REDUCING THREATS
TO PROTECTED AREAS: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
(World Bank/ UNDP, 2008)
This paper analyzes a number of GEF biodiversity-funded projects to
identify and analyze the effectiveness of different intervention
strategies in production landscapes and their impact in reducing
pressure on protected areas. The study presents general lessons, both
positive and negative, that will assist in improving the design and
implementation of projects aimed at strengthening protected area
systems. The
paper.
WORLD DEVELOPMENT
REPORT 2009: RESHAPING ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
(World Bank, November 2008)
This report is the flagship publication by the World Bank. This issue
emphasizes that economic growth will be unbalanced, but development
still can be inclusive. The report argues that the most effective
policies for promoting long-term growth are those that facilitate
geographic concentration and economic integration, both within and
across countries. It proposes spatial transformations along three
dimensions: density and rapid urban growth and concentration; distance
and migration for economic opportunities; and division and integration
of economies in world markets. The
report.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PRIORITIES AND TRADE POLICY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS: A REALITY CHECK
(ICTSD, November 2008) This issue paper by Veena Jha analyses trade data
on environmental goods and services proposed for liberalization within
the Doha Round mandate, in light of environmental knowledge generated
through the UNEP Global Environmental Outlook and relevant environmental
performance indices. It looks at the potential benefits of EGS
negotiations for developing countries, in particular whether: (i) the
import of goods proposed will help alleviate some of the pressing
environmental problems of developing countries; and (ii) whether
developing countries can compete successfully in these markets, at least
in the medium term. An added issue is whether the losses (in terms of
trade or government revenues from import tariffs), if any, from
negotiations on EGS in developing countries can be offset by market
opportunities gathered elsewhere in the Doha Round of negotiations. The
issue paper.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
FINANCING GLOBAL FORESTS
(Office of Climate Change, UK, October 2008)
Prepared by Johan Eliasch for the UK Government, this review provides a
comprehensive analysis of international financing to reduce forest loss
and its associated impacts on climate change. The
review.
SUNKEN BILLIONS: THE ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION FOR
FISHERIES REFORM
(World Bank –FAO; 2008)
This joint World Bank-UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) report finds that economic losses in
marine fisheries resulting from poor management, inefficiencies and
overfishing add up to US$50 billion per year. The study also argues that
well-managed marine fisheries could turn most of these losses into
sustainable economic benefits for millions of fishers and coastal
communities. The two agencies recommend the following measures:
strengthening fishing rights to provide fishers and fishing communities
with incentives to fish in an economically efficient and socially
responsible manner; phasing out subsidies that enhance redundant fishing
capacity; and increasing transparency in allocation of fish resources
and public accountability for fisheries management and health of fish
stocks, to help eco-labeling initiatives to certify sustainable
fisheries. The
study.
DOLLAR A DAY REVISITED
(World Bank, May 2008)
The dollar-a-day measure of poverty was first proposed in 1990. This
paper, written by M. Ravallion, S. Chen, and P. Sangraula, presents the
original authors' first major update of this poverty measurement. It
revisits the challenges of setting an international poverty line in the
light of new data availabilities, and presents: a simple model of a
socially subjective poverty line; a new compilation of national poverty
lines across countries; an updated international poverty line of $1.25 a
day; a comparison of new international poverty lines to past lines -
both absolute and relative; and a discussion on how results change when
poverty lines are adjusted to reflect the purchasing power of various
groups. The
paper.
ANNUAL
REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS 2008 – SHARED GLOBAL CHALLENGES
(World Bank, October 2008)
This report focuses on assessing the World
Bank's development effectiveness, with attention to the provision of
global public goods – including the global trading system, biodiversity
conservation – and the issue of combating global public 'bads' – such as
climate change and transborder contagion. The report notes that project
performance has improved over the medium term and that country
programmes that house a majority of the world's poor have achieved some
results, but there is a need to do more on areas where national interest
is not clear. The
report.
LOW-CARBON ENERGY
PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: UNVEILING THE POTENTIAL,
ADDRESSING THE BARRIERS
(World Bank, September 2008)
The report "Low-carbon Energy Projects for Development in Sub-Saharan
Africa: Unveiling the Potential, Addressing the Barriers," released
during the Africa Carbon Forum in Dakar, Senegal, estimates that the
current minimal share of CDM projects by the African region (1.4%) could
be greatly enhanced. It estimates a potential for GHG emissions
reduction projects in Africa that could be tapped through the CDM,
amounting to 740 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year,
more than the region's current annual greenhouse gas emissions (680
million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). The
report.
