If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the Bridges staff to Malena Sell at msell@ictsd.ch.
TRADE-RELATED MEASURES AND MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS. UNEP, 2007. This paper contributes to ongoing negotiations at the WTO by analysing MEA trade-related measures in the context of their overall objectives. In particular, the paper provides a detailed review of the main provisions and specific trade-related measures found in six MEAs. The paper also explores the linkage between trade and environment and the role the trade-related measures incorporated in MEAs play in responding to this relationship. The paper concludes that a classification of trade-related measures should be developed in a manner that takes into account the particular context of each MEA, and the paper recommends a framework for considering trade-related measures in reference to the functions they perform. To access the paper visit http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/pdf/MEA%20Papers/TradeRelated_MeasuresPaper.pdf
A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF MEA EXPERIENCES IN IDENTIFYING AND FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY - WHAT INSIGHTS CAN BE DRAWN FOR THE WTO EGS NEGOTIATIONS? UNEP and UNCTAD, 2007. MEA Secretariats and their Parties have been engaged for a number of years in identifying relevant technology and promoting technology transfer as a step towards achieving MEA objectives. This paper examines this experience with a view to enriching WTO negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in environmental goods and services. The paper provides a summary of provisions related to technology found in five MEAs and an overview of the activities undertaken by the respective MEA Secretariats and their Parties in identifying technology and facilitating its transfer. The paper finds that MEAs and their Parties generally adopt a dynamic mechanism for technology identification; designed to respond to the changing nature of environmental challenges, scientific discoveries, technological development, as well as changing economic, social and cultural circumstances. The paper also notes that MEA Secretariats and Parties often adopt a "package" approach to technology and technology transfer, where the transfer of the technology is complemented by capacity building, technical assistance, training of personnel, sharing of know-how, and exchange of information. To access the paper visit http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/pdf/MEA%20Papers/MEA_EGS%20Paper.pdf
FAO-BIOTECHNEWS-AR. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) has launched an e-mail newsletter providing updates of news and event items in Arabic that are relevant to applications of biotechnology in food and agriculture in developing countries. The main focus of its news and event items is on the activities of FAO, of other UN agencies/bodies and of the 15 research centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). For more detail see http://www.fao.org/biotech/welar.pdf (in Arabic). To subscribe, send an e-mail to mail...@mailserv.fao.org with the subject blank and the following one-line text message: subscribe FAO-BiotechNews-Ar-L. All items will also be posted on the web, at http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp?lang=ar.