Advancing the WTO-global environmental regime - report

7 February 2007

A new paper, published by Chatham House and FIELD (The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development) sets out options for governments to clarify the ambiguous relationship between the rules of the WTO and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in and outside the WTO. The Doha Round and Beyond: Towards a lasting relationship between the WTO and the international environmental regime is published today and written by Alice Palmer and Richard Tarasofsky.

The WTO-MEA relationship is far from straightforward and as pressures grow to develop more stringent economic measures to address global climate problems, there is an increasing possibility of a collision between the WTO and MEA regimes. Recently, for example, the French Prime Minister called for imposing a tax on imports from countries that are not party to the Kyoto Protocol. Such a move would likely be illegal under the WTO. A failure to head off a clash would be damaging for both trade and environment regimes. Both would be weakened by a serious conflict and both are being undermined by the present ambiguity.

This paper outlines the key elements of the WTO-MEA relationship; the state of play in the WTO negotiations; the state of play in the UN system; possible outcomes of the Doha round; possible outcomes negotiated in the UN system; inter-institutional initiatives and alternative venues; influences on achievement of outcomes in the short-term; and concludes with a section on where to from here.

The report is timely in both WTO and UN contexts. As a result of the informal meetings in Davos, there is a possibility that the Doha Round will be re-started. The relationship between the WTO and environmental treaties is part of that Round. More imminently, ministers will shortly gather in Nairobi for the next Global Ministerial Environment Forum (5-9 February 2007), which focuses on "globalization and the environment". One of the key themes they will look at is the relationship between trade and environment regimes.

Notes to editors:

The Doha Round and Beyond: Towards a lasting relationship between the WTO and the international environmental regime is published on Wednesday 7 February and written by Alice Palmer and Richard Tarasofsky.

Alice Palmer is Senior Advisor, Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development.

Richard Tarasofsky is Head, Energy Environment and Development Programme, Chatham House.

Chatham House is one of the world's leading organizations for the analysis of international issues. It is membership-based and aims to help individuals and organizations to be at the forefront of developments in an ever-changing and increasingly complex world.

The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD) is a registered UK charity founded in London in 1989 to enable disadvantaged countries, activists and communities to gain access to environmental justice through the rules and institutions of international law.

Interview bids:
Sam Hardy

Press Office, Chatham House
Tel: +44 (0)20 7957 5739

Email: shardy@chathamhouse.org.uk

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