TRADE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(IISD, August 2008)
In June 2008, IISD collaborated with the Government of Denmark, the
German Marshall Fund and the International Centre for Trade and
Sustainable Development to convene a major seminar on trade and climate
change in Copenhagen. The event's background papers have been revised
and finalized, and constitute excellent brief surveys of the key issues
in each of the six areas covered: Liberalization of Trade in
Environmental Goods for Climate Change Mitigation; Border Carbon
Adjustment; Embodied Carbon in Traded Goods; Climate Change, Technology
Transfer and Intellectual Property Rights; Clean Energy Investment, and;
Standards, Labelling and Certification. The
reports.
WTO DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT: ONE-PAGE CASE SUMMARIES (1995 - 2007)
(WTO, July 2008)
This publication offers summaries of panel and Appellate Body reports
adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body since 1995. Each summary
provides core facts, substantive panel findings, summaries of key
findings on significant procedural matters and, where applicable,
Appellate Body reports. Cases are indexed by article and by WTO
agreement. The
publication.
POST-MORTEM
FOR THE GENEVA MINI-MINISTERIAL: WHERE DOES TRIPS GO FROM HERE?
(ICTSD, August 2008)
This article by Frederick M. Abbott provides an overview of the state of
play in the negotiations on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), including biodiversity-related
issues, following the collapse of the WTO Geneva Ministerials. The
article.
EBRD
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
(EBRD, July 2008)
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Sustainability Report looks at the Bank's 2007 investments in
sustainable development across the 29 countries where it operates, from
central Europe to central Asia. The report presents the Bank's
Sustainable Energy Initiative, investment in municipal infrastructure,
micro and small business finance, and donor support. A special focus
chapter looks at the water and wastewater sector in the Bank's countries
of operations, the impact of EBRD financing and remaining challenges and
implications for the future. The
report.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: AN EVALUATION
OF WORLD BANK GROUP SUPPORT
(World Bank, July 2008)
This report, written by the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group (IEG),
evaluates the effectiveness of World Bank Group (WBG) support to the
environment from 1990 to 2007, and recommends that the WBG increase its
attention to environmental sustainability by ensuring that environmental
issues enter fully into discussions of its strategic directions and in
regional and country assistance programs. Among its findings, the report
highlights insufficient attention to longer-term sustainable
development, and the need to put in place more adequate systems to
monitor environmental outcomes and to assess impacts across the WBG. The
report.
WORLD RESOURCES
2008: ROOTS OF RESILIENCE – GROWING THE WEALTH OF THE POOR
(World Resources Institute, July 2008)
This report, produced collaboratively by UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, and
the World Resources Institute, looks at the overlap between ecosystems
and poverty. The report argues that properly designed enterprises can
create economic, social and environmental resilience that cushion the
impacts of climate change, and help provide needed social stability. It
suggests that efforts that foster resilience chart the first steps on
the path out of poverty. The
report.
WORLD
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SURVEY 2008: OVERCOMING ECONOMIC INSECURITY
(UNDESA, July 2008)
This annual report, produced by the UN Department of Economic and
Scocial Affairs (UNDESA), focuses on issues that impact economic
security, including macroeconomic and financial shocks, natural
disasters, conflict and poverty. The report notes that current global
economic insecurity prevails despite strong growth in recent years and a
decline in economic volatility. The
report.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: BIOPIRACY OR
BIOPROSPECTING?
(ETH Zürich, June 2008)
Authored by Michael J. Krieger, this working paper examines issues
related to bioprospecting as addressed by the provisions of the
Convention on Biological Diversity and the Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, as well as the friction created
between the two treaties, in view of their differing goals. The
paper.
THE
ECONOMICS OF ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY – AN INTERIM REPORT
(EC, 2008)
Inspired by the momentum created by the Stern Review of the Economics
of Climate Change, and proposed by the German Government and
endorsed by the G8+5 leaders in 2007, this study was designed to
"initiate the process of analyzing the global economic benefit of
biological diversity, the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the
failure to take protective measures versus the costs of effective
conservation." Under the leadership of Deutsche Bank's Pavan Sukhdev,
several partners worked during the first phase of the study to
demonstrate the huge significance of ecosystems and biodiversity and the
threats to human welfare if no action is taken to reverse current damage
and losses. The second phase of the study will expand on this and show
how to use this knowledge to design the right tools and policies.
