Geneva Annual China Dialogue: “China, Trade and Climate Change”
27th – 28th November 2008
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Geneva Annual China Dialogue: China, Trade and Climate Change
Time: 27 -28 November 2008
Venue: World Meteorological Organization,Geneva
Organized by: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
In collaboration with: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
The ICTSD Geneva Annual China Dialogue brings together representatives from international institutions, governments, business and civil society from China and around the world, to explore issues related to China, trade and sustainable development. It is part of the ICTSD China Initiative which aims to promote a better understanding of China’s role in global economic governance through dialogues and research.
This conference takes place at an extremely opportune moment: the economy, governance and geopolitical agenda of the world are in a period of historical transition.
In the context of widespread economic downturn, new strong political will to conclude the Doha Round of trade talks and the imminent UN climate change negotiations in Poland and Copenhagen, the role of emerging economies including China shall be better understood.
This 2008 meeting focus on China’s contribution to the economic architecture of a global agreement on climate change, in the process towards the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2009 in Copenhagen. China is at the centre of a range of concerns related to the trade and climate change negotiations, particular with respect to the distribution of the economic costs and gains from climate change mitigation and adaptation.
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.
Conference Venue:
World Meteorological Organization, Address: 7bis,avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland.
BUS 1, 11, or 28 reaches directly WMO at “Jardin Botanique” bus stop
More information about the conference venue including transportation and map, please visit: http://www.wmo.int/pages/visitors/index_en.html
When: Registration opens at 13:00 on Thursday 27 November.
The meeting concludes at 18:30 on Friday 28 November.
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[...] to the “economic architecture” of a global agreement on climate change is the focus of Geneva-China Dialogue 2008, which takes place at the WMO offices in Geneva 27-28 [...]