Search Climate Insights Directory

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 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 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 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) examines the global state of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP). It analyzes legal frameworks, national and international programs, and the specific challenges faced by emerging and developing economies in integrating environmental, social, and economic criteria into public purchasing.

The minutes of the Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), held in Manaus, Brazil, from June 12-15, 2007, detail the administrative, financial, and scientific progress of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Key discussions focused on the transition of research networks, the implementation of a new strategic planning process, and efforts to improve member country engagement and funding stability.

Minutes from the 24th meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Manaus, Brazil, from June 12-15, 2007. The meeting focused on scientific program updates, financial budgeting, strategic planning, and governance reforms.

The Financial and Administrative Committee (FAC) Report, published by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research on October 30, 2007, details the committee's activities and findings from a September 2007 meeting in Brazil. The report covers audit expectations, member country contributions, staff contracting issues, budget planning, and administrative system updates.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the gap between the proposed World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) framework for the protection of traditional knowledge (TK) and the actual demands of indigenous and local communities. It argues that the current IGC process is too anchored in existing intellectual property (IP) systems, which communities view as tools for misappropriation, and fails to adequately recognize customary laws and the right to self-determination.

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 report, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), analyzes various voluntary and legally binding international options to reduce risks to human health and the environment from mercury pollution. It evaluates these options against seven global priorities, including reducing atmospheric emissions, managing mercury waste, and curbing global supply.

This briefing by Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa, explains the rationale and intended structure of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). It argues that the command is a necessary shift from Cold War-era organizational structures to a 21st-century approach that prioritizes security capacity building, prevention, and inter-agency cooperation to support African stability and U.S. national security.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the trade policy challenges facing Malawi due to its dual membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It analyzes the technical and political implications of these overlapping memberships, particularly as these regional economic communities move toward forming customs unions, and evaluates the impact on Malawi's trade profiles and its negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

The document records the decisions made during the Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14-15, 2007. The meeting focused on administrative governance, budget approvals, and the appointment of key personnel and committees.

This research paper by Michael Tonry argues that incarceration rates are a matter of political policy rather than a response to crime levels, asserting that sentencing severity does not significantly impact crime trends. Using comparative data from several developed nations, the author contends that mandatory minimum sentences fail to deter crime or ensure consistency, and suggests that South Africa should reduce its imprisonment rates and adopt a structured approach to sentencing.

This report presents the findings of an external review conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The review evaluates the IAI's performance across its first 13 years, focusing on its scientific research, capacity building, funding, governance, and communication strategies.

The document is a list of participants for the 14th IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) Meeting and a Science Symposium held in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14-15, 2007. It lists representatives from various countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the United States, and Venezuela, as well as IAI directorate staff, external review committee members, and local staff from the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) assesses the environmental impacts of trade liberalization on Thailand's fisheries sector. It highlights the depletion of marine fish stocks, the ecological damage caused by intensive aquaculture, and the challenges of implementing environmental certification standards in the face of strong market demand for shrimp exports.

The report details the activities and findings of the Financial and Administrative Committee (FAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) following a meeting held from May 2-4, 2007, in Sao José dos Campos, Brazil. The committee reviewed the 2006/07 financial performance, the proposed 2007/08 budget, and the completion of the Procurement and Acquisitions Manual.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 2006 WTO panel reports in the EC-Biotech dispute, specifically focusing on the panel's refusal to integrate Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) into the interpretation of WTO law. The author argues that the panel's narrow interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties deviates from previous Appellate Body jurisprudence, such as the US-Shrimp case, and undermines the principle of 'mutual supportiveness' between trade and environmental policies.