Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
services and technologies around the world
Investment and trade can
carry experience and skills and climate-friendly and low-carbon technologies
throughout the global economy.
18
…
The EU proposed an Environmental Goods and Services Agreement as part of the
WTO Doha Round of trade talks. This aimed to liberalise trade in at least 43 key
climate-friendly technologies identi
ed by the World Bank. In 2007, the EU and
the US attempted to implement a multilateral green trade regime, which was
blocked by developing countries such as Brazil and Pakistan. O
cials speak in
'
'
private of the e
ort the EU has made in pressing for a new list of
green goods
within the WTO to be opened up for liberalised exchange.
Basic EU guidelines stipulate that trade agreements must not undermine envir-
onmental goals; moreover, through the Generalised System of Preferences con-
ditionality is exerted on partners
climate policy record and new accords depend on
an enhanced set of Sustainability Impact Assessments.
19
Several member state gov-
ernments have pressed for renewed e
'
in the Doha
round, while also advocating that the EU move towards separate sectoral free trade
on renewables. In December 2012 the EU
ort to unblock
'
green trade
'
nalised its
rst so-called
'
Green Free
Trade Agreement
, with Singapore; this provides special trade rules for and lifts
barriers in a range of green technologies. Including green clauses in bilateral FTAs
has been seen as a means of circumventing paralysis within the WTO. In 2013
the EU looked to transfer the green trade provisions of the trade agreement with
Singapore into other accords.
Some diplomats claim that the freeing up of trade in renewables is the most
geo-strategically vital part of the climate security agenda. They have argued that
the WTO needs to be brought into play to guard against the kind of export bans
on food to which some governments have resorted since the droughts in 2009
and 2010. The German government
'
'
s
Defence Policy Guidelines 2011
paper states
that:
Free trade routes and a secure supply of raw materials are crucial for the
future of Germany and Europe. Restricted access can trigger con
icts. Dis-
ruptions of transport routes and the
ow of raw materials and commodities,
for example by piracy or the sabotage of air transport, pose a threat to
security and prosperity. This is why transport and energy security and related
issues will play an increasingly important role for our security.
20
Germany has been the member state most strategic and most successful in devel-
oping a geo-economic policy to maximise the bene
ts from renewables exports.
Germany has not only become the most successful exporter of renewables but also
