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Nombre de publications: 642

4 Steps for Targeted Coherence: A Modular ApproachThis paper outlines a set of practical proposals to enhance inter-agency coherence on environmental issues. In particular, it seeks to identify ways in which the UN Environmental Management Group (EMG) can be reformed to increase the coherence of the global environmental governance (GEG) system. The steps suggested in this paper are politically doable and worth doing, in that they will improve institutional coherence for improved global environmental governance.

This briefing paper is an output of the "Mapping Global Environmental Governance Reform" project of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The initiative was conceived of and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Denmark.

ABS-Management Tool: Best Practice Standard and Handbook for Implementing Genetic Resource Access and Benefit-sharing ActivitiesThe ABS-Management Tool (ABS-MT) is a best practice standard and a handbook that provides guidance and tools on ABS practice to help companies, researchers, local and indigenous communities, and governments ensure compliance with the Bonn Guidelines and ABS requirements under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It provides users and providers of genetic resources with a structured process for participating in—and making decisions about—ABS negotiations and the implementation of ABS agreements for access to and agreed use of genetic resources.

Volume 1 provides the reader with an overview of ABS and the relevance of the ABS-MT for users and providers of genetic resources. It includes the Best Practice Standard and advice on key management processes to support its implementation.

Volume 2 provides the reader with Good Practice Guidance for ABS processes, Supporting Tools to apply specific aspects of the ABS practice, and three case studies to provide additional information on applying the ABS-MT, and highlighting lessons learned from field tests of the ABS-MT and other ABS processes.

Action Plan: Protecting the Environment and Reducing Canada's DeficitThis Action Plan For Protecting The Environment and Reducing Canada's Deficit was prepared as a discussion paper for consideration by governments and concerned citizens alike. The report highlights what we believe to be a reasonable approach which could demonstrate significant results.

Adapting to a Changing ClimateBy David Runnalls, speech to the Green Leaders Conference, Winnipeg, October 2007 "Adapting to climate change is critical to the long-term development of Manitoba. If we bring consideration of the implication of climate change into our decision-making processes today, we are less likely to be surprised in the future. If we don't, there is great potential for us to take actions that increase the likelihood of economic decline and loss of life in the future. To avoid this situation, action is needed by all Manitobans."

Adaptive Policies: Guidance for Designing Policies in Today’s Complex, Dynamic and Uncertain WorldGovernments today are faced with a difficult task. They need to design policies that not only address the environmental, economic and social needs of today but also policy that is flexible enough to quickly adapt to our rapidly changing world. Traditional policy was designed to provide strict rules and guidelines. But our new world requires a new way of addressing complex and dynamic change.

Adaptive policy is designed to help policy-makers help people. Crafting policy that can quickly adapt to a range of anticipated and unanticipated conditions is the goal.

IISD and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) India are working on a four-year research project on adaptive policy-making with funds provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The book, Adaptive Policies Guidebook, will be published in 2008.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Community Studies - Burkina FasoThis report brings together the community and policy level aspects of the study, i.e., the livelihood systems of the village communities of Noungou and Mengou, the environmental and socio-political challenges on their livelihood systmes, the adaptive strategies which have evolved in the face of these stresses, the indicators of sustainable livelihoods, as well as the main policies and institutuional arrangements which have impacted the evolution and implementation of these adaptive strategies in Burkina Faso. Clearly, the effectiveness of policy depends on local reponses, often embodied in the communities' adaptive strategies.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Community Studies - EthiopiaThis report focuses on the community-level aspects of study, i.e., the livelihood systems of the Boran and Afar in southern and notrh-eastern Ethiopia, the environmental and socio-political stresses on these livelihood systems, the adaptive strategies which have evolved in the face of these stresses, their relationship with sustainable livelihoods and finally, the local indicators of sustainable livelihoods in the two communities. The report also discusses the main policies and institutional arrangements that have impacted the evolution and implementation of these adaptive strategies in Ethiopia. Clearly, the effectiveness of policy depends on local responses, often embodied in the communities' adaptive strategies.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Community Studies - KenyaThis report focuses on the community-level aspects of the study, i.e., the livelihood system of the Kitengela-Maasai and Tigania-Meru communities; the environmental and socio-political stresses on these livelihood systems, the adaptive strategies which have evolved in the face of these stresses, their relationship with sustainable livelihoods and finally, the local indicators of sustainable livelihoods in the two communities.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Community Studies - South AfricaA study on adaptive strategies and sustainable livelihoods was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of volunteer researchers from WRF.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Community Studies - ZimbabweThis report focuses on the community-level aspects of the study, i.e, the livelihood systems of Makaha and Mlambaphele in the Muszi and Gwanda districts, respectivley, of Zimbabwe; the environmental and socio-political stresses; their relationship with sustainable livelihoods; and finally, the local indicators of sustainable livelihoods in the two communities. The report also discusses the main policies and institutional arrangements that have impacted the evolution and implementation of these adaptive strategies in Zimbabwe. Clearly, the effectiveness of policy depends on local responses, which are often embodied in the communities' adaptive strategies.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Policy Issues - EthiopiaThis report should be of interest to those who are searching for lessons about the way in which two communities living in an extremely fragile environment operationalize sustainable livelihoods. Thus it should be of interest to local governments in communities similar to those of the Boran and Afar. It should also be of interest to those who design policies which depend on the local responses of agri-pastoralists, not only in Ethiopia, but indeed in all arid and semi-arid zones. This included local and national policy-makers, as well as international donor agencies, especially in the wake of the UN desertification convention when more attention is being paid to resolving the problems confronting the inhabitants of areas with low precipitation.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Policy Issues - Burkina FasoThis report focuses on the policy-level aspects of the study, i.e., the main policies and institutional arrangements that have impacted the evolution and implementation of adaptive strategies in the villages of Noungou and Menegou. Clearly, the effectiveness of policy depends on local responses, often embodied in the communities' adaptive strategies.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Policy Issues - KenyaThis document focuses on the policy aspects of the study for the Kenya case study. There are five such documents, one for each participating country. They serve the critical role of articulating the policy findings in relation to the mircro-level findings, a necessary factor in arriving at a full appreciation of adaptive strategies as a potential tool for the policy-assisted enhancement of sustainable livelihoods.

The studies were conducted at the same time and in a similar manner to those in four other Arican counties; Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Ethiopia. For each study site, a community report, a policy document, and a synthesis document which distills the main links between the community and policy findings were prepared. The interested reader would certainly benefit from the breadth and depth of the various case studies.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Livelihoods: Policy Issues - ZimbabweThis report focuses on the policy-level aspects of the study, discussing the main policies and institutional arrangements that have impacted the evolution and implementation of these adaptive strategies in Zimbabwe. It also presents summaries of the key community-level findings, i.e., the livelihood systems of Makaha and Mlambaphele in the Mudzi and Gwanda districts, respectively, of Zimbabwe; the environment and socio-political stresses on these livelihood systems; the adaptive strategies that have evolved in the face of these stresses; their relationship with sustainable livelihoods; and finally, the local indicators of sustainable livelihoods in the two communities.

Adaptive Strategies of the Poor in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands: In Search of Sustainable LivelihoodsScopes selected literature on coping and adaptive strategies in arid and semi-arid lands. Selectively looks at literature that addresses adaptive stategies as "normal" responses over time to social, political, economic and ecological change.

