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2,369 documents from International Institute for Sustainable Development
Environmental Assessment and Saskatchewan’s First Nations: A Resource Handbook
This resource handbook, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2008, provides guidance for First Nations communities in Saskatchewan on participating in environmental assessment (EA) processes. It outlines the roles of provincial and federal governments, the responsibilities of project proponents, and the legal framework surrounding the Crown's duty to consult. The document offers practical strategies for First Nations to build internal capacity, access funding, and engage in the EA process to protect their lands, rights, and cultural interests.
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Document type: Guide
Environmental Change and the New Security Agenda: Implications for Canada's security and environment
This research paper examines the bidirectional link between environmental change and Canadian security. It identifies three key security challenges arising from environmental change—Arctic shipping routes, energy sourcing, and regional environmental security—while arguing that Canada's post-1990s 'new security agenda' focused on terrorism often competes with and negatively impacts environmental management.
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Document type: Research paper
Sustainable Electronics and Electrical Equipment for China and the World
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the sustainability of electronics and electrical equipment (EEE) supply chains in China. It examines the environmental and social impacts of the sector, from manufacturing and use to end-of-life disposal, and provides a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to transition China toward a 'green' e-product economy through regulatory reinforcement and international cooperation.
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Document type: Report
中国和世界电子产品可持续发展: 中国电子产品链可持续发展分析
This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the sustainability of the electronics supply chain in China. It examines the environmental and social impacts of production, use, and end-of-life management, highlighting China's role as a global manufacturing hub and a primary destination for electronic waste. The document proposes three strategic pillars for the Chinese government: a national sustainable electronics strategy, a national e-waste strategy, and an international action plan for e-waste management.
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Document type: Report
Global Forest Product Chains
This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes global forest product commodity chains with China as the central manufacturing hub. It examines how China imports primary raw materials from developing nations—specifically focusing on case studies in Mozambique and Russia—and exports finished wood products to developed Western markets. The report identifies a systemic failure in sustainability where capital from timber sales often fails to return to forest regeneration, leading to asset-stripping and illegal logging, exacerbated by poor governance in supplier countries and irresponsible corporate behavior. It provides a series of policy recommendations for the Chinese government to transition toward sustainable procurement, capacity-building in supplier nations, and international leadership in carbon accounting and legality verification.
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Document type: Report
BIOFUELS – AT WHAT COST?
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the extent and cost-effectiveness of government support for the ethanol and biodiesel industries in Australia. It analyzes various subsidies, including excise tax rebates, capital grants, and research funding, concluding that the level of assistance is high relative to other industries and often fails to deliver cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions or energy security compared to alternative policy options.
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Document type: Report
REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENTS
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an interpretive analysis of three major international scientific assessments—the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IAASTD, and GEO-4—to determine their implications for the policy goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The analysis focuses on 11 key themes, including climate change, biotechnology, and energy production, evaluating how these global trends affect Canada's agricultural competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management.
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Document type: Report
WTO Subsidy Notifications
This report, prepared by the FiFo Institute of Public Economics for the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), tests a proposed standardized notification template for subsidies to be used by World Trade Organization (WTO) Members. Using Germany as a case study, the authors demonstrate a significant discrepancy between official WTO notifications and the actual volume of specific subsidies granted by the federal government and the sixteen Länder (states). The report proposes technical improvements to the notification process, including a unique subsidy identifier, to increase transparency and compliance with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM).
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Document type: Report
Environment and Sustainable Development Policy Development in K–12 Schools in Manitoba and Canada
This report explores the development of environment and sustainable development (ESD) policies in K–12 schools in Manitoba and across Canada. It identifies three primary approaches to policy development: government-led "whole school" initiatives, independent certification and award programs, and individual school district policy development. The document highlights a gap between the advanced sustainability policy frameworks in the tertiary education sector and the more sporadic, often fragmented approach in K–12 education, particularly in Manitoba where many schools act without district-level mandates.
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Document type: Report
Producer Coping and Adaptation Responses to Weather Shocks and Stresses in Southern Alberta
This research paper examines how agricultural producers and organizations in the Coaldale and Foremost regions of Southern Alberta respond to extreme weather events and other systemic shocks. Through 40 semi-structured interviews conducted between November 2007 and February 2008, the study identifies common weather stressors—specifically the 2001 drought, 2002 flooding, and 2007 extreme heat—and evaluates the effectiveness of short-term coping mechanisms and long-term adaptation strategies, such as no-till farming and irrigation efficiency.
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Document type: Research paper
Conserving the Peace: Analyzing the links between conservation and conflict in the Albertine Rift
This strategy report, prepared following a February 2006 meeting in Nairobi, examines the intersection of biodiversity conservation and social-political conflict within the Albertine Rift. It advocates for adaptive conservation interventions to minimize risks and address root causes of threats, while analyzing seven conflict assessment tools to help practitioners avoid or mitigate conflict in project areas.
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Document type: Report
International Investment Agreements, Business and Human Rights
This 2008 research paper examines how International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms may constrain the ability of states to protect and promote human rights. It finds that most IIAs are silent on human rights obligations for investors and that the confidentiality of arbitration processes often undermines public accountability. The author argues that stabilization clauses in Host Government Agreements further limit the state's right to regulate and recommends the creation of model language to integrate human rights values into future investment treaties.
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Document type: Research paper
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Wood and Wood Products Sector of the Lao PDR
This report examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization in the wood and wood products sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between high regional demand and the challenges of low-value exports, illegal logging, and inefficient processing infrastructure.
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Document type: Report
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Tourism Sector of the Lao PDR
This report examines the growth of the tourism industry in Lao PDR, analyzing its economic contributions and the environmental risks associated with trade liberalization. It provides strategic policy recommendations to ensure the sector remains sustainable and supports conservation efforts.
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Document type: Report
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Bio-diesel Sector of the Lao PDR
This report examines the environmental and social implications of trade liberalization within the bio-diesel sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between energy security goals and potential ecological degradation.
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Document type: Report
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Organic Agriculture Sector of the Lao PDR
This research paper examines the environmental and economic potential of the organic agriculture sector in Lao PDR, noting that while the industry is inherently environmentally friendly, significant growth could lead to negative impacts like deforestation and increased carbon emissions.
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Document type: Research paper
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR
This research paper examines the environmental implications of the growing silk handicrafts sector in the Lao PDR, noting that while the industry is inherently environmentally friendly, scaling up production to meet international demand creates risks of water pollution and increased water consumption.
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Document type: Research paper
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Hydropower, Mining and Construction Material Sectors of Lao PDR
This research paper examines the environmental implications of rapid Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) growth in Lao PDR's hydropower, mining, and construction material sectors, highlighting the gap between the scale of investment and the government's capacity to regulate it.
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Document type: Research paper
Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Medicinal Plants and Spices Sector of the Lao PDR
This report examines the environmental implications of trade liberalization within the medicinal plants and spices sector of the Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between economic growth from regional demand and the risk of resource depletion.
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Document type: Report
Boom or Bust: How commodity price volatility impedes poverty reduction, and what to do about it
This report examines how commodity price volatility affects commodity-dependent countries and producers, arguing that unpredictable incomes hinder fiscal planning, economic stability, and poverty reduction. It evaluates five types of economic tools for income predictability and provides seven guidelines for policy-makers to implement more coherent and successful responses.
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Document type: Report