BETTER LIVING FOR ALL SUSTAINABLY.

BETTER LIVING FOR ALL SUSTAINABLY. YOUR GUIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2 ESTABLISHED IN 1990, THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) is a non-partisan, charitable organization specializing in research, analysis and information exchange. Through our Head Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and our branches in Ottawa, New York and Geneva, we apply human ingenuity to improve the well-being of the world s environment, economy and society. The Institute champions sustainable development around the world through innovation, partnerships, research and communications. It is dedicated to ongoing communication of its findings as it engages decision-makers in business, government, non-government organizations and other sectors. OUR VISION: BETTER LIVING FOR ALL SUSTAINABLY.

3 IISD is proud of its diverse, multi-talented team of over 100 staff and associates located in over 30 countries. Through our dynamic portfolio of projects and programs, the Institute has partnered with over 200 organizations worldwide. IISD has been ranked by sustainability experts as one of the most effective sustainable development research organizations in the world. As a registered charitable organization in Canada, the Institute has 501 (c) (3) status in the U.S., IISD receives core operating support from the Government of Canada, as provided through the Canadian International Development Agency, the International Development Research Centre, Environment Canada and the Province of Manitoba. The Institute also receives project funding from numerous governments inside and outside Canada, United Nations agencies, foundations and the private sector. OUR MISSION: TO CHAMPION INNOVATION, ENABLING SOCIETIES TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY.

4 CLIMATE CHANGE IS A MAJOR IISD PRIORITY since it affects everything from the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe to how we heat our homes, how we travel, how we do business and our governance practices at home and abroad. For these reasons, IISD s Climate Change and Energy team promotes policy responses to move economies toward a low-carbon energy future and prepare for the impacts of climate change. ACTIVE IN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ARENA SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN 1992 the broad topic areas covered by IISD s Climate Change and Energy team include: developing and developed country issues; corporate and social needs; energy and environment priorities; mitigation and adaptation strategies; and economic, social and environmental well-being. Our Climate Change and Energy Team is involved with work for the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, as well as influential private sector firms, providing research support, external consulting and updates on relevant developments domestically and internationally. IISD HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN TRADE, INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SINCE 1991 Our Trade and Investment team identifies areas where trade, environment and development can be mutually beneficial, and help guide policy-makers to align policies in these areas. Likewise, it highlights areas of conflict among policy spheres and finds ways to minimize them. IISD s Trade and Investment team works to raise public understanding of issues, and creates mechanisms through which that understanding can lead to better policy. The team also focuses on promoting the interests of developing countries in trade and sustainable development debates.

WITHOUT INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH IS IMPOSSIBLE Carefully-planned and high-quality foreign investment in developing countries can help make economic and environmental practices more sustainable. Inappropriate investment, however, can undermine communities and the environment. IISD s Trade and Investment team examines how institutions that govern international investment flows may be improved to help developing countries attract investment that promotes sustainable development. Prospects for this kind of positive change are strongly affected by investment patterns. In developing countries, where domestic sources of capital are scarce, foreign direct investment will play a major role. To this end, the team promotes processes and institutions that respect the democratic principles of transparency, accountability and adaptability. 5 THE WORK OF IISD S MEASUREMENT AND ASSESSMENT TEAM IS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE, INFORM AND MANAGE CHANGE Navigating the journey to sustainability requires accurate and effective instruments to tell society where it is, where it is going and what its options are for the future. These instruments help set goals and targets, which are essential for realistic, effective sustainable development and adaptive management strategies. Why? Because these same instruments ultimately inform and influence political debates and strengthen accountability and decisions about the environment, the economy and society. OUR M+A TEAM BUILDS CAPACITY TO ESTABLISH INTEGRATED MONITORING, ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES THAT MAKE USE OF THEM Since 1994, IISD s Measurement and Assessment team has been developing concepts, tools and processes to mark and navigate the path to sustainable development. IISD s M+A projects are directly linked to decision and policy-making. The team regularly applies its expertise and experience by partnering with organizations the world over. It likewise contributes to improving governance, monitoring performance and assessing advances made toward sustainable development. This way, society as a whole, can ensure that its progress remains on track today and far into the future. THE WORK OF IISD S GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY TEAM FOCUSES ON NEW AND EMERGING CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Formerly known as Knowledge Communications, IISD s Global Connectivity team examines the manner in which information and communications technology support and change how society organizes its governing systems, economies and cultures in unprecedented ways.

