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This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law describes the threats posed to the Cacataibo indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation (Camanos) by the Peruvian government's August 2007 approval of oil and gas exploration in Block 107. The document details the failure of the Peruvian state to establish proposed territorial reserves and the deficiencies in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 2D Seismic Project, which involves dynamite blasts in traditional territories.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) details the threats posed to the Cacataibo indigenous people in voluntary isolation in the Peruvian Amazon due to the approval of oil exploration in Lote 107. It highlights the failure of the Peruvian state to establish proposed territorial reserves and the risks associated with seismic exploration using dynamite.

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 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.

A joint statement by several environmental organizations praising the environmental provisions of the Peru Free Trade Agreement, specifically its measures to combat illegal logging and its requirements for adhering to Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

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.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a legal analysis of the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) Resource Allocation Framework (RAF). The RAF uses a GEF Benefits Index (GBI) and a GEF Performance Index (GPI) to determine funding allocations for recipient countries. The study evaluates whether this framework is consistent with the GEF Instrument and the guidance provided by the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) of the conventions the GEF serves, specifically the UNFCCC and the CBD.

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 amicus curiae submission, filed by a coalition of legal and environmental organizations, argues that the investor Biwater Gauff (Tanzania) Limited failed to meet its professional and legal responsibilities during the privatization of water services in Dar es Salaam. The submission contends that the investor's failure to conduct proper due diligence and its potential use of a 'renegotiation strategy'—bidding low to win a contract with the intent to renegotiate terms later—should preclude it from seeking compensation for the contract's termination by the Government of Tanzania.

This legal analysis by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), presented to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights on March 1, 2007, examines the international legal personality of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and their responsibilities regarding human rights law. The document argues that IFIs are subjects of international law and cannot escape human rights obligations, despite a historical reluctance to recognize civil and political rights and the inadequacy of their internal accountability mechanisms.

This document is an order from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) regarding a petition by five non-governmental organizations to participate as amicus curiae in the case of Suez, Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona, S.A., and Vivendi Universal S.A. v. The Argentine Republic. The Tribunal grants the petition, allowing the organizations to make a joint submission based on the public interest nature of the dispute, while denying their request for unrestricted access to arbitration documents.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) proposes specific revisions to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules to increase transparency and public participation in 'State arbitrations'. The authors argue that arbitrations involving a State as a party differ fundamentally from private commercial arbitrations because they implicate the public interest, public treasuries, and public policy issues.

This research paper by Pedro Roffe examines the challenges developing countries face when implementing intellectual property (IP) provisions within bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs). It analyzes the shift from the flexible pre-TRIPS era to a 'TRIPS-Plus' environment, where developed nations—particularly the USA, EU, and EFTA—push for higher protection standards. The author argues that developing countries should move beyond defensive implementation toward a creative approach that modernizes national institutions and utilizes existing legal flexibilities to promote local innovation and public health.

A 2007 guide by CIEL that explains the structure and functioning of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to help civil society organizations participate in intellectual property discussions. It critiques WIPO's historical focus on expanding IP protections at the expense of sustainable development goals, specifically regarding access to medicines, food security, and traditional knowledge.

This 2007 guide by the Center for International Environmental Law explains how local communities can use the Overseas Private Investment Corporation's (OPIC) Accountability Mechanism to address negative impacts from OPIC-supported projects. It details two complaint paths—Compliance Review and Problem-Solving—outlining eligibility, filing requirements, and the process for investigation and resolution. The guide also describes OPIC's project categorization system, including 'Category F' projects which are categorically prohibited due to severe environmental or social risks.

This research paper argues that the U.S. federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 has failed to effectively manage industrial chemicals, leading many U.S. states to enact their own stricter regulations. The author contends that this state-level activism, combined with international regulatory trends—specifically in the European Union—is creating the necessary political pressure for a comprehensive overhaul of federal chemical policy.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) details the proceedings of the 11th session of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) held in July 2007. The meeting focused on the protection of Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs), resulting in a recommendation to renew the IGC mandate for two years without a definitive agreement on a binding legal instrument.

This report examines the European Union's (EU) pursuit of 'TRIPS-plus' intellectual property (IP) provisions within the European Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiated with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries, arguing that these efforts could negatively impact developing countries' prospects in multilateral IP negotiations.

This report discusses the World Health Organization's (WHO) role in addressing the impact of intellectual property and trade policies on public health, specifically highlighting how bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) may undermine the public health protections established by the Doha Declaration.

In a letter dated October 10, 2006, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) urges the Canadian government to adopt a policy of requesting web-cast hearings for all WTO dispute settlements. While praising Canada's use of closed-circuit television for the Beef Hormones case hearings in Geneva during 2005 and 2006, CIEL argues that physical attendance is prohibitively expensive for citizens of developing countries and the Global South. The letter asserts that web-casting would increase transparency and efficiency by removing the need for physical space and security clearances.