Global Trade, Local Economies, and the Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity is presented as a pioneering effort to balance economic and environmental issues within a single legal instrument. It is characterized as a sustainable trade agreement that requires trade in genetic resources to occur within a framework ensuring sustainable production processes. The document highlights the Convention's role in protecting the traditional knowledge and customary resource uses of indigenous communities, contrasting this with international trade law's historical lack of consideration for environmental protection and indigenous rights.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity is described as one of the most ambitious attempts to integrate environmental goals across various economic sectors, functioning effectively as a sustainable trade agreement where trade in genetic resources is tied to sustainable production processes.
• The Convention includes innovative provisions to protect the traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of local and indigenous communities, recognizing that local economies governed by customary rules can be more sustainable than the global economy.

APA

B., D. (1996). Global Trade, Local Economies, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/reports/global-trade-local-economies-and-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-william-j-snape-ed-biodiversity-and-the-law-challenges-and-opportunities-island-press-1996-downes-bw96-6-2/

Chicago

B., Downes,. Global Trade, Local Economies, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Center for International Environmental Law, 1996. https://www.ciel.org/reports/global-trade-local-economies-and-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-william-j-snape-ed-biodiversity-and-the-law-challenges-and-opportunities-island-press-1996-downes-bw96-6-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=B. |first1=Downes, |title=Global Trade, Local Economies, and the Convention on Biological Diversity |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=1 January 1996 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/global-trade-local-economies-and-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-william-j-snape-ed-biodiversity-and-the-law-challenges-and-opportunities-island-press-1996-downes-bw96-6-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{b1996global, author = {B., Downes,}, title = {{Global Trade, Local Economies, and the Convention on Biological Diversity}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {1996}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/global-trade-local-economies-and-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-william-j-snape-ed-biodiversity-and-the-law-challenges-and-opportunities-island-press-1996-downes-bw96-6-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }