2022 Reports

The Role of Investment Treaties and Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in Renewable Energy Investments

Mehranvar, Ladan; Sasmal, Sunayana

In December 2022, CCSI published a report titled, The Role of Investment Treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in Renewable Energy Investments. The report confirms decades of research that legal protections in investment treaties do not have a discernible impact on promoting foreign investment flows, including in renewables. In addition, investment treaties can be extraordinarily costly for states and for the broader policy objective of encouraging investment in renewables. Instead of focusing on investment treaties, developing countries should build or strengthen domestic legal frameworks that promote a mutually beneficial, long-term, flexible, and durable investment climate.