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This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) describes an assessment framework designed to help governments and First Nations communities understand the relationship between the boreal environment and community well-being. Developed through collaboration with the Bloodvein and Poplar River First Nations in Manitoba, the framework simplifies international ecosystem assessment models to identify how environmental products, services, and cultural benefits support health, security, livelihoods, and social relations in remote Canadian settings.

This report reviews literature on the linkages between ecosystem services and human well-being, with a focus on how these relationships intersect with poverty. It examines conceptual frameworks like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and discusses the necessity of integrating ecosystem-based policies with poverty-alleviating measures to build community resilience, particularly for those whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources.

This policy brief discusses the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as drivers of the green economy, highlighting their economic scale, their potential to increase efficiency through smart systems and dematerialization, and the environmental challenges posed by the ICT sector itself.

This review examines the availability and consistency of data regarding subsidies for electricity generation across nuclear, fossil fuel, and renewable energy technologies, concluding that there is a significant lack of robust national estimates.

This review examines the available data and methodologies used to quantify subsidies for biofuels and conventional transport fuels, noting a significant lack of consistent information.

This research paper reviews international and Canadian programming and research on ecological goods and services (EGS) to guide the development of EGS policy and management in Manitoba, specifically to support a comprehensive water resources plan for Lake Winnipeg.

This 2011 commentary evaluates the 2008 Austrian Model Investment Treaty, noting its efforts to modernize by including sustainable development goals and carve-outs for public welfare regulations. However, it warns that the treaty remains overly broad in its investor protections, lacks transparency in dispute settlement, and fails to impose enforceable obligations on investors or home states.

This discussion note, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Pan African Parliament, examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to food security, land rights, and the environment, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This briefing note, prepared for a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan-African Parliament and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to local food security, gender equality, and environmental standards, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role that parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This policy brief analyzes the potential economic risks to South African exporters if the United States and European Union implement Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs). Using 2009 trade data and a hypothetical carbon price of US$20/tonne, the report estimates significant annual charges for South African exports, particularly in the non-ferrous metals and iron and steel sectors.

China is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of seafood. While its aquatic trading system is strong in aquaculture scale and adaptive supply chains, it faces sustainability challenges regarding traceability, coral reef fish imports, and aquaculture practices. The report examines the economic impact on livelihoods and the potential limits of growth in harvesting and aquaculture.

This policy brief examines the potential impact of Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs) on exports from China, emphasizing that the level of exposure depends heavily on design details such as the products included, the applied CO2 price, and the method used to assess carbon content.

This research paper explores the technical and institutional challenges of establishing Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems for REDD+ in developing countries. It emphasizes the need for clear definitions of 'forest' and 'reference levels' (RL/REL), the utility of nested approaches to scale subnational efforts to national levels, and the critical role of capacity building and stakeholder involvement to ensure the credibility of carbon credits.

This report analyzes market trends and policy drivers within the international copper supply chain, specifically focusing on China's imports of copper scrap (Flow C) and primary copper mining products (Flow D). It examines the environmental and social impacts of these flows, the regulatory landscapes in key exporting and importing regions, and provides policy recommendations to improve sustainable development outcomes.

This research paper examines the practical realities of sectoral approaches (SAs) to climate action, arguing that effective measures must be built from the bottom up, starting with domestic policies rather than top-down international agreements.

This document describes the inaugural process of the Canadian Internet Forum (CIF), which took place from November 2010 to February 2011 to explore the public interest in the development and use of the Internet in Canada. The text also contains unrelated snippets regarding the use of dogs to detect oil spills under ice, a Parliamentary Budget Officer warning about the costs of a carbon capture tax credit, and the need for water infrastructure to mitigate climate change risks.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of safeguards and the pursuit of 'multiple benefits' within the REDD+ mechanism established by the Cancun Agreements. It explores how safeguard systems can move beyond a 'do no harm' approach to actively promote sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. The document analyzes various international safeguard standards, reviews how developing countries are integrating these into their Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs), and discusses the institutional and financial challenges of creating a transparent information-sharing system for monitoring compliance.

This introductory text for an annotated bibliography discusses the opportunities and risks carbon markets present for indigenous peoples. It emphasizes the need for free, prior and informed consent, the importance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and identifies a specific lack of information regarding First Nations in Canada.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a 21-element checklist designed to assist public procurers in implementing or enhancing sustainability practices, shifting the procurement culture from a narrow 'value for money' focus to a 'value for money across the life cycle' approach.

This policy brief describes a 2010 project by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to evaluate government transparency regarding public expenditure, specifically focusing on fossil-fuel subsidies across 80 governments.