Addressing Land Ownership after Natural Disasters - An Agency SurveyThe final results of a survey of humanitarian professionals which gathered opinions and experiences on how best to tackle issues of land ownership after natural disasters.

The Adoption of Transgenic Crops in Argentine Agriculture: An Open-ended Story - Full ReportThis study looks at the impacts, mostly in terms of economic effects, but also to some extent looking at social and environmental effects, of Argentina's unprecedented mass adoption of genetically modified soy. It also examines the regulatory system in Argentina for approval of such crops, assessing its strengths and weaknesses.

The Adoption of Transgenic Crops in Argentine Agriculture: An Open-ended Story - SummaryThis study looks at the impacts, mostly in terms of economic effects, but also to some extent looking at social and environmental effects, of Argentina's unprecedented mass adoption of genetically modified soy. It also examines the regulatory system in Argentina for approval of such crops, assessing its strengths and weaknesses.

Advancing Sustainable Development in Canada: Policy issues and research needsIn March 2003, the Government of Canada's Policy Research Initiative (PRI) commissioned the International Institute for Sustainable Development to write this paper on the core sustainable development issues that go beyond climate change. The seven key SD issues facing Canada explored in this paper are: the need to bring about changes in the way cities are designed and planned; improving the quality and management of Canada's freshwater resources; engaging in cross-jurisdictional, eco-region level decision-making; understanding the impacts of globalization on sustainable development in Canada; designing signals and incentives that induce sustainable behaviour among citizens and the private sector; reducing the ecological burden of current lifestyles; and taking bolder steps in meeting international commitments related to the alleviation of poverty in the world. Advancing Sustainable Development in Canada: Policy issues and research needs is available at here.

After the Collapse: Developed countries must become re-engaged after the failed Cancun ministerialThis commentary by Luke Eric Peterson, on behalf of IISD's Trade and Investment Team, looks at the nature and potential impact of the collapse of talks at the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference, held in Cancun, Mexico, in September 2003. "The short-term outlook for the Doha Round does not look propitious," writes Peterson. "While the round had been characterized by a series of missed deadlines in the lead-up to Cancun, recriminations have flown in the wake of the Cancun collapse; as have suggestions that countries like the United States will simply choose to trade with countries to whom it will not need to make any deep concessions in advance of next year’s presidential elections."

After Doha - An IISD CommentaryThe Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha, Qatar, November 9-13, 2001, created significant new challenges. After all, the conference Declaration is only the framework for a future negotiation. The actual work of negotiation remains largely to be done, and the size of the task has probably increased by virtue of the decisions taken in Doha.

Agenda 21: Agenda for ChangeIn June 1992 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, world leaders from 179 countries made critical decisions involving our economies and the security of our future.

Their blueprint for an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable world is presented in The Earth Summit's Agenda for Change.

The decisions made in Rio had the potential to fundamentally change the way people live and work.

Agri-Environment and Rural Development in the Doha Round - Full ReportAimed at shedding light on the possible options for developing countries to make use of agri-environmental and rural development measures within the framework of the WTO, this paper surveys those programs used in the Quad that are considered non- or, at most, minimally trade distorting, non-discriminatory and otherwise consistent with current WTO rules. Furthermore, it tries to illustrate the possible outcomes in the ongoing negotiations in the WTO on the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) from a developing country viewpoint, related to the types of mechanisms surveyed above.

Agri-Environment and Rural Development in the Doha Round - SummaryAimed at shedding light on the possible options for developing countries to make use of agri-environmental and rural development measures within the framework of the WTO, this paper surveys those programs used in the Quad that are considered non- or, at most, minimally trade distorting, non-discriminatory and otherwise consistent with current WTO rules. Furthermore, it tries to illustrate the possible outcomes in the ongoing negotiations in the WTO on the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) from a developing country viewpoint, related to the types of mechanisms surveyed above.

Agriculture and Climate Change - A Prairie PerspectiveAgriculture is an economic activity that is highly dependent upon weather and climate in order to produce the food and fibre necessary to sustain human life. Not surprisingly, agriculture is deemed to be an economic activity that is expected to be vulnerable to climate variability and change. The vulnerability of agriculture to climate variability and change is an issue of major importance to the international scientific community, and this concern is reflected in Article 2 of the UNFCCC, which calls for the...

Agriculture and Climate Change - Workshop ReportThe Canadian Prairies are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. Current predictions are that they will experience more of a warming trend than the global average, particularly in the winter and spring. It is also expected that the Prairies could experience longer, warmer and drier summers, with greater potential for precipitation in the spring and winter.

Agriculture and Sustainable Development: Policy Analysis on the Great PlainsSustainability of agriculture on the Great Plains has come under question as a result of developments within and outside the region. This study takes a look at key issues on the Canadian prairies and helps develop a process to review the sustainability concerns.

It provides a framework for evaluation of existing agricultural policy with respect to sustainable agriculture and development. The analysis leads to specific recommendations for change or for action. The analytical framework may be applicable to other similar semi-arid agriculture regions of the world.

Aiding or Abetting? Dilemmas of foreign aid and political instability in the Melanesian PacificSince independence, the self-governing nations of Melanesia - Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu - have been the recipients of a steady flow of foreign aid. Between 1995 and 1999 average per capita aid to Melanesia was US$73, three times that to Sub-Saharan Africa and 35 times aid to India.

Yet aid in Melanesia seems to be failing to achieve many of its goals. The Melanesian countries are amongst the poorest in the Pacific. There is considerable inequality of wealth and power, governments often fail to provide even basic services and corruption is rife. In recent years the Melanesian Pacific has experienced civil war, coups and political instability. Previously considered relatively secure, Melanesia has become known as an 'arc of instability'.

The causes of political instability include; ethnic fragmentation, a lack of national identity, rapid population growth, land disputes, conflicts over resources, high unemployment, weak governments, corruption and a limited capacity to provide basic services.

Aid, itself a politicised phenomenon, is one more ingredient in this unpredictable mix. The aims of foreign aid and stable democracies are the same; economic growth and rising living standards that pull people out of poverty. Political instability and conflict are powerful disruptors of that process. There is now a heated debate in both donor and recipient countries about what role aid should play in the Melanesian Pacific. This article investigates the positive and negative impacts of foreign aid on political stability.

Aiding, Trading or Abetting: The Future of Trade, Aid And Security – 6 Key ObjectivesIf trade and aid policy is to support peace and security rather than increasing the likelihood and longevity of violent conflict, we believe policy-makers should focus their attention and efforts on six key objectives. The following six briefs (i) explain why each objective is critical to security between and within states; (ii) assess current initiatives that attempt to realize that objective; and (iii) make recommendations for future action.

Aiding, Trading or Abetting? Trade and aid in an insecure worldOn May 12, 2006, Oli Brown gave this presentation at the Peacebuilding and human security dialogue hosted by Foreign Affairs Canada in Ottawa.

Alternative trade initiatives and income predictability: Theory and evidence from the coffee sectorThe third in a set of five reports on ways to tackle the commodity price problem, this paper examines the effectiveness of private sector sustainability standards such as the organic and fair trade movements in the coffee sector as ways to provide coffee farmers with more predictable and stable incomes.

Supply chain instruments, through the diverse social, economic and environmental criteria they specify, have the potential to reduce risk across a whole range of farmer activities, thereby setting a foundation for improved stability not just in price or revenue, but in income itself. Ultimately, it is this understated, and underrated, feature of private voluntary sustainability standards—namely their potential impacts on income stability—that arguably offers the greatest promise in promoting stability in farmer livelihoods and opportunities for sustainable development.

