The interface between trade and environmental policies is one of the critical challenges in global economic governance and has been a subject of debate for the last 50 years. In today’s global economy, addressing transboundary environmental challenges such as climate change, ecosystem degradation and pollution requires coherent and collaborative policy approaches across jurisdictions and between policymaking on trade, environment and sustainable development.
This report provides an update on the trade and environment interface from a World Trade Organization (WTO) governance perspective and presents an overview of the different institutional fora, functions and processes where this interface is or can be addressed.
It has reviewed the range of entry points and processes that are relevant to work on these topics at the WTO. The different WTO bodies described provide critical spaces to review existing policies, exchange information, discuss best practices, negotiate, solve problems and litigate when necessary.