Commerce et Changement Climatique

This report, published by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and featuring contributions from the Center for International Environmental Law and Friends of the Earth, examines the tensions and potential synergies between international trade policies and climate change mitigation. It argues that while the current trade regime often promotes unsustainable consumption and production, trade can be leveraged to support climate goals through the liberalization of environmental goods, the implementation of high energy-efficiency standards, and the alignment of WTO rules with international climate agreements.

• The transport sector is a significant driver of climate change, accounting for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions.
• Simplistic 'food miles' labeling can be misleading because it ignores the total carbon footprint of production; for example, Kenyan roses produce 80% less CO2 than Dutch roses due to natural heat, and New Zealand lamb generates approximately 70% less CO2 than lamb produced and transported within the UK.
• The liberalization of 'environmental goods and services' (BSE)—such as solar cells, wind turbines, and low-carbon fuels—could facilitate the export of green technologies and reduce costs for low-carbon products by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers.
• The European Union's 'Global Europe' strategy is criticized for prioritizing competitiveness and market access over environmental concerns, potentially discouraging national governments from adopting climate legislation such as renewable energy subsidies or energy efficiency standards.
• Strict Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are viewed as an obstacle to the transfer and appropriation of low-carbon technologies in developing countries; the report suggests removing IPR for these technologies or negotiating 'TRIPS-plus' agreements.
• There is significant legal uncertainty regarding whether WTO rules are compatible with climate measures such as carbon footprint labeling or border tax adjustments, though the WTO framework does allow for environmental exceptions.
• The Socialist Group advocates for the EU to sign a post-Kyoto agreement with a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80%.

APA

Martin, D., Bernasconi, N., Raman, M., & Poppe, C. (2008). Commerce et Changement Climatique. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TRADE_Climate_FR_Jul08.pdf

Chicago

Martin, David, Nathalie Bernasconi, Meena Raman, and Charly Poppe. Commerce et Changement Climatique. Center for International Environmental Law, 2008. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TRADE_Climate_FR_Jul08.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Martin |first1=David |last2=Bernasconi |first2=Nathalie |last3=Raman |first3=Meena |last4=Poppe |first4=Charly |title=Commerce et Changement Climatique |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=2008 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TRADE_Climate_FR_Jul08.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{martin2008commerce, author = {Martin, David and Bernasconi, Nathalie and Raman, Meena and Poppe, Charly}, title = {{Commerce et Changement Climatique}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2008}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TRADE_Climate_FR_Jul08.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }