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This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how trade policy, specifically tariffs, can be used by developing countries to balance the goal of maximizing local economic benefits from clean energy investments with the need to minimize project costs. It analyzes the bill of materials for wind and solar projects to identify which components are suited for local production and evaluates the trade profiles of several countries to provide a framework for aligning trade and energy policies.

This briefing introduces an analysis of the potential impacts of the European Commission's proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on least developed countries and climate-vulnerable nations, including small island developing states.

This policy brief examines the history and effectiveness of United Nations 'mega-conferences' on sustainable development, from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to Rio+20 in 2012. It analyzes how these events have attempted to integrate economic development, social equity, and environmental protection, while highlighting the persistent tensions between industrialized and developing nations regarding financial responsibility and the right to development.

This report provides guidance for the Canadian federal government in developing its first-ever national adaptation strategy (NAS). By analyzing 12 adaptation policy instruments from 11 countries and conducting informant interviews, the report identifies global trends in adaptation planning and proposes 13 considerations across four main aspects to ensure Canada's strategy is ambitious, inclusive, and effective.

This policy brief examines the evolution of international ocean governance from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It details the legal frameworks established to manage marine resources and pollution, the challenges of fragmented sectoral management, and the urgent need for a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to address cumulative stressors like climate change, overfishing, and acidification.

A practitioner's guide developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help government economic advisers integrate climate economic modelling into economic development processes to achieve climate-resilient growth.

This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines strategies for governments to communicate the concept of net-zero emissions to the public to increase support for climate policies. It emphasizes moving away from technical, future-oriented descriptions toward tangible, local, and inclusive messaging supported by positive imagery.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes 517 energy-related policies approved by G7 nations and invited guests between January 1, 2020, and March 3, 2021. It evaluates whether COVID-19 recovery spending aligns with climate goals and 'build back better' pledges.

This document is a lesson plan created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to support the Ojibwe translation of a video about climate change research. It provides a comprehensive linguistic framework, including a full English-Ojibwe transcript, detailed sentence breakdowns, a glossary, and a lesson planning form for educators to teach both the Ojibwe language and scientific concepts related to climate change and its impact on boreal lakes.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for the development of Canada's first-ever National Adaptation Strategy (NAS). It analyzes adaptation planning trends globally and across 11 peer countries, evaluates Canada's existing domestic policy and institutional foundations, and proposes 13 considerations to ensure the NAS is inclusive, accountable, and effective in mobilizing federal action.

This policy brief analyzes the services market access negotiations under the WTO E-commerce Joint Statement Initiative (JSI). It highlights a significant trade imbalance, where developed nations are net exporters of the targeted digital services while developing nations are net importers. The brief identifies key challenges, including the 'technological neutrality' of GATS, the undecided legal architecture of the JSI, and a lack of gender and social inclusion considerations. It recommends that developing countries pursue a 'built-in development dimension' through progressive liberalization and multi-stakeholder national assessments.

This report analyzes the transition of international investment negotiations to virtual formats during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the UNCITRAL Working Group III on ISDS reform and the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on investment facilitation. Based on a survey of government officials, the document examines how virtual settings affect participation, preparation, communication, and the overall efficacy of negotiations, highlighting a tension between increased accessibility and the loss of critical informal interactions.

The report 'The Road to Sustainable Transport' examines the environmental and social impacts of global transportation, the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and case studies of sustainable urban mobility. It highlights the role of public transit, non-motorized transport, and electrification in reducing carbon emissions and improving public health, while noting the potential for post-COVID-19 recovery packages to accelerate these transitions.

This executive summary describes a report based on a survey of over 900 households in Jharkhand, India, which evaluates the targeting of LPG subsidies. It finds that subsidies are poorly distributed, with the poorest households receiving significantly less support than wealthier consumers, and suggests that policy-makers address the causes of low consumption among the poor and restrict benefits for the wealthy.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the potential for reforming liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies in Indonesia. It argues that current subsidies are a budget drain and socially inefficient, primarily benefiting wealthier citizens. The document provides case studies from other emerging economies to demonstrate that crises can be opportunities for fossil fuel pricing reform and offers four specific recommendations for the Indonesian government to implement a closed distribution system for LPG subsidies.

This policy brief examines the international governance of biosafety, focusing on the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It details the history of modern biotechnology, the tensions between exporting and importing nations regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the mechanisms used to manage the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) to protect biodiversity and human health.

This policy brief examines how regional trade agreements (RTAs) can be used to support the transition to a circular economy, suggesting methods for integrating circularity provisions into existing trade policy frameworks.

The document provides a framework for governments to manage environmental risks in mining, focusing on four key pillars: water management at the watershed level, biodiversity protection via the mitigation hierarchy, the long-term stability of mine waste facilities, and inclusive emergency preparedness. It outlines a five-step gap analysis process (review, assess, prioritize, implement, monitor) to help governments align their national legal frameworks with international best practices and sustainable development goals.

This executive summary provides a guide for member states of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) to implement the Mining Policy Framework (MPF). It outlines the role of governments in ensuring the sustainable management of water, biodiversity, waste, and emergency response throughout the entire mining life cycle, from exploration to post-closure.

This report evaluates the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies in the Indian state of Jharkhand and tests policy options to improve targeting. Using survey data from 960 households, the study finds that current subsidies are highly regressive, with a disproportionate share of benefits accruing to wealthier households due to their higher consumption rates. The report tests two targeting strategies—volumetric limits and differential subsidies for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries—but finds that neither significantly improves subsidy incidence, though volumetric targeting does reduce overall government expenditure.