Publications

This paper re-examines Agenda 21 for lessons to improve SDG implementation and contribute to discussions on the post-2030 sustainable development agenda. The SDGs' roots in Agenda 21 have been almost forgotten, as analyses of the SDGs' creation and structure highlighted “governance through goals” as a core feature and presented SDGs as the MDGs'...

This White Paper on Integrating Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Climate Change Policy: A Strategic Contribution to Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) was prepared on behalf of the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC) by Lakshitha Paranagamage and Sanjay Vashist under the supervision of...

This paper highlights significant changes in agricultural land use trends in Asia and discusses the broad set of measures that are being implemented in the region. The increasing population and their demands are primary factors driving land use alterations in the Asia region. Intensive agricultural practices have exerted pressure on ecosystems...

For the last 30 years, a considerable amount of international capacity building support has been provided, by means of technical assistance projects, for developing countries to regularly report national information on climate action and support. However, understanding the roles of those projects is limited, especially their impacts in the medium...

Cultural landscapes represent a nexus of cultural values, traditions, and land-use practices; hence, they are essential areas to capture embedded values where humans and nature are interconnected. Understanding these multi-faceted human-nature relationships is crucial for transitioning to sustainable futures. Cultural ecosystem services, relational...

While the world is not on track to achieve the SDGs, some countries have performed better than others. However, several “high performing” countries have made progress on the SDGs by exporting negative social and environmental externalities as “spillovers” to other countries. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is intended to be a global...

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to foster harmonious coexistence with nature, particularly in managing critical resources such as watersheds. This study applies the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) to integrate diverse value perspectives on nature into sustainable watershed management...

The 'National Workshop on Enhancing the Capacity of the Informal Waste Recycling Sector Towards a Zero Waste Society' concluded with a plenary discussion on government support for informal sector integration, acknowledging the existing technical support provided by the Ministry of Environment and the potential for collaboration with the Ministry of...

IGES's ASEAN NDC Database compiles the key elements of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are submitted by the ASEAN member states to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). ASEAN member states are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao DPR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and...

This document outlines the legal framework, regulations, and procedures for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While an ESIA aims to integrate environmental and social considerations into project planning, the DRC's relevant legislation, developed since the 2000s, is still evolving. This...