NATURE-POSITIVE TRADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The report argues that trade policy can either exacerbate or support biodiversity conservation. It identifies specific entry points within the WTO—including existing rules on subsidies and intellectual property, and new member-led initiatives—that can be aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The document proposes a 'nature-positive trade' approach involving the promotion of environmental goods and services, sustainable supply chain drivers, and the reform of harmful subsidies.

• Biodiversity loss creates significant economic risks, with an estimated US$44 trillion of economic value generation—over half of global GDP—being moderately or highly dependent on nature and exposed to risks from ecosystem degradation.
• International trade acts as a driver of biodiversity loss through the illegal trade of wildlife and timber, the spread of invasive alien species, and the intensification of unsustainable production for export commodities like beef, coffee, tea, soy, palm oil, and sugar.
• The report asserts that trade and trade-related policies are relevant to the achievement of all targets within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, either through explicit links (such as wildlife trade and subsidy reform) or implicit supporting roles.
• The WTO provides several institutional entry points for biodiversity goals, including the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) and member-led initiatives such as the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR).
• Agricultural subsidies are identified as a major barrier, with an estimated 87% of current support to agricultural producers (approximately $540 billion per year) consisting of measures that are often inefficient and result in environmental degradation.
• The 2022 WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is a critical tool for implementing Global Biodiversity Framework Target 18, as it prohibits subsidies for vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries face significant barriers to nature-positive trade, including lack of finance, limited technical skills, and difficulty meeting varying international environmental certification requirements.
• The report suggests that 'Aid for Trade' initiatives should be mainstreamed with biodiversity considerations to support developing countries in economic diversification and the adoption of sustainable production technologies.
• There is an unresolved tension between the WTO's TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) regarding the patenting of biological resources and the fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

APA

Kettunen, M. (2023). NATURE-POSITIVE TRADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Nature-Positive-Trade-for-Sustainable-Development-2023_FINAL.pdf?dm=1678392496

Chicago

Kettunen, Marianne. NATURE-POSITIVE TRADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs, 2023. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Nature-Positive-Trade-for-Sustainable-Development-2023_FINAL.pdf?dm=1678392496.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kettunen |first1=Marianne |title=NATURE-POSITIVE TRADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |publisher=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |date=2023 |url=https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Nature-Positive-Trade-for-Sustainable-Development-2023_FINAL.pdf?dm=1678392496 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kettunen2023naturepositive, author = {Kettunen, Marianne}, title = {{NATURE-POSITIVE TRADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT}}, institution = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, year = {2023}, url = {https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Nature-Positive-Trade-for-Sustainable-Development-2023_FINAL.pdf?dm=1678392496}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }