Climate Change Current Activities - Climate Change and Trade/Investment

Solutions to the climate change problem are complex and involve taking steps towards sustainable development, which can have serious implications for trade and investment. 

There are many international rules covering trade and investment, and it is vital that they do not become barriers to climate regulation, both internationally and domestically. 

Our work in this area aims to reconcile existing rules with potential issues arising from climate regulation, as well as suggesting ways in which rules could be better harmonized.  It is important that in doing so, fairness and equity issues are also appropriately addressed.  With respect to trade and climate change, CIEL and Friends of the Earth Europe co-authored a publication explaining the relationship between WTO rules and types of domestic climate action. 

On investment and climate change, we contributed to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report, in particular addressing issues that developing countries may face in implementing climate-driven environmental regulation.