RESOURCES

ICTSD Resources

SPACES FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY: REVISITING SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT. By Werner Corrales-Leal, with Mahesh Sugathan, & David Primack (May 2003). Commissioned for the joint ICTSD & UNCTAD-UNDP Global Programme International Dialogue on Special and Differential Treatment. The paper, along with other resources emanating from the Dialogue is available at http://www.ictsd.org/dlogue/2003-05-06/06-05- 03-docu.htm.

Other Resources

PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE WEBSITE. This website, launched by IUCN, TRAFFIC, Fauna & Flora International and ResourceAfrica, seeks to provide a focal point for the variety of ongoing work around the world on the precautionary principle in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. It currently provides background on the precautionary principle, and information on the Precautionary Principle Project. The site can be accessed at: http://pprinciple.net.

PATENTS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICINES. By the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Médecins sans Frontières Canada. This document answers some common questions about patents and international trade agreements. The rules on drug patents in international trade agreements and domestic laws affect the availability and affordability of medicines. This document explains the connection between patent issues and access to affordable drugs, to help inform advocates for the health of people in developing countries. The 3rd revised version is now available on-line at: http://www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/issues/cts/Patents-international- trade-law-and-access.pdf.

WORKING DOCUMENT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' DUTIES AND TAXES ON ESSENTIAL MEDICINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF THE MAJOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. By the European Commission/DG Trade (10 March 2003). Pursuant to the EU Programme for Action: Accelerated Action on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB in the context of poverty reduction -- which sets out the work programme for the European Commission for 2001-2006 -- the Commission has carried out an initial study to assess the duties and taxes applying to essential pharmaceutical products used in the treatment of the major communicable diseases (HIV, malaria and tuberculosis). The study covers 57 countries. The document is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/medecine/docs/wtosub_10030 3.pdf.

"Climate-Driven Increases in Global Terrestrial Net Primary Production from 1982 to 1999," by Ramakrishna Nemani et al in SCIENCE (Vol. 300, Nr 5625, 6 June 2003). The authors of the study found that climate change during the past two decades has improved conditions for much of the world's plant life. Due to global changes, plants have been exposed to more heat, water and sunlight. According to the authors, the Earth is now a greener place, with the growth of the Amazon rain forests accounting for nearly half of the global increase. For further information visit http://www.sciencemag.org/content/vol300/issue5625/index.shtml.

STANDARD AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF ALLOWANCES UNDER THE EU EMISSION TRADING SCHEME. By the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). A standard agreement has been developed to facilitate emissions trading. This tool to streamline the contractual process aims to help reduce transaction cost of trading, and is intended as a stepping-stone in the process of developing standardised carbon contracts for different types of transactions. The agreement is available for download at http://www.ieta.org.