This paper begins with a brief overview of the general history of, and responses to, price volatility in the coffee sector. It then reviews the main elements of key private voluntary sustainability standards presently operating in the coffee sector, considering the theoretical and empirical links between such instruments and the various aspects of income stabilization (including price) in the coffee sector.

Amicus Curiae post-hearing submission to the NAFTA Chapter 11 Tribunal: Methanex Corp. v. the United States of AmericaIISD’s post-hearing submission in the NAFTA Chapter 11 case Methanex v. the USA argues that the US defence of the California MTBE ban as a public health measure does not go far enough. The ban is also an environmental measure. On both counts it should not be seen as an expropriation.

Amicus Curiae submissions to the NAFTA Chapter 11 Tribunal: Methanex Corp. v. the United States of AmericaIISD’s submission to the NAFTA Chapter Methanex panel marks the first ever accepted submission to a NAFTA investment tribunal of a “friend of the court.” It deals with several key issues of law relevant to sustainable development, including the definition of expropriation, national treatment and government intent, burden of proof, and costs associated with litigation.

An Analysis and Review of Subsidies in Southern Africa: The case of SACUThis paper aims to illustrate the extent to which subsidies, whether direct or indirect, are still commonplace within the economic sectors of the countries that together comprise the Southern African Customs Union (namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland), and whether they flout the multilateral trade rules as embodied in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

An Ecosystem Services Assessment in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed: Phase 1 Report – Southern Manitoba AnalysisAddressing the eutrophication of Lake Winnipeg is a unique challenge that could be realized by preserving and restoring environmental assets at the watershed scale.

Similar to a death by a thousand cuts, Lake Winnipeg's water quality is being degraded by a multitude of human activities influencing water and nutrient flows on its enormous (approximately 950,000 km2) multi-jurisdictional watershed. Preventing the further degradation of Lake Winnipeg will require novel approaches to influence landscape processes and mitigate non-point nutrient loading.

This Environment Canada funded study focuses on assessing the ecosystem services provided by the current and pre-settlement distribution of southern Manitoba's environmental assets, as this landscape contributes a substantial portion of the nutrient load flowing into the lake. The analysis is followed by a policy narrative that discusses the biophysical characteristics and socio-political drivers that have transformed southern Manitoba.

An Environmental Impact Assessment of China's WTO Accession: An Analysis of Six Sectors

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China's accession to the WTO has been the most important recent development in trade policy—for China and for the WTO as a whole. The impact on China's economy has been profound. The impact on the environment has also been significant.

This report by the Task Force on WTO and Environment of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development looks at six sectors where the environmental impacts are the most pronounced: agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, automobiles, energy and textiles.

These sectoral studies represent the most comprehensive assessment of the environmental consequences of trade liberalization policies undertaken by any country to date. The work of the Task Force on WTO and Environment is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).



An International Investment Regime? Issues of SustainablityEnvironmental activists are widely credited with (or condemned for) launching the opposition that finally led to the abandonment of negotiations for a Multilateral Agreement on Investment at eh OECD in late 1998. It took more than environmental opposition to stop the MAI in its tracks, but since then it has been accepted wisdom that environmentalists are opposed to an international investment agreement. This study takes a hard look at that assumption. Its first conclusion is that an international investment agreement should be a priority for those interested in the environment and sustainable development.

Annual Report 1990-1991Annual Report: 1990-1991

Annual Report 1991-1992Annual Report: 1991-1992

Annual Report 1992-1993Annual Report: 1992-1993

Annual Report 1993-1994Annual Report: 1993-1994

Annual Report 1994-1995Annual Report: 1994-1995

Annual Report 1995-1996Annual Report: 1995-1996

Annual Report 1996-1997Annual Report: 1996-1997

Annual Report 1997-1998Annual Report: 1997-1998

Annual Report 1998-1999Annual Report: 1998-1999

Annual Report 1999-2000Annual Report: 1999-2000

Appreciative Inquiry—A BeginningAppreciative Inquiry-A Beginning documents the expereince of development workers and community members with appreciative inquiry, an innovative approach to bring about lasting change. Appreciative inquiry empowers local people by helping them build a vision for a better future based on their community's strengths. Then, by drawing on these strengths, the community charts a path to turn their vision into reality.

Approaches to Knowledge-brokeringThe purpose of this paper was to stimulate thinking about knowledge-brokering in advance of the May 1997 two-day IISD/IDRC/NSI search conference to identify strategies and actions to follow up the recommendations of the Strong task force on priorities for Canadian internationalism. The paper provides a brief overview of the context for a discussion about knowledge-brokering; introduces a number of distinctions that may be useful in helping describe the concept; identifies some practical issues that have to be addressed by organizations interested in carrying out knowledge-brokering activities; and presents a number of alternatives with respect to Canada's approach to knowledge-brokering for development.

Arctic Future - The Circumpolar International Internship NewsletterArctic Futures is a quarterly publication designed to deliver news, information and feature stories about the Future of Children and Youth Initiative and the Circumpolar Internship Program supported by the Arctic Council.

Assessing the Impact of NAFTA on Environmental Law and Management ProcessesThis paper, prepared for the North American Symposium on Understanding the Linkages between Trade and Environment, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, October 11-12, 2000, Washington, D.C, looks at how trade rules impinge on the ability of states to regulate in the interests of environmental protection.

Assessing the Security Implications of Climate Change for West Africa: Country Case Studies of Ghana and Burkina FasoTraditionally seen as an environmental and an energy issue, climate change is now also being cast as a threat to international peace and security. Africa, though the least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, is seen as the continent most likely to suffer its worst consequences—a function of the continent’s reliance on climate-dependent sectors (such as rain-fed agriculture) and its history of resource, ethnic and political conflict.

The security implications of climate change have become the subject of unprecedented international attention; in 2007 climate change was the focus of both a Security Council debate and the Nobel Peace Prize. There have been some attempts to construct scenarios of the ways in which warming temperatures might undermine security at a global scale. But the country-level security impacts of climate change have been lost in the political rhetoric. Local experts are rarely consulted.

This paper is a modest effort to address this research gap. Drawing on field visits and consultations with local experts, this paper explores the extent to which climate change may undermine security in two different countries in West Africa, Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Assessing Sustainable Development: Principles in PracticeThese principles deal with four aspects of assessing progress toward sustainable development. Principle 1 deals with the starting point of any assessment - establishing a vision of sustainable development and clear goals that provide a practical definition of that vision in terms that are meaningful for the decision-making unit in question. Principles 2 through 5 deal with the content of any assessment and the need to merge a sense of the overall system with a practical focus on current priority issues. Principles 6 through 8 deal with key issues of the process of assessment, while Principles 9 and 10 with the necessity for establishing a continuing capacity for assessment.

Balancing Trade and Environment Needs – Singapore’s ExperienceThis paper describes Singapore's experience in addressing the trade-environment link. It focuses on the proactive measures taken in response to greening of export market demand, and win-win measures that made Singaporean industry more competitive and more environmentally friendly.

Becoming a Sustainability Leader: Exploring IISD's role in shaping the next generation of sustainable development leadership - Executive SummaryIn this executive summary of a comprehensive research study, IISD examines the impact of IISD's internship programs and makes recommendations for consideration. Since 1997, IISD has graduated 311 interns, many of whom are interviewed about sustainable development leadership in general, and about the IISD internship experience in particular. "It is very difficult for someone without experience to find entry-level opportunities," commented one intern. "The internship really got my career going."

