International community fails to provide adequate funding for climate & biodiversity: Indian trade policy expert Pradeep Mehta

The Economic Times, November 11, 2024

Synopsis:
At CUTS International’s 40th anniversary, trade policy expert Pradeep Mehta criticized unilateral trade and environmental measures while highlighting the urgent need for global funding to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Mehta stressed the interconnectedness of these issues, advocating for sustainable production and consumption policies that support developing countries in a just transition to a greener economy.

While condemning unilateral measures on trade and environment by the European Union, noted Indian trade policy expert Pradeep Mehta has expressed concern over the international community’s failure to come up with adequate funding for both climate and biodiversity.
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Mehta made the remarks on the occasion of CUTS International’s 40th anniversary hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat, London. Mehta is CUTS Secretary-General.

“It is no longer a North-South Issue but a Catastrophe vs Planet issue”, said Mehta in his opening remarks. “The whole world is suffering from setbacks to nature due to increasing temperatures and loss of biodiversity”.

Suresh Yadav, Senior Director at the Commonwealth Secretariat opened the meeting by acknowledging CUTS International’s inspiring journey, beginning with its foundational work in research and advocacy to protect and promote consumer rights in India.

Over the years, it has broadened its focus and activities into other areas, including trade, regional integration, and public policies. This growth has established CUTS International as a respected and influential global civil society organisation, a leader in the Global South.

Yadav also spoke about the impact of recent technological changes in production, noting how emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing could radically transform economies and societies in the future.

Dr Brendan Vickers, Head of the International Trade Policy Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat moderated the session. He praised CUTS’ role in influencing international policy on competition and sustainable trade, particularly within the WTO. He shared that the Commonwealth is committed to sustainable and inclusive trade practices, a theme emphasised by Heads of Governments at their meetings in Rwanda in 2022 and Samoa in 2024.

Mehta also recounted CUTS’ history of integrating consumer interests into public policy, evolving its focus to tackle emerging global issues such as responsible consumption and sustainable production.

He discussed the complexities of balancing sustainability with trade and emphasised a holistic approach that considers global inequalities in resource access. He advocated for the adoption of a sustainable production and consumption perspective when analysing the trade and environment nexus, and thus for a balanced trade policy that prevents environmental degradation while supporting green technology transfer.

He highlighted the interconnectedness of environmental, social and economic sustainability, while calling for the adoption of a ‘whole of society’ approach coupled with more inclusive policies that consider the varied capacities of developed and developing countries.

Dr Dirk Willem te Velde, Principal Research Fellow at ODI elaborated on sustainable trade, noting that it requires economic, social and environmental transformations Dr Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Founder and Executive Director of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS), joined virtually from Geneva and underscored the need for sustainable trade policies that do not disproportionately burden developing countries.

She pointed out that, while trade can support sustainable practices, it often places undue environmental and economic burdens on poorer countries. Trade-related environmental measures should help rather than hinder sustainable development.

Dr Markus Gehring, Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge, brought a legal perspective, discussing how trade agreements can – and should – support environmental goals.

He stressed the importance of embedding environmental and social considerations into trade agreements to support a just transition. Dr Gehring advocated for policies that promote continuous engagement with affected parties, emphasising that trade-related environmental measures should be negotiated transparently.”

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