WTO and UNEP launch report on trade and climate change

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 08:37

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have just released a joint report on Trade and Climate Change, UN News reports.

The report, published Friday, examines the intersections between trade and climate change from four perspectives: the science of climate change; economics/trade theory; multilateral efforts to tackle climate change; and national climate change policies and their effect on trade. It is the outcome of collaborative research between the WTO and UNEP, partners in their pursuit of sustainable development.

"With a challenge of this magnitude, multilateral cooperation is crucial and a successful conclusion to the ongoing climate change negotiations is the first step to achieving sustainable development for future generations," said WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy and Executive Director of UNEP Achim Steiner.

Both Lamy and Steiner urge the international community to seal an equitable and decisive deal at the crucial UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 (COP15), UNEP writes. They also urge nations to conclude the Doha trade round which opens for trade in environmental goods and services, a complementary path towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions to scientifically defensible levels.

“The world cannot continue with "business as usual" and there is a profound need for a successful conclusion to the current negotiations on both climate change and trade opening,” the WTO states in its announcement of the report's publication.

The scientific evidence is now clear that the Earth's climate is becoming warmer as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, which are still increasing worldwide, and will continue to increase over the coming decades unless there are significant changes to current laws, policies and actions. Although increased free trade could lead to increased CO2 emissions as a result of heightened economic activity, it could also help alleviate climate change, for instance by increasing the diffusion of adaptation and mitigation technologies.

The global economy is expected to be affected by climate change, which will especially impact sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism and transport infrastructure, all of which critical for developing countries.

The report is available in English, French and Spanish.
 

At the launch of the WTO-UNEP Report on Trade and Climate Change, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy (centre) is accompanied on the podium by UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (far left) and other key personnel. Photo: WTO