Trade Can Drive the Transition to a Green Economy

The Trade and Green Economy Handbook – produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), aims to boost the interaction between trade and the Green Economy, thus opening up new possibilities to drive sustainable development.

  • In 2013, the financial volume of global trade amounted to US$23.4 trillion.
  • At the same time, the pressure exerted by trade has been highlighted by environmental indicators.
  • Harnessing of trade as a positive economic, social and environmental change, rather than a driver of environmental degradation can serve as a catalyst to reverse these trends.

green economy

The Handbook covers a wealth of new information, including the emergence of the Green Economy concept, the latest World Trade Organisation (WTO) jurisprudence and the increasingly important linkages between trade and inclusive Green Economy policies and practices.

The Green Economy presents a model for reversing environmental degradation and pollution by altering economic structures and incentives in a way that supports growth, social equity and welfare through the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources and vigilant control of pollution.

The Handbook is aimed at policy makers interested in the transition to a Green Economy who require a better understanding of the relevant trade rules as well as trade negotiators who want to learn about the environmental implications of their decisions.

Source: UNEP Green economy