Without investment, sustainable development is impossible. Well planned, high quality foreign investment in developed and developing countries can help make current economic practices more sustainable. Inappropriate investment, however, can undermine communities and the environment, as well as domestic development strategies. IISD examines how the rules and institutions that govern international investment flows can be improved so as to help developing countries, in particular, attract the sort of investment that promotes sustainable development.
Mark Halle sees investment as critical to addressing sustainable development. (Flash Video - 1:47 min)
| · Mark Halle Vice-President, International | ||
| · Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder Program Leader and Senior International Lawyer | ||
| · Flavia Thomé Project Manager | ||
| · Howard Mann Associate & Senior International Law Advisor | ||
| · Aaron Cosbey Associate and Senior Climate Change and Trade Advisor | ||
| · Oshani Perera Program Leader | ||
| · Damon Vis-Dunbar Network and Communications Coordinator | ||
| · Elka Parveva-Kern Project Assistant | ||
| · Alec Crawford Associate | ||
| · Tilmann Liebert Project Officer | ||
| · Simon Zadek Senior Fellow and Associate | ||
Sustaining Mining Investments in the Evolving Context of Sustainable Development: The Legal Perspective
International Investment Law Workshop
Chinese Outward Investment: An emerging policy framework
This book is an English-language compilation covering over 80 primary texts relevant to Chinese outward investment issued from January 2000 to January 2012. By combining these primary materials into one comprehensive and accessible English-language source, IISD and Institute for International Economic Research are filling a gap in the available literature. The compilation makes these primary sources easy to access and understand, which will facilitate a broader and deeper understanding of Chinese outward investment and the policies supporting it, and, importantly, will facilitate more and improved discourse on and analysis of the relationship between Chinese outward investment and sustainable development.
IISD has been breaking new ground on investment and sustainable development issues since 1998.
Investment is critical for sustainable development, which requires fundamental changes in how we produce, distribute and dispose of goods. Today this kind of change must come mainly through investment in new technologies and new processes that can replace unsustainable practices. In developing countries, where domestic sources of capital are scarce, foreign direct investment plays a significant role.
But not all investment leads to sustainable development, and not all of the global rules and institutions relating to international investment have been conceived through a sustainable development lens. IISD's work on investment and sustainable development focuses on this critical linkage, and provides new approaches to ensure that investment law and policy will make a positive contribution to sustainable development.
Thematic Priority and Research
IISD's work on investment is built upon a track record of solid research on emerging issues and key developments. Our priorities include: Agriculture, Water and Investment; Mining and Investment; Clean Energy Investment; Chinese Outward Investment; and Institutional Reform.
Investment Law
The law that applies to transnational investments consists of a complex bundle of international and domestic law and contracts between investors and states. It is important to understand the relevance of each, as well as their interrelationship.
Investment Dispute Settlement
Investment treaties allow investors to sue state parties directly through investment arbitration. This is a powerful tool allowing investors to challenge a wide range of government conduct, including environmental and health measures, as well as many other public interest measures.
Capacity Building
The highly qualified international lawyers of IISD's Investment Program advise on international investment treaties and contracts, with respect to investment negotiations, implementation and disputes.
Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators
Annual Forums for Developing Country Investment Negotiators is as a place where developing countries can freely consider and develop their own negotiating priorities and goals in relation to international investment treaties.
Investment Treaty News
IISD offers a free reporting service on international investment law and policy. It covers issues relating to international investment protection treaties and contracts, as well as investment disputes and their policy implications.
[1] Chevron Corp. & Texaco Petroleum Co. v. Republic of Ecuador, PCA Case No. 2009-23.