Environment

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the most acute health crisis in generations and has sent shockwaves across economies worldwide. Renewable energies can play a dual role in helping the world to recover. First they can strengthen healthcare and other critical public infrastructures. Second when integrated into response plans and strategies to “build back better” (i.e. rebuild economies in light of the numerous problems which arose as a result of the pandemic) renewable energies can help mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting economic recovery boosting job creation fostering access to electricity and economic diversification and putting the world on a climate-safe path.

Value creation along the solar PV supply chain involves a broad range of goods and services (Box 1). Some of these goods and services are supplied domestically but many others are traded across borders. This section provides an overview of global trade flows in selected goods along the solar PV value chain. Included in the analysis are machines to manufacture solar PV wafers cells modules and panels along with selected solar PV components such as PV generators inverters PV cells and where relevant the parts needed to produce some of these goods (see Appendix).

The world economy has changed profoundly over the past decades as there has been a sharp increase in population and a near tripling of average income since 1960. During this period our economies have become ever more integrated due to advances in communication and information technologies along with lower barriers to global trade and investment.

The world is much more interconnected than ever before. The rise of production networks across countries has transformed the trade and business landscape influencing how and where goods and services are produced and consumed. Many developing countries are playing an increasing role in international trade but others remain excluded due to lack of financial resources knowledge and infrastructure.

Under the GATT six panel proceedings involving an examination of environmental measures or human health-related measures under Article XX were completed. Of the six reports three have not been adopted by GATT Contracting Parties. Under the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding three such proceedings have been completed. The following provides a factual overview of these disputes.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and policies intersect with international trade in a number of ways. Th is part reviews the range of policies to mitigate and adapt to the eff ects of climate change. It provides examples of national eff orts on climate change mitigation and adaptation whether voluntary or mandatory public or private. It is based mainly on national experiences and key literature on the topic. In broad terms it provides an overview of the rationale behind these mitigation and adaptation policies and their potential implications for the environment and trade. Th e key aspects in the design of climate change related measures are presented in order to draw a clearer picture of their overall potential and eff ects on environmental protection development and trade.

When a group of countries set about rebuilding the global trading system after World War II they were guided by the principle of multilateral trade cooperation as an effective way to avoid mutually defeating trade policies and to help build lasting peace. A key outcome was the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) — the WTO’s predecessor.

Ces dernières décennies l’économie mondiale a connu de profonds changements : la population a fortement augmenté et le revenu moyen a presque triplé depuis 1960. Pendant cette période l’intégration de nos économies n’a cessé de croître grâce aux progrès réalisés dans le domaine des technologies de l’information et de la communication parallèlement à la diminution des obstacles au commerce et à l’investissement au niveau mondial.

Cuando un grupo de países se dispuso a reconstruir el sistema mundial de comercio después de la segunda guerra mundial se guiaron por el principio de la eficacia de la cooperación comercial multilateral para evitar políticas comerciales que se invalidaran mutuamente y contribuir a instaurar una paz duradera. Uno de los principales resultados alcanzados fue el Acuerdo General sobre Aranceles Aduaneros y Comercio (GATT) de 1947 el predecesor de la OMC.

Since 2009 more than 5000 support measures for a host of environmental objectives have been notified to the WTO.

Over the past 20 years international trade has undergone major changes. One main factor leading to these changes has been the unprecedented pace of technological innovation which is transforming the traditional way of conducting trade. Supported by increasingly fast and efficient technology e-commerce has been growing at significant rates. While global trade growth continues to be slow e-commerce was valued at US$ 22.1 trillion in 2015 a 38% increase from 2013.

La economía mundial ha cambiado profundamente en los 60 últimos años. La población mundial se ha duplicado con creces y asciende hoy a 7.600 millones de habitantes frente a unos 3.000 millones en 1960 y los ingresos medios prácticamente se han triplicado. Durante este período el grado de integración de la economía mundial ha aumentado gracias a los avances en las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones y a la reducción de los obstáculos al comercio y la inversión mundiales. Estos cambios han permitido a las empresas coordinar actividades complejas a distancia a bajo costo y con seguridad.

The world economy has changed profoundly over the past 60 years. The world’s population has more than doubled to 7.6 billion today from around 3 billion in 1960 while average income has almost tripled. During this period the world economy has become ever more integrated due to advances in communication and information technologies along with lower barriers to global trade and investment. These developments have made it possible for companies to co-ordinate complex activities at a distance cheaply and safely.

Au cours des dernières décennies le commerce a permis de réaliser d’énormes progrès en matière de développement économique à l’échelle mondiale. La croissance économique mondiale s’est toutefois accompagnée d’un accroissement des défis environnementaux qui à leur tour risquent de mettre à mal le bien être le développement la santé et la croissance économique elle même.

Th e scientifi c evidence on climate change and its impacts is compelling and continues to evolve. Th e Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007a) states that our planet’s climate is indisputably warming and the Stern Review (2006) on the economics of climate change concludes that climate change presents very serious global risks and demands an urgent global response.

The relationship between the provisions of the multilateral trading system and trade measures for environmental purposes including those pursuant to multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).

Trade plays a critical role in addressing hunger food security nutrition and sustainable agriculture contributing to healthy lives and wellbeing employment and growth.

Les technologies du solaire photovoltaïque utilisent des panneaux solaires pour convertir la lumière du soleil en électricité. Après avoir connu un déploiement rapide le solaire photovoltaïque constitue désormais la source la moins chère de nouvelle production électrique dans nombre de régions du monde. Le coût de l’électricité produite par les centrales photovoltaïques a diminué de 77% entre 2010 et 2018 tandis que la capacité installée cumulée en énergie solaire photovoltaïque a été centuplée entre 2005 et 2018. Le solaire photovoltaïque est ainsi devenu un des axes essentiels du système énergétique durable sobre en carbone qui est nécessaire pour promouvoir l’accès à une énergie abordable et fiable et aider à accomplir les objectifs de l’Accord de Paris et du Programme de développement durable à l’horizon 2030.