WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of trade policies in driving renewable energy and efficiency at a high-level event during Trade and Environment Week. She stated that tripling renewable energy production and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 is crucial to meeting Paris Agreement goals. "We are at a pivotal moment where trade policies have become a powerful catalyst for environmental sustainability," she said.
The event highlighted the role of trade policies in addressing tariff imbalances favoring higher-carbon goods, reducing fossil fuel subsidies, and aligning standards for renewable energy deployment. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stressed the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advocating for circular approaches to using critical minerals: “Simply ramping up without circularity will not work.”
Celeste Saulo from the WMO noted the dependency of renewable energy on climate data, emphasizing international cooperation for technology transfer and infrastructure development. IRENA's Francesco La Camera called for reforms in tariffs on renewable technologies, stating that “the market is still designed for fossil fuels.” He warned about missing global climate targets if changes aren't made rapidly.
Ambassador Sofía Boza of Chile spoke on how trade can facilitate access to clean energy technologies, urging international cooperation within WTO frameworks. Bertrand Piccard from the Solar Impulse Foundation argued that improving energy efficiency could drive economic benefits: “If we double down on energy efficiency, we save money.”
Bruce Gosper from the Asian Development Bank discussed the need for resilient supply chains and knowledge-sharing to support green investments. Lord Adair Turner highlighted geopolitical tensions as challenges to renewable shifts but cautioned against poorly designed tariffs.
The panel concluded with remarks from Ambassador Erwin Bollinger, emphasizing multilateral cooperation through WTO initiatives. Throughout Trade and Environment Week, various topics such as plastics pollution and sustainable agriculture were discussed.
Japan introduced a proposal focusing on carbon emission measurement methodologies during meetings of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment. Members welcomed this initiative along with updates on other environmental dialogues like Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform.
UNFCCC briefed members on COP29 preparations set for November in Baku, Azerbaijan. UNCTAD announced its first-ever Trade Day at COP16 in Colombia later this month.
The next committee meeting date will be announced soon.