Addressing climate change under preferential trade agreements: Towards alignment of carbon standards under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Holzer, Kateryna; Cottier, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.06.006

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…Car markets have meant that production in non-regulated countries have met the European standards to be able to export there, and as a result there has been in the region of a 60% reduction in particulate matter, which impacts negatively on health, since 1990. This however, has limits for emerging economies with increasing market power such as China, whose domestic market is getting stronger, making them less dependent on export production (Holzer & Cottier, 2015).…”

Section: Discussion On Policy Interactions and Implementationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extending European energy efficiency standards to include material use: an analysis

et al. 2017

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Existing international emissions reduction policies are not sufficient to meet the internationally agreed objective of limiting average global temperature rise to 'well below' two degrees, resulting in an emissions gap. Materialssuch as aluminium, cement, paper, plastics and steelact as a carrier of industrial energy that allows, through trade, the transfer of embodied emissions between sectors and countries. However, the use of materials has been overshadowed by policies focusing on energy efficiency improvements and deployment of a low carbon energy supply. This article argues that policies based on material and product demand can support domestic climate change mitigation and reduce the emissions gap, yet there is little obvious integration between climate and material efficiency policies. The article investigates current 'emissions flows' through the EU economy and how much of these are captured and excluded from existing EU climate policies. We analyse the potential increase in emissions coverage that would be achieved by extending EU directives that currently target the energy use of products (cars, buildings and appliances) in operation, to include the emissions required to produce the goods (i.e. embodied emissions). The analysis shows that a greater integration of material efficiency strategies within climate change mitigation policy could significantly increase the emissions coverage of existing product policies. Key policy insights. Consumption is a key driver of emissions and demand reduction is an important policy option in reducing emissions, at least in the short-term, to reduce the risks of a longer-term reliance on technology breakthroughs and while the EU carbon price remains low.. Emissions embodied in material-intensive manufactured products consumed in the EU represent the equivalent of over 40% of EU production emissions, offering significant scope for emissions reductions along product supply chains.. Consumption measures that target the use of materials and products offer complementary mitigation options to low carbon energy supply technologies alongside costs savings.. Existing EU policies addressing the energy efficiency of products can be used to scale up material efficiency measures.

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Section: Discussion On Policy Interactions and Implementationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extending European energy efficiency standards to include material use: an analysis

et al. 2017

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“…Trade agreements could provide for the alignment of such measures, ranging from mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures (i.e. the process through which it is ensured that products have met a standard), via mutual recognition of the equivalence of standards, to regulatory convergence, for instance through the harmonisation of standards (Holzer and Cottier, 2015). To ensure compatibility with WTO rules, it would be important for countries considering doing this to pay due regard to international norms (Holzer and Cottier, 2015).…”

Section: Incorporating Climate-change Objectives In Regional Agreementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the process through which it is ensured that products have met a standard), via mutual recognition of the equivalence of standards, to regulatory convergence, for instance through the harmonisation of standards (Holzer and Cottier, 2015). To ensure compatibility with WTO rules, it would be important for countries considering doing this to pay due regard to international norms (Holzer and Cottier, 2015). Parties to an RTA could agree to make the highest existing standards their common minimum standards (Frey, 2015).…”

Section: Incorporating Climate-change Objectives In Regional Agreementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…climate change would be addressed through RTAs rather than plurilateral agreements -there may still be ways in which climate measures can be scaled up. Holzer and Cottier (2015) suggest that multilateralising such standards can be achieved through: (1) unilateral adoption of such standards by other countries (although they suggest this potential is limited in case other countries have significant market power); (2) plurilateralisation through the inclusion of such standards in other RTAs; and (3) multilateralisation through the WTO (which is more likely if the standards are adopted by major trading nations).…”

Section: Lesson 2: Keep the Door Open To Multilateralismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change and trade policy interactions

Asselt¹

2017

OECD Trade and Environment Working Papers

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The OECD Trade and Environment Working Paper series is designed to make available to a wide readership selected studies by OECD staff or outside consultants. OECD Working Papers should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries. The opinions expressed and the arguments employed are those of the authors. Working Papers describe preliminary results or research in progress by the author(s) and are published to stimulate discussion on a broad range of issues on which the OECD works. Comments on Working Papers are welcomed, and may be sent to the Environment Directorate or the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD,

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“…18 In respect of TTIP climate risks, environmental and development lawyers Porterfield and Gallagher are sceptical 19 while the trade lawyers Holzer and Cottier point out that a lot of home work is still required for a trade rules review. 20 The famous last night, with the long knives out, all chips on the table and Champaign with a GI in the fridge, may have to be postponed. But especially the present bystanders, and third countries intending to benefit from a TTIP "right" (rather than "light") 21 , can and should act now.…”

Section: Ttip Leaks: a Welcome Opportunity For More Homeworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

TTIP Leaks: A Welcome Opportunity for More Homework

Häberli

2016

Eur. j. risk regul.

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So the damage is done: both emperors go naked, and this at a particularly sensitive stage of the negotiations. Worse, the hegemons sit on an applecart already so full that only a “TTIP light” seems to save it from toppling, albeit at a price of losing its most precious apple: regulatory coherence, no wand forever!But wait! We may already have given up hope for transatlantic agreements on financial cooperation and data protection. Hormone beef and biotech seeds, if not feed, also look rather far away from good and risk–free regulatory solutions. And carmakers in Asia and South America may have chuckled with relief when the efforts of US and EU manufacturers of automobiles failed to define a fully harmonised, standardised and mutually recognised “TTIP Car” – after which they would have had little if any leeway for their own motors, emission limits, windscreens and safety standards.This is where the leaks may have opened a welcome window of opportunity for third countries, blinded as they apparently all are by the prospects of trade liberalisation racing ahead with megaregional steps too big for them to buy in with any hope for negotiating power.

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Addressing climate change under preferential trade agreements: Towards alignment of carbon standards under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Cited by 12 publications

References 13 publications

Extending European energy efficiency standards to include material use: an analysis

Extending European energy efficiency standards to include material use: an analysis

Climate change and trade policy interactions

TTIP Leaks: A Welcome Opportunity for More Homework

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