The beginnings of a planCanada's new emissions plan may be tougher on industry than many environmentalists claim. But more will clearly be required across all sectors of Canadian society, says Drexhage, IISD's Director of Climate Change and Energy.

This commentary was published in the June 2007 issue of Environmental Finance and is posted here with permission.

Beyond the Barricades: An FTAA Sustainable Development Agenda - DRAFTThis is a working draft of a book by the same name, a collaborative effort supported by IISD, IUCN (The World Conservation Union) and the United Nations Environment Programme. Its genesis was the 2001 Quebec City Ministerial meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Beyond the barricades in Quebec City, and other trade decision making forums, a constructive agenda was and is being developed on trade and sustainability issues in the Americas. "Beyond the Barricades" reflects that agenda through the diverse perspectives and the rich expertise on environment and development issues of governments, businesses and civil society organisations in the Western Hemisphere.

The book, published by Ashgate Press, includes views, policy options and research results from all across the Americas. It takes a critical yet constructive approach, providing concrete, practical case studies of lessons learned and experiences in the region. This book is timely; negotiations are proceeding for an FTAA covering 800 million people and nearly a third of world's economic output. It aims to help readers better understand the key issues as they become ever more prominent in the media, the current talks and future negotiations.

Beyond the Barricades: An FTAA Sustainable Development Agenda - Executive SummaryThis executive summary sums up the book of the same name -- a collaborative effort supported by IISD, IUCN (The World Conservation Union) and the United Nations Environment Programme. Its genesis was the 2001 Quebec City Ministerial meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Beyond the barricades in Quebec City, and other trade decision making forums, a constructive agenda was and is being developed on trade and sustainability issues in the Americas. "Beyond the Barricades" reflects that agenda through the diverse perspectives and the rich expertise on environment and development issues of governments, businesses and civil society organisations in the Western Hemisphere.

The book, published by Kumarian Press, includes views, policy options and research results from all across the Americas. It takes a critical yet constructive approach, providing concrete, practical case studies of lessons learned and experiences in the region. This book is timely; negotiations are proceeding for an FTAA covering 800 million people and nearly a third of world's economic output. It aims to help readers better understand the key issues as they become ever more prominent in the media, the current talks and future negotiations.

Beyond Delusion: A Science and Policy Dialogue on Designing Effective Indicators for Sustainable DevelopmentFrom May 7th to 9th, 1999, 38 scientists, policy specialists from public and private sectors, researchers, and measurement experts came together in an innovative, multidisciplinary workshop held in San Rafael de Heredia, Costa Rica. Seventeen countries were represented from five continents. A listing of participants is provided in Appendix 1.

In general terms, the workshop's purpose was to examine the challenge of assessing progress toward sustainability. More specifically, discussions focused on two topics: 1. On indicators for sustainable development and the feasibility of generating a short list of highly aggregated national-level indicators that would effectively supplement current reporting practice. 2. On the process of channeling measurement results into decision-making and communicating sustainability indicators effectively.

Beyond Problems Analysis - Using Appreciative Inquiry to Design and Deliver Environmental, Gender Equity and Private Sector Development ProjectsBeyond Regulation: Exporters and VoluntaryThis book is designed to help policy makers, exporters, environment managers and representatives of civil society better understand the implications of voluntary and non-regulatory initiatives of environmental policy and trade competiveness. Using case studies and interviews with Canadian companies, this book examines emerging environmental risks and opportunities to the export performance of Canadian industry.

Bilateral Investment Treaties and Development Policy-MakingThis paper looks at the impacts of bilateral investment treaties—of which there are now over 2,000—on development-oriented policy making. It assesses the major elements of concern in the various formulations of key obligations, and the types of desirable policies they might prevent.

Biofuels - At What Cost? Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in the European UnionThe GSI report, "Biofuels at What Cost? Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the European Union", questions the rationale behind the very large sums of money being invested in support of this particular form of energy.

Subsidies and other forms of government support are strongly linked to the amount of biofuels that are produced and consumed in the EU. While current policies have been promoted as a way to decrease CO2 emissions, they are an expensive and ineffective means to achieving that goal. Transfers per tonne of CO2-equivalent removed are estimated to be between 575 and 800 euros for ethanol made from sugarbeat, around 215 euros for biodiesel made from used cooking oil, and over 600 euros for biodiesel made from rapeseed. Purchasing CO2-equivalent offsets on the European Cimate Exchange would be far cheaper.

Biofuels - At What Cost? Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in selected OECD countriesA synthesis of reports addressing subsidies for biofuels in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland and the United States from the Global Subsidies Initiative of IISD.

Biofuels - At What Cost? Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in the United StatesReport on subsidies for biofuels in the United States by the Global Subsidies Initiative of IISD.

Biofuels – At What Cost? Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States: 2007 UpdateThe biofuels industry is witnessing unprecedented growth in the United States, driving agricultural commodities prices to record levels and sparking a host of environmental and economic concerns. This expansion is far from imputable wholly to market forces; rather, federal, state and municipal jurisdictions have been instrumental in driving up both the production and consumption of biofuels through sizeable subsidies and other incentives. A new report by the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) and Earth Track, “Biofuels – At What Cost? Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States: 2007 Update”, revises an earlier report issued October 2006 and details the extent of current government support to biofuels in the United States.

Biofuels at what cost – Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in AustraliaThis report on government subsidies for biofuels in Australia by the Global Subsidies Initiative of the IISD finds the Australian government spent A$95 million on supporting biofuel production and consumption in 2006–07. The Global Subsidies Initiative analyzes government subsidies and the ways in which they can undermine efforts to put the world on a path toward sustainable development.

Biofuels: At What Cost? Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in SwitzerlandReport on government support for biofuels in Switzerland by the Global Subsidies Initiative of IISD.

Boom or Bust: Developing countries' rough ride on the commodity price rollercoasterCommodity prices, at historic highs by mid-2006, are becoming increasingly volatile. Volatile prices complicate fiscal and environmental planning and undermine the livelihoods of millions of producers in the developing world. Are commodity-dependent countries prepared should the price bubble burst? This paper describes the impacts of commodity price volatility and argues for new measures to stabilize commodity revenues for countries as well as producers.

Boom or Bust: How commodity price volatility impedes poverty reduction, and what to do about it

Commodity price volatility is a big problem for commodity-dependent countries and producers. With 95 developing countries deriving at least half their exports earnings from commodities, the rollercoaster of commodity prices, which can rise or fall by 50 per cent in a year, makes sound fiscal planning extremely difficult for both countries and producers. Predictable incomes are critical if commodity-dependent countries are to escape the cycle of commodity dependence, which is in turn integral to wider economic stability and poverty reduction.

Since the turn of the millennium, the risks facing commodity producers have been partially disguised by strong prices for certain commodities. But the basic problem has not gone away. At its heart is the imperfect nature of commodity markets. The theoretical ideal of a supply-meets-demand market equilibrium is rarely, if ever, achieved because commodity supply and demand forces respond inflexibly to price fluctuations. But it is not price volatility per se that is the problem—rather it is the volatility of national and individual incomes that obstructs long-term planning, drives commodity dependence, widens inequality and leads to environmental degradation.

