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This report examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization in the wood and wood products sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between high regional demand and the challenges of low-value exports, illegal logging, and inefficient processing infrastructure.

This report, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, examines the complex relationship between international trade and climate change. It presents perspectives from political representatives and environmental organizations on how trade policy can either hinder or support climate goals, arguing for a paradigm shift that prioritizes environmental standards and global solidarity over market liberalization.

This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the SEED Initiative examines the challenges and processes of scaling up and replicating social and environmental enterprises. It contrasts the 'large scale' ambitions of international development donors with the modest, viability-focused growth goals of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs), suggesting that recognition and reward programs should provide more tailored, long-term support and help create enabling environments rather than expecting entrepreneurs to drive systemic societal transformation alone.

This policy brief examines China's increasing economic influence in the Mekong region, specifically Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It details how China's domestic demand for natural resources has driven foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade, filling an investment vacuum left by international financial institutions. While providing infrastructure and capital, Chinese investments in hydropower, mining, and agribusiness present significant environmental and social risks due to a lack of adherence to international sustainability standards.

The Foundation Course on Air Quality Management in Asia is a self-study guide for adult learners designed to provide an understanding of the components necessary to manage urban air pollution and improve air quality. Developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the University of York, the course consists of six modules created by an international team of experts.

This guide, part of the Foundation Course on Air Quality Management in Asia, provides a comprehensive technical framework for developing emissions inventories and implementing control measures for air pollutants. It details the methodologies for quantifying emissions from stationary, area, and mobile sources, evaluates various international software tools for inventory compilation, and describes the physical and chemical processes used to control particulate and gaseous emissions.

This fact sheet describes the Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP), a software tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to analyze the environmental impacts of economic activity and policy. REAP focuses on consumption-based accounting, tracking resource use and emissions through supply chains to generate ecological, carbon, and greenhouse gas footprints for various spatial scales, primarily within the UK.

This research paper examines the potential for biodiesel production in the Lao PDR as a means to reduce dependence on imported fuels amidst trade liberalization through ASEAN and the WTO. It evaluates various feedstock options, identifies significant environmental risks associated with land-use change, and recommends the creation of a cohesive national biofuels policy integrated with strategic environmental assessments.

This research paper analyzes the environmental impacts of trade liberalization on the organic agriculture sector in Lao PDR. It examines how increased market access to the EU, US, and ASEAN countries creates opportunities for 'organic by default' products but also poses risks such as deforestation and the potential shift toward intensive agriculture due to irregular supply and a lack of formal certification systems.

This research paper examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization within the medicinal plants and spices sector of Lao PDR. It analyzes the tension between the economic goals of poverty reduction and export growth and the resulting pressures on biodiversity, specifically highlighting the risks of unsustainable wild harvesting versus the potential of cultivation and certification.

This research paper examines the environmental implications of trade liberalization within the silk handicrafts sector of Lao PDR. While the sector is currently characterized by a low environmental footprint due to organic sericulture and natural dyeing, the author warns that scaling up production to meet growing international demand may lead to increased water pollution and land-use pressures. The paper suggests that maintaining 'green' credentials is essential for accessing premium niche markets and recommends the implementation of a National Export Strategy, improved wastewater treatment, and the establishment of a National Production Centre for sericulture.

This research paper examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization and regional integration on the tourism sector in Lao PDR. It highlights the growth of the industry, the role of ecotourism in conservation, and the risks of unplanned development, while providing strategic policy recommendations to ensure sustainable growth.

This research paper examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization on the wood and wood products sector in the Lao PDR. It analyzes how regional demand, particularly from China, and integration into trade agreements like ASEAN and AFTA influence forest decline, biodiversity loss, and the transition from low-value raw log exports to high-value processed wood products.

This strategy note by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines how intellectual property (IP) provisions in bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States undermine access to essential medicines. It argues that "TRIPS-plus" provisions dismantle the public health safeguards established by the 2001 Doha Declaration and suggests strategic actions for civil society to shift the global debate from IP protection to health-driven research and development (R&D).

This report examines how the consolidation and increased market power of global supermarket chains affect global supply chains, specifically focusing on the challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers in the developing world, with a particular emphasis on the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

This report summarizes a two-day workshop held in Geneva on April 11-12, 2007, which brought together 40 participants to share and discuss climate adaptation tools for international development. The workshop aimed to improve decision-making to reduce risks and identify opportunities associated with climate variability and change, specifically within the context of development assistance.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the Swedish Ozone Layer Protection programme (OLP), a bilateral initiative from 1999 to 2006 designed to support the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in developing countries and economies in transition. The report identifies country ownership, capacity building, and stakeholder participation as critical governance factors for the successful national phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). It argues that a shift from top-down regulation to bottom-up governance is necessary for sustainable implementation and provides recommendations for reforming the incentive structures of implementing agencies and the status of national ozone units.

This report, based on a survey of 20 humanitarian and development professionals, examines the role of land ownership and tenure in community resilience and recovery following natural disasters. It highlights the critical gap between immediate humanitarian relief and long-term reconstruction, arguing that secure land rights are essential for economic regeneration and reducing future vulnerability.

This research paper examines the state of human trafficking research in South Africa as of 2006, arguing that existing data is rudimentary, methodologically weak, and overly focused on sexual exploitation. It calls for more sophisticated, dispassionate research and the adoption of innovative methodologies to inform the development of specialized anti-trafficking legislation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an update on the status of subsidy negotiations within the WTO's Doha Round as of November 2005. It analyzes the slow progress across agriculture, fisheries, services, and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), noting that while fisheries have seen some conceptual movement, other sectors remain stalled due to technical complexities, political disputes, and a lack of consensus on definitions.