If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the Bridges staff to Malena Sell at msell@ictsd.ch.
EU CONSUMPTION, GLOBAL POLLUTION. By John Kornerup Bang, Eivind Hoff and Glen Peters (WWF, February 2008). This report shows that the global CO2 emissions from EU consumption are 500 megatonnes (12%) higher than EU production. The countries most impacted by the EU’s carbon imbalance are China, South Africa and Russia. The situation reflects the fact that the Europe mainly exports services and high-value added products while importing more energy-intensive and low-value added products. Imported goods also tend to cause more emissions because production in some countries is more pollution intensive than in Europe. Goals to reduce EU emissions by 50-80% by 2050 are weakened if this is done by increasingly importing CO2-intensive products from the rest of the world. For the EU to reduce its global CO2 emissions, systemic changes to the European economy are needed. As the world’s largest economic and trading block, trade and investment flows from the EU are an important, but often overlooked, method to achieve change. The report says that the EU must mobilise the funds to help developing countries introduce technology that ‘leapfrogs’ beyond the inefficient industrial and urban infrastructure in the developed world. To access the report go to http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/index.cfm?uNewsID=125140
BIOFUELS: MAKING TOUGH CHOICES. By Sonja Vermeulen, Annie Dufey and Bill Vorley (IIED, February 2008). The jury is still out on biofuels. But one thing at least is certain: serious trade-offs are involved in the production and use of these biomass-derived alternatives to fossil fuels. This has not been lost on the European Union. The year kicked off with an announcement from the EU environment commissioner that it may be better for the EU to miss its target of reaching 10 per cent biofuel content in road fuels by 2020 than to compromise the environment and human wellbeing. The ‘decision tree’ outlined in this briefing can guide the interdependent processes of deliberation and analysis needed for making tough choices in national biofuels development. To access the briefing visit http://www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=17032IIED&n=1&l=177&c=econ
INTERNATIONAL TRADE-RELATED REGULATIONS OF GM FOOD: WHAT POLICIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES? By Guillaume Gruère (International Food Policy Institute, 2007). This brief summarizes a comprehensive review of national and international trade-related regulations on the food and feed products derived from transgenic or genetically modified (GM) crops, identifies the main effects of these regulations on developing countries’ decision-making, and suggests four necessary policy arrangements to achieve multiple domestic objectives under these regulatory constraints. To access the policy brief, visit http://www.ifpri.org/pbs/pdf/pbsbriefgruere.pdf
LABELING POLICIES OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD: LESSONS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF EXISTING APPROACHES. By Guillaume Gruère (International Food Policy Institute, 2007). This brief summarizes a comprehensive review of international labeling policies for genetically modified (GM) food and uses it to draw lessons for policymakers in developing countries that are considering the possibility of adopting a labeling policy for GM food. To access the policy brief, visit http://www.ifpri.org/pbs/pdf/pbsbrieflabeling.pdf
WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE REQUIRED ON SHIPMENTS OF LMO-FFPS? ANALYZING OPTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 18.2.A OF THE BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL. By Guillaume Gruère and Mark W. Rosegrant (International Food Policy Institute, 2007). This brief summarizes the potential economic effects of making mandatory the voluntary stringent information requirements adopted in 2006 under Article 18.2.a of the Biosafety Protocol. This would require all traded shipments containing living modified organisms intended for direct use as food, feed, or for processing (LMO-FFPs) to be accompanied by a list of all present genetically modified (GM) events. To access the policy brief, visit http://www.ifpri.org/pbs/pdf/pbsbrieflmoffps.pdf
COPING WITH WATER SCARCITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: WHAT ROLE FOR AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES? This document provides a summary of the main issues discussed during a moderated e-mail conference, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum from 5 March to 1 April 2007, based on the messages posted by the participants, 75% of which came from people in developing countries. The major topics discussed were the application of biotechnologies (mainly genetic modification and marker-assisted selection) to develop crops with improved drought resistance or water use efficiency; the use of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi in water-limited conditions; and the use of biotechnology in wastewater treatment. To view the document, visit http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/C14/summary.htm, or contact biotech-admin@fao.org to request a copy.