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> Economics, trade and investment |
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| Economics, trade and investment |
Why economics? | WWF-UK | WWF network
Why is WWF working on economics, trade and investment?
The past thirty years has seen a rapid expansion in economic activity. Development has become synonymous with economic growth. And this rapid expansion in economic activity, and the fact that markets are unable to capture the true value of environmental goods and services, is causing the rapid draw-down of the earth's natural capital, the build-up of pollution and the loss of key ecological functions and services. Much of this expansion is fuelled by the movement of goods and services between countries, through trade and investment.
The purpose of the WWF Economics, Trade and Investment programme is to address some of the root causes of biodiversity loss. At the international level, this includes working on activities such as lobbying the World Trade Organisation (WTO - an international economic body that reduces trade barriers between countries, therefore allowing the greater movement of goods and services) to introduce a fair trading system that promotes sustainable development.
At the national level WWF works closely with Governments to amend policies, such as damaging subsidies, that can drive biodiversity loss. And WWF also carries out economics work at the local level, such as putting a value on biodiversity, in order to encourage more sustainable management practices. For example, beyond the timber it provides, a forest has many other values: the food and medicines it supplies; the tourism it attracts; the many ecological services it provides. All these 'other' services have an economic value, that are rarely taken into account in the decision-making process,. Failure to capture these leads to environmental degradation.
WWF-UK
WWF-UK is leading the thinking in the WWF network in two major areas:
Foreign Direct Investment
At the international level we are addressing the issue of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). More specifically we are lobbying to keep investment out of the WTO and advocating an alternative investment framework.
To find out more download No investment agreement within the WTO.
WWF are opposed to an investment agreement in the WTO and believes that an alternative regulatory framework that harnesses investment to promote sustainable development needs to be put in place.
Environmental Economics
WWF-UK are pioneers of environmental economics within the WWF network. WWF works with governments and other decision-makers to encourage them to use appropriate economic instruments and approaches - such as taxes, subsidies and visitor fees - to achieve environmental and social goals. The Environmental Economics Unit works and carries out analysis in some of our overseas programmes. For example, we were involved in valuing Samoa's bio-diversity.
Download the report Economic Valuation of the Terrestrial and Marine Resources of Samoa.
In order to improve levels of ecological economics literacy among WWF staff, affiliates, governments and beyond WWF-UK:- carries out capacity-building workshops;
- set up the the Sustainable Economics Network which consists of all the environmental economists across the WWF network;
- and provides basic guidance materials on environmental economics (most recently: Environmental economics: a practical guide).
WWF network
Given the greater integration and inter-dependence of economies throughout the world the Economics, Trade and Investment work is carried out across the WWF network. The major nodes of activity, however, exist at WWF-UK, the WWF European Policy Office in Brussels, WWF-US and WWF-International.
Macroeconomics
The bulk of research on macroeconomic issues - such as poverty and the environment and the root cause of biodiversity loss - is carried out at WWF's Macroeconomics Program Office (MPO), in Washington.
Trade and investment
WWF's international Trade and Investment Programme is supported importantly through the work of staff in WWF-UK. It also has staff in key economies worldwide - those which are currently or imminently the most influential. Trade and investment policy officers work in WWF offices in Brasilia, Moscow, Beijing, Johannesburg, Geneva and Brussels.
For more information on this programme, see www.panda.org/trade or email trade@wwfint.org |
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Biodiversity Economics
Launched this by WWF and IUCN, www.biodiversityeconomics.org is set to become the world's leading on-line environmental economics site. Featuring library, events, people, and the Spider.
For further information, please contact:
WWF-UK
Panda House
Weyside Park
Godalming
Surrey GU7 1XR
t: 01483 426444
f: 01483 426409
info@wwf.org.uk |
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WWF-UK > Research > The issues we work on > Economics, trade and investment
