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
Should Governments Subsidize Hydrogen?
As countries chart paths to net-zero economies by 2050, hydrogen has enjoyed a new wave of attention. Proponents believe that it could play a key role in decarbonizing industries such as steel, cement, heavy-duty vehicles, and shipping that cannot feasibly
What an EU–China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment Could Mean for Sustainable Development
The year 2020 was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, along with various moments of friction between major economic powers on a host of policy issues. However, despite these challenges, we saw governments show their ability to come
Voluntary Sustainability Standards: From Bananas to Palm Oil
The Sustainable Commodities Marketplace Series research helps fill the knowledge gaps around global sustainable consumption and production for eight commodities—bananas, cocoa, coffee, cotton, palm oil, soybeans, sugar, and tea—uncovering important trends and information to support action on improving environmental and social
How Nature Can Lead The Way in Adapting to Climate Change
Nature-based solutions (NBS) may present our best chance to prepare effectively and purposefully for the risks and impacts of climate change and provide much-needed benefits for our communities. Since 2012, the city of Vancouver has had an evolving Climate Change Adaptation
2021 Set To Be a Busy Year For Climate Negotiations
The roster of multilateral events for this year is filling up quickly. IISD experts reveal why this leaves them cautiously optimistic. While 2021 could feature seven COPs, five summits, and five key conferences, these come with the giant caveat of immunization. Governments, civil
What Gender Responsive Adaptation Teaches Us About an Equitable Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the ways in which gender inequality interacts with shocks and stresses to exacerbate the impacts on women and girls. As this global crisis unfolds, we are seeing gender-specific risks, including an increase in
Sub-Saharan Africa: Sustainable and Transformative Recovery
There is no doubt COVID-19 shattered progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On top of a horrific loss of life, an additional 95 million people globally could be thrust into poverty and hunger because of the pandemic. Two decades of
Why the WTO Must End Harmful Fishing Subsidies
More than one third of the world's fish stocks are overexploited. Our ocean is already suffering. And right now, billions of dollars in government subsidies just encourage more fishing. The good news is that we have an opportunity to end harmful
The Effects of Climate Change on Groundwater: An Out-Of-Sight Crisis
Both groundwater quantity and quality are being affected by extended periods of droughts and floods caused by extreme weather events. We urgently need more research, knowledge-sharing, and advocacy to better understand the situation and take action. It is well known climate