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This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines global trends in the governance, management, and reprocessing of tailings from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). It highlights the severe environmental and health risks associated with the indiscriminate use of mercury and cyanide, the lack of specific regulatory frameworks for tailings management at international, regional, and national levels, and the potential for recovering critical minerals from these waste products.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the current technological landscape of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and the potential for emerging technologies to drive sustainable development. It analyzes the ASM life cycle—from exploration to mine closure—and identifies gaps in technology adoption, particularly regarding worker safety, environmental protection, and financial inclusion. The document highlights the dual nature of technological advancement: while it can increase productivity and recovery rates, it also risks displacing labor, especially women, and potentially increasing environmental degradation through overmining.

This executive summary outlines a roadmap for rethinking international investment treaties by shifting the focus from fixing existing treaty problems to identifying the foundational policy problems the regime should solve. The authors analyze three main categories: the encouragement of sustainable investment, the regulation of investment project impacts, and cross-cutting governance and international cooperation issues.

This executive summary, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in May 2024, proposes a new framework for designing international investment treaties. Rather than focusing on the flaws of existing regimes, the document suggests a 'roadmap' approach that identifies urgent policy problems in international investment governance and evaluates whether treaties are the appropriate tool to solve them, emphasizing sustainable investment, the regulation of project impacts, and international cooperation.

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the increasing trend of incorporating voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) into free trade agreements (FTAs) and provides recommendations to maximize their effectiveness in promoting sustainable global production and consumption.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) supports Canada's Budget 2024 pledge to release a policy by fall 2024 to end domestic public finance for fossil fuels. The IISD notes that between 2020 and 2022, domestic fossil fuel support ranged from CAD 8.1 billion to CAD 14.1 billion annually, primarily driven by Export Development Canada. While welcoming investments in skilled trades (CAD 100 million), credential recognition (CAD 50 million), and the Green Building Strategy, the IISD emphasizes that Canada needs to invest roughly 2% of its GDP annually in climate initiatives to remain competitive and mitigate climate change.

This report provides an economic valuation of the Parques del Río Norte expansion project in Medellín, Colombia, which aims to restore urban green space to mitigate the effects of climate change and rapid urbanization.

This policy brief analyzes human capital trends in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2020. While Indonesia and Ethiopia saw overall growth that stalled recently, Trinidad and Tobago experienced a significant decline after 2008. The report emphasizes that human capital constitutes over half of the comprehensive wealth in these nations and urges diversification away from concentrated sectors (like agriculture in Ethiopia and services in Indonesia) and declining industries (like petroleum in Trinidad and Tobago) to ensure future prosperity.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines natural capital trends in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2020. It argues that relying on GDP as a measure of progress masks the depletion of natural assets and advocates for the use of comprehensive or inclusive wealth (C/IW) metrics to ensure sustainable development.

This executive summary describes natural infrastructure approaches in Canada, highlighting how wetlands, trees, and rain gardens can complement traditional grey infrastructure to deliver municipal services like stormwater management and flood protection. It presents three 'bright spots'—the City of Nelson, Halifax Regional Municipality, and EPCOR—as illustrative models of implementation across different administrative and geographic contexts.

A policy brief examining produced capital trends in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2020. It finds that produced capital levels are low compared to developed nations and heavily concentrated in a few sectors (e.g., petroleum in Trinidad and Tobago, manufacturing and real estate in Ethiopia and Indonesia). The report highlights a critical lack of investment in renewable energy in Indonesia and Trinidad and Tobago, and a misalignment of agricultural investment in Ethiopia. It concludes that the absence of regular wealth measurement by national statistical offices hinders the ability of policy-makers to achieve sustainable development goals.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the increasing integration of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) into free trade agreements (FTAs). It analyzes the growth, types, and potential benefits of these references, while highlighting critical challenges regarding enforcement, terminology, and the risk of creating trade barriers for small-scale producers.

This report examines the methodologies and challenges of monitoring Green Public Procurement (GPP), with a specific focus on tracking reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It analyzes practices in six countries and provides recommendations for governments to improve monitoring systems to support climate and sustainable development goals.

This briefing paper argues that conventional financial analysis for transport infrastructure is inadequate because it fails to integrate externalities—the costs or benefits impacting third parties. The author contends that neglecting these factors leads to continued investment in carbon-intensive road transport over sustainable alternatives.

This report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of Metro Line 1 in Bogota, Colombia, the country's first modern metro system. The assessment evaluates the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the fully electric and automated mass rapid transit (MRT) system, focusing on its ability to reduce congestion and increase employment access for a population exceeding 8 million.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines "bright spots"—effective examples of policy and planning change—to scale natural infrastructure for water services in Canada. It analyzes three distinct models: the City of Nelson's use of local bylaws, the Halifax Regional Municipality's integrated multi-level planning, and EPCOR's hybrid approach combining natural and grey infrastructure for flood mitigation in Edmonton.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes policy measures used by Costa Rica, Gabon, Indonesia, Peru, and Rwanda to combat deforestation and explores how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can complement these government efforts.

This Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) analyzes the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (& Hybrid) Vehicles (FAME II) policy in India, which utilizes a budget of INR 100 billion to subsidize the electrification of public and shared transportation.

This report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of the Tirana–Durres railway in Albania, evaluating the investment costs against the economic, social, and environmental benefits of rehabilitating the line and connecting it to Rinas International Airport.

The 'Essential Monitor's Guide for Prairie Water Retention' by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the importance of monitoring natural infrastructure projects to ensure they meet specifications and maintain performance over time. The guide aims to make monitoring more accessible by providing technical information on equipment, analysis methods for water quantity and quality, and practical examples from IISD's experience.