Preliminary findings included in this interim report were presented to
the High-Level Segment of the ninth Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP9). Final results will be
presented at CBD COP10 in 2010. The
report.
ADB ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAM 2003-2007
(ADB, May 2008)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Environment Program 2003-2007 provides
an overview of ADB actions promoting environmental sustainability in
Asia and the Pacific, presenting information on relevant projects and
technical assistance, current initiatives, programs and partnerships,
knowledge products, and links to ADB's environmental operations. The
program.
EBRD ENVIRONMENTAL
AND SOCIAL POLICY
(EBRD, May 2008)
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved, on 12 May
2008, its Environmental and Social Policy document, which will set the
criteria for the consideration of labor and environmental standards and
safeguards within the Bank's investments and technical cooperation
activities. The
document.
THE GROWTH REPORT: STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINED GROWTH
AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
(Commission on Growth and Development, May 2008)
This report analyzes, among other issues, whether developing countries
can grow as fast as the fastest growing economies without causing global
greenhouse gases to spiral out of control. The answer is negative unless
technology and new techniques are used to "radically" reduce the amount
of energy needed to produce goods, as well as cut CO2
emissions, says the Growth Report. The Report is the result of two years
work on the requirements for sustained and inclusive growth in
developing countries led by 19 experienced policymakers and two Nobel
prize-winning economists. Its work has been supported by the Governments
of Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom, the William
and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the World Bank Group. The
Growth Report.
PROMOTION OF
WIND ENERGY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND UNDP-GEF
PROJECTS
(UNDP, 2008)
This report provides a review of the active UNDP-GEF wind energy
portfolio. It looks at the design, costs and efficiency of existing
projects, drawing on the experience of 14 wind energy projects that have
been financed through UNDP to help national governments implement wind
energy public policies. It includes a detailed analysis and
recommendations for future projects on prioritizing countries, choosing
types of policies and designing mechanisms. The Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM), for example, emerges as a possible way of increasing
revenues of wind energy projects. The
report.
BIODIVERSITY: DELIVERING RESULTS
(UNDP-GEF, May 2008)
This publication features the UN Development Programme's (UNDP's)
biodiversity work around the world, including the achievements and
results from projects undertaken by UNDP's network of 132 country
offices and its specialized environment team. It highlights projects
funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to mainstream
biodiversity issues, build institutional capacity, and support the
implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas under the
Convention on Biological Diversity. The
publication.
Development and Globalization: Facts and
Figures
2008
(UNCTAD, April 2008)
This second report on facts and figures, launched by the UN Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),
provides a synopsis of UNCTAD's independent research in the areas of
trade and development, and related issues in the fields of finance,
technology, investment and sustainable development. The
report.
RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISE, FOREIGN DIRECT
INVESTMENT AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION
(IIED, April 2008)
Authored by Annie Dufey and Maryanne Grieg-Gran, this book brings
together a series of papers identifying opportunities for Investment
Promotion Agencies (IPAs) to attract foreign direct investment (FDI)
associated with positive contributions to sustainable development and
good corporate social responsibility practices. It points to a number of
opportunities for IPAs in attracting FDI with good CSR practices and
highlights key leverage points and practical tools to achieve this. The
book.
THE MULTILATERAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT CONTEXT FOR
BIOFUELS
(IIED, December 2007)
This paper looks at the multilateral trade and investment context for
biofuels, particularly the agricultural crops that are being converted
into liquid fuel on a commercial scale – ethanol and biodiesel. It
summarizes some of the factors driving the rapid expansion in biofuel
production and use, analyzes trade and investment issues for biofuels
and issues on developing standards, and offers proposals for how
governments, particularly small and medium-sized economies, might
develop appropriate trade and investment rules to support a fair and
sustainable biofuels sector. The
paper.
Development and Globalization: Facts and
Figures
2008
(UNCTAD, April 2008)
This second report on facts and figures, launched by the UN Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),
provides a synopsis of UNCTAD's independent research in the areas of
trade and development, and related issues in the fields of finance,
technology, investment and sustainable development. The
report.
