Sustainable Biofuels: EU Policies and WTO Rules
23rd February 2010
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On behalf of the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), I am pleased to invite you to a Café & Croissant meeting on “Sustainable Biofuels: EU Policies and WTO Rules” to be held from 8.30 to 11.00 on the 23rd of February in the International Environment House II, Geneva, Switzerland.
Biofuels have been promoted as a potential source of renewable energy, growth and sustainability in the midst of multiple crises that are impacting development and trade flows. Many governments support biofuels investment and production as a way to reduce carbon emissions, increase energy security and create new markets for agricultural products. However, a number of concerns have been raised about unintended negative effects of biofuels production, including biodiversity loss, land conversion and food security issues.
The European Union seeks to be a leader in the area of biofuel development, using a broad range of measures, and specifically the Renewable Energy Directive, with the aim of optimizing the sustainable contribution of biofuels.
Concerns have been raised on some fronts as to the WTO compatibility of these EU policies, and the risk that they could be used as disguised protectionism. The debate is not settled, however. As such, ICTSD is pleased to invite you to this meeting, which is planned as an open and informal dialogue at which Fredrik Erixon, Director and co-founder of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), will present his new paper on the topic, and Geneva-based trade negotiators, civil society and the academic community can discuss the EU approach to biofuels, sustainability and WTO-compatibility issues.
We look forward to welcoming you at this Café & Croissant event.
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