Commodity price volatility is a serious issue, but it is not a hopeless one. The basic economic tools necessary to help commodity producers get more predictable incomes are better understood than ever before. This publication looks at the experience, problems and promise of five different types of economic tools: supply management, national revenue management, market-based price risk management, compensatory finance and alternative trade initiatives.

Experience leads us to four conclusions:

  1. There is no 'silver bullet'—no one policy that will address all aspects of commodity price volatility.
  2. Price or income stabilization interventions can create their own moral hazards and market distortions.
  3. Supply-side constraints, such as limited access to knowledge and poor infrastructure, are enduring obstacles.
  4. But despite the challenges, we have options that will work—under the right circumstances.

Policy-makers need to tackle the very real risks facing commodity-dependent countries and producers. If the international community is indeed committed to reducing poverty, then thoughtful, decisive action is needed. Taking the following seven guidelines into consideration will help ensure that future policy responses are more coherent and successful than past initiatives:

  1. Look for complementary policies.
  2. Engage stakeholders at all levels.
  3. Do not underestimate the importance of the private sector.
  4. Keep it as simple as possible.
  5. Address the potential moral hazard by integrating income stabilization into a wider rural development or diversification program.
  6. Build flexibility into programs.
  7. Ensure that the reach of the implementing agency matches the scope of a policy's goals.


Brave New Deal? Assessing the May 10th U.S. Bipartisan Compact on Free Trade AgreementsOn May 10 2007, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, powerful members of the newly-ascendant U.S. Democratic Party, announced that they had negotiated a compromise agreement with the Bush Administration and leading Congressional Republicans on critical changes to pending free trade agreements with Peru and Panama. Until that time, there had seemed to be slim hope that either agreement would win approval from a Congress dominated by Democrats, many of whom had been elected on promises to rein in what their constituents saw as a harmful proliferation of flawed trade deals.

The new compact spawns a number of questions for those focused on U.S. trade policy: will its provisions become the new template for bilateral and regional trade agreements? Will it influence the granting of fast track negotiating authority (trade promotion authority) to the administration? Will it even help in the passage of the two agreements to which it applies, given substantial dissatisfaction with the deal within the Democratic caucus? And does Congress' intervention in a negotiated trade deal spell the end of TPA as it was formerly understood?

Aaron Cosbey assesses the compromise.

Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being: Developing Sustainability Indicators for Winnipeg's First Nations Community (Pre-publication Version)Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being is the first product of the joint project between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The document is a review and summary of relevant literature and available data sources which will be used to develop sustainability indicators for the urban First Nations community in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The contents of the document form an historical overview of First Nations people in Canada; summarise framework methodologies and data sources relevant to First Nations; describe the profile of the First Nations population; explore increasing urban migration; and examine the needs of the growing urban community and the services available.

Bush Blinks; The U.S. now at the climate change tableThere is renewed global energy about tackling climate change following the December 2005 climate conference in Montreal, writes IISD’s Director of Climate Change and Energy, John Drexhage. The fact that the U.S. is prepared to join discussions is a major step forward.

Business Strategy for Sustainable DevelopmentBusiness Strategy, undertaken with Deloitte & Touche and the Business Council on Sustainable Development, offers an in-depth look at sustainable development business practices and describes the practical steps companies can take to internalize sustainable development and profit from the opportunities it offers.

This book highlights best practices at a variety of successful companies, and incorporates results of a 17-country survey.

Business Strategy will be of interst to company managers and senior executives, their professional advisors, business schools, and a variety of others interested in environmentally and socially responsible business.

Canada and Global Knowledge NetworksMay 15-16, 1997 - Ottawa, Canada - Search Conference Summary Report

Canada falling behind on ODA: World leaders commit to increasing development assistance; Canada absent from the listIISD President and CEO David Runnalls writes from the World Economic Forum in Davos that Canada is lagging behind other countries in achieving official development assistance (ODA) goals. Ironic, given Canada's past leadership on the issue.

Canadian Agricultural Practices on WTO Block: Trade talks in Hong Kong take aim at wheat, dairy and poultryIISD President and CEO David Runnalls raises the curtain on the December 2005 World Trade Organization Ministerial in Hong Kong, from a Canadian perspective.

Canada in a Post-2012 World: A Qualitative Assessment of Domestic and International PerspectivesCanada in a Post-2012 World explores Canadian and international perspectives on establishing a sustainable, global regime for climate change action. It provides a set of analytical tools to help frame Canadian perspectives on the range of international options being considered for a post-Kyoto world, and an initial assessment of how Canadian sensitivities and perspectives might be received by critical Parties in the global community. One common theme that emerges is that the threat of climate change is real—some impacts are already visible—and Canada needs to respond in a meaningful way that works to position the country as a leader in a clean energy future.

Canada Needs To Be A Player In The Bean Scene: IISD calls on Canada to join the International Coffee Organization to tackle current coffee crisisThis commentary, written by Jason Potts, Coordinator of the Sustainable Commodity Initiative, examines the current crisis in the coffee market and the implications for the millions of rural households who depend on coffee income for their livelihoods. "In Burundi, 80 per cent of foreign earnings are derived from coffee exports. In Ethiopia coffee represents 67 per cent of foreign revenue earnings," writes Potts. Currently, the world market price for coffee is the lowest in 70 years. The International Coffee Organization was established to enable stabilization and protection of international coffee prices. The efforts of the ICO are, however, undermined by the absence of two important coffee consuming countries: Canada and the United States.

A Capabilities Approach to Trade and Sustainable Development: Using Sen’s Conception of Development to Re-examine the DebatesThis paper takes the thinking of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and uses it to fashion a comprehensive new definition of sustainable development. It then asks how trade and trade liberalization might contribute to sustainable development so defined, surveying a complex web of potential impacts. It draws important lessons for civil society, developing countries and the WTO negotiations from the analysis.

Capacity Building for Integrated Environmental Assessment and Reporting: Training Manual (2nd Ed.)This training manual and the accompanying training program have been prepared to meet the needs of partners for imporved guidance and training during the production of Global Environment Outlook (GEO) and other accociated integrated assessment reports. Although the skills and methods outlined here closely reflect those developed for GEO, they were designed to be applicable to al integrated environment assessment reports at the national and regional levels, as well as in other contexts. As such, the manual reflects the experience gained by UNEP, IISD and other partners while producing integrated assessments over the past decade.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: An Analysis on ResultsAnswers the following questions: How strong is the resulting Cartagena Protocol? What does and doesn't it do? What do the results mean for other trade-related, multilateral environmental agreements and their relationship with the WTO?

Catching up with the Slowest: NGO Accreditation at the WTOIISD's Director of Trade and Investment wonders why the World Trade Organization still hasn't wrapped up the matter of NGO accreditation.

"The Geneva-based, trade-related NGO communities regularly camp out at the WTO," writes Mark Halle. "They wander the dark halls of the Secretariat as if they were fitting them for curtains. They are on a first-name basis with a high proportion of WTO staff. And yet, every time we come to WTO Headquarters we suffer the indignity of being directed to the service entrance."

This article originally appeared in Bridges Monthly, a publication of tne International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development.

China and International Cooperation on Trade and Environment - The Working Group on Trade and Environment - Final Report - Phase IIChina Council for International Cooperation on Environment & Development (CCICED), a high level non-governmental advisory body, was established by the State Council of China in 1992. Its stated purpose is "to further strengthen cooperation and exchange between China and the international community in the field of environment and development."

