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:
> More 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

Audio: Chair’s opening remarks 
  

SESSION 1:

AID FOR TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT — POLICY PERSPECTIVES
  
10.10 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
WTO: Harnessing Trade for Sustainable Development
 

Vesile Kulaçoğlu, Director, Trade and Environment Division, World Trade Organization

  • Sustainable development as a guiding principle of WTO
  • Contribution of trade to sustainable development
  • Maximising the positive benefits of the Multilateral Trading Systems for developing countries
    > presentation
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

  • Sustainable development as a guiding principle of Aid for Trade
  • How does sustainable development rank as an Aid-for-Trade policy priority?
  • Sustainable development as an implementation objective; what does the monitoring exercise for the Third Global Review tell us?
  • Sustainable development and Aid-for-Trade funding; flows, trends and methodological constraints
    > Document — Aid for Trade and green growth: State of play
    > presentation
UNEP: Why does a Green Economy matter for Least Developed Countries?
 

Anna Autio, Associate Legal Officer, Economics and Trade Branch,United Nations Environment Programme

Discussion
  

Audio: Listen to Session 1   > help 

  
  

SESSION 2:

AID FOR TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT — PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES  

11.30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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

ITC:

Trade, Climate Change and Environment Programme (TCCEP)
 

Alex Kasterine, Senior Adviser, TCCEP, International Trade Centre

  • Supply-side challenges and environmental goods and services
  • Market access issues faced by developing country suppliers
  • Meeting environment related standards
  • Practical examples of TCCEP support
    > presentation
    > ITC Standards Map

Audio: Listen to Session 2   > help 
  

Publication

Harnessing Trade for Sustainable Development and a Green Economy

> Publication details

> Download pdf