6 THE SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP INNOVATION CENTRE IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF IISD S GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY TEAM Designed to attract, train and empower the next generation of sustainability leaders, the Sustainability Leadership Innovation Centre (SLIC) is one of the Institute s new centres of excellence. Centre staff provides training in climate change, natural resources management, measurement and assessment, trade and economics. The SLIC Vision: Tomorrow s sustainability leaders, today. Its Mission: to equip the next generation of sustainability leaders with the skills, knowledge and networks they need to start driving change toward global sustainability, today. Its Goal: to work in full partnership with other like-oriented training and leadership institutions to scale up the preparation of the next generation of sustainability leaders, locally, nationally and internationally. IISD S SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT TEAM RECOGNIZES THAT HUMAN WELL-BEING IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE HEALTH OF ECOSYSTEMS FROM WHICH WE DRAW SO MANY GOODS AND SERVICES Building resilient communities the goal of the Sustainable Natural Resources Management team requires that policy-makers understand change and adapt to it, and learn to anticipate and plan for change. The impacts of this change will intensify, affecting forests, agriculture and water. The SNRM team promotes adaptive management in Canada and worldwide as it generates new thinking on management tools and institutions.

ANOTHER OF IISD S CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE IS THE WATER INNOVATION CENTRE A GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE CENTRE FOR WATER MANAGEMENT The Water Innovation Centre (WIC) focuses on: innovative basin management policies and practices, ecological infrastructure and technology, as well as economic instruments and related policy tools. It is designed to bridge the gaps between science and policy, as well as policy design and implementation through appropriate partnerships, research and communications. As a centralized, neutral agency, WIC will coordinate, develop, communicate, and help implement an overall Lake Winnipeg Basin strategy affecting Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta plus North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. The team will provide technical, logistical and policy support to community groups, municipalities, basin organizations and government agencies to implement key components of the Lake Winnipeg strategic management plan. IISD will bring a global perspective to the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Since its issues and challenges are universal there is a tremendous opportunity to trade ideas, lessons learned and best practices with jurisdictions both in North America and worldwide. 7 IISD S REPORTING SERVICES TEAM PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY ON THE WORLD STAGE Launched as the Earth Summit Bulletin in 1992, IISD s Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) reports on international negotiations on environment and sustainable development. The ENB is an objective, balanced and independent reporting service that is accessible worldwide through the Internet. Based in New York, IISD s Reporting Services produces a steady stream of information on international environment and sustainable development negotiations. In addition to the ENB, this includes: the Linkages Update, an email roundup of meetings; and Your Meeting Bulletin, a "for hire" service for conferences, symposia and workshops. The IISD Reporting Services team has a tradition of accurately capturing both formal proceedings and informal hallway banter that inform decision-making. Building on the success of the ENB, IISD s Reporting Services team also generates reports from conferences, workshops and symposia by request. The team manages Peer to Peer distribution lists so that subscribers may post messages on subjects related to climate, water, forests, and a wide range of other topics.

Head Office 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor Winnipeg Manitoba Canada R3B 0Y4 Phone: +1 (204) 958 7700 Fax: +1 (204) 958 7710 Email: info@iisd.ca MIE 2 9 chemin de Balexert 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva Switzerland Phone: +41 (22) 917 8373 Fax: +41 (22) 917 8054 300 East 56th Street, #11A New York NY USA 10022 Phone: +1 (646) 536 7556 Fax: +1 (646) 219 0955 75 Albert St, Suite 903 Ottawa Ontario Canada K1P 5E7 Phone: +1 (613) 238 2296 Fax: +1 (613) 238 8515 IISDnet: http://www.iisd.org Linkages: http://www.iisd.ca/ http://www.iisdisbridgingthegap.org