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This research paper, prepared by Matthew Stilwell for the Center for International Environmental Law and published by the World Wide Fund for Nature in October 1999, proposes the use of the Expert Panel on Trade and Sustainable Development (EPTSD) Framework to reconcile conflicts between international trade, environment, and development policies. Using the WTO Shrimp-Turtle dispute and the potential US-EU GMO labelling conflict as case studies, the paper argues that formal WTO dispute settlement is often too adversarial to resolve underlying environmental and development issues. It advocates for a staged process of dispute prevention—moving from international cooperation and consultation to third-party assisted mediation before resorting to binding arbitration—to promote policy coherence and sustainable development.

This report, prepared by Greenpeace and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) as part of the ETO Consortium, examines the application of the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations (ETOs) to ecological destruction and climate change. It argues that states must be held accountable for human rights violations occurring outside their borders resulting from their own actions, omissions, or failure to regulate non-state actors, such as transnational corporations.

The Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Project (PHAM) is a large-scale run-of-the-river project in Chile designed for a capacity of 531 MW. Despite its framing as a public good, it faces intense opposition from local communities and environmental organizations due to severe impacts on water resources, human rights concerns, and alleged violations of environmental and social standards by its financiers, including the IFC and IDB.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Greenpeace analyzes the tensions between international trade rules, primarily those of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the conservation of global fisheries. It argues that current trade interpretations often hinder sustainable fisheries management by prohibiting regulations based on production and processing methods (PPMs). The authors propose a framework to integrate the precautionary approach into trade law, eliminate destructive subsidies, and ensure that investment liberalization does not undermine the ability of states to protect marine resources and traditional fishing communities.

An open letter from 252 legal experts to the participants of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, asserting that states have binding international legal obligations to phase out fossil fuels to prevent significant climate harm.

This open letter, published by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), is addressed to the participants of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia. It features a collection of statements from legal experts, academics, and policy advisors who argue that phasing out fossil fuels is a binding legal obligation under international law, rather than a matter of political discretion. The document emphasizes that current approvals for new fossil fuel projects and the continued use of subsidies violate international legal duties to prevent climate harm and protect human rights.

An open letter signed by 252 legal experts, academics, and professionals addressed to the participants of the First Conference for the Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia. The document asserts that states have binding international legal obligations to phase out fossil fuels to prevent significant climate damage and protect human rights.

This amicus curiae brief, submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), supports petitioners Miguel Ignacio Fredes González and Andrea Tuczek Fries in their claim against Chile. The document argues that the Chilean government violated the right to access information by providing incomplete data regarding the location and nature of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) released into the environment. CIEL provides technical details on the scientific uncertainty and risks associated with GMOs and analyzes international legal frameworks—including the Cartagena Protocol and the Aarhus Convention—to assert that transparency and public participation are essential for managing biosafety risks.

This research paper analyzes the legal and policy frictions between international trade agreements, primarily the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and environmental protections. It examines how GATT principles—such as Most-Favored-Nation and National Treatment—often conflict with environmental measures, including those found in multilateral agreements like the Montreal Protocol and CITES. The authors discuss the implications of the Uruguay Round negotiations and propose options for reconciling trade and environmental goals under the framework of sustainable development.

This research paper analyzes a 1991 General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) dispute resolution panel decision regarding a U.S. embargo on Mexican tuna. The panel found that the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) violated GATT by imposing quantitative restrictions on imports. The authors examine the legal conflict between international trade rules and environmental protections, arguing that the decision limits the ability of nations to enforce environmental standards on imported products unless those standards affect the physical makeup of the product or its sale.

This research paper by Donald M. Goldberg of the Center for International Environmental Law examines the structure, funding, and operational challenges of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) during its three-year pilot phase (1990-1993). The author highlights concerns from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and developing countries regarding the lack of transparency, democratic governance, and the potential for 'greenwashing' World Bank projects.

This document is a testimony provided by Donald Goldberg of the Center for International Environmental Law on April 14, 1994, to the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on International Development, Finance, Trade and Monetary Policy. Writing on behalf of a coalition of environmental NGOs, Goldberg outlines six recommendations to ensure the Global Environment Facility (GEF) achieves its mission of helping developing countries address global environmental problems as it moves beyond its pilot phase.

This document is an amicus curiae intervention submitted by the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the High Court of Kenya. The intervention argues that the Lamu Port – Southern Sudan – Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project, as planned, violates the Constitution of Kenya and various international treaties regarding the right to development, environmental protection, the prohibition of forced evictions, and the rights of indigenous peoples and cultural heritage.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the success of the Kyoto Protocol depends on the United States exercising moral leadership through domestic emission reductions and the closure of treaty loopholes.

This report chapter analyzes the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as a pioneering legal instrument that integrates environmental conservation with economic and trade goals. It specifically examines the CBD's regime for the trade of genetic resources, its recognition of the role of local and indigenous communities in sustainable production, and the contrast between the CBD's ecological economics approach and the neoclassical economic views prevalent in traditional trade agreements like GATT and NAFTA.

This guide, prepared for the UNCTAD Biotrade Initiative in collaboration with the CAF and the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), provides a legal framework and recommendations for national biotrade programs in the Andean Region. It analyzes the international legalities surrounding the trade of biodiversity-related tangibles (genetic resources, endangered species, agricultural products) and intangibles (traditional knowledge, intellectual property, environmental services, and carbon emissions).

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the human rights implications of decaBDE (decabromodiphenyl ether), an additive flame retardant used in plastics and textiles. It details the chemical's adverse health effects, its bioaccumulative nature, and how its presence in consumer products and the environment violates rights to health, life, adequate housing, food, water, and information.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the human rights implications of electronic waste (e-waste), focusing on the toxic chemicals used in electronics and the health and environmental hazards associated with unregulated recycling practices, particularly in developing countries.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the human rights impacts of electronic waste (e-waste), focusing on the toxic substances released during informal recycling and their effects on health, food security, and labor rights, particularly in developing nations.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the intersection of lead pollution and human rights, detailing the severe health impacts on children and adults and how these impacts violate international legal standards regarding the right to life, health, housing, and information.