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This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of investment treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms in global governance. It argues that traditional treaties, designed to protect foreign investors and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), often conflict with sustainable development goals by creating 'regulatory chill' and imposing high financial costs on host states. The document advocates for an ambitious reform of investment law to prioritize public interest, environmental protection, and human rights over investor protections.

This briefing paper analyzes the prospects and challenges of negotiating a multilateral investment agreement within the World Trade Organization (WTO) following the Doha Ministerial Statement. It critiques existing international investment agreements (IIAs), specifically NAFTA's Chapter 11 and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), for prioritizing investor rights over public welfare and sustainable development. The author argues that the WTO may lack the institutional capacity to deliver a balanced agreement and proposes a new framework that incorporates obligations for investors and home states alongside the rights of host states to regulate in the public interest.

This 2004 research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the relationship between international investment agreements (IIAs) and sustainable development. It argues that the traditional model of IIAs, which focuses heavily on investor protections, has failed to empirically prove its ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and often conflicts with the regulatory needs and development priorities of host states. The paper advocates for a 'Southern Agenda' that balances private investor rights with public goods, transparency, and the specific needs of developing countries.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the 'Development Box' (DB), a proposed mechanism within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to provide developing countries with enhanced special and differential treatment (S&D) measures in agriculture. The proposal seeks to address negative outcomes of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) by prioritizing food security and the livelihoods of poor farmers over strict trade liberalization.

This policy brief examines the tensions between the WTO's TRIPs Agreement and the protection of traditional knowledge, particularly regarding patentability, bioprospecting, and benefit-sharing. It analyzes alternative institutional models such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, while highlighting the risks of misappropriation and the need for an international agreement to support sustainable development for indigenous communities.

This 2012 case study examines investment incentives for renewable energy in Viet Nam, finding that while a policy framework exists (including tax breaks and price subsidies), these incentives have a limited impact on investment decisions. Major barriers include uncompetitive electricity off-take prices set by the state utility EVN, regulatory opacity, and a lack of trust in government guarantees.

This executive summary proposes a "kerosene to solar subsidy swap" in India, suggesting that government funds currently used for kerosene subsidies be redirected to provide marginalized households with off-grid pico solar PV lighting systems. The document argues that such a transition would reduce indoor air pollution and health risks while leveraging a mature market of affordable, certified solar products.

This seminar note, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA), examines potential legal and economic conflicts between the Kyoto Protocol's climate mitigation goals and the trade rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The document identifies risks associated with flexibility mechanisms, domestic policies, and enforcement measures, suggesting that proactive coordination between environmental and trade negotiators is necessary to prevent protectionism and legal disputes.

This white paper examines the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) within sustainable public procurement (SPP), arguing that current models often fail to deliver the best value for taxpayers by overemphasizing upfront purchase prices over long-term operational and environmental costs. The authors identify systemic barriers—including conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of professional expertise, and data gaps—and recommend that LCC be integrated into high-level public expenditure and resource allocation policies rather than remaining a routine procurement task.

This guide, produced by the OECD and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), provides policy recommendations for developing countries to combat base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) in the mining sector. It specifically addresses the use of excessive debt by multinational enterprises (MNEs) to shift profits abroad through interest deductions. The document details common aggressive tax planning structures, explains the application of OECD BEPS Action 4, and suggests a combination of fiscal tools to protect national tax bases while maintaining an attractive investment climate.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) discusses the integration of social and environmental safeguards into mangrove restoration projects to ensure climate resilience for both ecosystems and communities. It emphasizes that effective restoration must move beyond simple planting metrics to include biophysical variables and socio-economic indicators. The document provides a framework of safeguards based on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) guidelines and illustrates their application through the Natur’ELLES project in Senegal, which focuses on gender equality, climate adaptation, and economic development.

This report summarizes a workshop held on March 26, 2009, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to assess climate change adaptation activities, research, and capacity in Manitoba. The event brought together academics, policy-makers, and project coordinators to identify priority areas for a proposed Manitoba Climate Research Table and discuss regional adaptation strategies.

This document is a technical annex providing the data, definitions, and analytical methodology used for the International Institute for Sustainable Development's digital story, "Mapping India’s Energy Transition: A Data Dive Into the Strategic Role of State-Owned Enterprises in the Energy Sector." It details the parameters collected for nine central public sector undertakings (PSUs) and India as a whole for the 2024–25 financial year.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the energy transition in Chhattisgarh, India, from FY 2020 to FY 2024. It quantifies government subsidies, public sector undertaking (PSU) investments, and energy-related revenues, highlighting the state's deep fiscal and economic reliance on coal and oil and gas (O&G). The report emphasizes the vulnerability of Chhattisgarh to the energy transition and recommends diversifying revenue sources, better targeting electricity subsidies, and accelerating the shift toward renewable energy to mitigate economic risks.

This fact sheet provides a progress update on Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7, 'Ensuring Environmental Sustainability', detailing global trends in forest loss, carbon emissions, water stress, ozone depletion, biodiversity, and urban slum conditions.

This briefing note presents resilience indicators for measuring local food systems based on community consultations in Honduras and Nicaragua. It advocates for a systems approach that expands food security assessments beyond food availability, access, and utilization to include supporting infrastructure, natural resources, and governance.

This working paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues for a principles-based approach to developing Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (SDGIs) to accompany the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mandated by the Rio+20 Conference. It emphasizes that the technical process for creating indicators should remain separate from the political goal-setting process to ensure scientific objectivity.

This November 2016 briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of Quebec in helping Canada meet its G7 commitment to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies by 2025. The document focuses specifically on consumption subsidies in Quebec, which it argues act as a 'negative price on carbon' and undermine the province's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets.

This document consists of the final submissions made by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on October 16, 2000, to an arbitral tribunal. The IISD is petitioning for amicus curiae status in the Chapter 11 NAFTA arbitration between Methanex Corporation and the United States of America, arguing that the case involves significant public interest and environmental issues that warrant independent legal perspectives.

This report evaluates Mexico's readiness and capacity to implement the Mining Policy Framework (MPM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF). Conducted between May and December 2021, the assessment identifies strengths in geological data and regulatory development, while highlighting critical weaknesses in national planning, legal updates, financial benefit distribution, and the management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).