The European Union focused its presentation on two elements of its energy efficiency policy framework: eco-design and energy labelling. Eco-design refers to mandatory requirements that eliminate the least energy efficient products from the market while energy labelling seeks to pull the market towards the most energy efficient products by helping consumers make informed choices.

Singapore explained that its limited options to harness renewable energy made energy efficiency a core element of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Thailand underlined the challenge of being highly dependent on fossil fuels and highlighted that energy efficiency was a key aspect of its energy policy. Chile explained the range of measures it has in place to improve energy efficiency, including education campaigns and labelling schemes. Pakistan stressed the importance of ensuring adequate access to energy for its population, and how solar and wind energy could help to achieve this goal and overcome the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) described the broad array of measures being used worldwide to improve energy efficiency and their possible trade implications. Such measures include minimum energy-performance standards for appliances and buildings, labelling schemes, and energy efficiency incentives. The International Organization on Standardization (ISO) provided information on ISO 50001 — a standard that seeks to support organizations in using energy more efficiently — and other standards related to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

 

Illegal logging

The Committee continued its discussions on the trade-related aspects of illegal logging. Russia shared its experience in this area and said that its 2013 Roundwood Act seeks to provide a system for tracking the life cycle of timber from the moment it is harvested until it is processed or exported. Malaysia, a major producer and exporter of tropical timber, presented its Timber Certification Scheme, which includes a Forest Management Certification scheme. Malaysia also highlighted other measures to combat illegal logging, including cooperation efforts with other countries.

 

China’s initiatives

China detailed its Ecological Civilization Strategy, which seeks to intensify the protection of the environment and the conservation of resources, to promote low-carbon development, to deepen reform, to encourage innovation and to raise public awareness of environmental issues. China also presented its environmental labelling scheme, which currently covers 97 categories of products and outlined the environmental provisions included in its recent free trade agreements (FTAs), such as the China-Korea FTA. It noted that its recent FTAs had a growing number of disciplines that aim to address trade and environment issues.

 

Other issues

Fossil fuel subsidy reform

On behalf of the friends of fossil fuel subsidy reform (Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland), New Zealand and Norway presented the benefits of tackling inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Recent developments included the launch of a peer review process under which countries volunteer to have measures related to fossil fuel subsidies reviewed by a panel regarding their efficiency, and the publication of a communiqué aimed at accelerating action to eliminate subsidies. The communiqué is to be presented at the UN climate change conference in Paris at the end of the year.

Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) negotiations

WTO members received an update on the environmental goods negotiations launched in July 2014. Australia said that there are now 17 members participating in the negotiations. Efforts are focused on building a list of possible EGA products, which currently comprise around 2,400 product nominations covering around 650 tariff lines.

Briefings by observer organizations

A representative from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) briefed members on the status of the climate change negotiations, in particular on the preparation of the Conference of the Parties to be held in Paris. OECD presented its report on “Aligning Policies for the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy”.

WTO Secretariat update

Following the request by some members, the WTO Secretariat presented an update on recent developments on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the upcoming Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa to be held in July 2015.