Deep Dives

The world’s greatest challenges don’t always have simple answers. Going beyond the surface is critical when it comes to solving global problems. Our experts know how important it is to look back at history and consider the big picture if we want to find solutions that work.

Highlights

IISD Trade and Sustainability Review, March 2026

MC14 brings together critical debates on trade, development, and sustainability. This issue explores headline topics, including WTO reform, industrial policy, e-commerce, investment facilitation, fisheries subsidies, agriculture, and trade-related climate measures, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for inclusive, rules-based, and future-ready global trade.

Deep Dive

February 23, 2026

The Surprising Route to Energy Security: Scrap fossil fuel subsidies

Energy security cannot be bought with fossil fuel subsidies. Reforming them offers a solution—one that reduces risk rather than reinforcing it.

Deep Dive

February 17, 2026

Is a New Oil Pipeline in Canada’s National Interest?

Building a new oil pipeline would impose a significant economic and environmental cost on Alberta and Canada.

Deep Dive

December 12, 2025

All content

Showing 111-120 of 124 results

Unpacking Canada’s Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Fossil fuel subsidies hold us back and incentivize pollution. How much do Canada's governments subsidize fossil fuels, and why does it matter?

Deep Dive December 11, 2020

Global Climate Change Governance: The search for effectiveness and universality

Countries' collective emission reduction pledges to fight climate change remain far from sufficient. What efforts and disputes led us to this crisis?

Deep Dive December 8, 2020

Harnessing the Power of Finance and Technology to Deliver Sustainable Development

The world has enough money to fund sustainable development, yet there is a financing gap and a persistent digital divide to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Deep Dive December 1, 2020

Reconsidering PPPs in Developing Countries

COVID-19 offers an opportunity to review traditional public–private partnership (PPP) structures in developing countries and consider how they can be refitted for the purpose of coming challenges.

Deep Dive November 23, 2020

The Global Governance of Sustainable Energy: Access and Sustainable Transitions

The sustainable energy transition is not guided by a central, hierarchical organization—an approach with many positive features worth copying.

Deep Dive November 16, 2020

The Precautionary Principle

The precautionary principle guides decision-makers to take action to protect the environment, safety, and public health when there is scientific uncertainty.

Deep Dive October 23, 2020

Managing Infrastructure Through Stewardship

Establishing infrastructure as a business rather than a public–private partnership (PPP) provides a better platform for adaptation and change.

Deep Dive October 22, 2020

The Evolving War on Illegal Wildlife Trade

Wildlife trafficking is causing unprecedented declines in some species and can potentially spread zoonoses, such as the one that causes COVID-19.

Deep Dive October 6, 2020

Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth

Biodiversity underpins human life and a significant shift away from “business as usual” is needed to reverse the alarming rate of biodiversity loss.

Deep Dive September 28, 2020

Stockholm and the Birth of Environmental Diplomacy

A 1972 UN conference began modern international cooperation on the environment. What lessons should we take from it amid mounting global crises?

Deep Dive September 10, 2020