THE
MULTILATERAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT CONTEXT FOR BIOFUELS: ISSUES AND
CHALLENGES
(Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
and International Institute for Environment and Development, 2008)
This paper, authored by Sophia Murphy, outlines the different interests
of the largest global players in the biofuel market, including the US,
EU and Brazil, and analyzes biofuel trade within the context of World
Trade Organization rules governing agriculture, environmental goods,
services, patents and investment. The
resource.
Accra 2008: The bumpy road to aid effectiveness in agriculture
(ODI, April 2008)
This issue is part of the Overseas Development Institute's (ODI) Natural
Resource Perspective series. It is written by Lídia Cabral and focuses
on the principles of the Paris Declaration to improve the effectiveness
of aid. The author argues that, although the principles are sound, they
are not adaptable to challenges faced by different development sectors
such as agriculture. The paper sets out areas requiring focused
attention in the run-up to Accra 2008. The
brief.
Export competitiveness and development in LDCs:
policies, issues and priorities for least developed countries for action
during and beyond UNCTAD XII
(UNCTAD,
April 2008)
This UNCTAD report
aims to assist least developed countries (LDCs) during the preparatory
process for UNCTAD XII (20-25 April 2008, Accra, Ghana). The report
agues that there is considerable scope for many LDCs to join the group
of successful exporters, particularly in the field of traditional
exports such as oil, copper, coffee, cocoa and groundnuts. The
report.
WORLD ECONOMIC
OUTLOOK
(IMF, April 2008)
This year's World Economic Outlook (WEO) includes a chapter on climate
change and the global economy, where the IMF cautions that serious
efforts to abate climate change could have rapid and wide-ranging
macroeconomic consequences. To minimize the costs of mitigation
policies, the IMF recommends: long term and credible carbon-pricing
policies; a multilateral policy framework that equitably distributes
costs of mitigation across countries while engaging all groups of
economies in pricing their emissions; and policies that aim for a common
world price for emissions and are sufficiently flexible to accommodate
cyclical economic fluctuations. The
report.
FROM DECLARATIONS TO
ACTIONS ON COMMODITIES: MAKING THE TURNING POINT AT UNCTAD XII
(South Centre Policy Brief, March 2008)
This paper sets out a number of goals for UNCTAD XII delegates to
consider before the April 2008 meeting. It indicates that "the time is
high for translating pledges and action plans on commodities into
concrete actions." The
brief.
GLOBAL MONITORING REPORT 2008: MDGS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT – AGENDA FOR INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(IMF and World Bank, 2008)
This joint report prepared by the World Bank and IMF contains two main
parts: monitoring the MDGs and a special focus on climate change. The
report monitors both achievement of goals and policies, and it proposes
a policy agenda to expedite progress toward the MDGs and to ensure their
sustainability. It asserts that, for developing countries, the best way
to reduce their vulnerability to the impact of climate change is to
diversify their economies, strengthen infrastructure, and develop health
systems. The
report.
TOWARDS A STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE WORLD BANK GROUP
(World Bank, March 2008)
The World Bank has released a concept and issues paper that develops a
draft for a comprehensive Strategic Framework on Climate Change and
Development for the World Bank Group (WBG). The draft will be subject to
public consultations and proposed for endorsement by the Board in
September 2008. The paper outlines objectives, principles, approaches
and key issues, seeks to articulate the WBG's vision on how to integrate
climate change and development challenges, without compromising growth
and poverty reduction efforts through country operations, including
policy dialogue, lending and analytical work in client countries, and
through regional and global operations. The
paper.
BUILDING
BIODIVERSITY BUSINESS
(Shell International, IUCN, 2008)
Authored by J. Bishop, S. Kapila, F. Hicks, P. Mitchell and F. Vorhies,
this report calls for policy reforms to increase the commercial rewards
for conserving biodiversity, increased penalties for biodiversity loss
and better information on the biodiversity performance of business. The
authors suggest that business will conserve biodiversity only if it
becomes profitable, and identify pro-biodiversity business opportunities
that can generate profits, as well as benefits for nature. The
report.
