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Marine fisheries and CITES: Breaking the cycle of overexploitation
International trade can drive unsustainable fishing, particularly for high demand or high priced species that are not well managed. For example, bluefin tuna, sharks and corals are being overfished to the point of endangerment to meet demand for sushi, shark fin soup, and jewellery. Many fish species are widely traded, providing markets for developed and…
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Fostering the development and diffusion of technologies for climate change: Lessons from the CGIAR model
To address the consequences of climate change, the international community must launch a major global effort of interdisciplinary research in various fields, ranging from fuel-efficient technologies to cut carbon dioxide emissions, to seeds adapted to new climatic conditions. In view of the urgency of the technological demands generated by climate change, the commitment of governments…
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Moving past Copenhagen: Next steps for agriculture
While many other issues have proved contentious in the efforts to reach a new global climate deal over the past couple years of negotiation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), agriculture has been able to unite interests across many lines. In particular, numerous parties have promoted and successfully advanced specific language on…
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Geographical Indications and the protection of biodiversity in Andean countries
In their effort to guarantee that the benefits of marketable products created from biodiversity in Andean countries [1] are developed responsibly and stay within control of their owners, governments could make use of various protective instruments, including Geographical Indications (GIs). There is a growing interest in creating added value in rural areas of Andean countries. Such…
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The Lacey Act: Timber trade enforcement gets some teeth
In May 2008, the United States became the first country in the world to place an outright, criminally enforceable ban on the import of illegally harvested timber. Codified in Section 8204 of the US Farm Bill, the new provisions amended the Lacey Act - a century-old law that serves as Washington’s primary tool in the…
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Bioethanol production in rural Angola
Thanks to the transfer of technology from Brazil, Angola is entering the biofuels sector with multiple aims. These include creating jobs in rural areas, diversifying the energy mix and boosting exports. While the production of biofuels can bring about many benefits, technology transfer in this area is not without risks and needs to be carefully…
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ICTSD update: EGS Work under ICTSD’s Global Platform on Climate Change
The world left the Copenhagen conference on climate change in December 2009 in a quandary and questioning the path forward. Among other things, negotiators and advocates who sought to influence a climate agreement have had to face the fact that trade and competitiveness concerns now act as a major driver in determining the outcomes of…
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Events
ICTSD Events 30-31 March, New Delhi, India. TRADE AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN EMERGING ECONOMIES: THE COMPETITIVENESS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS DIMENSION. Organised by ICTSD and Research and Information Systems (RIS). 20-21 April, Kathmandu, Nepal. DIALOGUE ON TRADE, POVERTY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Organised by ICTSD, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, and SAWTEE. Other Events 22-26…
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Resources
ICTSD Resources TRADE FLOWS, BARRIERS AND MARKET DRIVERS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SUPPLY GOODS: THE NEED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. By Veena Jha. ICTSD Programme on Trade and Environment Issue Paper No. 10 (December 2009). http://ictsd.org/downloads/2010/01/veena-jha-paper.pdf Other Resources CONFRONTING BIOPIRACY: CHALLENGES, CASES AND INTERNATIONAL DEBATES. By Daniel F. Robinson (February 2010). http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=101786…