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Fossil Fuel Subsidy Disciplines in the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability

Fossil Fuel Subsidy Disciplines in the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability

Non-Confidential Summary For the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Watch video here Carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels are one of the major causes of climate change, threatening disastrous and irreparable harm to the environment and human civilization. Mitigating the impacts of climate change will require reducing worldwide consumption of fossil fuels, yet many governments maintain subsidy programs to assist producers and consumers of fossil fuels.

Better Environment for a Better Future

Better Environment for a Better Future

Executive Summary This paper conducts a critical analysis of Qatar’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement (PA) as submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat on November 19, 2015. Under its first NDCs, Qatar submitted a set of voluntary national actions and plans for economic diversification with mitigation co-benefits. This paper provides a brief background on the concepts of economic diversifica

The Paris Accord-Related Agreement on Environmental Goods and Services

The Paris Accord-Related Agreement on Environmental Goods and Services

It's Necessity and Feasibility Clinic: Graduate Institute, Fall 2018 Beneficiary: Permanent Mission of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to the World Trade Organization Executive Summary Read the full report here The catastrophic effects of climate change require stronger measures than the existing ones. Despite the success of the Paris Agreement in terms of participation, it is still necessary to undertake stronger and more effective steps to mitigate this phenomenon and furt

Perverse Subsidies and Extractive Industries

Perverse Subsidies and Extractive Industries

(Image Source: National Geographic) Internalizing Environmental Costs and Promoting Sustainable Development in Suriname and Guyana Clinic: uOttawa-Queen's Joint Clinic, Spring 2017 Beneficiary: Conservation International Executive Summary Read and download the full report here. Suriname and Guyana host some of the most pristine rainforests in the world and are rich in biodiversity. Both countries are covered to over 75 percent in rainforest, which is home to thousands of diff

UNFCCC Nationally Determined Contributions: Climate Change and Trade

UNFCCC Nationally Determined Contributions: Climate Change and Trade

This study seeks to improve our understanding of the relationship between response measures, economic diversification and international trade rules, and accordingly identify the positive opportunities that the current proliferation of regional and bilateral trade agreements brings for diversification and climate change mitigation. In doing so, the study explores the following questions: (i) what are the trade-related response measures included in the INDCs/NDCs and how are th

The EU's Renewable Energy Directive - Consistent with WTO Rules?

The EU's Renewable Energy Directive - Consistent with WTO Rules?

Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources has been adopted on 23 April 2009. The ambitious plan to increase the share of renewables in their energy consumption to 20% by 2020 includes a 10% goal for the use of renewables in transport alone. Renewable energy could come from a variety of sources, but for transport the main source of renewable energy is biofuel. Overall, the Directive is mostly in line with obligations under the GATT Agree

Treatment and Monitoring of the EU and USA Emission Trading Systems Under the Agreement on Subsidies

Treatment and Monitoring of the EU and USA Emission Trading Systems Under the Agreement on Subsidies

This memorandum analyzes climate change legislation of the EU and the US and found that they contain provisions that may constitute subsidies and be challenged as the WTO under the SCM Agreement, specifically provisions regarding emission allowances and rebate programs. Regarding reforms to the WTO framework, it is suggested that WTO Members may create environmentally friendly provisions under the SCM Agreement rather than a new multilateral and plurilateral environmental and

Questions of Compatibility with WTO Law of Trade Measures Under a New Climate Change Protocol

Questions of Compatibility with WTO Law of Trade Measures Under a New Climate Change Protocol

This memorandum addresses two questions. The first is, based on the provisions of the agreement reached at the Copenhagen summit, what would be the legal implications under WTO law, if a signatory state imposes trade measures to persuade a non-signatory state to adhere to the agreement. The second question asks what are the legal consequences under WTO law if a climate change protocol requires signatory states to impose trade measures against other signatory states in cases o

International Harmonization of Carbon Pricing: A Proposal for the United States

International Harmonization of Carbon Pricing: A Proposal for the United States

Clinic: Graduate Institute, Spring 2012 Executive Summary Read the full report here. To date, the Unites States (U.S.) has not committed to a binding federal or international carbon dioxide (“CO2”) reduction agreement – an agreement that would signal a willingness and ability to meet CO2 emission reduction targets. Indeed, if the United States were to adopt carbon pricing legislation, several key questions must first be addressed. This includes the question of how best the U.