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CITES, PIC MEETINGS TEST BALANCE BETWEEN TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
CITES, PIC MEETINGS TEST BALANCE BETWEEN TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The inherent tension between economic and environmental interests became abundantly clear at recent meetings in Geneva on trade in endangered species and on chemicals trade. The Standing Committee of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),…
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON FUTURE OF RICE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON FUTURE OF RICE A mega-conference in New Delhi, India, recently debated a multitude of issues related to rice, including the role of biotechnology, trade, poverty alleviation and the growing impact of climate change on cultivation. At the meeting, ministers from nine Asian countries adopted a declaration on cooperation in…
- In Brief
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Iceland Back in the Whale Hunt
On 17 October, Iceland announced its decision to resume commercial whale hunts for the first time in twenty years, ignoring an international moratorium. The government gave a whaling company a licence to hunt 39 whales — 30 minke and 9 fin whales — before the end of August 2007. Fin whales are on the IUCN…
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Ship Recycling Convention Under Negotiation
At the meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), held from 9-13 October, participants continued their work on a draft ship recycling treaty. A number of civil society organisations representing labour, environment and human rights have come out strongly against the draft, however. According to the groups, “the convention will,…
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Developing Countries Concerned About Private Sector Standards
A number of developing countries raised concerns over the impacts on their exports of private sector standards, such as supermarket requirements. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) on 11-12 October in Geneva. St Vincent and the Grenadines — supported by Argentina, Ecuador, Jamaica and Peru…
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Act Now: Climate Damage Will Cost Trillions
According to a new study, annual economic damage resulting from unabated climate change will amount to trillions of US dollars by the end of the century, and social and environmental harms will be “incalculable”. Researcher at the Tuft University Global Development and Environment Institute released the study entitled “Climate Change - the Costs of Inaction” on…
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Conference Promotes Sustainable Bioenergy Agenda
Experts from governments, NGOs, business and science gathered from 12-13 October at an international conference on “Sustainable Bioenergy - Challenges and Opportunities” in Bonn — hosted by the German NGO Forum Environment & Development and the United Nations Foundation — to discuss the opportunities for bioenergy, assess sustainability challenges and try to identify viable solutions…
- Events
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Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. 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. Coming up in the next two weeks 23-24 October,…
- Resources
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Resources
If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy or review by the BRIDGES staff to Malena Sell. WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT 2006. By the UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), October 2006. This year’s report focuses on the rise of foreign…