Archived press release

Earth summit must act on meas

3 April 2002

Issued by Friends of the Earth International, GreenpeaceInternational, Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED) - SierraClub - Third World Network

JOHANNESBURG EARTH SUMMIT MUST AGREE THAT THE WTO WILL RESPECT MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS

As governments meet in New York to prepare the Earth Summit in Johannesburg,
international environment groups have issued a joint statement calling on theJohannesburg Summit to ensure that Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)are not subordinated to or undermined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Friends of the Earth International, Greenpeace International, Northern Alliance forSustainability (ANPED), Sierra Club and Third World Network say there is an urgentneed for governments to save MEAs from WTO takeover. Several globalagreements have suffered from a *chill effect* as some governments have claimedthat 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 bear 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 besubordinated 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."

For the full statement see www.foei.org

WHY IS THERE CONCERN?

UN member governments have an opportunity in Johannesburg to make a clear
statement concerning the relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and WTO trade rules, in order to reaffirm the authority
and autonomy of MEAs and to ensure that MEAs are not subordinated to or
undermined by the WTO.

At the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Qatar, WTO Members decided to launch
negotiations on the relationship between MEAs and trade rules because there has
been some uncertainty about the relationship between certain MEA provisions
and WTO trade rules. Today, around 20 MEAs have trade-related provisions.

It is known that due to the rapid development of WTO rules with strong enforcementmeasures, the implementation of some MEA trade provisions have suffered from a"chilling" effect, with some members arguing that some MEA trade provisions wouldnot be compatible with WTO rules. Negotiations will come to first results at the nextWTO Ministerial Conference in Mexico in mid 2003.

At stake here is the very question of global governance, where the MEAs representa rare and strategically important space in today's international governancearchitecture to protect people and the planet. They must be defended andstrengthened as a countervailing force to WTO rules.

WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENTS DO NOW

During the preparatory process for, as well as at, the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, the World Summit on Sustainable Development should:

• Reaffirm the authority and autonomy of MEAs; and
• Clarify that the objectives, principles, and provisions of MEAs must not be subordinated to WTO rules.

Signatories:
Friends of the Earth International
Greenpeace International
WWF International
Third World Network
Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED)
Sierra Club

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust