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This policy brief examines the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, detailing its origins, the diplomatic tensions between developed and developing nations, and its lasting impact on international environmental law and the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This policy brief examines the risk of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims against governments arising from national investment laws, particularly in the context of emergency COVID-19 measures. It highlights how domestic laws providing consent to international arbitration can expose states to costly claims and suggests mitigation strategies.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the risk of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims based on national investment laws, particularly in the context of government emergency measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how domestic laws can provide a legal basis for international arbitration, potentially bypassing national courts and exposing states to significant financial liabilities.

This briefing describes the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, as the foundational event for modern environmental diplomacy. It details the conference's origins, the tensions between developed and developing nations, the resulting Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan, and the subsequent establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides consumers with strategies for navigating the sustainable fashion market, specifically comparing natural fibres like cotton with synthetic alternatives. It highlights the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs) and warns against vague sustainability claims and the blending of natural and synthetic fibres.

This policy brief examines the impact of plastic pollution on Canada's freshwater systems, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of single-use plastics and personal protective equipment (PPE), thereby exacerbating the litter problem. It advocates for a transition from a linear to a circular economy and urges the Canadian government to implement a zero plastic waste strategy.

This report examines how disruptive technologies, specifically renewable energy and ICT, can address global food security, environmental degradation, and economic vulnerability in low- and middle-income countries, with a specific case study on solar-powered electric cookers in Kenya.

This policy brief uses data from the International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI’s) COVID-19 Food Trade Policy Tracker to analyze the impact of food and agricultural export restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic on food-importing countries.

This policy brief uses the International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI’s) COVID-19 Food Trade Policy Tracker to compare government reactions to the COVID-19 crisis with those during the 2007/08 food price spike, specifically focusing on food export restrictions.

This research paper, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), examines the financial instability of India's electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyzes how the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing structural issues—such as poor billing, high procurement costs, and inadequate tariff structures—and evaluates the effectiveness of central government stimulus packages and regulatory reforms intended to stabilize the sector and support a sustainable energy transition.

This report presents a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of the Poçem and Kalivaç hydropower projects on the Vjosa River in Albania, concluding that these assets generate higher costs to the state, environment, and communities than they provide in benefits.

This research paper outlines the transition of public procurement from an administrative task to a strategic lever for sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, providing four regional case studies and ten essential ingredients for reform.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) proposes a legal framework for states to suspend investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions in investment treaties for measures taken in response to COVID-19. The proposal includes a 'self-judging' definition of COVID-19-related measures starting from December 1, 2019, and suggests that states pursue both multilateral and bilateral agreements to prevent a surge of investor claims against emergency public health and economic interventions.

The IISD proposes a coordinated suspension of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms to protect governments from legal claims by foreign investors regarding emergency measures adopted after December 1, 2019, to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal suggests both multilateral and bilateral implementation paths to ensure states can prioritize public health and economic stability without the risk of treaty-based litigation.

This report assesses Jamaica's mining policy and legal frameworks across six thematic areas to support the country's Vision 2030 national development plan. It identifies the current economic contribution of the sector and outlines the role of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) in assisting the Government of Jamaica and the Ministry of Transport and Mining to improve governance and capacity.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the mining sector. It examines immediate disruptions to labor and supply chains, the varying risks across the mining lifecycle, and the short-term responses from governments and corporations. The document concludes with strategic recommendations to build long-term resilience through automation, local procurement, and updated regulatory frameworks.

This policy brief examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the mining sector, emphasizing the vulnerability of remote communities and providing recommendations for governments and companies to ensure a resilient labor market and sustainable recovery.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the global mining sector. It highlights the vulnerability of rural and remote communities that rely on large-scale mining for jobs and social services, and provides policy recommendations for governments and mining companies to support workers, ensure a safe recovery, and build long-term economic resilience through local supply chain strengthening and workforce retraining.

This policy brief examines methods for assessing fish stock status in data-poor and multispecies fisheries to inform World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on fishing subsidies. It highlights that over 80% of global catches occur in fisheries lacking the data for conventional model-based assessments and proposes the use of data-limited methods, empirical indicators, and adaptive management frameworks like FISHE to identify overfished stocks and trigger subsidy prohibitions.

This report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the Kalivaç and Poçem hydropower projects (HPPs) on the Vjosa River in Albania. It compares these projects against hypothetical solar PV and onshore wind alternatives, integrating environmental, social, and economic externalities into cost-benefit analyses (CBA), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and financial performance models. The assessment finds that the HPPs are uneconomic and socially costly compared to solar PV, primarily due to high dredging costs and significant losses in agriculture and tourism.