Bridges China Dialogue
The Dialogue is hosted by the ICTSD-Bridges Sarl
Bridges China Dialogue 2008
China, Trade and Climate Change
Venue: 日内瓦世界气象组织会议中心
Date: 27 November 2008 to 28 November 2008
The 2008 Dialogue focused on China’s contribution to the economic architecture of a global agreement on climate change. As part of the process towards the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, China is at the centre of a range of concerns related to trade and climate change negotiations, particularly with respect to the distribution of economic costs and gains from climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Details
While recognising the UNFCCC principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, China’s participation in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is regarded by many as necessary, for global cooperative action on climate change to achieve the desired objectives. China is also at the centre of worries among policy-makers and industry in industrialised countries, about potential loss of competitiveness in their trade-exposed sectors, in the absence of “comparable action” in large developing countries such as China.
On the other hand, there is agreement in the Bali Action Plan, that in order for developing countries such as China to effectively contribute to global efforts on climate change, they will need support in particular on technology and financing. Moreover, achieving sustainable development objectives, including through trade-led growth, remains a legitimate objective of developing countries that is recognised and supported by WTO Members and Parties to the UNFCCC.
Key questions to be addressed in the Geneva China Dialogue include:
- What are the global trade and climate context in which China performs?
- What are the expectations of the international community for China’s responsibility in maintaining global economic and trade stability and fostering a multilateral agreement on climate change?
- How can China contribute to achieving successful outcomes under the Doha round of trade negotiations and the UNFCCC negotiations on climate change?
- What trade-related incentives and enabling conditions can contribute to enhancing the capacity of developing countries such as China to undertake national appropriate mitigation actions and pursue adaptation efforts?
- How can trade-related competitiveness concerns be addressed in an effective and fair manner, taking into account principles underlying both the trade and climate change regimes?
The dialogue will be a good platform for those who are interested on these issues, from international organizations, policymakers, negotiators, private sectors, business associations, civil society organizations, media, universities as well as research institutions.
This meeting is a joint venture of ICTSD’s China Initiative and ICTSD Global Platform on Linkages between Trade Policies, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy, supported by DANIDA (Denmark), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, the UK Department for International Development, the Commonwealth Secretariat and ICTSD’s institutional funders.
