Ensuring a positive contribution of trade policy to climate action towards COP 21
Channel: ICTSD
Date: 2014-09-24

The recent IPCC-report clearly demonstrates the need to shift to a cleaner energy mix if we are to stay within the agreed 2-degree target of global temperature rise. In order to do so, costs of renewable energy must come down and markets need to be strengthened to allow for a scale-up of innovation, production and deployment of sustainable energy technologies. 
Trade policy has an important role to play in this respect. Reducing tariffs and barriers to trade in services related to clean energy will help private actors optimize their supply-chains, thereby pushing down costs. A collaborative effort in this direction may also provide for a better understanding of the policies and realities faced by different countries as they try to stimulate the shift to clean energy and to green growth. 
A trade negotiation in the area of environmental goods was launched in Geneva in July 2014 by 14 like-minded WTO members (counting EU as one), building inter alia on recent developments in APEC and other regional- and bilateral trade agreements. The trade negotiation constitutes a very timely opportunity for trade to effectively contribute to climate action, if delegations involved were to identify, include and prioritize clean energy goods in a first deliverable. This has the potential of contributing positively through COP 20 to COP 21 in Paris in December 2015, set to be a pivotal moment for climate action. 
For this potential to be realized, it is crucial that the climate constituency engages in the process. By doing so, it can help leverage the momentum generated over the past few years, and push trade negotiators towards a timely and focused delivery. In turn, a successful outcome in the trade area would be capable of providing a much needed positive impetus into the climate negotiations and lay the ground for a positive, collaborative and constructive spirit in the lead up to COP 21.
It is against this background that the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and New York University will convene a Dialogue in the side-lines of the UN Secretary General’s special summit on Climate Change. The purpose of the Dialogue is twofold: first, to raise awareness of the current momentum of trade initiatives in the area of climate change and sustainable energy among a non-trade audience, and their potential positively contribute to climate action. Second, to seek the involvement of the climate constituency in such a process, so as to ensure that a future trade agreement delivers for climate change. 
Session format

The meeting will foster a forward-looking, action-oriented discussion between government representatives, business leaders and key experts on how to effectively advance the agenda of climate change action and green growth through trade in the area of clean energy technologies.  
While containing a key note speech and a series of presentations, the session will also allow for discussion, beyond questions and answers.

Speakers:

Michael Liebreich, Founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board, Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz, Chief Executive, ICTSD

Robert Howse, Professor, International Law, New York University

H.E. Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Minister of Environment, Peru

Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative, UN Sustainable Energy for All

Laurence Tubiana, Special Representative of the Government to France to COP21

Sourabh Sen, Co-Chairman, Astonfield Renewables

Richard Samans, Managing Director, World Economic Forum

Moderator: James Bacchus, Greenberg Traurig

Event: Ensuring a positive contribution of trade policy to climate action towards COP 21
Venue: The Yale Club, New York City, US
Date: 24 September 2014

This event will explore the potential of the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) negotiations, launched recently by a group of 14 WTO members, to foster trade as a tool for enhancing climate action. It will also discuss how this could help support climate negotiations towards Lima and Paris.

The event is co-organised by ICTSD, and The Guarini Center on Environment, Energy and Land Use Law at NYU School of Law.