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ACCESS TO CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A PRACTICAL STRATEGY. By Cynthia Cannady (ICTSD Programme on IPRs and Sustainable Development). September 2009. The role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) has increasingly been the subject of attention in climate change discussions on technology transfer. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiating texts contain a wide range of options and proposals relating to intellectual property that reflect a diversity of views on the matter. This paper aims to provide a practical perspective on how these options and proposals would work ‘in the real world’ and the extent to which they would effectively allow developing countries to gain greater access to climate change technologies. The author critically examines several approaches that have been suggested for facilitating access to climate change technology by developing countries, including compulsory licensing, patent pools, patent databases and structured voluntary licensing mechanisms. This paper discusses the realistic problems facing these approaches to achieve the expected results for developing countries. Instead, the author argues for a practical two-pronged strategy. The first prong is climate change technology innovation strategy (CCTIS), focusing on supporting climate change research and innovation in developing countries by scientists in those areas. The second prong of the strategy is ‘win-win‘ technology collaboration agreements for climate change technology between developed and developing country parties. To access this paper, visit: http://ictsdexchange01/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ICTSD/fd74bea6ab/62890a0c44/9d256454f7
THREAT TO BLOCK SOUTH’S EXPORTS ON CLIMATE GROUNDS. South Centre: South Bulletin (40), September 2009. By Martin Khor. Beginning with a question on whether developed countries have the right to impose tariffs on imports from developing countries based on the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) emitted during their production, the author reveals arguments from both developed countries (primarily the US) and developing countries as to how this issue should be approached. The American Clean Energy Act, Security Act of 2009, and Waxman-Markey bill have been criticised by developing countries as having negative effects on their economies (particularly India and China) because exports to the US will become more costly. The author then examines recent WTO discussion panels concerning climate-related charges based on processes and production methods and whether such measures are legal under the WTO. With contentions from developed and developing countries, this article finds that the debate over climate-based import tariffs will be a significant issue in the coming years. To access this article, visit: http://www.southcentre.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1082&Itemid=279
INTERNATIONAL TRADE STATISTICS 2009. World Trade Organization. October 2009. International Trade Statistics 2009 is a comprehensive overview of world trade up to 2008 and includes the details of merchandise trade by product and trade in commercial services by category. Each chapter is introduced by a highlights section that identifies the most salient trends in the data, including the first quarter of 2009, and illustrates them with numerous charts and maps. There is also a methodological chapter (Chapter IV Metadata) that explains essential concepts and definitions used in compiling the statistics, and an appendix with detailed data on trade by region up to 2008. This document may approve to be a valuable reference for researchers, policy makers and anyone interested in international trade. To access this report, visit: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/its2009_e/its09_toc_e.htm
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