Why were participant countries in the Rio+20 conferences (2012) not able to find any common ground on the role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) as they sought to identify a path for achieving “green economy” in the decades ahead? The current policy brief seeks to answer this question by examining the evolution of the global debate on IPRs and green technologies from the Earth Summit in 1992 to Rio+20.
The document indicates that:
Smart ICT and Internet applications have the potential to improve the environment and tackle climate change. Top application areas include manufacturing, energy, transport and buildings. Information and communication also foster sustainable consumption and greener lifestyles. At the same time, direct and systemic impacts related to the production, use and end of life of ICTs require careful study in order to comprehensively assess “net” environmental impacts. A better understanding of smart ICTs provides policy makers with options for encouraging clean innovation for greener economic growth. This summary was prepared by Eldis.
This report provides an update on recent developments in the field of Regional Trade Agreements and the environment. Issues arising in the implementation of RTAs with environmental considerations are examined as well as experience in assessing their environmental impacts. It is the fourth update prepared under the aegis of the Joint Working Party on Trade and Environment. The report covers developments over the period from late 2009 to December 2010 and is based on publicly available information.
This UNCTAD publication covers policy responses to meeting the challenge of climate change and the changes to the economic system that need to take place in order to do so. The report asserts that the greatest challenge to mitigating climate change is not the macroeconomic costs, but the lack of policy, regulatory and institutional structures to support the shift to a more sustainable economy that combines low‐carbon growth with job and income creation in developing countries.
The report presents three overarching ‘growth poles’ that can provide opportunities for low‐carbon economic growth and place the global economy on a path to more sustainable development. These growth poles are:
• Energy efficiency
• Sustainable agriculture
• Renewable energy technologies
Each pole is explored in great detail and policy options for the identified initiatives are discussed. The report includes an energy efficiency case study from Brazil.