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CLIMATE AND TRADE POLICIES IN A POST 2012 WORLD. UNEP and ADAM project. June 2009. This publication is a collection of short articles by experts on the relationship between trade and climate change policies. A joint effort by the UNEP and the EU-funded ADAM project (”Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies: Supporting European Climate Policy”), the publication builds off discussions from the September 2008 “International Workshop on Post-2012 Climate and Trade Policies”. In examining the future interplay between trade and climate changes regimes, the publication underscores that while trade should not be seen as a panacea for climate change issues, it can make important contributions. However, to do so, policy-makers must provide further clarity on the relationship between climate and trade, such as identifying trade-related measures and low-carbon technologies. Presently, opportunities exist for collaboration at the multilateral, regional and national level, and these efforts should not be seen as mutually exclusive. Additionally, while technology transfer and the implications of unilateral trade measures should remain a focus of trade negotiations, additional climate linkages, such as agriculture, must also be considered. The report indicates that while more analysis will contribute to better understanding of these complex issues, action cannot be postponed. The aim of this collection of articles is to provide a larger international audience with information that will promote further discourse and progress on the design and implementation of a future climate regime. To access this paper, visit: http://www.unep.ch/etb/publications/UNEP ADAM Climate and Trade Policies/UNEP ADAM Climate and Trade Policies.pdf
CONVENIENT SOLUTIONS TO AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH: ECO-SYSTEM BASED APPROACHES TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Environment Department, World Bank. June 2009. This report, which is targeted at both World Bank task teams and country clients, promotes the inclusion of ecosystem‐based approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation in national strategies. The paper discusses opportunities where ecosystem-based strategies can offer cost‐effective, proven and sustainable solutions that strengthen national and regional adaptation strategies. Further integration of ecosystem‐based approaches into climate change responses and national adaptation strategies, the study finds, will require greater sources of funding, which should include capitalising on opportunities to protect natural ecosystems as part of major energy and infrastructure projects. The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, Forest Investment program and the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience are included as examples of opportunities to better protect natural resources, provide benefits to communities and incorporate cost‐effective green technology in addressing the challenges of climate change. To access this report, visit: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ENVIRONMENT/Resources/ESW_EcosystemBasedApp.pdf
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: THE RISING IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE AGENDA. Pedro da Motta Veiga and Sandra Polônia Rios. International Institute for Sustainable Development. 2009. This paper summarises the findings of four national case studies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru, and outlines the importance of environmental and labour issues as they relate to the performance of exports and trade negotiations of Latin American countries. The study identifies opportunities and challenges in relation to these issues and explores how sustainable development topics have been introduced to each country’s trade and investment agendas. Noting that the countries have exhibited different rhythms and intensities in their approach to the liberalisation of trade and investment regimes, the paper highlights areas of common interest with respect to trade, investment and sustainable development. These four areas include: 1) concerns regarding the impacts of new standards on the export capacity of products sensitive to social, environmental and climate change issues and the need to formulate appropriate negotiating strategies for trade agreements; 2) food and energy security risks relating to continued volatility of international commodity prices; 3) a growing focus on non-trade concerns, such as environmental management, social and labour rights, in free trade agreements with Northern countries, as well as the WTO agenda; and, 4) balancing the potential growth of foreign direct investment in the form of carbon intensive industries with increased investment in environmentally-sensitive sectors. To access this report, visit http://www.tradeknowledgenetwork.net/pdf/tkn_trade_south_america.pdf
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