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This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can enhance the resilience of small-scale producers during crises, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six commodity sectors across six countries, the document analyzes the role of certification in mitigating price drops and contract cancellations, while also identifying the limitations of VSS in addressing systemic power imbalances and international market volatility. It concludes with policy recommendations for governments to support smallholder resilience through social protection, minimum pricing, and the stimulation of demand for sustainable products.

This policy brief examines the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in enhancing the resilience of small-scale farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a study of six countries (Cambodia, India, Colombia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, and Rwanda), it finds that VSS can provide higher prices, stronger buyer relationships, and better training, which help farmers mitigate shocks. However, VSS alone cannot protect against global price volatility or asymmetric power dynamics in supply chains. The document recommends that governments complement VSS with social protection, minimum price guarantees, and policies to stimulate demand for sustainable products.

This policy brief provides a stocktaking of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) negotiations on e-commerce as of February 2021. It examines how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while widening the digital divide, and analyzes the current state of play in the JSI negotiations, including areas of convergence and persistent divergence among the 86 participating members.

This policy brief examines the measurement and management of fishing capacity within the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations to discipline fisheries subsidies. It provides technical definitions of capacity, overcapacity, and overfishing based on FAO guidelines, and discusses the challenges of monitoring these metrics in multi-species and artisanal fisheries. The document also analyzes global fleet trends from 1950 to 2015, noting a significant increase in vessel numbers and engine power alongside a decline in stock abundance.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) examines how the OECD's Pillar Two global minimum tax proposal may negatively impact the mining sector in resource-rich developing countries due to 'timing differences' between accounting and tax profits.

This report analyzes the impact of the OECD's Pillar Two global digital tax reforms on the mining sector, specifically focusing on 'timing differences' between accounting profits and taxable income. It argues that without proper resolution of these differences, resource-rich developing countries could lose significant tax revenue and investment to developed nations where parent companies are based.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International provides a stocktaking update on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Initiative on Investment Facilitation. It details the transition from structured discussions to formal negotiations, the impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment (FDI) and governance processes, and the roadmap leading toward the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International tracks the progress of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation from 2020 to early 2021. It details the transition from structured discussions to formal negotiations, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on investment flows and governance, and the roadmap leading toward the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This report evaluates the building infrastructure of the Paterson Park Precinct in Johannesburg, South Africa, using the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) tool and Copernicus climate data. It compares business-as-usual (BAU) building designs with green, climate-resilient designs over a 40-year life cycle. The analysis finds that green buildings significantly reduce total net costs through lower energy and maintenance expenditures and reduced GHG emissions. While climate change generally increases energy costs and GHG externalities, the RCP 8.5 scenario specifically reduces irrigation costs due to higher predicted precipitation. Additionally, the report concludes that solar panel investments are highly profitable in the South African context, particularly when accounting for electricity price inflation.

This report presents a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of three stormwater infrastructure options in the Paterson Park Precinct of Johannesburg, South Africa: a grey concrete culvert, a nature-based stream renaturalization, and a hybrid solution. Using data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the study compares these options through an integrated cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and climate change scenario analysis over 20- and 40-year horizons. The findings demonstrate that nature-based infrastructure is the most cost-efficient and climate-resilient choice, providing significant co-benefits in flood mitigation and water supply.

This policy brief examines the governance challenges associated with the sustainable use of natural resources, highlighting the gap between the principles established in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and current global trends of over-exploitation and inequitable distribution.

The April 2021 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the operational challenges of the newly merged African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) department, the diplomatic deadlock over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and governance crises in Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, and Chad.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute argues that South Africa has failed to deliver affordable energy to its poor. It highlights that poor households spend up to 17% of their income on energy and that the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy is failing; in 2019, only 2 million of the 9.8 million funded households actually received free electricity, leaving 5.4 million eligible households without support and costing them R6 billion.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute examines the failure of the South African government to provide affordable electricity to low-income households despite the Energy Act of 1998. It highlights the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy, where national budget allocations for poor households are not reaching the intended beneficiaries due to municipal mismanagement and registration barriers.

This research paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the failure of the South African government to fulfill its 1998 White Paper on Energy promise to provide affordable electricity to poor households, small businesses, and small-scale farmers. It highlights a significant gap between national budget allocations for free basic electricity and the actual delivery of these services by municipalities.

This policy briefing examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). While the agricultural sector was less affected than others, the pandemic exacerbated existing structural challenges, including food insecurity, a reliance on subsistence farming, and infrastructure deficits. The authors argue for a 'dual approach' that supports both small-scale and commercial farming, alongside the adoption of digital technologies and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive regional integration and growth.

The IAI Standing Committee for Rules and Procedures has proposed revised Standing rules for the Conference of the Parties (CoP) to accommodate virtual meetings via videoconferencing, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report includes the full text of the proposed revised rules governing participants, voting, elections, and administrative procedures.

The IAI Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures updated the Conference of the Parties (CoP) Rules of Procedure to allow for virtual meetings via videoconferencing in response to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The document details the comprehensive rules for CoP operations, including annual meeting schedules, quorum requirements based on 'active' party status, voting thresholds (majority for general decisions, two-thirds for specific high-level actions), and the criteria for electing advisory committees to ensure geographic, gender, and disciplinary diversity.

The report argues that the United States housing stock requires significant performance and safety upgrades, particularly for low-income households and communities of color. It proposes that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can address the lack of market-ready green investments by scaling existing green mortgage products, potentially creating a $2+ trillion market for green mortgage-backed securities within a decade.

This briefing by the Decommissioning Working Group argues that U.S. nuclear energy policy is not evidence-based and that the NRC is captured by industry interests. It highlights critical gaps in the management of decommissioning trust funds, the safety of spent fuel storage canisters, and the lack of safety standards for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), recommending a shift toward science-based standards and increased Congressional oversight.