Our Issue Experts
Mark Halle
Senior Fellow
Mark Halle lectures, writes and publishes frequently on issues relating to sustainable development.
Mark was previously IISD's European Representative and its Director for Trade and Investment. In this capacity, he supervises a team of some 30 professionals based in Europe and around the world.
He began his career in the field of international negotiations, serving in the diplomatic secretariat of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. In that capacity, he was associated with the negotiation of the Barcelona Convention on the Mediterranean Environment, one of the first regional environmental conventions ever adopted.
He then spent five years with UNEP, starting in the Policy Planning Unit and ending up working on the global State of the Environment report published 10 years after UNEP’s establishment. From UNEP, he worked with WWF and IUCN in writing the World Conservation Strategy, a document which fundamentally changed the way in which conservation of nature was approached, namely by abandoning the earlier notion that conservation and development were necessarily in opposition to one another and embracing the notion that they are essential components of sustainable development.
Halle then moved to WWF International, serving for three years as conservation assistant to HRH The Prince Phillip (a past president of WWF) and helping to establish and direct the WWF program in China.
He moved to IUCN in 1984 to establish the Conservation for Development Centre, IUCN’s first move to involvement with the developing countries. For seven years, he worked in, and directed, this Centre, establishing the foundation for what is now an extensive worldwide IUCN presence. Halle then spent a further three years setting up IUCN’s fundraising system, and a final four years establishing its Global Policy and Partnerships program.
Halle was born in the United States and grew up in Switzerland.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Are we content to fight a rear-guard action?We have to devote ourselves to working out how nature might be placed at the heart of development to enhance social justice and biodiversity conservation.
- The End of the Line? How to save our fishTarget 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls on the WTO for the elimination of subsidies that contribute to overexploitation of fisheries by 2020. Mark Halle explains why this matters, and where we need to go from here.
- The Message of the Brundtland Commission Continues to Resonate, Thirty Years OnMark Halle explores why the Brundtland Commission, which first articulated the notion of sustainable development back in 1987, still manages to inspire 30 years later. (UN Photo)
- Taking the Leap to Realign Trade and Sustainable Development: Now is the timeSenior Fellow Mark Halle explains why now, at this critical juncture, is the time to realign the trade sector and the concerns of the sustainable development agenda.
- IISD Perspectives on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable DevelopmentAs the Sustainable Development Goals were in the final hours of negotiation in 2015, and in the early days of implementation in 2016, IISD experts reflected on the implications for countries, the UN system, and our own programs of work. These articles, first published as a series of blog postings, are the outward expression of that thought process.
- The Art of Influence: How think tanks make a difference"We like being thinkers, but we are thinkers with a purpose." Mark Halle explores how think tanks make a difference.
- Achieving the SDGs: Can we manage the pace?The suite of global agreements adopted last year mostly focused on the coming 15-year period. So the question arises—can the intergovernmental community manage the pace necessary for success in the short time frame available?
- China's Exceptional Commitment to Green Finance Today China is the unquestioned world leader in green finance, and it is using its example to inspire and impress other countries worldwide. And all of this has taken place in a remarkably short period of time.
- Channeling the Flow—Rising to the Reporting Challenge for the 2030 AgendaThe plan of action set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires implementation by all countries and stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership. That action will not happen by itself. We have less than fifteen years to transform the world, and the task is complex.
- Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD Countries. Part 4: FinanceIn part four of a blog series on the challenges that OECD countries face in reporting on their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Mark Halle discusses how to to generate sufficient public and private investment.
- Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD Countries. Part 3: Means of Implementation In part three of a blog series on the challenges that OECD countries face in reporting on their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Mark Halle discusses financing the implementation of goals.
- Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD Countries. Part 2: UniversalityIn the second in a series of blog postings on the challenges that OECD countries face in reporting on their progress towards the Sustainable...
- Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals—Challenges for OECD countries (Part I)Switzerland will be one of the first countries to report back to the UN's High-Level Political Forum on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. In the first of a series of postings, Mark Halle highlights critical issues for Switzerland—and by extension, other OECD countries—to address in its reporting.
