Trade ministers from all over the world have launched the
Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate at the World Economic Forum’s Annual
Meeting 2023 held in Davos, Switzerland to promote trade and investment that
fosters the diffusion, development, accessibility and uptake of goods, services
and technologies that support climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The ministers will;
Recognize the escalating pace and devastating
impact of the climate crisis on our economies, societies, and
environments;
Emphasize the urgent need for climate change
mitigation and adaptation in line with the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and the
Sustainable Development Goals;
Underlie the need for inclusive international
cooperation that includes a diversity of countries from different regions at
different levels of development, climate vulnerabilities, and trade
circumstances;
Reiterate the importance of a supportive,
coherent, and open international economic system that enables fair pathways
towards climate-resilient sustainable development;
Acknowledge the nexus of trade, climate change, and
sustainable development and that international trade can and must make a
positive contribution to driving down greenhouse gas emissions, enabling a just
transition to climate neutral, resilient and sustainable economies by
mid-century;
Acknowledge in that regard ongoing work at the
WTO, including discussions taking place under the Committee on Trade and
Environment, Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions,
Dialogue on Plastics Pollution, and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform initiative, as
well as work in other groupings and regional fora;
Noting their unique position as Trade Ministers to
drive this contribution and the need for high-level political dialogue,
Establish a Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate that
will be guided by and will work to support the following principles:
- Cooperation
in contribution to the global response to climate change, including by
engaging nationally and internationally with fellow ministers working on
climate, environment, finance, and development, among others.
- Inclusivity
in the engagement of Ministers and relevant stakeholders from different
regions and at different levels of development and climate
vulnerabilities.
- Leadership
in providing high-level political direction and guidance to bolster
inclusive cooperation on the nexus of climate, trade, and sustainable
development.
- Transparency
for effective climate action built on trust and international cooperation.
Ministers will prioritize the following:
- Foster
international cooperation and collective action to promote trade and trade
policies that pursue climate action across the WTO and relevant
multilateral, plurilateral, regional and sectoral initiatives.
- Identify
ways to ensure the multilateral trading system contributes to the global
response to climate change and promotes a positive contribution to the
climate agenda, including through focused attention across sectors on the
nexus between climate and trade.
- Promote
trade and investment that foster the diffusion, development, accessibility
and uptake of goods, services and technologies that support climate
mitigation and adaptation in both developed and developing countries.
- Identify
trade-related strategies supportive of the most vulnerable developing and
least developed countries.
- Build
alliances and partnerships with climate and finance communities and
relevant stakeholders to foster climate action, transitions, and
climate-resilient development on the ground.
The Coalition will develop concrete actions to advance
these important priorities.
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