China needs to become a leading partner in efforts to "decarbonize development"In this February 2005 commentary, IISD intern Maya Papineau says that China needs to make major leaps in emissions reduction, even though it's not bound to any quantitative restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol's commitment period from 2008 to 2012.

City of Winnipeg Quality of Life IndicatorsPlan Winnipeg, the long-term strategic plan for the city of Winnipeg, identifies high quality of life as the key element in the community's vision for the future. To make this vision a reality, it is essential to identify and monitor key measurable elements of the vision.

Establishing a measurement system for quality of life requires a process to identify the key quality of life issues and indicators, to collect and organize data, and to publicize the information. The key questions to be answered in this process are the following:



Civil Sector Consultation for the Hemispheric Summit on Sustainable Development Bolivia, December 1996Review and recommendations from the Hemispheric Summit on Sustainable Development meeting in Bolivia, December 1996. As well minutes and participant list from the Canadian National Consultation meeting in Ottawa May 28, 1996.

Clarity of Thought. Creativity in Action.This brochure was produced in December 2005 for COP/MOP-1 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Climate Canada NewsletterClimate Canada: A Canadian Lens on Global Climate Change. Seventeen issues of Climate Canada were produced, ending May 2001.

Climate Change and Competitiveness: A Survey of the IssuesFrom the outset, the Kyoto Protocol and the UNFCCC have had to contend with perceived tension between effective action to slow climate change, and maintenance of competitiveness. Competitiveness concerns were the explicit prime motivation for the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Kyoto Process. Competitiveness concerns have since plagued Canada, the U.S.'s largest trading partner and the bearer of a relatively difficult emission reduction target. They have also figured large in the climate-related policy debates in the EU, where they effectively scuttled the EC's 1992 proposed Directive on Carbon Tax, and have continued to dog the elaboration and implementation of the EU's Emissions Trading System.

This paper explores the nature of the concerns over competitiveness, trying to dissect them in a meaningful way and assess the need for concern. It aims to serve as background to the discussions to take place at the experts' workshop on Climate Change, Competitiveness and Trade, London, U.K., March 30, 2005, organized by Chatham House and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Climate Change and Energy BrochureAn overview of IISD's Climate Change and Energy Strategic Objective.

Climate change and forced migration: Observations, projections and implicationsIn 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted that the greatest single impact of climate change could be on human migration—with millions of people (the most common estimate is 200 million by 2050) displaced by shoreline erosion, coastal flooding and agricultural degradation. But with so many other social, economic and environmental factors at work, establishing a linear, causative relationship between anthropogenic climate change and forced migration has, to date, been difficult.

Predicting future flows of climate migrants is complex; stymied by a lack of baseline data, distorted by population growth and reliant on the evolution of climate change as well as the quantity of future emissions. Nevertheless the available science, summarized in the latest assessment report of the IPCC, translates into a simple fact: on current predictions the "carrying capacity" of large parts of the world will be compromised by climate change.

This paper was written as a thematic paper for the 2007/2008 Human Development Report of the UNDP, "Fighting Climate Change: Human Solidarity in a Divided World." The paper investigates the differing projections for forced migration over the next 50 years, discusses the problem of prediction and analyzes the development implications of large-scale migration. The paper sets out three broad scenarios, based on differing emissions forecasts, for what we might expect. These range from the best case scenario where serious emissions reductions happen and a "Marshall Plan" for adaptation is put in place, to the "business as usual" scenario, where the large-scale migration foreseen by the most gloomy analysts comes true, or is exceeded.

Climate Change and Foreign Policy: An exploration of options for greater integrationClimate change is one of the greatest challenges of this century. Increasing evidence of the impacts of climate change and that human actions are contributing to changes in climate highlights the need for action. There is an increasing realization in the international community that achieving the consensus and commitment needed to take action requires positioning climate change in a broader foreign policy context.

The ostensible goal of Western foreign policy is to provide stability and security as a foundation for human well-being, global freedom and prosperity. However, in today’s increasingly inter-connected world, the traditional instruments of diplomacy are not always effective in tackling global threats. Established alliances and procedures are hard-pressed to be effective against a threat such as climate change, when the cause (greenhouse gas emissions) is not the ambition of any one “hostile” power. Addressing the climate change challenge requires new thinking in foreign policy—thinking that considers engagement on climate change not only in the sphere of environment, but also outside the environment box.

This study examines opportunities for a broader framing of the climate change issue in a number of foreign policy areas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark: diplomacy and international relations; energy security; peace and security; trade and investment; and development cooperation.

Co-authored by IISD's John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, Oli Brown, Aaron Cosbey, Peter Dickey, Jo-Ellen Parry and John Van Ham; and Richard Tarasofsky and Beverley Darkin of Chatham House.

Climate Change and Global Governance: Which Way Ahead?In this paper, IISD's John Drexhage looks at the climate regime. From the paper: "My argument has more to do with the current reluctance of major economies—including three of the top four global emitters—to submit their GHG emission activities to strict, internationally binding commitments. If, for example, a mitigation regime strictly under the UN means further delay in the U.S. on a post-2012 agreement, due to its Senate being unable to ratify such an agreement, then why not try and set up an alternative structure, even if only as an initial step? Or, given the challenges faced in ratifying any international binding agreement in the U.S. Senate, could we actually envision a situation where the UN regime would apply everywhere but the U.S.? And if so, what would motivate major developing country economies to agree to submit to a system the U.S. would refuse?"

Climate Change and Global Governance: Which Way Ahead? This paper argues that, to address the multi-faceted climate challenge we face, governance efforts must evolve beyond the current global regime-building model and that environmental and development policies must become much better integrated.

This briefing paper is an output of the "Mapping Global Environmental Governance Reform" project of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The initiative was conceived of and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Denmark.

Climate Change and Global Governance: Which Way Ahead? (Excerpt) In this excerpt of a chapter in "A globally integrated climate policy for Canada" (edited by Steven Bernstein, et al. University of Toronto Press, 2008), John Drexhage, IISD's Director of Climate Change and Energy, argues that to address the multi-faceted climate challenge we face, governance efforts must evolve beyond the current global regime-building model, and that environmental and development policies must become much better integrated.

Climate change as the ‘new’ security threat: implications for AfricaOnce an environmental issue, then an energy problem, climate change is now being recast as a security threat. So far, the debate has focused on creating a security ‘hook’, illustrated by anecdote, to invest climate negotiations with a greater sense of urgency. Political momentum behind the idea of climate change as a security threat has progressed quickly, even reaching the United Nations’ Security Council.

This article reviews the linkages between climate change and security in Africa and analyses the role of climate change adaptation policies in future conflict prevention. Africa, with its history of ethnic, resource, and interstate conflict, is seen by many as particularly vulnerable to this new type of security threat, despite being the continent least responsible for global greenhouse gas emissions. Projected climatic changes for Africa suggest a future of increasingly scarce water, collapsing agricultural yields, encroaching desert and damaged coastal infrastructure. Such impacts, should they occur, would undermine the 'carrying capacity' of large parts of Africa, causing destabilising population movements and raising tensions over dwindling strategic resources. In such a case, climate change could be a factor that tips fragile states into socio-economic and political collapse.

Climate change is only one of many security, environmental and developmental challenges facing Africa. Its impacts will be magnified or moderated by underlying conditions of governance, poverty and resource management, as well as the nature of climate change impacts at local and regional levels. Adaptation policies and programs, if implemented quickly and at multiple scales, could help avert climate change and other environmental stresses becoming triggers for conflict. But, adaptation must take into account existing social, political and economic tensions and avoid exacerbating them.

