World Trade Organization (WTO)
We collaborated with the WTO to bring biodiversity and environmental issues into trade discussions.
Before 2017, environmental issues were not a priority in global trade governance. However, the 2018 WTO-UNEP High-Level Partnership started shifting the global discourse. We supported this change through various initiatives, including opinion pieces.
We actively participated in the WTO Public Forum by bringing biodiversity to the forefront of nature-positive trade discussions in 2020, 2022 and 2023. Our involvement highlighted the importance of integrating environmental considerations into trade policies.
We produced numerous science-based, data-driven reports and policy briefs to inform policymaking processes and decisions at the WTO. These resources are now being used by organizations such as the WTO to shape trade policies that support sustainable development.
Our efforts increased attention on biodiversity-related issues within the WTO by promoting the potential for trade policies to advance the global biodiversity agenda. For example, at the 2024 meeting of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment meeting, members (Brazil, Colombia, UK, Costa Rica and Philippines) proposed that biodiversity and bioeconomy to be put on the agenda for the first time.
Our webinar series concluded actionable ways for trade policy to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
TRADE Hub Senior Policy Advisor, Marianne Kettunen developed our “Nature-positive trade” webinar series. The series brought together a range of expert speakers from the International Trade Centre to the World Trade Organization to explore actionable ways for trade policy to support the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Each webinar focused on specific Global Biodiversity Framework targets and identified trade policy measures that would achieve their objectives. The series’ opening webinar on sustainable agricultural policy was held as part of the WTOs Trade and Environment Week.
The series highlighted the importance of collaboration between different organizations and subject areas. For example, it identified that biodiversity experts can build the capacity of small farmers by teaching them to collect and monitor data that allows them to be self-sufficient when it comes to measuring the progress their towards sustainable farming.
We held four webinars addressing Target 18 of the Global Biodiversity Framework (e.g. on tackling pollution and reducing harmful subsidies). We created a webpage dedicated to video recordings and key findings from those webinars.
Nature-Positive Trade Roundtable
In March 2023, the WTO and UNEP, representing the TRADE Hub, co-hosted a roundtable on nature-positive trade for sustainable development. This event, held during the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment meeting, included the CBD Secretariat and WTO Members. It explored opportunities for aligning trade and biodiversity goals, with the WTO Secretariat acknowledging it as the first nature-positive trade discussion in this setting.
Engagement in WTO Public Forums
At the 2023 WTO Public Forum, we were invited by the WTO and co-organizers, including WWF, Consumers International, UNCTAD and WBCSD, to participate in a session on nature-positive trade. The WTO Secretariat welcomed more opportunities to facilitate discussions between the trade and biodiversity communities to advance the global biodiversity framework.
In 2022, we participated in a session led by the Permanent Missions of The Netherlands and France to the WTO, focusing on how cooperation between the WTO, CBD, and UN agencies could reduce negative impacts on biodiversity and promote sustainable socio-economic development.
Continuous Engagement with WTO
We continuously engage with WTO Members and the Secretariat, providing science-based knowledge products and initiatives to inform discussions and decisions. Our contributions are shared through WTO meetings of the Committee on Trade and Environment and the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD).