dependency, and inadvertently financing internal repression.
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Document type: Research paper
Securing Enough to Eat
This 2005 IISD report examines food security as a fundamental human right, moving beyond simple supply metrics to include distribution and individual access. It evaluates four strategies for achieving food security: food self-sufficiency, trade liberalization, food sovereignty, and multi-functional agriculture. The report argues that while trade can stabilize supply, it can also undermine local production and increase vulnerability. It concludes that a pragmatic approach combining flexible trade rules with national policy space and sustainable agricultural practices is necessary to ensure long-term food security.
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Document type: Report
Triad Societies and Chinese Organised Crime in South Africa
This research paper examines the presence and activities of Chinese organised criminal groups and triad societies in South Africa. It details their evolution from niche trades like shark fins to diversified criminal enterprises including abalone smuggling, drug trafficking, and counterfeit goods, while analyzing the challenges faced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in monitoring these secretive, hierarchical organisations.
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Document type: Research paper
The Negawatt Revolution: Electric Efficiency and Asian Development
The research paper "The Negawatt Revolution: Electric Efficiency and Asian Development" argues that Asian development is hindered by the adoption of inefficient electrical equipment and a utility business model focused on increasing sales rather than customer satisfaction. The authors contrast this with a shift in the U.S. utility sector toward "negawatts"—saving electricity through efficiency and renewables—which is presented as a significantly cheaper and more sustainable alternative to building new power plants.
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Document type: Research paper
matimba-health-risk-assessment_5-65d8da46f8ffa3b8.pdf
This 2006 report by INFOTOX for Eskom reviews international literature to identify risk factors for quantifying health impacts associated with PM, NO2, and SO2 emissions. It highlights the cardiovascular and respiratory risks of particulate matter, identifies highly susceptible subpopulations (children, elderly, and the chronically ill), and notes significant data gaps in South African provincial hospital admission records that hinder precise local risk quantification.
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Document type: Report
matimba-health-risk-assessment_6-e4803f6ab69f5bcb.pdf
This report reviews risk factors to quantify the potential health impacts of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from various Eskom operations. It synthesizes global epidemiological data from organizations like the WHO and USEPA to establish risk estimates for mortality and morbidity, while incorporating South African provincial population and health data to support a health risk assessment.
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Document type: Report
EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADE & POSITIVE MEASURES IN MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS: LESSONS FROM THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL
This report by the Center for International Environmental Law, prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme, evaluates the effectiveness of trade and positive measures within the Montreal Protocol. It analyzes how these mechanisms—ranging from import/export bans on ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to financial assistance for developing nations—have driven near-universal ratification and compliance to reduce global emissions of controlled substances.
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Document type: Report