- UNEP and Civil Society: A new landscape for stakeholder engagement in UNEP?This issue of UNEP's “Perspectives” presents a discourse between Mark Halle and Felix Dodds on the past and future role of civil society organisations and Major Groups and Stakeholders in the context of the United Nations Environment Programme.
- Follow-Up and Review for the 2030 Agenda: Bringing coherence to the work of the HLPFIISD prepared this contribution to informal consultations going on in New York as the first step in a process leading to a resolution in the UN General Assembly on follow-up and review for the 2030 Agenda.
- Sustainability Impacts of Chinese Outward Direct Investment: A review of the literatureThis literature review study has been developed in support of the project on Promoting Sustainable Development of Chinese Enterprises for “Going Out,” in order to accelerate the pace of “going out responsibly” as well as to cultivate a group of world-class responsible multinational corporations.
- Overseeing Agenda 2030—How to Avoid a Repeat of the Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentThe High-Level Political Forum is responsible for tracking and facilitating the implementation of Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals. Two things must happen if it is to be successful.
- Tipping Permitted: Green finance goes mainstreamIn every country concerned, there must have been a moment during the anti-tobacco campaign at which the balance of advantage shifted—subtly, perhaps tentatively, but changing things fundamentally and forever.
- China's Carrot and Stick Approach to Green FinanceThese are big times for China. With the conclusion of the G20 meeting in Antalya, Turkey, China takes up the mantle as host of the next G20 summit....
- Finance Sector Reform is at the Heart of the Sustainability ChallengeThe second half of 2015 carries a growing sense of anticipation.In late September, the UN member States adopted a development agenda covering the...
- Greening China's Financial SystemThe aim of this book is to develop specific proposals for greening China’s financial system, based on an analysis of current practice in China and an exchange of experience with international experts.
- Accountability and the SDGs: Three reasons for optimism It is traditional wisdom that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In the chain of governance needed to ensure that humanity moves resolutely towards sustainable development, the weak link is accountability, particularly at the international level.
- Architecture for review and follow-up of the SDGs: Options for the High-Level Political Forum This briefing note discusses options for the architecture for review and follow-up of the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of the High...
- Growing a Green Bonds Market in ChinaThis report provides a range of specific, action-oriented recommendations for China’s policy-makers on how to grow a green bonds market in China.
- Building an Effective Review Mechanism: Lessons for the HLPFThe High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) was established in 2012 (General Assembly resolution 66/288, "The future we want") as a replacement for the...
- Shining a Light on Fossil Fuel Subsidies at the WTO: How NGOs can contribute to WTO notification and surveillance Fossil fuel subsidies undermine efforts to mitigate climate change and damage the trading system. However, multilateral discussion is hampered by inconsistent definitions and incomplete data.
- Towards More Transparent and Effective Policies in the Arctic (Speech notes)In this speech, given at the Arctic Circle Inaugural Meeting on October 12-14, 2013, in Reykjavik, IISD Vice-President Mark Halle argues that the...
- Climate and Energy Policy Adaptation - IISD's Mark Halle comments on whether the framework for the European Union's post-2020 climate and energy policy is a path to sustainable growthConcentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide have been measured for the first time at over 400 parts per million at the reference base station of...
- IISD's Mark Halle talks about fossil fuel subsidy reform for the Climate Action ProgramIISD's Mark Halle talks about fossil fuel subsidy reform for the Climate Action Program.He says the scale of fossil fuel subsidies is immense,...
- Keynote speech by IISD VP International Mark Halle to UNECE on April 9, 2013 This video records a keynote speech by IISD VP, International Mark Halle to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe panel discussion on...
- The Future of Sustainable Development: Rethinking sustainable development after Rio+20 and implications for UNEPThe United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in June 2012—commonly referred to as Rio+20—left many perplexed. If a number of...
- Locating Accountability: Conceptual and categorical challenges in the literatureThis report maps out the accountability literature and challenges the standard way of analyzing accountability.The first main section of the paper...
