Workers assembling and testing lighters in factory in China

Economies

IISD works to level the economic playing field and address unfair rules so everyone has an equal chance to prosper.

A cleaner and more equitable world will deliver real benefits for people and the planet. But everyone is not on a level playing field at the moment. And the pandemic has made things worse.

COVID-19 has shown how corrosive inequality is and how urgently we need to build more sustainable and inclusive economies. No country is immune.

IISD draws on three decades of international expertise to propose economic pathways that set the world on a sustainable trajectory.

We push for needed reforms to global economic governance systems, help emerging economies negotiate fair deals, and promote the benefits of sustainable infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

Featured topics

Investment Law & Policy

How can we ensure developing economies attract international investment that promotes sustainable development?

Trade

Depending on how trade policy is designed and implemented, it can either advance or be a hindrance to sustainable, low-carbon development.

Standards and Value Chains

Voluntary sustainability standards contribute to biodiversity conservation, poverty reduction, and gender equality.

Featured projects

Investment Policy Forum

IISD hosts the annual Investment Policy Forum, the world's only yearly assembly on investment negotiation exclusively for developing economy officials.

Project

Investment Treaty News

IISD publishes Investment Treaty News, a quarterly journal offering news and analysis on the impacts of investment law and policy for sustainable development.

Project

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi)

IISD developed the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) to demonstrate to governments, investors and citizens why sustainable assets can deliver better value for money and more attractive internal rates of return.

Project

The Energy Charter Treaty

The Energy Charter Treaty is a regional trade and investment agreement in the energy sector that has grown into an obstacle to impactful climate and sustainability policies—IISD is leading the way on fundamental reform to accelerate the green transition.

Project

Tax Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) in Mining

Equipping resource-rich developing country governments with the knowledge, skills, and tools to optimize the financial benefits from mining.

Project

State of Sustainability Initiatives

An international transparency and capacity-building project aimed at improving strategic planning and sustainable development outcomes related to voluntary sustainable standards.

Project

Latest

Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably

This guidebook provides recommendations to state policy-makers on how they can implement solar irrigation models, particularly decentralized solar plants for irrigation under the PM-KUSUM scheme, effectively and sustainably.

Report

May 28, 2023

Agrivoltaics in India

This background paper assesses the current state of development of agrivoltaics in India and identifies the challenges and opportunities for its commercialization.

Report

May 24, 2023

Lukas Schaugg: "The Energy Charter Treaty hinders climate action"

The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), established decades ago to facilitate energy investments in Europe and Central Asia, is now being challenged and accused of protecting investments in fossil fuels. Faced with the failure of the reform processes undertaken so far, several European countries, notably France and Germany, have decided to exit the ECT. However, the treaty is trying to expand to Africa as new oil and gas fields are discovered on the continent. In this interview, Lukas Schaugg, International Law Analyst at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), describes the challenges of the ECT in the face of the climate emergency.

IISD in the news

Afrik21

May 22, 2023

Lukas Schaugg : « Le Traité sur la charte de l’énergie entrave l’action climatique » (in French)

Mis en place il y a plusieurs décennies pour faciliter les investissements dans l’énergie en Europe et en Asie centrale, le Traité sur la charte de l’énergie (TCE) est aujourd’hui contesté et accusé de protéger les investissements dans les énergies fossiles. Face à l’échec des processus de réforme engagés à ce jour, plusieurs pays européens, notamment la France et l’Allemagne, ont décidé de sortir du TCE. Cependant, le traité tente de s’étendre vers l’Afrique au moment où de nouveaux gisements de gaz et de pétrole sont découverts sur le continent. Dans cet entretien, Lukas Schaugg, Analyste en droit international à l’Institut international du développement durable (IISD), décrit les enjeux du TCE à l’heure de l’urgence climatique.

IISD in the news

Afrik21

May 22, 2023

The Road to Sustainable Transport Infrastructure: Why cost-benefit analyses need to integrate gender

Using a case study in Coimbatore, India, we explore how and why gender considerations should be included in transport infrastructure decisions and the cost-benefit analysis process. 

Deep Dive

May 22, 2023

Uncovering the Value of Sustainable Transport Investments

Using a case study in Coimbatore, India, IISD demonstrates the importance of recognizing, valuing, and reflecting the full economic, social and environmental benefits and costs of a transport project in infrastructure decision-making.

Insight

May 22, 2023

Auch USA diskutieren CO2-Grenzausgleich (in German)

Die internationalen Debatten über den CO₂-Grenzausgleich CBAM der EU werden lauter. Auch in den USA planen Demokraten und Republikaner eine ähnliche Maßnahme, um ihre Industrie vor dreckigen Importen zu schützen. Aber es gibt noch politische Hürden.

IISD in the news

Table Climate

May 17, 2023

A Sustainable Asset Valuation of Non-Motorized Transport in Coimbatore, India

A Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of a non-motorized transport (NMT) network in Coimbatore, India.

Report

May 17, 2023