THE LEGALITY OF
PPMS UNDER THE GATT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE TRADE
POLICY
(IISD, 2008)
This article by Jason Potts, of the International Institute for
Sustainable Development (IISD), analyses the divisive issue of process
and production methods (PPMs) within the World Trade Organization's (WTO)
legal regime. PPMs include, for example, organic production methods, use
of environmental fishing devices to prevent unwanted by-catch of
endangered species, and sustainable forest management. They have been
the object of several international trade disputes, as import barriers
based on PPMs may violate the WTO principle that prevents discrimination
among 'like-products.' This paper provides a brief overview of the
current state of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) case law
with respect to PPM issues and reviews the technical legality of PPM
policy under the GATT. It concludes with a number of strategic
recommendations for policy-makers aimed at improving the effectiveness
of PPM measures for promoting sustainable development within the context
of the Doha Agenda. The
paper.
GENDER, POVERTY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS ON AFRICAN COUNTRIES 2007
(African Development Bank, 2007)
This resource presents information on broad development trends relating
to gender, poverty and environmental issues in the 53 African countries,
including comparative cross-country tables and a special feature article
on "The poverty-environment nexus in Africa." The
resource.
DOHA REVIEW
CONFERENCE
(FfD, 2008)
The UN Financing for Development (FfD) Process has created a detailed
work programme and calendar of high-level intergovernmental events on
financing for development to be held during the preparatory process,
leading to the Follow-up International Conference on FfD to Review the
Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, to be held in Doha, Qatar, in
November 2008. The FfD Web portal also includes information for
registration for preparatory events and key background documents.
Doha Review Conference web portal.
TRADE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
GOODS AND SERVICES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: DOMESTIC CONSIDERATIONS
AND STRATEGIES FOR WTO NEGOTIATIONS
(ICTSD, 2007)
This report, by Claro, Lucas, Sugathan, Marconini, and Lendo analyzes
the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha negotiations on trade in
environmental goods and services (EGS). It describes the status of
negotiations, main issues of interest for developing countries, and
alternatives for an agreement on the liberalization of EGS. The report
seeks to facilitate strengthened engagement of developing countries in
the EGS negotiations to enable them to work towards an outcome
meaningful for their sustainable development goals and priorities. The
report.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND ACCESS TO CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AN ANALYSIS OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC, BIO FUEL AND
WIND TECHNOLOGIES
(ICTSD, 2007)
This paper, issued by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable
Development (ICTSD), explores whether developing countries will face
barriers accessing technologies in reducing their emissions of
greenhouse gases due to intellectual property rights (IP). Focusing on
the structure of the solar photovoltaic, bio-mass and wind energy
sectors, the paper concludes that developing nations have good access to
the current generation of bio fuel technology, and that the wind sector
is competitive enough for developing nations to build wind farms without
enormous IP costs. The
paper.
THE FUTURE CONTROL OF
FOOD: A GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS AND RULES ON INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY, BIODIVERSITY AND FOOD SECURITY
(Earthscan, 2008)
Edited by Geoff Tansey and Tasmin Rajotte and launched during the sixth
meeting of the Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, this book is a guide to the issues
of intellectual property and ownership, genetics, biodiversity and food
security. Its chapters cover negotiations and instruments in the World
Trade Organization, Convention on Biological Diversity, Food and
Agriculture Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, the
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants and
other international bodies.
More information.
TRADE AND CLIMATE CHANGE LINKAGES
(IISD 2007)
This brief, written by Aaron Cosbey, is the first of a pair of
background papers prepared for the Trade Ministers' Dialogue on Climate
Change Issues, held in conjunction with the United Nations Climate
Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, December 8–9, 2007 (UNFCCC COP 13,
Kyoto Protocol MOP 3). It lays out the full range of linkages by which
trade and climate change are interlinked, including legal linkages,
physical impacts of climate change on trade and investment flows,
impacts of trade and investment policy changes on climate change, and
competitiveness issues. The
paper.
TRADE POLICY TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(IISD 2007)
This brief, written by Aaron Cosbey, is the second of a pair of
background papers prepared for the Trade Ministers' Dialogue on Climate
Change Issues, held in conjunction with the United Nations Climate
Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, December 8–9, 2007 (UNFCCC COP 13,
Kyoto Protocol MOP 3). It examines in depth the ways in which trade and
investment policy might be employed to further climate change
objectives. The discussion covers: liberalizing trade in low emission
goods, allowing subsidies for greenhouse gas reductions, addressing
domestic barriers to clean energy investment, amending intellectual
property rights and lowering fossil fuel subsidies. The
paper.
