The Environment and Trade Hub serves as the overarching delivery mechanism for United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) work on trade. Through research, capacity building and policy advisory services, the Hub provides tailored support to countries seeking to leverage trade and investment as vehicles for achieving the SDGs and their Paris Agreement commitments.
This page give an overview of the most relevant resources of the Environment and Trade Hub.
Biodiversity and international Trade Policy Primer: How does Nature fit in the Sustainable Trade Agenda?
This paper introduces readers to the state of the world’s biodiversity, and the drivers and impacts of biodiversity loss. It reviews international commitments, instruments, nature-related priorities, and the state of play on relevant international policymaking. Linkages between trade flows and biodiversity are explored and it focuses on the intersection of trade policy and biodiversity goals. The paper also reviews supply-chain initiatives, including those led by stakeholders across the wider trade and biodiversity landscape. The paper concludes with priority areas for enhanced policy dialogue, research and action.
(February 2021, UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund (UKRI GCRF) Trade, Development and the Environment Hub, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS)).
Greening International Trade: Pathways Forward
This report is a non-technical entry point for actors keen to navigate the environment-trade policy conversation and promote sustainable trade. The report argues that advancing green trade requires a reframing of the environment and trade narrative. First, greening trade must start with strong environmental laws, regulations, institutions, and enforcement nationally, complemented by international environmental agreements that set out shared goals, obligations, and minimum standards. Second, governments can green trade through a strategic approach to measures and tariffs applied at their borders. Governments can also update trade rules and policies relevant to environmental action ‘behind the border.’ Third, the report highlights additional pathways to stronger intergovernmental cooperation on green trade that requires attention. Fourth, the report highlights the opportunities presented by stakeholder initiatives to green trade and supply chains.
(May 2021, Deere Birkbeck, C., Global Governance Centre and the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS): Geneva).
