IISD convenes meeting at WTO as climate change challenges international trade/investment laws
GENEVA—October 11, 2011—The International Institute for Sustainable Development has convened a one-day meeting of specialists from the climate change and the international trade law communities aimed at developing a better framework to address unilateral trade-related action on climate change, at the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva on Thursday.
"Several high profile measures have already sparked legal challenges in the WTO, a clear sign of things to come," said IISD senior advisor and associate Aaron Cosbey.
The most prominent case is the action Japan has brought against Canada over Ontario's Green Energy Act, which provides preferential incentives to green energy (solar and wind), but only if it uses components manufactured by local manufacturers. If Japan succeeds, it could mean lost jobs and a roadblock to Ontario's ambitions to be a clean energy exporter.
"This is a major concern to all members of the WTO, as the uncertainty has stalled critical and urgent investments in clean energy infrastructure and other climate change-related investments," said Cosbey.
Despite the urgency, Cosbey said it will still take years to establish a framework to deal with the complex issues. "This meeting is just the beginning, but the issues are so important we expect a lively and productive discussion at the very least."
He said the aim is to foster greater international cooperation in an effort to keep investment flowing in the direction of initiatives that help countries develop the infrastructure needed for climate change adaptations and mitigation.
The meeting will also look at issues around border carbon adjustment, which pose serious challenges for international cooperation on trade and investment, as well as in the ongoing climate change negotiations.
Please see the agenda for a full list of presenters at the conference: Trade, Investment and Climate Change: Searching for Progress on Key Issues,on October 13, 2011. -end-
For more information please contact Nona Pelletier, IISD media and communications officer, phone:
+1 (204) 958-7740 or cell: +1 (204) 962-1303, [email protected]
About IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is a globally recognized think tank with 3 decades of experience working to solve the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. We combine deep expertise in a wide range of issues with a collaborative approach to research, policy advice, and hands-on support to ensure these solutions are brought to life. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we are a diverse team of over 300 professionals working from offices in Canada, Switzerland, and other locations around the world.
You might also be interested in
Why the Scope of Taxes Covered Will Determine the Success of the UN Framework Convention’s Services Protocol
This article analyzes the UNFCITC draft protocol on cross-border services and its ambitious proposal to cover digital service taxes and quasi-income levies.
Strait of Hormuz Closure: Implications for African trade resilience
David Beer explores how the crisis in the Middle East is impacting African supply chains, while considering how the continent could turn this disruption into lasting gains for regional trade.
How the Hormuz Blockade Hit Asia
William George and Lynn Hughes assess how China, Japan, and Vietnam are navigating the fallout of the Strait of Hormuz closure and what it reveals about the state of energy security across Asia.
What the Hormuz Crisis Teaches Us About Agriculture’s Strategic Vulnerability
Darcie Doan explains how the Strait of Hormuz closure has exposed vulnerabilities at the heart of global food systems and why the crisis may be a turning point for smarter nitrogen use and long-term resilience.