AID FOR TRADE: DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN ECONOMY — 29 FEBRUARY 2012
Workshop on Aid for Trade, Sustainable Development and Green Economy
The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the contribution which Aid for Trade (AfT) can make to sustainable development and green economy. One of the guiding principles of Aid for Trade is that it “should be rendered in a coherent manner taking full account, inter alia, of the gender perspective and of the overall goal of sustainable development.”1
See also:
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on Aid for Trade
Trade’s contribution to the economic development pillar of sustainable development was recognized at the original United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) 1992 Rio “Earth Summit” and Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. The “intersection” of trade with the broader sustainable development agenda was highlighted by the Third Global Review as an area of particular relevance — and one which should be examined further in the AfT work programme for 2012‑2013 “Deepening Coherence”.
The 2011 monitoring and evaluation exercise highlighted that sustainable development is beginning to influence the AfT policy objectives of partner countries, South‑South partners, bilateral and multilateral donors. The monitoring exercise also harvested case stories of how AfT projects are meeting both trade and sustainable development objectives.
OECD data on AfT flows further underscores this evolving synergy. Some 30 per cent of aid for economic infrastructure is contributing to “environmental objectives”. Furthermore, many of the issues to be addressed by climate change funds, for example sustainable renewable energy, address the same trade-related infrastructure constraints targeted by the Aid‑for‑Trade Initiative.
From recognition of sustainable development as a key principle to guide the Aid‑for‑Trade Initiative, a growing body of work is now emerging which underscores the contribution which Aid for Trade is making to sustainable development in practice.
Read more about the evolving synergy between sustainable development and Aid for Trade: link to background document WT/COMTD/AFT/W/31.
Note:
1. Recommendation of the Task Force on Aid for Trade WT/AFT/1. back to text
Agenda
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 — WTO, Centre William Rappard
10 a.m. — 10.05 a.m. | ||
Chair introduction |
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SESSION 1: |
AID FOR TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT — POLICY PERSPECTIVES |
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10.10 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. | ||
WTO: | Harnessing Trade for Sustainable Development | |
Vesile Kulaçoğlu, Director, Trade and Environment Division, World Trade Organization
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OECD: | Aid for Trade, Sustainable Development and Green Growth: State of Play | |
William Hynes, Policy Analyst, Development Co-operation Directorate, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
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UNEP: | Why does a Green Economy matter for Least Developed Countries? | |
Anna Autio, Associate Legal Officer, Economics and Trade Branch,United Nations Environment Programme
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Discussion |
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Audio: Listen to Session 1 > help |
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SESSION 2: |
AID FOR TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT — PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES | |
11.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
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Denmark: |
Integrating Green Growth Objectives into National Development Policy and Programming — Practical examples from DANIDA | |
Sofie H. Flensborg, Attaché, Trade and Sustainable Development, Mission of Denmark
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ITC: |
Trade, Climate Change and Environment Programme (TCCEP) | |
Alex Kasterine, Senior Adviser, TCCEP, International Trade Centre
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Harnessing Trade for Sustainable Development and a Green Economy