Climate change and trade: EP report highlights the link between trade and climate change
The European Parliament is set to debate and adopt a report highlighting the link between international trade and climate change and proposing measures to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by trade. Speaking in advance of the debate, the draftsman, French Green Alain Lipietz, said:
"There is an urgent need to address the role of international trade in causing climate change and the European Parliament has today signalled this. The report recommends shortening supply routes, the use of less-polluting forms of transport (like rail and shipping), and a greater attempt to take into account the ecological footprint of what Europe consumes.
"The report also endorses the proposal to introduce tariffs against countries that have not ratified the Kyoto protocol (and its successor) to prevent products from these countries gaining an unfair competitive advantage by failing to account for the full environmental cost of their production. At the same, it proposes removing barriers for environmentally necessary technology.
"The report also endorses the proposal to introduce border taxes against countries that have not ratified the Kyoto protocol (and its successor) to prevent products from these countries gaining an unfair competitive advantage by failing to account for the full environmental cost of their production. At the same, it proposes removing barriers for environmentally necessary technology ( both custom and property rights).
"The report aims to serve as an ecological guide for EU negotiators at the World Trade Organisation and in other international agreements."
