THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE HUB JOINS WTO DISCUSSIONS ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT

Geneva 20 June 2017- On behalf of UN Environment, the Environment and Trade Hub joined the WTO’s latest Committee on Trade and Environment meeting, discussing issues at the heart of the environment and trade nexus with Member States. Topics ranged from addressing fisheries subsidies, to trade and climate change, to fossil fuel subsidy reform and more. 

The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Zhanar Aitzhanova of Kazakhstan, began with an overview of recent work on fisheries subsidies, including activities undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), the UN Ocean Conference in New York – namely, a side event on fisheries subsidies hosted by UN Environment, FAO and the United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Trade and Environment Review by UNCTAD, in addition to a recent progress report on WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies. The Environment and Trade Hub updated members on its joint statement to reform fisheries subsidies, the Ocean Forum on Trade-related Aspects of SDG 14 held in March, the side event at the Ocean Conference in June, and a new voluntary commitment to provide technical support to countries and to facilitate global dialogue and concerted action. 

The meeting continued with discussions on fossil fuel subsidies reform, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), trade and climate change, the Environmental Goods Agreement negotiations, and the WTO Environmental Database. A group of members called for deepening the understanding of the interlinkages between trade and climate change and enhancing coherence between trade and climate governance. Several members reiterated the important role of trade in addressing climate change and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Peru presented their NDCs submitted to the UNFCCC, which entered into force on 4 November 2016. China shared its recent development in renewable energy. China obtained almost 13% of its energy from renewables in 2015, up from 6% in 2005, said China's Ambassador to the WTO, Mr. Zhang Xiangchen. Korea also reported key findings from a workshop on Trade and Climate Change on June 19, jointly organized with Costa Rica, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, and Chinese Taipei. Korea briefed that the topics such as fossil fuel subsidy reform, environment provision in Regional Trade Agreement and environment mainstreaming of SMEs in developing countries were discussed during the workshop. Korea also emphasized the need for urgent action and open-minded dialogue on trade and climate change. The workshop further built on the knowledge and momentum generated by the 2009 UN Environment-WTO Report on Trade and Climate Change.  

On behalf of UN Environment, the Environment and Trade Hub highlighted some of its recent activities and tools including a Sustainability Toolkit for Trade Negotiators launched in March 2017, an e-learning course on Trade and Green Economy delivered in November-December 2016 and March-April 2017, the study on Intra-ASEAN Value Chain Cooperation and Trade in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies, and the training and workshops on green trade in Mongolia, China and Burkina Faso under the umbrella of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE). The third United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) was also discussed, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4-6 December 2017 with the overarching theme of pollution. 

About the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment 

Launched in 1994, the CTE is a direct outcome of the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Trade and Environment. Open to all WTO members, the CTE has contributed to identifying and understanding the relationship between trade and the environment in order to promote sustainable development. The committee aims to make appropriate recommendations on whether any modifications of the provisions of the multilateral trading system are required, compatible with its open, equitable and non-discriminatory nature. As an official observer, UN Environment has been actively engaging with the Committee and its members on environment related trade rules and promoting the mutual supportiveness of trade and environmental policies. 

SOURCE: www.unep.org