RESOURCES

TRADE-RELATED MEASURES AND MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS. UNEP, 2007. This paper contributes to ongoing negotiations at the WTO by analysing MEA trade-related measures in the context of their overall objectives. In particular, the paper provides a detailed review of the main provisions and specific trade-related measures found in six MEAs. The paper also explores the linkage between trade and environment and the role the trade-related measures incorporated in MEAs play in responding to this relationship. The paper concludes that a classification of trade-related measures should be developed in a manner that takes into account the particular context of each MEA, and the paper recommends a framework for considering trade-related measures in reference to the functions they perform. To access the paper visit http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/pdf/MEA%20Papers/TradeRelated_MeasuresPaper.pdf

A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF MEA EXPERIENCES IN IDENTIFYING AND FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY - WHAT INSIGHTS CAN BE DRAWN FOR THE WTO EGS NEGOTIATIONS? UNEP and UNCTAD, 2007. MEA Secretariats and their Parties have been engaged for a number of years in identifying relevant technology and promoting technology transfer as a step towards achieving MEA objectives. This paper examines this experience with a view to enriching WTO negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in environmental goods and services. The paper provides a summary of provisions related to technology found in five MEAs and an overview of the activities undertaken by the respective MEA Secretariats and their Parties in identifying technology and facilitating its transfer. The paper finds that MEAs and their Parties generally adopt a dynamic mechanism for technology identification; designed to respond to the changing nature of environmental challenges, scientific discoveries, technological development, as well as changing economic, social and cultural circumstances. The paper also notes that MEA Secretariats and Parties often adopt a "package" approach to technology and technology transfer, where the transfer of the technology is complemented by capacity building, technical assistance, training of personnel, sharing of know-how, and exchange of information. To access the paper visit http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/pdf/MEA%20Papers/MEA_EGS%20Paper.pdf

AN EXAMINATION OF US AND EU GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO BIOFUELS: EARLY LESSONS. International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council, October 2007. This study finds that in the absence of commercially viable second-generation biofuels, ambitious mandates coupled with high tariffs that serve to largely limit tax incentives to domestic producers, risk a disproportionate focus on U.S. and EU first-generation biofuels. The report also demonstrates that a lack of internationally agreed technical and sustainability standards as well as a lack of clarity about international trade obligations, can increase this tendency. The report urges the U.S. and EU to adopt policies that serve to promote those uses of biomass which are most energy efficient and show the greatest promise of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of national origin. Internet: http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/EU_US_Biofuels.html

BUILDING A PRO-DEVELOPMENT GLOBAL STRATEGY ON CLIMATE CHANGE. By Alan Oxley, World Growth, August 2007. The study proposes a "Multi-Track" process that would allow countries to develop more customised strategies to reduce emissions while preserving economic development programs and progress toward eliminating poverty. The "Multi-Track" strategy would allow for each nation to develop a strategy to tackle climate change that best suits it, giving nations more flexibility to reach emission reductions through a variety of strategies. This could include Kyoto-styled mandatory cuts, adopting new technologies, improving efficient energy consumption, or any combination of approaches. Internet: http://www.worldgrowth.org/assets/File/World_Growth_-_Building_a_Pro-Development_Global_Strategy_on_Climate_Change.pdf

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF NOT EXTENDING BIOFUELS SUBSIDIES. Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (University of Missouri-Columbia), May 2007. The study's authors use statistical modelling to evaluate how eliminating excise taxes and an import tariff on ethanol would affect the production of ethanol and biodiesel in the US. They find that ethanol production would contract by 30 percent, and biodiesel production by more than half. Commodity prices would also drop, as would farm income. US taxpayers would save $6.5 billion each year from eliminating the $0.51 per gallon tax credit for ethanol, though the government would not save the entire amount, since dropping commodity prices would cause annual farm subsidy payments to rise by $0.57 billion. Available online at http://www.fapri.missouri.edu/outreach/publications/2007/FAPRI_UMC_Report_17_07.pdf.