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8-10 September, Rome, Italy. SECOND WORLD SEED CONFERENCE. Agriculture in a changing world needs to provide food security and economic development in the context of global challenges, such as climate change and evolving human needs by responding at the local, national and regional level. This event is aimed at policy makers, government officials, plant breeders, seed specialists, researchers, farmers’ organisations and consumer organisations. Registration is required (cost € 125). In order to participate, please register on-line at www.worldseedconference.org
9-11 September, Manila, Philippines. THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREEN INDUSTRY IN ASIA: MANAGING THE TRANSITION TO RESOURCE-EFFICIENT AND LOW-CARBON INDUSTRIES. Over the past decades, rapid economic growth in the Asia and Pacific region has lifted millions of people out of poverty. But with rising population, rapid urbanisation, motorisation and industrialisation, it has also led to increased consumption of resources and generation of waste almost beyond the limits of the region’s ecological carrying capacity. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are jointly organising an International Conference on Green Industry in Asia, which will focus on how industries in the region can effectively manage the transition to resource efficient and low carbon industry, and in the process sustain rapid economic growth and trade competitiveness. Please register on-line at http://wqis.emb.gov.ph/unido/Register.aspx
15 September, Stockholm, Sweden. SWEDEN’S NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE (KOMMERSKOLLEGUIM) - TRADE AND CLIMATE. International trade has enormous potential to foster or frustrate sustainable development. How economic globalisation and its governing institutions affect human welfare and the environment - locally, nationally, and globally - has been a subject of heated debate. For more information, contact Erika Svensson at erika.svensson@ivl.se
WTO Events
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at http://www.wto.org/english/nes_e/meets.pdf. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
10-11 September: JEUNE GENEVOIS (WTO non-working day)
14-15 September: COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT - DEDICATED
SESSION ON RTAS
15-16 September: COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
Other upcoming events
18 September, Paris, France. OECD CONFERENCE ON THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. The purpose of the conference is to bring together high-level experts, government decision-makers and representatives from civil society to discuss how climate change mitigation and adaptation can best be tackled in an economically efficient manner, including by ensuring sufficient incentives for participation by all. Attendance is limited and registration takes place via OECD Member States delegations. For more information, visit http://www.oecd.org/document/41/0,3343,en_2649_34361_43298281_1_1_1_1,00.html
28-30 September, Geneva, Switzerland. WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2009. Under the heading “Global problems, global solutions: towards better global governance,” the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2009 will gather civil society representatives, governments and international organisations to discuss the role of the multilateral trading system and the Doha Round of negotiations within the context of the current global economic crisis. For more information, send an email to publicforum2009@wto.org , or see the event’s website
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/forum09_background_e.htm
29 September, Geneva, Switzerland. Trade and Climate Change Code with Gary Hufbauer. As climate change policy shifts into high gear ahead of the end-of-year Copenhagen Summit, there is an increased need to better manage and perhaps remodel the interface between trade and climate change policies and agreements. There is a need for new and improved tools to organise convergence (and manage likely divergences) at the trade-climate change interface, and to explore the scope for - and consequences of - changing current trade disciplines and the assumptions that underlie them. One of the most interesting proposals made to date in this regard is that of a “Trade and Climate Code” advanced by Gary Hufbauer, Steve Charnovitz and Jusun Kim in their recent book Global Warming and the World Trading System. At this event, co-hosted by ICTSD and WTI Advisors, Gary C. Hufbauer of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington, will present his proposal to a Geneva audience. His presentation will be followed by comments from Gary Horlick, of The Law Offices of Gary Horlick, Washington D.C., and Hannes Schloemann, WTI Advisors, Geneva. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
29 September, Geneva, Switzerland. Global networking to increase Member-state capacity within the Dispute Settlement Process. While the DSU is intergovernmental in nature, WTO Dispute Settlement would not be possible without the involvement of a wider network of stakeholders. Private firms, legal counsel, and non-governmental organisations all provide invaluable assistance to Member-states hoping to overcome disagreement via the mechanism. This point has particular salience with respect to overcoming the unfortunate underrepresentation of developing country Member-states in WTO Dispute Settlement. This panel event, hosted by ICTSD at the WTO Public Forum, will address the role of non-state actors in WTO disputes and will consider how they are now used - and how they might be used further - to help increase the capacity of Member-states to engage in the process. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
30 September, Geneva, Switzerland. New labour and environmental provisions in regional trade agreements and how such provisions relate to the multilateral trading system. The number of RTAs notified to the WTO is growing. The EU and the US are placing their efforts in negotiating and implementing a new generation of regional and bilateral trade agreements. Examples are recent cooperation agreements with Central America, CARIFORUM and Andean countries. Moreover India is currently negotiating RTAs with the EU and ASEAN. One of the main reasons for the increasing number of such agreements is that they allow WTO members to achieve progress toward trade liberalisation that they cannot attain in the multilateral system. In the package of issues being covered by RTAs, especially in those between developed and developing countries, new issues are brought to the agenda. At the systemic level: MFN clauses, the relation with Article XXIV and the non execution clause have important implications for developing countries engaging in RTAs. Also regulatory aspects on the relationship between environment and labour standards are starting to arise. While developing countries tend to look at these issues with some level of distrust, consumer and market preferences are reshaping these perceptions. This panel event, organised by ICTSD for the WTO Public Forum, will explore these issues and their implications. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
30 September, Geneva, Switzerland. Strengthening Multilateralism in Trade for Sustainable Development: Reforming the WTO for the Future. This session, which will be co-hosted by ICTSD and the Global Economic Governance Programme of the University of Oxford, will address the challenge of strengthening the multilateral trading system for trade and sustainable development. The starting point for discussion will be that the WTO is a vital and valuable institution, but that changes need to be made to ensure the multilateral trading system addresses the changing times, the new political and economic realities of the trading system, and the pressing challenges of sustainable development. The event will be held during the WTO Public Forum. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
22-23 October, Washington DC, USA. DIALOGUE ON FORESTS, GOVERNANCE, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Jointly organised by Chatham House, the Rights and Resources Initiative and the World Resources Institute, this is the second in a series of meetings aiming to promote learning and frank discussion on the key issues facing forests and forest communities as the world scales up efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The meeting will focus on the international implications of the Waxman-Markey bill now working its way through the US Congress, as well as the preliminary steps by the UN-REDD and FCPF to establish REDD Readiness in developing countries to date. The meeting is open to all, and there is no charge for admission. However, pre-registration is essential, and you must register by the end of Friday 15 October to be guaranteed admission. To register, please send your name and affiliation to Lucy Ellinas at climate-forest.registration@chathamhouse.org.uk
26-28 October, Geneva, Switzerland. THE 2009 BRIDGES CHINA DIALOGUE. CHINA AND GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY: TRADE, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND LOW-CARBON INITIATIVES. Against the backdrop of the current recession, China’s economic and political landscape is of paramount importance in facilitating a speedy global recovery. The 2009 Bridges China Dialogue will bring together experts from government, business, academia and civil society organisations for an in-depth discussion and examination of China’s market dynamics and policy implications with regards to a global sustainable recovery. For information on panels, speakers and attendance, please visit the meeting’s website: www.bridges-china.com
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