- State of Play on Biofuel Subsidies: Are policies ready to shift?June 19, 2012 - RIO DE JANEIRO - The GSI report State of Play on Biofuel Subsidies: Are policies ready to shift? was launched at a special...
- Life after Rio: A commentary by Mark Halle, IISDMark Halle, International Institute for Sustainable Development executive director IISD-Europe, has returned from Rio de Janeiro and declared the...
- Phasing out fossil fuel subsidiesIISD's Mark Halle in Planet B magazine on a commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable...
- International Environmental Governance Reform: Inputs to the African preparatory processOne of the two themes for discussion at Rio+20—the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to take place in June, 2012—is ...
- TRI-CC Conference - Mark Halle (2011) Halle concludes the event with a summary of the key issues and their underlying drivers, asking how we can move forward given the Doha negotiating...
- Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication - Enabling Conditions Supporting the Transition to a Global Green EconomyUnited Nations Environment Programme's Green Economy Initiative, in collaboration with economists and experts worldwide, compiled the book: ...
- Did the protectionist dog bark? Transparency, accountability, and the WTO during the global financial crisisLeaders of the G20 promised repeatedly that they would refrain from trade restrictions in response to the global financial crisis that began in...
- Beyond Rio+20: Governance for a Green EconomyAs an intellectual contribution to the preparations for the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, a.k.a. Rio +20). ...
- A New Approach to Transparency and Accountability at the WTOIISD's Mark Halle and Robert Wolfe examine an approach to measuring the accountability of the WTO to its outcomes, process, and members.They...
- Crossing the Bridge to a Carbon-neutral SocietyMark Halle comments on the progress toward a transition to a carbon-neutral society and the need for a policy framework that favours it.The...
- Elements of a Sustainable Trade Strategy for ChinaWhen China began introducing its trade reform strategy in the 1970s, it ranked 32nd among nations in global trade.Today it is the world's largest...
- Phase out fossil-fuel subsidiesIn an article in The Broker, IISD's Mark Halle discusses the benefits of fossil-fuel reform. He notes fossil-fuel subsidies cost the global economy...
- Pardee House Seminar: Accountability in Global GovernanceOn Thursday, September 9, 2010, The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future launched its Fall 2010 calendar of...
- Mark Halle reflects on whether the term "sustainable development" still has currencyMark Halle reflects on whether the term "sustainable development," in use for the past 23 years, still has currency, why sustainability...
- Mark Halle talks about why sustainable development hasn't worked and what to do about itThe notion of sustainable development was launched two decades ago, and quickly attracted a broad following worldwide. It appeared to offer a means...
- Global Environmental Governance: The Challenge of AccountabilityThis issue of Sustainable Development Insights argues that accountability-or lack thereof-is a fundamental challenge in confronting improved global...
- Can we be pleased with the progress we have made in the development of energy efficiency and the mitigation of climate change?"As the first decade of the 21st Century closes, can we be pleased with the progress we have made in the development of energy efficiency and the...
- Letter from the Green Economy Coalition to G-20 Ministers of FinanceIISD-Europe Executive Director Mark Halle has signed a letter from the Green Economy Coalition to the G-20 Finance Ministers to end perverse fossil...
- Trade and Subsidies: Undermining the trading system with public fundsIn this IISD Commentary, Mark Halle describes how subsidies undermine the international trading system and its potential to help the transition to...
- Mark Halle sees investment as critical to addressing sustainable development.Mark Halle, Director of IISD's Trade & Investment program, says massive international investment is critical to addressing issues related...
- Mark Halle talks about the need for greater government accountability on environmental issues.Mark Halle, Director of IISD's Trade & Investment program, talks about the need for greater government accountability on environmental...
- Mark Halle talks about the intersection between international trade and climate changeMark Halle, Director of IISD's Trade & Investment program, talks about the intersection between international trade and climate change. ...
- IISD joins newly formed international coalition for a green economy: Signs open letter to G20IISD-Europe Executive Director Mark Halle has signed an open letter to the G20, as a member of a new international global coalition urging the...
