2016 International Conference on Green Trade Revised Call for Participation/Abstracts/Speeches
Please plan ahead for the 2016 Conference on Green Trade!
The deadline for submitting participation applications, abstracts and lecture outlines in response to the Call for Participation/Papers/Speeches is Oct 20, 2016. Early submissions are welcomed.
Objectives
General objective: The Conference aims to bring together speakers and participants from governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, etc., and will feature active dialogues among participants to address various issues of promoting Green Trade in Asia and globally.
The concrete objectives are:
To identify the trends and assess the potential environmental impacts of the growth of trade in Asia and beyond; especially the status quo and trends in trade of agro-commodities in the Asian region’s key areas such as the Greater Mekong;
To explore viable solutions that focus on leveraging domestic policies and incentives to strengthen sustainability safeguards; looking closely at how the regulatory framework in both exporting and importing countries can be improved upon to mitigate the impact of production and trade;
To explore viable solutions that focus on promoting international and regional green trade rules;
To develop policy recommendations for the governments of both importing and exporting countries that aim to promote inclusive and equitable approaches to share economic benefits, as well as to advance the empowerment of women in socio-economic decision making; and
To identify the best practices in the public and private sectors that promote sustainable production and responsible trade.
Target Audience
Participants from governments, the private/corporate sector, civil society, think tanks, academia, international organizations, diplomatic circles, media etc. are welcome to join the event. We expect a diversified audience from the region.
International and local researchers will identify the trends and assess the potential environmental impacts of the growth of free trade in Asia;
Representatives from the governments of Asian countries and beyond are expected to share viable solutions that focus on leveraging domestic policies and incentives to strengthen sustainability safeguards;
Representatives of international organizations and domestic and international NGOs will explore viable solutions that focus on promoting international/regional guidelines and principles to strengthen sustainability safeguards;
Community development and gender experts from the region and the international community will explore how considerations for equitable economic development and gender equality can be better integrated into the legislation and guidelines that govern trade in the region; and
The private/corporate sector and SMEs representatives both from Asia and beyond will share their experience of the best practices in promoting public-private partnership and CSR in promoting sustainable and responsible production and trade
Geographical Scope
The Conference will focus on the East, Southeast and South Asian countries and their trade partners in other regions in the world.
Key Topics
The two-day international conference will cover the following topics:
Potential environmental impacts of the growth of international trade
This session will identify the trends and assess the potential environmental impacts of the growth of international trade; especially the status quo and trends in trade in the Asian region’s key areas such as the Greater Mekong and the ‘One Belt and One Road’ regions.
National policies to address green trade
This session will explore viable solutions that focus on leveraging domestic policies and incentives to strengthen sustainability; especially how the regulatory framework in both importing and exporting countries can be improved upon to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of trade.
International regulations and rules of green trade
This session will explore the relationship between trade and the environment, such as the relationship between the mandate of the WTO to promote free trade and the current environmental regulations, the current status of negotiations on environmental goods in the WTO and the APEC as well as their future trends.
International/regional sustainable standards for greener trade
This session will explore viable solutions that focus on promoting international/regional sustainability standards, labels and rules to promote environmentally friendly trade activities in the region.
Corporate responsibility to promote green trade
The best practices in the corporate sector to promote sustainable and responsible production and trade.
NGOs for equitable and gender-inclusive green trade development
This session will provide an avenue for NGOs, community development and gender experts to discuss with other participants gender equity and gender-inclusive development during the course of freer and greener trade development and to explore entry points for advancing such agendas.
One Belt and One Road: opportunities and challenges
China is promoting its national initiative of One Belt and One Road (OBOR). What are the opportunities and challenges of OBOR expected for the regional and global trade? How the OBOR countries and regions can benefit from the strategy and what are the suggestions for China to promote sustainable OBOR strategy? Participants are welcome to share their opinions in the session.
Greening agro-commodity supply chains
This session will discuss how to green agro-commodity supply chains for reducing ecosystem degradation associated with soy production in South America, palm oil production in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as other agro-commodities.
Building a Green Free Trade Zone
There are more and more Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in the world. Pioneer FTZs in China are willing to be a green FTZ. How can a green FTZ be built towards one that is environmentally friendly? Experiences from other countries and regions are welcome to be shared.
Applications for Speeches
If you are interested in presenting a speech or paper in one of the above mentioned topics, please note that the following information is required at the time of submission:
1. Topic title
2. Full abstract details (not longer than two pages), including:
a. Presenter’s name and full contact details: country, organization, position, email, telephone number, etc.
b. Abstract title
c. Abstract
The abstract will be reviewed after the Oct 20, 2016 deadline. The presenter of each abstract will be notified by November 1 of their acceptance/rejection status. Rejected presenters will automatically be treated as participation applicants.
The following criteria will be used in selection:
1. Relevance of the abstract in light of the overall theme of the Conference
2. Relevance of the abstract to the group session thematic areas listed above
3. Technical clarity and comprehensiveness of abstract
4. Relevance of prior policy and regional and global concern
Applications for Participation
If you are interested in participating in the Conference as an audience member but do not intend to present a paper or make a speech, you are welcome to submit an application to attend the Conference. Please note that the following information is required at the time of submission:
1. Interested topic title
2. Applicant’s name and full contact details: country, organization, position, email, telephone number, etc.
Acceptance/rejection of participation with free accommodation will be subject to the fund availability of the host.
Publications
Papers, speech drafts, PPTs presented and collected from the Conference will be edited and published either in the websites of the organizers and co-sponsors, or in a formally published book after the Conference.
Timeline
Deadline for application for participation and paper/speech abstracts Oct 20,2016
Acceptance status notification Nov 1,2016
Delivery of final versions of papers and presentations Nov 15, 2016
Financial Support
The conference host will financially support the accommodation during the conference for eligible speakers and participants.
Registration Fees
Please be informed that NO registration fees will apply for participation in the Conference.
Submission of Abstracts/Applications
Interested research institutions and individuals are encouraged to submit their abstracts as early as possible, and no later than Oct 20, 2016, by email to the Conference Secretariat at cgep@mail.bnu.edu.cn, with the subject line “2016 International Conference on Green Trade.”
This conference will be hosted by
Beijing Normal University and WWF
Co-Sponsored by
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center (CAEC)
ISEAL ALLIANCE
Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT)
Professional Association for China’s Environment (PACE)
International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE)
We hope to see you in Beijing, China in early December this year!
Conference Secretariat
Center for Global Environmental Policy (CGEP)
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
No.19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R.China
Email: cgep@mail.bnu.edu.cn
Tel: 86-10-58807812
Fax: 86-10-82025600
To download a pdf version of the call for conference
2016 International Conference on Green Trade Revised Call for Participation/Abstracts/Speeches