What to Watch in 2026: Our CEO’s Take
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Although 2025 was a challenging year in the sustainability space, it still delivered on several key milestones.
But as governments confront rising misinformation, constrained budgets, and intensifying climate risks, the need for evidence-based policy has never been greater. Our president and CEO, Patricia Fuller, outlines the opportunities and challenges that will shape sustainable development in 2026.
With funding tightening, both in developmental assistance and the sustainability space more broadly, Patricia knows that think tanks must show where they create the greatest leverage. "Helping governments design strong, durable policy frameworks has one of the highest multiplier effects of any investment in sustainable development," she explains.
But despite this, there's still reason for hope: "A sustainable future is eminently possible, but it requires a healthier political and information ecosystem to get us there," she explains.
One reason behind her outlook is the reality of sustainable development: "The economics of the energy transition—they’re moving faster than politics," she explains, adding, "There’s also great promise in nature-based solutions. Our own work shows they deliver multiple wins at once—climate adaptation, healthier ecosystems, and stronger local economies."
Read the full interview to learn more.
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Five Trends That Have Shaped Global Subsidies Over Decades
Subsidies have long been debated: criticized for distorting markets and harming the environment, yet embraced to build green industries, protect people, and compete in global markets. They’re impossible to ignore and hard to reform. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Global Subsidies Initiative, we asked our experts how thinking on government support has shifted over decades and where the conversation is taking us next. Here’s what they told us.
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Public Procurement for Climate Action and Competitiveness in Europe
Public procurement is gaining prominence in European Union debates on clean industry and “Made in Europe” policies, reflecting growing recognition of its potential as a strategic lever for climate action and competitiveness. Our new report outlines five reform options, including making green public procurement the default, improving coherence and data, and ensuring that “Made in Europe” measures support environmental performance.
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How Cape Town Boosted Funding for Restoring Waterways
When funding for the City of Cape Town's waterway restoration projects was under pressure, the Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI) Centre supported the city through two integrated cost–benefit analyses. By translating the environmental, social, and economic benefits of NBI into clear evidence, the analyses helped strengthen the investment case, moving projects toward implementation.
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Sea Level Rise and the Law of Shared Responsibility
"Sea level rise is one of the clearest and most devastating expressions of the climate crisis. For low-lying nations, it is not an abstract projection but an encroaching physical reality," write Catherine Amirfar and Duncan Pickard, two lawyers who helped Tuvalu present arguments to the International Court of Justice’s climate hearings. Read their guest article to learn more about the link between scientific urgency and legal accountability.
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Restoring Wetlands and Weaving Tradition: How Fijian coastal communities are building climate resilience
Most of Fiji’s coastal fisheries are experiencing overfishing and declining production. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are increasingly being felt across the country’s coastal ecosystems, affecting the many people who rely on them for food security and income. From reviving kuta weaving to patrolling coastal waters, Fijian communities are taking action to safeguard biodiversity, prevent illegal fishing, and build resilience in the face of climate change.
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Over a Decade of Protecting the World's Fresh Water
The Experimental Lakes Area has been transformed ever since IISD saved it from imminent closure in 2014. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are five stories from people who have seen the impact of IISD-ELA firsthand over the last decade.
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How Arts, Culture, and Community Engagement Are Driving Climate Resilience in Saint Lucia
As a Small Island Developing State nestled in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Lucia’s vulnerability to climate threats remains high. These mounting pressures underscore the urgency for coordinated long-term policy development and public sensitization. For this reason, Saint Lucia’s national adaptation plan process is advancing along two parallel tracks: policy development and community engagement. Read the full story.
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What Happened at COP 30 on Climate and Health?
Among the many issues on the table, this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil aimed to place people’s health and well-being at the centre of the climate talks. Our experts explain why human health is relevant to climate policy, what progress was made at COP 30, and what comes next.
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Registration for the Trade + Sustainability Hub 2026 is now open!
Join us in March 2026 as our flagship event returns alongside the Fourteenth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Hub will bring together thought leaders from government, businesses, and civil society for in-depth discussions on how trade policy can evolve to address today’s global challenges and drive sustainable development. Register now and explore the provisional agenda.
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At IISD, we believe in investing in people who are passionate and talented at what they do. Help enhance our work across all of our focus areas and make an impact on the planet and its people.
- Head of Secretariat, National Adaptation Plan Global Network, Ottawa, Canada
- Consultant - Nickel Pricing for Taxation Purposes, Chicago, U.S. (Remote)
- Policy Advisor, Economic Law and Policy, Winnipeg, Canada (Hybrid)
- Research Analyst, Legal, Economic Law and Policy, Winnipeg (Hybrid)
- Policy Advisor, Energy, Winnipeg, Canada (Hybrid)
- Senior Policy Specialist, Water, Winnipeg, Canada (Hybrid)
- Senior Communications Officer, Energy, Multiple locations (Remote)
- Communications Officer, IGF, Winnipeg, Canada (Hybrid)
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