- The UNEP That We Want: Reflections on UNEP's Future ChallengesAt the request of UNEP and with funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNEP, IISD convened a group of individuals with substantial...
- Process Matters: Sustainable Development and Domestic Trade TransparencyExperienced trade negotiators know that their work begins at home in learning what matters for their constituents, and it ends at home in ensuring...
- Envisioning a Sustainable Development Agenda for Trade and EnvironmentThis book systematically explores the trade and environment interests of developing countries from a Southern perspective. The contributors write...
- The Exhaustion of Intellectual Property Rights: Should countries favour consumers or private interests?Mark Halle, IISD's Director of Trade and Investment, examines the exhaustion of intellectual property rights and how related policy must balance...
- Trade and Environment: A Resource BookTrade and environment policy is increasingly intertwined and the stakes are nearly always high in both trade and environmental terms. These issues...
- Catching up with the Slowest: NGO Accreditation at the WTOIISD's Director of Trade and Investment wonders why the World Trade Organization still hasn't wrapped up the matter of NGO accreditation. ...
- Environment and Globalization: Five PropositionsThe processes that we now think of as "globalization" were central to the environmental cause well before the term "globalization" came into its...
- Trade, Aid and Security: An agenda for peace and development Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur. All resonate loudly on the international stage, exposing and illustrating the intractable links among global security,...
- GTI Paper SeriesIISD participated in the Great Transition Initiative, a collective effort led by the Tellus Institute to imagine a better future and to map a route...
- Trade and Environment: Looking beneath the Sands of Doha?Progress on trade and environment is too often judged by the lethargic pace of the Doha negotiations or of the work of WTO's Committee on Trade and...
- Trading into the Future: Rounding the Corner to Sustainable DevelopmentAs part of the Great Transition Initiative, IISD's Mark Halle has written a chapter on Trading into the Future: Rounding the Corner to Sustainable...
- WTO and Sustainable Development (A chapter in "The WTO and East Asian Regional Integration")Contrary to popular opinion that suggests the trade and environment agenda is stalled, IISD's Trade and Investment Director, Mark Halle, argues in...
- Is Let's Make a Deal Now Dead at the WTO? Approach to trade negotiations might need to be revisitedBefore the Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Hong Kong in December 2005, the world was warned by the WTO itself not to expect much of an outcome....
- The Emperor Needs New Clothes: Failure in Hong Kong will represent a significant setback even if it is dressed in the clothes of successThere are two ways to avoid failure, writes IISD's Director of Trade and Investment, Mark Halle, on the eve of the 2005 WTO Ministerial meeting in...
- Where Are We in the Doha Round"...Multilateral trade rounds always take long, and nothing really shifts until it all falls together at the end. The Doha negotiations are no...
- IISD's Letter to Foreign Policy, Reacting to "NGOs: Fighting Poverty, Hurting the Poor"In its September/October 2004 edition, Foreign Policy printed an article by Sebastian Mallaby of the Washington Post. Its thesis was roughly as...
- Moving the Frontier - The Story of the Sarhad Provincial Conservation StrategyMoving the Frontier tells the compelling story of the Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy (SPCS). Launched in 1991, the strategy was the first...
- IISD Commentary - Sustainable development cools off: Globalization demands summit take new approach to meeting ecological, social goalsThis IISD Commentary, written by IISD's Director of Trade and Investment Mark Halle, appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press July 29, 2002. In this...
- Trade, Aid and Security: Elements of a Positive ParadigmMany sectors of society, including the sustainable development community, are seeking to understand how best to contribute to security. This paper...
- Conserving the Peace: Resources, Livelihoods and SecurityIn 2000, IISD and IUCN convened an international Task Force of leading experts to assess the linkages between environment and security and to begin converting what has largely been an academic debate into tools for conservation planning. The Task Force subsequently commissioned a number of case studies from around the world that illustrate the linkages between environment and security.
- Seattle and Sustainable DevelopmentAmong the different opinions on what happened at the Third WTO Ministerial Meeting in Seattle, one point seems to rally everyone -- that Seattle...