Please cite as:

Oli Brown, Anne Hammill, Robert McLeman, 'Climate change: the new security threat', International Affairs 83: 6, November 2007, pp. 1141–1154.

Climate Change Capacity Project–Africa: Report of the Workshop July 17-21, 2000, Dakar, SenegalNegotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol have become extremely complicated, both in the issues under discussion and in the process of addressing them. Individual negotiators are increasingly called upon to address several technical, political and economic issues that often lie outside their areas of professional expertise. For this reason, many developed countries have expanded their delegations to include a range of experts. Developing country representation, however, is generally limited to people with technical backgrounds, or those in the diplomatic service with limited experience in the issues.

Climate Change Impacts in Manitoba: IISD President looks at farming, the north, Lake Winnipeg and urban lifeIn March 2007, IISD's President and CEO, David Runnalls, produced a series on four aspects of climate change in Manitoba for the Winnipeg Free Press: farming, the North, Lake Winnipeg and urban life. The four editorials are presented together here.

Climate Change, Competitiveness and TradeFrom the outset the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have had to contend with perceived tension between effective action to slow climate change and maintenance of competitiveness. The first section of this report explores the nature of the concerns over competitiveness, trying to dissect them in a meaningful way and assess the need for concern. It looks at both the "non-Party problem" — concerns about competing with firms in states without measures to combat climate change—and the "implementation problem": concerns about competing with firms whose governments set up climate change actions in ways that benefit certain sectors.

The second main section of the report considers the relationship between the Kyoto Protocol and the WTO. Kyoto's present provisions do not contain any specific trade measures, but some of the measures taken to implement the Protocol could overlap with WTO rules. The temptation to use more overt trade measures to offset competitiveness losses will grow as Parties consider more stringent targets under future commitment periods or successors to the Protocol. The analysis here asks what trade law might be applicable to each of the various possible instruments states might use to address climate change and competitiveness concerns.

Climate Change, Vulnerable Communities and AdaptationWith the growing threat of climate change and climate-related disasters, it’s imperative that communities be empowered to reduce their vulnerability. Ecosystems can be a buffer against natural hazards, and can sustain people daily and in times of crisis. Still, their protective value is often ignored. IUCN – The World Conservation Union, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Stockholm Environment Institute – Boston Centre are working together to strengthen the role of ecosystem management and restoration in reducing community vulnerability, and to spur adaptation to the growing threat of climate-related disasters. By bringing together climate change action, disaster reduction and environmental management, this initiative is identifying and promoting environmental strategies that reduce community vulnerability to our changing climate.

Coming Clean: Corporate Environmental ReportingPublished by IISD, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu International, and Sustainability,Coming Clean reveals how 75 of the leading companies in Europe, Japan and the United States are reporting on their environmental performance and management practices.

An analysis of the trends, audience and the impact of corporate reporting is valuable to companies, their shareholders and interested observers.

Comments on ICSID Discussion Paper, “Possible Improvements of the Framework for ICSID Arbitration”IISD's Investment and Sustainable Development team has responded to a call for comments by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on a public discussion paper which proposes reforms to its handling of international investment treaty arbitrations, including increased transparency and an appeals mechanism. IISD's response calls for a more ambitious reform agenda for ICSID, including its devolution from the World Bank, and calls upon governments to address deficiencies in other international investment arbitration venues as well.

Commodity Income Management: Selected Southeast Asian EconomiesThe fifth in a series of seven case studies examining national responses to the commodity price problem, this comparative study looks at how Malaysia and Viet Nam have addressed volatility in their palm oil and coffee sectors, respectively.

Palm oil in Malaysia and coffee in Vietnam reflect both successes and failures in stabilizing commodity incomes. It is hoped that recommendations can be drawn from each to improve current revenue management policies throughout Southeast Asia. The Malaysian palm oil sector is long established, with a tradition of success in cultivation and primary production. Conversely, Vietnamese coffee represents a newly-emerging industry which has aggressively engaged the international market to become a global leader in recent years.

The paper begins by presenting the two case studies on commodity dependence. The authors then look into the national approaches used by these countries to manage their commodity revenues, and conclude with recommendations for future courses of action, addressing the failures and gaps in past policies for the focus countries and some of their neighbours.

Commodity Revenue Management: The Case of Chile's Copper BoomThe sixth in a series of seven case studies examining national responses to the commodity price problem, this paper looks at how Chile has addressed price volatility in its copper sector.

Chile's experiences managing its copper resources are often cited as a success, albeit a recent one. However in becoming the world's largest supplier of the metal, Chile has also grown reliant on the revenues it generates. Since this dependence can be harmful to the economy due to the volatility of copper prices, the Chilean government has taken measures to forestall the impacts of a sudden drop in prices. These measure also seek to address future economic downturns.

This study details the steps Chile has taken to lessen its vulnerability to commodity shocks. It begins with a description of the evolution and current state of the copper industry in Chile. The paper then discusses the government's past and present efforts to collect and administer copper earnings, before analyzing the political, economic and social effects such earnings have. It concludes by considering future scenarios that could potentially impact the the current approach taken by the Chilean government and discusses some policy alternatives.

Commodity Revenue Management: Coffee and Cotton in UgandaThe second in a series of seven case studies examining national responses to the commodity price problem, this comparative study focuses on how Uganda has addressed price volatility in its coffee and cotton sectors.

Coffee and cotton have been central components of Uganda's economy since the country's independence. However, the price volatility present in both sectors has repeatedly dampened economic growth and threatened producer livelihoods. Failed attempts to address this volatility through supply management have left producers and the government searching for new ways to ensure stable and predictable commodity incomes, incomes upon which economic diversification strategies can be built.

This paper begins with a discussion of the history of coffee and cotton marketing in Uganda. It then examines commodity revenue and price volatility risk for both commodities and some of the approaches taken to manage this risk. The final section of the report presents the authors' recommendations for coffee and cotton revenue management in Uganda.

Commodity Revenue Management: India’s rapeseed/mustard oil sectorThe fourth in a set of seven case studies examining national responses to the commodity price problem, this study looks at how the Indian government and local producers have addressed volatility in the rapeseed/mustard oil sector.

Commodity price volatility is not a new problem in India, however it has grown in the wake of recent liberalization programs and the opening of the domestic sector to the global marketplace. The government and the private sector have tried to stabilize rapeseed/mustard oil prices through the variety of means, including compensatory financing and price hedging on futures markets but few, if any, of these mechanisms have been fully successful.

The paper begins by introducing the rapeseed/mustard oil sector, highlighting its importance to the Indian economy. It then discusses the national revenue management strategies of the rapeseed/mustard oil sector and concludes with recommendations for improving and stabilizing the earnings of the government and the farm sector from rapeseed/mustard oil.

Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book, 2007 - Trade, Aid and Security: an agenda for peace and developmentIn this article for the Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book (CMRB), IISD project manager Oli Brown explores the links among trade, aid and conflict. The CMRB is the flagship annual publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat and is distributed to every government minister in the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Previous authors for the CMRB include Professors Joseph Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs, and U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Most conflicts nowadays are within states – poor states – and most victims are civilians, not soldiers. Rather than focusing solely on reactive responses to conflict, we need to consider how current policies can have a negative effect – in fact, how they can systematically undermine peace and development. Trade and aid policies are two of the areas that require our attention most. Powerful conduits for money, technology, ideas and influence, they both reflect and reinforce global power disparities and, if poorly designed and managed, can undermine economic and political stability.

