High-level International Investment Agreements Conference 2023

Climate change is among the most pressing global challenges of our time. Rising to this challenge will require significant changes in the international legal architecture for the promotion and protection of investment. The reform of the international investment agreements (IIA) regime is essential to create the necessary policy space for states to take climate action, to minimize the risk of investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims related to climate change policies, and to introduce climate responsive clauses aimed at encouraging sustainable investment. 

Session themes:

• Making investment policy and IIAs consistent with national, regional, and global climate commitments
• Ensuring that IIA commitments safeguard the right of states to regulate in the public interest
• Enhancing the effectiveness of environmental clauses in IIAs, investor obligations and responsibilities
• Strengthening regional and global forums for continued dialogue and coordination on comprehensive IIA reform