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This research paper argues that the non-violation remedy—which allows a WTO Member to challenge another's measure that is otherwise WTO-consistent but nullifies or impairs a benefit—should not be applied to the TRIPS Agreement. The authors contend that the remedy is outdated in a rules-based system, creates systemic incoherence, undermines the regulatory sovereignty of developing countries, and lacks sufficient legal guidance for fair application.

This research paper analyzes the substantive scope of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), specifically focusing on Article I:3, which determines whether 'public services' are covered by the agreement. The author examines the legal definitions of services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority, evaluates the inconsistent interpretations provided by the WTO Secretariat and member states, and applies principles of public international law to argue for potential methods of narrowing the agreement's scope to protect national policy objectives.

This 2001 research paper by CIEL argues for a comprehensive review of the WTO's TRIPS Agreement under Article 71.1 to ensure it supports sustainable development and the interests of developing countries. The authors highlight concerns over declining technology transfer, extreme industry consolidation in biotechnology, and a lack of general exceptions for public health and the environment. They recommend expanding the use of compulsory licensing, imposing obligations on patent holders, and maintaining the moratorium on non-violation complaints to prevent private property rights from overriding essential public policy goals.

Attorney Glenn Wiser argues that the US government is ignoring the IPCC's warnings of catastrophic global warming—including a potential 10.4-degree temperature increase by 2100—by prioritizing tax cuts over climate investment. He contends that the cost of transitioning to renewable energy and energy efficiency is a small fraction of the $3 trillion budget surplus predicted by the Congressional Budget Office for the following decade.

This joint discussion paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and WWF International examines the tensions between the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). It analyzes how intellectual property rights (IPRs) can hinder the CBD's goals regarding benefit sharing, traditional knowledge, and technology transfer, and provides a set of international and national recommendations to harmonize these legal frameworks.

A joint statement from several environmental organizations providing recommendations to the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure that the proposed United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) protects environmental standards, incorporates the precautionary principle, and avoids trade liberalization in sensitive sectors like forestry and mining.

An open letter from civil society representatives in Chad and Cameroon to World Bank President Wolfensohn expressing concerns over the terms of reference for the International Advisory Group (IAG) created to monitor the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project.

A joint statement by several environmental organizations providing public comments on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Chile. The document argues that the FTA must not weaken environmental laws and should instead promote higher environmental standards, the precautionary principle, and transparency in dispute resolution.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) proposes a hybrid liability rule for Article 17 emissions trading under the Kyoto Protocol to resolve disputes between seller and buyer liability. The proposal centers on a 'commitment period reserve' to ensure environmental integrity and market liquidity while preventing a 'domino effect' of non-compliance.

An amended petition filed on October 13, 2000, by Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), the Bluewater Network of Earth Island Institute, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) requesting permission to participate as amici curiae in the NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States.

The Center for International Environmental Law and a coalition of NGOs provided comments on the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the International Advisory Group (IAG) for the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline. The authors argue that the IAG must have a specific mandate to monitor human rights, possess enforcement authority to suspend loan disbursements if conditions are not met, and maintain a transparent appointment process involving civil society input.

This discussion draft handbook, published by the Center for International Environmental Law in September 2000, provides guidance for project-affected people on how to file complaints with the Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

The Quito Declaration is a statement issued by representatives of Indigenous organizations in May 2000, calling for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples' roles in environmental conservation and demanding their active participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes, specifically regarding COP 6 and the Clean Development Mechanism.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the World Bank's proposed transition from Operational Directive (OD 4.30) to Operational Policy (OP 4.12) regarding involuntary resettlement. CIEL argues that the new policy relaxes standards for restoration of living conditions, prioritizes cash over land compensation, and removes protections for vulnerable groups and 'voluntary' settlers.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides comments on the Joint Working Group on Compliance (JWGC) Co-Chairs' "Elements" paper regarding the Kyoto Protocol's compliance system. CIEL advocates for a standing compliance body with distinct facilitative, enforcement, and eligibility branches, emphasizing transparency, civil society participation, and a dynamic Compliance Fund to replace "borrowing" as a remedy for non-compliance.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law argues against the inclusion of a 'WTO supremacy clause' in the proposed POPs Convention and advocates for the use of multilateral trade measures to eliminate persistent organic pollutants. It explains how such measures can be justified under WTO environmental exceptions and argues that multilateral agreements should be presumed WTO-consistent.

A 1999 guide by CIEL explaining how citizens can use the World Bank Inspection Panel to report policy violations in development projects. It details eligibility criteria, the investigation process, the limitations of the Panel's power, and the risks of borrower reprisals.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law surveys compliance information and response systems across various multilateral agreements to provide lessons for policy makers designing the Kyoto Protocol's compliance mechanisms. It analyzes how different regimes handle reporting, review, initiation of non-compliance procedures, determination of violations, and the application of facilitative or punitive response measures.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a review of dispute resolution options for negotiators of the Draft Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Central and Western Pacific Region. It analyzes the existing legal frameworks of UNCLOS and the SSA, evaluates the effectiveness of various international tribunals and arbitration, and draws lessons from other international regimes—such as the WTO and the Montreal Protocol—to recommend mechanisms that enhance transparency, scientific rigor, and efficiency in fisheries management.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) submitted comments to the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) arguing that traditional knowledge of biological diversity is frequently overlooked as prior art, leading to the improper granting of patents. The document recommends stricter disclosure requirements for applicants, the systematic use of ethnobotanical databases and herbarium specimens in searches, and the consideration of moral grounds for denying patents on sacred indigenous resources.