Re: Developers catch 'green' building fever; LEED applications rise steadily since program began: Business Edge, May 11, 2006.
While we are grateful that Business Edge examined the issue of sustainable design - and happy that you included our organization in your research - I must take this opportunity to clarify the role of the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
Your article states that IISD "... lobbies politicians around the world.”
While we have relationships with government officials - and indeed academics, business leaders and NGOs - around the world, we do not function as a lobbying organization and none of our staff or associates are lobbyists.
We are first and foremost a research institute. We engage in scientific and policy research motivated by our desire to advance global knowledge about sustainable development. We seek to understand emerging issues in international trade and investment, climate change, natural resources management and other realms. We work with other like-minded institutes, and we consult with business, industry and government on achieving common objectives. But we do not lobby governments to make specific policy decisions.
More information about IISD is available at www.iisd.org.
- William Glanville, vice-president and chief operating officer, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Winnipeg
