Research

SD will continue to be the home of topical research on sustainable development issues produced by the IPA. Recent reports include:

Climate change

Costly, ineffectual and protectionist carbon tariffs
December 2009 | By Tim Wilson and Caitlin Brown
This research paper assesses proposals for the introduction of carbon tariffs to offset the costs of domestic carbon price signals. The paper finds that carbon tariffs are likely to result in the introduction of a ten per cent average tariff in the United States on carbon-intensive goods, but is unlikely to address carbon leakage threats, would be administratively impossible to implement and the costs of carbon tariffs far outweigh their benefits.

Undermining mitigation technology
August 2008 | By Tim Wilson
This research paper analyses the emerging global campaign to undermine intellectual property on low carbon technology in an effort to increase access for the developing world, and the real barriers for the world’s poor accessing mitigation technology.

Trade

Costly, ineffectual and protectionist carbon tariffs
December 2009 | By Tim Wilson and Caitlin Brown
This research paper assesses proposals for the introduction of carbon tariffs to offset the costs of domestic carbon price signals. The paper finds that carbon tariffs are likely to result in the introduction of a ten per cent average tariff in the United States on carbon-intensive goods, but is unlikely to address carbon leakage threats, would be administratively impossible to implement and the costs of carbon tariffs far outweigh their benefits.

Palming off livelihoods?: The misguided campaign against palm oil

November 2009 | By Tim Wilson
This research paper assesses campaigns against palm oil and their merit and identifies that the root cause of deforestation and the loss of orang-utan populations is caused by poverty, not palm oil.

New evidence of old concerns: Fair trade myths exposed … again
April 2008 | By Professor Sinclair Davidson and Tim Wilson
This research paper summarises recent research questioning the developmental benefits of ‘fair trade’ products produced in the developing world.

Intellectual Property

HIV / AIDS medicines for all?
July 2007 | By Tim Wilson
This research paper analyses the arguments for compulsory licensing of patented medicines in Thailand and whether it will actually deliver the desired outcomes for the world’s poor.

Undermining mitigation technology
August 2008 | By Tim Wilson
This research paper analyses the emerging global campaign to undermine intellectual property on low carbon technology in an effort to increase access for the developing world, and the real barriers for the world’s poor accessing mitigation technology.