How Big Companies Can Help End Hunger
The number of people who go to bed hungry was rising steadily prior to the COVID-19 pandemic due to stresses related to climate, inequality and conflict, and now stands at 690 million. The pandemic has supercharged these trends. The latest
The Disparity Between Climate Commitments and Clean Energy Spending
Are governments missing a historic opportunity to fund green transitions? How has the pandemic affected the energy system? IISD speaks to Dr Tom Moerenhout to find out. Dr Moerenhout has contributed to IISD’s Geneva-based Global Subsidies Initiative, currently focussed on
Why we Need Global Cooperation on Border Carbon Adjustment
Border carbon adjustment (BCA), long avoided and dismissed as a policy instrument sure to trigger trade disputes and poison the atmosphere of multilateral climate negotiations, is now the subject of earnest discussion among trade and climate policy-makers, civil society, affected
Sustainability Standards Build Farmers’ Resilience to COVID-19
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been severe and far-reaching. Governments worldwide have enforced strict measures to curb the spread of the virus, upending businesses and livelihoods. Global agricultural supply chains continue to face unprecedented disruptions. What has this
Building Peace and Adapting to Climate Change in Somalia
The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia is immense. It has also been described as the most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. There is growing recognition that it must start adaptation planning now to protect and
UN Negotiations to Reform Investor–State Arbitration Resume
Nearly four years in, the United Nations (UN) talks to develop multilaterally agreed reforms to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) have now reached a critical juncture as negotiators have reconvened for May 2021, with the second half of this year likely
Working With Young Climate Activists
The next generation is proving immensely talented, with young climate activists scaling up campaigns for climate action, finding innovative ways to amplify their voices, and working collectively to effect meaningful change. A strategic priority for IISD is engaging with new audiences
Antidepressants: What Happens When They End up in Freshwater?
Antidepressants are a lifeline for millions of people across North America and the world. In fact, venlafaxine—one of the most prescribed antidepressants—features among the top five most-consumed drugs by Canadians 25–64 years of age. And as COVID-19 measures have taken
Are Countries Walking the Talk on Cutting Carbon?
In the race against climate change, increasing ambition overtime is necessary to avoid catastrophic warming. However, revised commitments from parties to the Paris Agreement lack two critical components of ambitious climate action: carbon pricing and fossil fuel subsidy reform. Since the
WTO Appoints First Female Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The appointment of the first woman as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) sends a strong signal that equality between men and women can be achieved. But if the goal is to truly empower women, WTO leadership must first
What the Next Generation Needs From a Green Recovery
The race to net-zero is accelerating, and Canada can no longer delay implementing a just and clean energy transition. But how effective will a green recovery be if we aren’t listening to the next generation—the youth who will actually be
Clash Over Energy Charter Treaty’s Protection for Fossil Fuels
As the month of February began, news of a new investor-state arbitration targeting a recent Dutch climate law brought back to the fore one of the Energy Charter Treaty’s (ECT) biggest problems: the prospect that foreign investors can use the