What could be less controversial than liberalising trade in environmental goods and services? Or, to put it another way, why should any country want to maintain barriers that inhibit such trade?

This collection of studies is intended as a practical tool to help negotiators navigate the numerous, complex issues that have arisen in international discussions over liberalising trade in environmental goods and services. In addition to explaining the background to the two earlier lists of environmental goods, the different chapters:

Explore various practical issues related to the classification of environmental goods, including "dual use" goods;
Provide concrete examples of synergies between trade in environmental services and environmental goods;
Synthesise the findings of various country studies on environmental goods and services undertaken by the OECD and other inter-governmental organisations.

This study presents a synthesis of 17 country studies on environmental goods and services (EG&S)
commissioned by the OECD, UNCTAD and the UNDP. The countries examined are Brazil, Chile, China,
Cuba, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Korea, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Thailand and Vietnam. Its aim is to identify determinants of demand for
EG&S; to show common themes and experiences in the EG&S markets of different countries; and to draw
attention to key trade, environment and development policy linkages.

This report examines Federal programs, policies, and measures that encourage the
commercialization and deployment of technologies that reduce, avoid, or capture
and store emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Prepared in fulfillment of certain requirements of the
Energy Policy Act, as amended in 2005, it
inventories prospective technologies, assesses their current development status,
identifies barriers, risks and other obstacles to their greater
deployment, describes strategies to address these
obstacles as a means for accelerating deployment, and outlines opportunities
for the future.

Sub-Regional Brainstorming Workshop on the Trade and Environment Issues Contained in Paragraphs 31 and 32 of the WTO Doha Ministerial Declaration: Interim Report. UNCTAD/FIELD Project. 2003

The importance of sustainable development to trade rules established by the World Trade Organisation is enshrined in the first paragraph of the Agreement that establishes the institution. Trade liberalisation in environmental services is seen by some observers as having the potential to contribute to sustainable development, particularly in developing countries. However, most developing countries have taken a defensive negotiating position on environmental services and progress in the negotiations on environmental services has been limited. As the WTO Director General has observed, “the pursuit of sustainable development is a difficult balancing act, requiring progress on all three of its pillars – the economic, the environmental and the social” (Lamy, 2005).