Our Blog
Sharp opinion and analysis on issues that are critical to sustainable development.
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June 20
Making the International Trade System Work for Climate Change: Five Ways to Address Fossil Fuel Subsidies through the WTO and International Trade Agreements
Can the international trade system be a catalyst for reforming fossil fuel subsidies (FFSs) to help relieve the burden on the public purse, reduce local and global air pollution, improve energy security and tackle climate change?
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June 16
IISD Experimental Lakes Area's Lake 626 Climate Change Diversion Project
IISD-ELA's Lake 626 Diversion project has been exploring the effects of climate change on water since 2008. How does it work? And what have we discovered so far?
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June 15
Historic New Law Secures Land for Malian Farmers
Farmers in Mali have gained critical new rights to their traditional land—and rural communities have gained much-needed economic stability—as a result of a historic new law.
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June 14
Why We Need a "Comprehensive and Inclusive" Investment-Related Dispute Settlement Mechanism
If investment-related dispute settlement mechanisms at the international level were to be built anew, what should they look like?
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June 13
The Message of the Brundtland Commission Continues to Resonate, Thirty Years On
Mark Halle explores why the Brundtland Commission, which first articulated the notion of sustainable development back in 1987, still manages to inspire 30 years later. (UN Photo)
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June 12
The True Cost of Coal and Renewables in Indonesia
Indonesia is facing an energy crunch as demand for electricity rises across the country. The country is one of the world’s largest coal producers, and is developing plans for an additional 35 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power stations. Proponents of the development claim that coal is the cheapest source of energy available. Is this really true?
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June 2
Listening to Local Voices: What makes adaptation unique in the agriculture sector?
Achieving a more resilient agricultural sector is fundamental not only for a low-carbon future, but also to realize developmental goals related to the eradication of poverty and hunger, while learning how to better cope, adapt and transform in the face of climate change impacts.
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May 19
Extracting the Voluntary Sustainability Standards Opportunity for Biodiversity Protection: The need for a dedicated policy response
Voluntary sustainability standards have a strong potential for supporting efforts to protect biological diversity. But policy makers will have to expand their role beyond mere supporters and users of such initiatives to that of watchdogs and regulators if this potential is to be realized.
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May 10
Microplastics: What are they and what can we do about them?
What exactly are microplastics? What are they doing to our water? And why should you be worried? We sat down with IISD Experimental Lakes Area research fellow Dr. Michael Rennie, who has recently worked on the impact of microplastics on fresh water, and he gave us the lowdown on them.
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May 9
Sustainable Infrastructure Projects: The bankability issue
Delivering inclusive and sustainable infrastructure requires addressing a USD 1.5 trillion annual global infrastructure financing gap.
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