The COP28 Presidency, the UAE Ministry of Economy, and the World Trade Organization have partnered with global leaders to support a "menu" of trade policy options for UNFCCC Parties to consider as part of a just and ambitious global response to climate change. It aims to inspire other governments to consider how such measures could be integrated into their national policies and accelerate the transition to a climate-friendly global economy. It will also feature concrete trade policy actions and initiatives that can foster sustainable practices and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
International trade fosters cooperation by ensuring that countries can supply and access the goods and services needed to increase job opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship, stimulate information access, alleviate poverty, and raise living standards. COP28 offers an opportunity for countries to consider the role of trade policy as part of the response to climate change. With the climate crisis, we must harness the power of trade to support the clean energy transition, scale up climate-friendly goods and services, decarbonize supply chains and high greenhouse gas sectors, and shift markets towards a sustainable trajectory.
Objectives
- Bring together the leaders of the trade ecosystem to build momentum and set the stage for elevating the role of the international trade community in the climate policy ecosystem.
- Launch the WTO-led Menu of Trade Policy Options for the trade community to support the delivery of ambitious, credible climate action efforts.
- Facilitate continuing discussions of climate-related topics after the celebration of International Trade Day, particularly during the UAE's hosting of WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February, 2024.
Outcomes
- Announcement of the WTO Secretariat led "10 Trade Policy Tools for Climate Action".
During this event, governments, businesses, and international organizations will:
- Highlight trade policy options that can both leverage trade policy as a tool for decarbonization of global supply chains and reduce the direct impact of carbon-intensive sectors.
- Address how to promote uptake and use of trade policy actions to increase investments and accelerate uptake in energy efficiency and climate-friendly technologies and equipment.
Programme
Opening Remarks:
- HE. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, UAE
Introducing the WTO Secretariat's 10 Trade Policy Tools for Climate Action
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization
Panel remarks on Trade and Climate
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization
- Mr. John Denton, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General, UNCTAD
- Mr. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and Group CEO, DP World
- HE Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Industry and Trade, Kenya
Opening and moderator
- Mr. John Defterios, Visiting Professor of Business, NYU Abu Dhabi
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Rebeca Grynspan, of Costa Rica, became UNCTAD's eighth Secretary-General on 13 September 2021 and is the first woman to lead the organization.
Prior to her UNCTAD appointment, she was the Ibero-American secretary-general from 2014 to 2021, also the first woman to head the organization. During her mandate, she has coordinated the 22-member Iberoamerican Conference and led four key summits of Heads of State and Government.
In 2010 she was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and prior to that was UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Grynspan served as Vice-President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998. She was also Minister of Housing, Minister Coordinator of Economic and Social Affairs, and Deputy Minister of Finance. In 2021 she was named Special International Advisor to the newly created Economic and Social Council of Argentina and invited to join as member of the G20 High-Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
In addition to her experience as a lecturer and advisor to several international organizations, she has been actively involved in key United Nations initiatives, such as the Millennium Project's Task Force on Poverty and Economic Development and the High-level Panel on Financing for Development.
In 2014 and 2015, she was recognized as one of the 50 leading intellectuals of Latin America. And she was recognized as one of the 100 most powerful women in Central America by Forbes magazine.
Ms Grynspan holds a degree in Economics by the University of Costa Rica and a MSc in Economics by the University of Sussex. She has been awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa by the University of Salamanca, the University of Extremadura and the European University of Madrid in recognition of her outstanding professional achievements.
28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28)
30 November to 12 December 2023, Expo City, Dubai
UN Climate Change Conference
30 Nov - 12 Dec 2023
COP28 Trade House Pavilion Programme
1-12 December 2023, Expo City, Dubai
Related
Topic
Trade and environment
Event
- COP28 Trade Day event: Leveraging sustainable finance for trade to create a sustainable future for all
- COP28 Trade Day event: Critical minerals, the energy transition and the role of trade
Contact
COP28 Focal Point: Sabrin Rahman: srahman@cop28.com
Lead organizers: Violeta Gonzalez violeta.gonzalez@wto.org
Other partners: Kayaan Unwalla kunwalla@economy.ae
