International

Will the teeth of trade rules swallow the Paris climate deal?

Earlier this week, the European Parliament approved the Paris climate agreement, joining more than 60 other countries in signing the deal and paving the way for this historic global effort to enter into force. While the Paris deal is truly a major step forward, countries will have to overcome a series of hurdles created by trade agreements to reach their climate goals.

Political momentum on water raises red flags

On 21 September 2016 the United Nations (U.N.) newly convened High-level Panel on Water (HLPW), called for a fundamental shift in the way the world looks at water.

The Climate Cost of Free Trade

The Trans-Pacific Partnership undermines global efforts to address climate change

The Trans-Pacific Partnership undermines global efforts to address climate change Minneapolis – Last weekend, US President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping officially signed onto the Paris Agreement on climate. Yet, President Obama is simultaneously pushing a trade agenda that directly undermines the U.S.’s ability to address climate change.

Nutrition and Food Systems: Comments to the HLPE for their forthcoming report

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is the foremost international and intergovernmental platform trying to address global food security and nutrition challenges.

How Michigan Laws Led to the Flint Water Crisis by Subverting Democracy

The tragic situation in Flint, Michigan, is in many ways a cautionary tale of democracy subverted, one that ties directly to the United States refusal to recognize basic human rights such as the right to water.

Obama Undermines Climate Efforts in Solar Trade Dispute

At the Paris climate talks, negotiators chose not to address the sticky issue of trade rules, and how those rules undermine each nation’s efforts to address climate change.

Climate, Livestock, Carbon & the Lobby #LivestockDebate

While the debate continues about holistic management and what “true cost” actually means for livestock production models and climate change, technocrats and governments are busy establishing standards for carbon intensity reduction in industrial animal agriculture.

Plotting the course: COP21 and agriculture

When the text of a new global climate agreement reached by 195 governments was released this weekend, one word was conspicuously absent: agriculture.

Don't talk about "trade" at the global climate talks

Earlier this week, a leaked internal European Union document on climate negotiation priorities (posted by Corporate Observatory Europe) made clear that any global climate deal would not mention trade.