BOOM OR BUST: HOW COMMODITY PRICE VOLATILITY
IMPEDES POVERTY REDUCTION, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
(IISD 2007)
This paper, written by Oli Brown, argues that commodity price volatility
is a serious issue, but not a hopeless one. The basic economic tools
necessary to help commodity producers get more predictable incomes are
well-known and better understood than ever before. This publication
synthesizes a sizeable body of commissioned work to investigate the
experience, problems and promise of five different types of economic
tools: supply management, national revenue management, market-based
price risk management, compensatory finance and alternative trade
initiatives. The
paper, (soon available in French and Spanish).
ASIAN WATER
DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK 2007
(Asian Development Bank, 2007)
This report on future Asian water development is cautiously optimistic,
stating that Asian countries should not experience a water crisis
in the future. It argues that the region has enough knowledge,
technology, and expertise to solve existing and future water problems.
However, the report states that if a crisis materializes, poor water
management more than water scarcity would likely be the cause. The
Report.
EROSION OF
TRADE PREFERENCES IN THE POST-HONG KONG FRAMEWORK: FROM TRADE IS BETTER
THAN AID TO AID FOR TRADE
(UNCTAD, 2007)
This study by UNCTAD looks at the erosion of trade preferences since the
WTO's Hong Kong Ministerial conference in 2005. It examines which
products and countries have benefited the most from existing preferences
granted by the US, Japan and the EU, and finds that the issue of erosion
of trade preferences remains to be addressed to the benefit of many
developing countries. The
report.
KEY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND PROSPECTS IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION
2008
(UNESCAP, 2007)
This report by the
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific highlights
that developing countries in the Asia Pacific are projected to continue
to grow at 8 percent. The report cautions against appreciating
currencies vis-à-vis the weakening of the US market, and suggests that
policymakers in the region make financial reforms a priority in the
development agenda. The
report.
CAN CHINA CONTINUE
FEEDING ITSELF? THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE
(World Bank, 2007)
This paper by the World Bank's Sustainable Rural and Urban Development
Team looks at the supply and demand for food in China, in light of
near-future expected changes in climate, and examines the effect of
temperature and precipitation on net crop revenues. The analysis
suggests that global warming is likely to be harmful to China, but the
impacts are likely to be different in each region. The paper estimates
that the likely gains realized by some farmers will nearly offset the
losses to other farmers in China: the mid-latitude region of China may
benefit from warming but the southern and northern regions are likely to
be damaged. However, the study does not capture the effects of changed
water-flow, which, if they occur, could lead to large damages not
addressed in this study. The
study.
WORLD ECONOMIC
SITUATION AND PROSPECTS 2008
(UN, 2008)
The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2008 report cautions that the
global economy will face serious challenges as a result of the end of
the housing bubble in the US, the decline of the US dollar vis-à-vis
other major currencies, and the persistence of large global imbalances
and high oil prices. It also notes that net real official development
assistance (ODA) disbursements continue to be below the 0.7 percent
target formulated in the Monterrey Consensus. Moreover, ODA flows
included substantial net debt-relief grants, contradictory to the
commitments made by donor countries as part of the Monterrey Consensus,
which provided that debt relief would be additional to conventional
forms of ODA. The
report.
GLOBAL ECONOMIC
PROSPECTS 2008: TECHNOLOGY DIFFUSION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD
(World Bank, 2008)
This global economic report from the World Bank focuses on technological
progress in developing countries, noting that the World Bank has helped
to raise incomes and reduce the share of people living in absolute
poverty from 29 percent in 1990 to 18 percent in 2004. However, the
report highlights that despite these gains, the technology gap between
rich and poor countries remains enormous, and the capacity of developing
economies to adopt new technology remains weak. A central finding of the
report is that most developing countries lack the ability to generate
innovations at the technological frontier. The
report.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE STATISTICS
2007
(WTO, 2007)
International Trade Statistics 2007, published by the World Trade
Organization (WTO), provides statistics on trade in merchandise and
commercial services. The report also provides disaggregated data by
product, including agriculture, fuels and mining, iron and steel, and
chemicals. The
report.
If you
would like to submit details of
recently published documents and online resources,
send a message to
Diego Noguera, IISD
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