Communicating Sustainable Development on the WebExcellent external communications practices are essential if an organization is to achieve success in helping decision-makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies and practices that are supportive of sustainable development. "Communicating Sustainable Development on the Web" promotes excellence by encouraging sustainable development organizations to think "Web first" and to know their audiences.

Communities For Environmentally Sustainable Development - Final Report to the Commission on Environmental CooperationMany towns and cities have realized that in order to make sustainable development a reality, they need to quantify some of its measurable components. Many communities set up measurement and reporting systems. Learning from the experience, successes and challenges of the others can be a strong catalytic force in the process.

Community Adaptation and Sustainable Livelihoods: Basic Issues and PrinciplesGenerate and maintain their means of living, enhance their well-being and that of future generations. These capacities are contingent upon the availability of, and accessibility to options which are ecological, socio-cultural, economic and political and are predicated on equity, ownership of resources and participatory decision-making.

Community Drought Mitigation Project Final ReportProject No. 050/19284

Enhancing sustainable livelihoods in drought-prone areas of Mudzi (Makaha ward) and Gwanda (Gwanda Ward 19) - Building on Adaptive Strategies



A Community Indicators System for Winnipeg: Working together to achieve and sustain a high quality of life for current and future generations A Community Indicators System for Winnipeg: Working together to achieve and sustain a high quality of life for current and future generations is a document that serves as an operating model and business plan for establishing and managing the system.

The Community Sustainable Development Action and Knowledge InventoryIISD has developed an inventory tool to help a community document historical and current initiatives being carried out by its citizens. Through the inventory process, the community should gain a better appreciation of the collective knowledge and expertise it has to draw upon—as well as an understanding of how past activities have influenced the types of programs and solutions that the community might view as possible and desirable in the future.

Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator InitiativesThis brochure invites people to visit IISD's online global directory of sustainability indicator initiatives. At the time of publishing (March 2004), about 600 initiatives were described in the compendium. The compendium was relaunched in 2002 by IISD, Environment Canada and the International Sustainability Indicators Network and can be viewed here.

Compensatory Finance: Options for tackling the commodity price problemCompensatory finance schemes were in vogue in the 1970s because this was a (fairly brief) period of commodity power. Rather than being a permanent adjustment mechanism in a globally Keynesian economy, they were used by industrialised countries as a calming mechanism and an antidote to a Common Fund which threatened over-regulation of commodity markets. Essentially compensatory finance schemes were a political response rather than an economic stabilisation fixture.

The paper reviews in detail the IMF's Compensatory Financing Facility and the EU's Stabex Scheme, and their variants, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Both of the main schemes petered out in the 1990s and by then were only missed for their aid allocation elements, rather than for the producer support or insurance function which had been the claimed purpose. They never shrugged off the tendency to be pro- rather than counter-cyclical.

Various efforts at broadening, globalising or updating them have not proceeded because the donors who effectively ran the schemes nowadays prefer interventions like direct budget support or the use of modern communications to improve market intelligence. Nevertheless, when the World Bank and the OECD donors pressed ahead with debt relief, it still found that commodity earnings instability was one of the reasons for their clients to miss their targets. Moreover, with a shift back to commodity production in state hands and sovereign wealth funds investing globally in commodities, and given the more recent security and sustainability concerns, this could be the time to make the case for international public funding of a global stabilisation-via-compensation mechanism again.

Compliance with International Standards in the Marine Fisheries Sector: A Supply Chain Analysis from Pakistan - Full ReportA case study of coastal fisheries in Pakistan highlights difficulties faced in complying with foreign harvesting and processing standards. The study undertakes a supply chain analysis in the marine fisheries sector and looks at two links in this chain, namely compliance with international standards in the harvesting and processing stages. The analysis is driven by two concerns. First, failure to comply can adversely affect national exports. Second, the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities are at risk.

Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice: Guidance for Extractive IndustriesThis publication is a set of tools to help companies understand and minimise conflict risk, and contribute actively to peace. Under the guidance of a steering committee made up of leading professionals from the extractive sector and humanitarian agencies, the research has produced a practical methodology that applies conflict-sensitive business practice to the complete project cycle for the oil, gas and mining sectors. Please click here for the Project homepage.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on KenyaThis is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on MaliThis is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on MauritaniaThis is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on MozambiqueThis is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on RwandaThis is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on Tanzania This is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Focus on UgandaThis is one of a series of seven country scoping studies prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to supporting all life and regulating natural systems, they specifically provide health and cultural benefits to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and disease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or used unsustainably.

In light of these findings, these seven country scoping studies set out to provide a preliminary overview of ecosystem services in each country and the corresponding constituents and determinants of well-being related to the availability of these services. These studies were prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the United Nations Environment Programme. Countries examined in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Connecting with the WorldConnecting with the World: Priorities for Canadian Internationalism in the 21st CenturyInvesting in communications technologies and linking centres of knowledge across the world to promote the sharing of information can address the critical needs of developing countries and bring significant benefits to Canada, according to a report from a task force headed by Maurice Strong. The task force was comprised of nine leading Canadian experts in international development and foreign affairs. The Report was released on November 18, 1996. It contains recommendations aimed at moving Canada towards being a "knowledge broker" to developing countries.

Conservation in Conflict: The impact of the Maoist-Government conflict on conservation and biodiversity in NepalNine years of conflict between Maoist rebels and the government in Nepal has killed more than 12,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. The conflict has also halted conservation programs and disrupted the management of protected areas across large parts of the country. This paper analyzes the impacts of the Maoist-government conflict on the environment, on biodiversity and on conservation organizations in Nepal.

Conserving the Peace: Analyzing the links between conservation and conflict in the Albertine RiftStrategy Report prepared following the Project Inception Meeting in Nairobi, 1-2 February 2006.

The Albertine Rift is host to some of Africa's richest biodiversity, as well as the site of some of its most intense social and political upheavals. Conservationists working in the region are faced with mounting socio-economic pressures that not only threaten biodiversity but make their jobs more challenging and potentially dangerous. This calls for adaptive and innovative approaches to planning, implementing and evaluating conservation interventions so that they minimize risks and address some of the root causes of threats to conservation.

This paper charts the variety of forms of conflict that conservationists in the Albertine Rift face. It then analyzes seven conflict assessment tools that conservationist might use to obtain a better, more systematic understanding of conflict in their project area, assess how their interventions could affect conflict dynamics and use this understanding to design and implement activities that will avoid or mitigate conflict.

Conserving the Peace: Resources, Livelihoods and SecurityConserving the Peace is a collection of case studies illustrating the relationships among security, the environment and human well-being. Collectively, the studies make the case that conservation activities can motivate peace-building, thereby creating a stable future for all.

Consistently Inconsistent: Addressing income volatility among cocoa producers in Ghana and Côte d'IvoireThe first in a series of seven case studies examining national responses to the commodity price problem, this paper focuses on the effects of cocoa price volatility on national and household incomes in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.

Despite being geographical neighbours, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire have pursued divergent cocoa production and export policies over the past two decades. Using their respective successes and failures as a starting point, this case study recommends several policy options for national and international policy makers to help stabilize cocoa-related incomes in the face of highly volatile cocoa prices on the world market.

Consolidated financial Statements of International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentConsolidated Financial Statements of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2001-20