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Trade and Investment

FERN works towards EU trade and investment policies that do not subsidise climate change and ensure strict financing rules are in place for institutions such as Export Credit Agencies. 


FERN’s analysis: Despite the EU’s claim that it is a leader in halting climate change, its trade and investment policies are in fact worsening the situation. Among the most damaging institutioins supported by EU policies are Export credit agencies (ECAs) and the European Investment Bank who continue to finance destructive activities and the fossil fuel industry to the tune of millions. Nearly 10 per cent of world exports are supported by ECAs, approximately twice the world’s total overseas development assistance.

 

What FERN is doing: FERN is analysing EU finance and investment's impacts on forests and the climate in order to show its incoherence with the EU's climate policy to keep global warming below 2C and make it accountable to its own climate policies. FERN is also facilitating the European ECA Reform Campaign, bringing together a coalition of organisations from across Europe with the goal of achieving environmental and social standards for EU-based ECAs.

 

To learn more about this campaign: see the report Exporting Destruction. Export credits, illegal logging and deforestation and the book Why Investment Matters.

Forest watch Issue 145 and Copenhagen Special

  • EU Member States reject prohibition of the sale of illegal timber
  • NGOs reject Ecolabel for copying and graphic paper
  • Will Europe follow America’s ECAs in reducing GHGs
  • Integrated Product Policy and Beyond
  • Member States’ support binding biomass criteria
  • Copenhagen Update (Available in French and Spanish)
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application/pdf iconFW 145 Jan 2010.pdf184.82 KB
application/pdf iconCopenhagen update.pdf124.79 KB
application/pdf iconCopenhagen update in French.pdf189.37 KB
application/pdf iconCopenhagen update in Spanish.pdf132.46 KB

Forest Watch issue 142

  • G-20 Pittsburgh statement hopeful but clarity needed
  • Liberia’s choice
  • Malaysian déjà vu should suspend VPA process
  • Protesting Monoculture Tree Plantations
     
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application/pdf iconFW 142 Oct 2009.pdf196.7 KB

Forest Watch issue 141

  • Obstacles on the road to sustainable bioenergy criteria
  • Climate haggling... to be continued
  • UK timber procurement: Help shape criteria
  • The Saami Council applauds breakthrough
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application/pdf iconOPEN179.99 KB

Avoiding solutions: How Export Credit Agencies help companies that continue to evade tax

This briefing note shows the folly of G-20 plans to increase ECAs’ capacity without ensuring they bring in regulations aimed at halting their support for companies that take advantage of tax avoidance loopholes such as offshore financial centres. It ends with a series of recommendations for ensuring ECAs are held to government policies.

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application/pdf iconAvoiding solutions.pdf756.15 KB

From Rome to Lisbon

Liberalising investments with the aim of opening markets appears to be incompatible with sustainable development of resource-based activities. FERN has therefore published a briefing note, “From Rome to Lisbon,” a guide to the EU’s investment strategy. The guide explores the EU’s controversial role in developing investment provisions in the free trade agreements it concludes with third countries.

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application/pdf iconfrom rome to lisbon.pdf941.36 KB

Forest Watch issue 140

  • Ilisu dam: teetering at the edge
  • Liberia’s dubious timber concessions
  • UK Environmental Audit Committee heeded
  • EU aid: must do better
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application/pdf iconFW 140.pdf176.55 KB
application/pdf iconBonn II meeting update.pdf131.11 KB

Forest watch Issue 137

  • Fossil Fools day 2009 targets the G20
  • India: The hidden costs of free trade
  • Natura 2000 and CEPF
  • Urging recognition of forest peoples’ rights
  • Liberia negotiations begin
  • EU calendar online
  • FERN moves to Mundo-B
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application/pdf iconPDF246.68 KB

Liberian NGO coalition asks for participatory process

A press release by the Liberian NGO coalition expressing support for the start of VPA negotiations between the EU and the Government of Liberia as part of the EU FLEGT programme. Concern has been raised, however, over the fact that NGOs seem to have been misled about the timing of the launch and hence could not be present
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application/msword iconOPEN30.5 KB

The EU - India FTA

A new FERN funded report by Kavaljit Singh on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement with a strong focus on the banking sector. The report asks the question who benefits from FTAs and shows that opening up India for European banks can have negative impacts for India
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application/pdf iconOPEN430.19 KB

Forestwatch Issue 136

  • Forests in EU-China bilateral agreements
  • Liberia received praise where due
  • Closer eye on EU finance?
  • EU illegal timber proposal strengthened
  • Climate Package disappoints
  • DG ENV boss shuns offsets
  • Reducing emissions or playing with numbers?
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application/pdf iconFW 136.pdf243.52 KB
application/pdf iconPlaying with numbers.pdf112.95 KB