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This draft concept paper, developed by the Hemispheric Working Group on Trade and Environment, proposes the creation of an Americas Environmental Accord (AEA) to coordinate environmental sustainability and trade policies across the Western Hemisphere. It analyzes existing sub-regional models—including Mercosur, CARICOM, the Andean Community, the Central American Common Market, and NAFTA—to identify best practices for transparency, civil society participation, and the integration of environmental standards into economic agreements. The document argues that the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process should be supported by a coherent ecological cooperation agenda to ensure long-term sustainable development.

This policy brief examines China's strategic pursuit of natural resources and its expanding investment footprint in the Mekong region, specifically in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It details China's shift toward securing raw materials through direct investment and state-backed financing, while highlighting the resulting environmental and social risks for host countries.

This policy brief examines China's expanding economic role in the Mekong region, specifically its investments in natural resources, energy, and infrastructure in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It highlights China's strategic shift toward securing foreign resources to fuel its domestic industrial growth and the resulting environmental and social challenges in host countries.

This document is an introductory announcement and table of contents for the Great Transition Initiative (GTI) paper series, a collective project by scholars and activists aimed at imagining a global future characterized by human solidarity, enriched lives, and a healthy planet.

This briefing analyzes an August 5, 2002, interim ruling by a NAFTA Chapter 11 Tribunal in the case of Methanex vs. the United States of America. The Tribunal ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over Methanex's original claims because the California environmental measures banning MTBE did not have a "legally significant connection" to Methanex, which supplied a component (methanol) rather than the regulated product (MTBE). The Tribunal left open a narrow path for jurisdiction if Methanex can prove a specific discriminatory intent to harm the company, giving the claimant 90 days to provide evidence for this argument.

This policy brief, released in April 2001, proposes a 'triple-win strategy' to integrate trade liberalisation, environmental protection, and social development within the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process. It argues for moving away from a sanctions-based approach toward a cooperation-driven model to overcome protectionist fears and civil society opposition.

This research paper by Tom Rotherham of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the institutional framework of quality assurance—comprising rule-making, conformity assessment, and accreditation—and its role in facilitating international trade. It analyzes how the harmonization of these three pillars through international standards and mutual recognition agreements helps reduce technical barriers to trade and lowers compliance costs for producers.

This research paper by David H. Stanger for the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the development of an international framework for accreditation to facilitate sustainable trade. It details the roles of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), their respective Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs), and the technical distinctions between laboratory accreditation and certification.

This research paper by Howard Mann of the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how international trade and investment agreements, specifically NAFTA and WTO rules, impact the management of water as a public good. The author argues that while states retain legal jurisdiction, these agreements can severely limit sovereign control, lock in weak domestic management practices, and prioritize foreign investor rights over local and indigenous needs through secretive arbitration processes.

This research paper by Mark Halle examines the integration of environmental concerns and sustainable development within the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author argues that while formal negotiations and the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) have seen limited progress, the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) and Appellate Body have significantly advanced environmental principles by interpreting WTO law in the context of public international law and sustainable development.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra examines the role of services trade in transitioning to a circular economy. Based on a survey of 96 firms and 16 in-depth interviews, the report identifies key services—such as IT, R&D, and waste management—that enable circular business models. It analyzes the modes of service delivery, the impact of digitalization, and the regulatory barriers that hinder the international exchange of these services, ultimately proposing an integrated trade policy approach to support global resource efficiency.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) issued this statement to define its position on the interrelation between international trade, development, and the environment, specifically addressing the stagnation following the Seattle Ministerial Conference.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provide comments on draft rules for transparency in investor-State arbitration. The document argues for an 'opt-out' approach to ensure transparency is the default, criticizes broad tribunal discretion that could entrench a secretive status quo, and proposes specific modifications to draft articles regarding the publication of documents, awards, and hearing transcripts.

This discussion paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the rise of unsolicited proposals (USPs) in infrastructure procurement. It synthesizes findings from a Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) report, highlighting the risks USPs pose to transparency and value-for-money, and provides recommendations for governments to establish robust management frameworks. The paper specifically examines the tension between the expediency of USPs and the principles of sustainable public procurement (SPP), which emphasizes life-cycle costs and strategic needs analysis.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that urban planning, specifically the creation of "complete communities," is an underutilized tool for reducing energy consumption and emissions, particularly in North America's car-centric cities.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explores the intersection of the mining industry and Water-Energy-Food (WEF) security. It proposes a methodological framework using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model and hydrological modelling to manage the risks and opportunities associated with mining developments, featuring a current application of this approach in Suriname.

A fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development detailing the economic and operational benefits of water retention projects for livestock farm owners and their neighbors in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, highlighting the need for integrated policy approaches to avoid unintended consequences when managing these three interdependent essentials. It details IISD's efforts to operationalize WEF security through watershed-based management in Canada and stakeholder engagement in Suriname.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the difficulties of achieving consistency and coherency in watershed indicators across Canada and in transboundary contexts. Based on activities conducted by the Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) in 2014–2015, including webinars and a workshop, the document identifies systemic challenges such as jurisdictional fragmentation, varying data collection methodologies, and imbalanced institutional capacities. It provides a series of recommendations for developing and improving indicator frameworks to better inform policy and environmental management.

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) describes the role of watershed indicator systems in overcoming planning barriers such as data gaps and jurisdictional fragmentation. It outlines IISD's expertise in designing these systems and provides two case studies: the Lake Balaton Region in Hungary and the city of Winnipeg in Canada.