Trade can support the achievement of a nature-positive global goal to reverse biodiversity loss

The document advocates for 'nature-positive trade' to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. It highlights that over half of global GDP is dependent on nature and urges the WTO to implement policies such as lowering tariffs on environmental goods and eliminating perverse subsidies. While noting progress through initiatives like the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution, it expresses disappointment over the lack of agreement at the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference regarding fisheries and agricultural subsidies.

• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework establishes a measurable global goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, aiming for a 'nature-positive' outcome where more nature exists at the end of the decade than at the start.
• Economic stability is heavily linked to nature, with the World Economic Forum estimating that more than 50% of the world's total GDP—approximately $44 trillion in economic value generation—is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services.
• Nature-positive trade is defined as trade that encourages nature-positive practices across the entire supply chain for all major commodities, including minerals, timber, fish, and agricultural produce. This can be achieved by reducing the complexity of environmental standards, eliminating perverse subsidies, and lowering tariffs on environmental services and goods.
• Despite some progress through member-led initiatives like the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR), and the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference failed to reach agreements on a roadmap for agricultural negotiations and the second phase of fisheries subsidies negotiations.
• A critical barrier to achieving nature-positive trade is the need for specific, aggregated global metrics to measure the gain or loss of nature, a gap the Nature Positive Initiative seeks to address by driving alignment on definitions and frameworks.

APA

Lambertini, M. (2024). Trade can support the achievement of a nature-positive global goal to reverse biodiversity loss. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. https://tessforum.org/latest/trade-can-support-the-achievement-of-a-nature-positive-global-goal-to-reverse-biodiversity-loss

Chicago

Lambertini, Marco. Trade can support the achievement of a nature-positive global goal to reverse biodiversity loss. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs, 2024. https://tessforum.org/latest/trade-can-support-the-achievement-of-a-nature-positive-global-goal-to-reverse-biodiversity-loss.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Lambertini |first1=Marco |title=Trade can support the achievement of a nature-positive global goal to reverse biodiversity loss |publisher=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |date=6 March 2024 |url=https://tessforum.org/latest/trade-can-support-the-achievement-of-a-nature-positive-global-goal-to-reverse-biodiversity-loss |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{lambertini2024trade, author = {Lambertini, Marco}, title = {{Trade can support the achievement of a nature-positive global goal to reverse biodiversity loss}}, publisher = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://tessforum.org/latest/trade-can-support-the-achievement-of-a-nature-positive-global-goal-to-reverse-biodiversity-loss}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }