2014-2015 was a great year for IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA).

This was the world-class freshwater research institute's first year under new management, and the team was happy to get back to research as well as focus on expanding the outreach and educational opportunities at the site.

The annual report includes highlights from some members of staff and the board, as well as some stats from our first year and images of our 58 beautiful lakes and their watersheds.

This study evaluates the climate-related vulnerabilities and related costs and benefits of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road, a mine access road built mainly over frozen lakes in the northeastern region of the Northwest Territories.

It applies the methodology developed in IISD publication The Economic Implications of Climate Change on Transportation Assets: An analysis framework.  

Between 2013 and 2015 the International Institute for Sustainable Development led stakeholder engagement meetings with Manitobans, on behalf of the Government of Manitoba, to obtain their perspective and expertise on climate change challenges and solutions for the province.

The process gathered key insights on how the province can move toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient green economy. These consultations served as important input into creating Manitoba’s next Climate Change and Green Economy Action Plan. This summary report presents key findings from the nine group dialogues and 67 bilateral meetings with Manitobans that were held as part of the engagement process.

In this issue:

Does the Green Economy Need Investor–State Dispute Settlement?; Conciliation and Arbitration Law: Times of Change in Investment Protection in Bolivia; Safeguarding Sustainable Development: Financing for Development and the International Investment Regime; Negotiations Kick Off on a Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights; News in Brief; Awards and Decisions; Resources and Events.

From October 27–29, 2015, the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) convened its 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The AGM was attended by more than 230 participants from 54 countries, including representatives from member and non-member governments, international organizations, industry associations and civil society organizations. 

Jointly prepared by IISD, OCI and ODI, this country study and accompanying data sheet compiles publicly available information on fossil fuel production subsidies in India in 2013 and 2014.

It is a background paper to the report Empty promises: G20 subsidies to oil, gas and coal production and provides a baseline to track progress on the phase-out of such subsidies as part of a wider global energy transition.

Download the related India Excel information.

Jointly prepared by IISD, OCI and ODI, this country study and accompanying data sheet compiles publicly available information on fossil fuel production subsidies in Canada in 2013 and 2014.

It is a background paper to the report Empty promises: G20 subsidies to oil, gas and coal production and provides a baseline to track progress on the phase-out of such subsidies as part of a wider global energy transition.

Download the related Canada Excel information.

The opportunity costs of not addressing the global infrastructure deficit are too high.

According to Brodhead, Darling, and Mullin (2014), for every USD 1 billion spent on infrastructure, 16,700 jobs are supported annually, and GDP is boosted by USD 1.14 billion resulting in a multiplier effect of 1.143. Investment in infrastructure brings tangible economic returns even before projects are completed, as the construction stage alone generates sufficient multipliers to justify the expense.

This report presents a broad brush review of how G-20 countries can begin to address their infrastructure gap and understand why this gap arose in the first place, though not all issues are discussed here. There is a very strong need for project development funds to cover the costs of robust project preparation. As well, there is a powerful case for fiscal allowances and performance-based incentives to encourage the wider deployment of sustainable assets. Moreover, there is so much attention paid to the structuring of deals that their longer-term affordability is often overlooked. IISD looks forward to deepening this debate, further examining the ideas proposed in this report and contributing to the leadership discourse of the G-20 in addressing this challenge.

The cost to society of coal use includes the financial cost of providing subsidies to the coal industry in addition to the cost of externalities.

This report explores the cost of coal in terms of subsidies and externalities and discusses the extent to which coal subsidies act as a barrier to the development of renewable energy. It finds that China is supporting the coal industry through the provision of billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies to consumers and producers. In addition to the financial cost, these subsidies increase the consumption of coal, producing externalities including air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Integrating sustainable development into mining activities remains a major challenge.

Given its significant role in local livelihoods, national economies and the global market, better alignment of the practices and policies of the mining industry with the global Sustainable Development Goals will be a key part of successfully achieving the global development agenda between now and 2030.

The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development, as the leading global policy forum on mining and sustainable development, has an important role to play in this alignment. From October 27 to 29, 2015, the IGF convened its 11^th Annual General Meeting at the United Nations Office at Geneva, the results of which are outlined in this communiqué.