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3 april 2002
friends of the earth International
greenpeace international
northern alliance for sustainability
(anped)
sierra club
third world network
JOHANNESBURG EARTH SUMMIT MUST AGREE THAT
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) WILL
RESPECT MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL
AGREEMENTS
As governments meet in New York to prepare
the Earth Summit in Johannesburg,
Friends of the Earth International,
Greenpeace International, Northern Alliance
for Sustainability (ANPED), Sierra Club and
Third World Network have issued a statement
calling upon the Johannesburg Summit to
ensure that Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs) are not subordinated to or
undermined by the World Trade Organisation
(WTO).
The groups argue that there is an urgent
necessity for governments to save MEAs from
WTO takeover: Several global agreements have
suffered from a 'chill effect' as some
governments have claimed that they are not
compatible with WTO rules. At the 4th WTO
Ministerial Conference in Doha, WTO Members
decided to launch negotiations on the
relationship between MEAs and trade rules.
Negotiations will come to first results in
mid 2003, but it is not clear whether the
outcome will be positive or negative for the
further development of MEAs.
With the forthcoming Word Summit for
Sustainable Development, the NGOs see a
unique chance for governments to:
-
reaffirm the authority and autonomy of
MEAs; and
-
clarify that the objectives,
principles, and provisions of MEAs must not
be subordinated to WTO rules.
David Waskow of Friends of the Earth
International said, "Multilateral
Environmental Agreements must be fully
recognised and strengthened as a
countervailing force to WTO rules. At stake
here is whether global governance will in
fact protect people and the planet."
Remi Parmentier of Greenpeace
International commented, "Our hope is that in
Johannesburg, Heads of State and Government
will agree where trade ministries have
failed, and get on with redefining a trade
regime that works for all, including the
environment."
Chee Yoke Ling of Third World Network
said, "During and since Rio, a number of
major MEAs - including the Convention on
Biological Diversity, Cartagena Biosafety
Protocol, Persistent Organic Pollutants
Convention, and Kyoto Protocol - have been
negotiated with universal intergovernmental
participation. These agreements should not be
subordinated to WTO rules."
Pieter van der Gaag of ANPED said, "MEAs
are not negotiated to undermine trade rules.
They are negotiated to solve the
environmental problems we face. Subordinating
MEAs to the WTO would limit our ability to
protect our planet."
Ruth Caplan of the Sierra Club said, "MEAs
are essential for sustainable development --
we should not allow the WTO to weaken them in
any way."
Contacts:
David Waskow, Friends of the Earth
International: + 1 202 258 1348
Remi Parmentier, Greenpeace International: +
31 653 504 702
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