UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development

 

By enhancing synergies between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF) aims to strengthen the capacities of countries, particularly developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to effectively address trade-environment-development issues.

Due to the extra-budgetary nature of the CBTF, its activities are launched in phases according to the timing and availability of financial resources contributed by donors. Thanks to the financial contributions provided by the European Union, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA), the CBTF has been able to complete projects initiated during Phase I (2000 - 2003) and launch a number of new activities under Phase II (2004-2006).

  

 
Latest Meetings
  
 

Biotrade and Green Economy Week in Nepal
31 May - 4 June 2011,
Kathmandu, Nepal
As part of the Capacity Building for Biotrade project (CBBT), a Biotrade and Green Economy week is being organized in Kathmandu. The events are part of a bigger bigger project that is being implemented in Namibia, Nepal and Peru. The series of events during the Biotrade week will bring together representatives from the public, private and development sectors to discuss the potential benefits of promoting and investing in sustainable trade in biodiversity based products and transitioning to a greener economy in Nepal. more...

 
 
Latest Publication
 
  Final Namibia Report
BioTrade – A catalyst for transitioning to a green economy in Namibia, Sept 2012. DTI/1555/GE
While highlighting the opportunities, this study is an important reminder of the many challenges that Namibia has faced and continues to address with regards to reducing socio-economic inequalities, maintaining economic growth and achieving a higher level of sustainable use and trade of biodiversity-based products. The study identifies a number of key sub-sectors in need of additional policy support and investment to derive secure and higher sustainable development returns from BioTrade.

Moving beyond the assessment of the current state and potential of BioTrade in Namibia, this study examines the contribution of the sector in transitioning to a green economy. The results reveal that the expansion and consolidation of BioTrade can further advance Namibia’s role as a leading international proponent of sustainable environmental and economic management. While it is understood that a full-scale transition to a green economy will require a package of policy reforms and investments in all economic sectors, BioTrade in Namibia is well-placed to pioneer such a shift..
  
  Best Practices for Organic Policy. What developing country Governments can do to promote the organic agriculture sector, February 2008. UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2007/3
The ambition of this report is to give guidance to the development of appropriate policies for the organic sector. Its focus is mainly developing countries, but much of it is also applicable for developed countries. The report gives some general background about organic agriculture and the reasons to support the development of organic agriculture. These are among others:
protection of natural resources (e.g. water) and biodiversity;
improved quality of soils and thereby a long-term high productivity;
improved market access;
improved profitability in farming; and,
improved health, or reduced health risks for farmers, farm-workers and consumers.		  
     

page last updated on 31 August, 2012 10:18