Widespread calls for a just and green recovery continue to underscore Canada’s urgent challenge to transition to a low-carbon economy in a way that supports workers and communities. What are some of the paths forward to build momentum for this transition? Much potential lies in channelling and connecting existing efforts among civil society and organized labour, who have been calling for a just transition since far before the pandemic.

In this study, the International Institute for Sustainable Development sought to identify how these groups define the just transition they are working toward, including what their goals and strategies are and key opportunities that could further just transition implementation and collaboration in Canada. To do so, we conducted surveys and semi-structured interviews with 48 organizations in Canada, including organized labour, environmental, Indigenous, and social organizations.

We analyze four international case studies of publicly and community-owned renewable energy projects to inform the debate in South Africa. The case studies include municipal ownership in Germany, state-owned enterprise (SOE) transition in Denmark, public–private partnerships (PPPs) in Morocco, and cooperatives in the United Kingdom. These ownership models have all been developed in an effort to balance the need for investment in renewable energy with the other economic and social needs of the community.

This report follows a broader IGF briefing note on the implications for the mining sector of the latest blueprints on global digital tax reforms published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This report digs deeper into the important issue of timing differences arising under the OECD-led reforms. It examines the impact it may have on investment in the mining sector—particularly in resource-rich developing countries—and identifies possible policy solutions. If left unresolved, timing differences could lead to lost investment and revenue from the mining sector in resource-rich countries, especially in the developing world.

This report was co-authored by the African Tax Administration Forum and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development.

Shocks to the food system, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can disrupt supply chains, exacerbate unemployment, and reverse progress fighting hunger and poverty. Climate scientists have also warned that shocks associated with more frequent and intense extreme weather events are among factors set to destabilize markets and undermine food security in years ahead. This paper looks at how trade policy can better address food system shocks, and makes 13 recommendations, structured around four key public policy objectives:

1. Ensuring food access and availability for poor consumers
2. Safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods in the event of sudden price depressions
3. Improving how food markets function by allocating resources more equitably and sustainably
4. Rebuilding trust and confidence in global norms and institutions

The fifth edition of the report showcases positive trends with respect to reporting on partnerships (including the role played by civil society) and policy coherence. However, it also underlines the continued silence by member states in voluntary national review (VNR) reports on closing of the civic space, as well as the lack of reference to national accountability mechanisms. Moreover, this year’s report discusses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall implementation of the SDGs.

The interactive, global launch webinar (March 31, 2021) outlined key findings from the report, offered reflections from representatives from governments, the United Nations, and global and national civil society organizations on the findings and reporting experiences. In addition, participants provided insights on opportunities for engagement by civil society and other stakeholders at the HLFP and in VNR processes in 2021.

As part of its activities to support the negotiation of meaningful new World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on fisheries subsidies, IISD has produced a compilation of all subsidies to marine wild capture fishing notified by WTO members. The objective of this compilation is to increase the level of transparency around fisheries subsidies by providing an easy-to-use, one-stop document that gathers all notified information and can be used by WTO members’ negotiators and public officials involved in this negotiating process, as well as other stakeholders interested in the subject.

For each WTO member, the most recent subsidy notification was included in the compilation. Because this information tool is meant to support the current WTO negotiation on fisheries subsidies, and new possible disciplines are expected to focus on wild marine capture fisheries, subsidy programs that were explicitly targeted at aquaculture and inland fishing have not been included in the compilation.

Please note that this is an unofficial document. IISD also welcomes any feedback on the compilation.

With Budget 2021, the government has a critical opportunity to ensure Canada steps up to what is truly needed for a green recovery. This new report highlights the gaps between the investments needed to meet Canada’s climate goals and what the government has committed thus far. Within our borders, ramping up climate investments will boost the nation’s economic recovery and create jobs.

Investing for Tomorrow, Today is endorsed by nine of Canada's leading environmental organizations: Pembina Institute, Nature Canada, Climate Action Network Canada, Environmental Defence, Équiterre, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Ecology Action Centre, Leadnow, and Wilderness Committee.

While India has committed more public money than any other economy to date – at least US$122 billion – to supporting the energy sector since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in early 2020, a new report shows the government’s stimulus is a ‘mixed bag’ for the country’s energy transition. The Government of India continues to promote a greener recovery by committing US$35 billion (28.5%) of the US$122 billion in energy-related funding to renewables, almost twice the US$18 billion (15%) flowing to fossil fuels.

Reposted with permission from IEEFA, originally published here.

The author focuses specifically on the trade and macroeconomic impacts of the pandemic, examining countries’ vulnerability to economic shocks and the transmission mechanisms involved.

Written for policy-makers, the report aims to identify the key sources of macroeconomic risk and provide a comparative assessment of the pandemic’s trade-related disruptions. The objective of this analysis is to help policy-makers anticipate how the economic landscape will evolve and what market challenges may emerge in the coming months.

In 2020, The IGF Secretariat was undoubtedly affected by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought health and economic adversities across the globe. While the first months of the year unfolded normally, the Secretariat's offices shuttered in March, and IGF staff had to adopt new ways of operating with physical gatherings and international travel restricted.

Fortunately, our transition to a digital-only mode of operating was met with the enthusiastic participation of our community of 76 member countries and other stakeholders. While convening virtually has its limitations, our colleagues embraced the change, with many appreciating the increased accessibility that came with it.

Throughout 2020 the IGF delivered on its core activities of providing guidance, technical assistance, and capacity building while launching our COVID-19 Response Series to offer crisis-specific resources and events. We also hosted our 16th Annual General Meeting virtually for the first time. By some measures the event was our most successful yet.

The 2020 IGF Annual Report is a testament to the Secretariat's continued commitment to our 76 members and the continued relevance of our mission to help countries leverage mining for sustainable development to ensure negative impacts are limited and financial benefits are shared.