The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) has the pleasure of inviting you to a Global Economy Monday Seminar on:
Carbon Footprints, Trade and Development
Wednesday, 11 August 2010, 10.00-12.30
Danish Institute for International Studies
Main Auditorium
Strandgade 71, ground floor, 1401 Copenhagen K
Background
Carbon footprint labels and border measures are at the centre of current debates cutting across climate change, trade and development policies. This seminar brings together three contributions to this debate that focus on: (1) proposals aiming at taxing carbon emissions at the border with the aim of leveling the playing field between countries with different carbon emission limits; (2) plans to use product carbon footprint (PCF) labels to encourage climate-friendly consumption; (3) emerging carbon footprint standards and their possible trade impacts.
Presentations
1) Leveling or Mining the Playing Field? Implementation Problems of Carbon-Motivated Border Adjustment Taxes
Abstract: Climate change policies and trade policy are on a collision course. Border tax adjustments are at the center of the debate and are being considered in many OECD countries, notably the United States and the European Union. They will tax carbon emissions at the border with the aim of leveling the playing field between countries with different carbon emission limits. Border tax adjustments may be justified theoretically, but the challenges of implementation and its associated costs and incentives are a key determinant of the outcome. Implementation depends on complex administrative arrangements and controversial calculations of the embedded carbon in imported goods. The implementation problems are linked to the difficulties of calculating embedded carbon. This presentation discusses a key question: How accurately can we measure embedded carbon and what will the inherent uncertainty do to trade policy when it triggers political economy forces? Will border taxes mine rather than level the playing field?
Michael F. Jensen is a Project Senior Researcher at the DIIS. He has a PhD in development economics and a master degree in agricultural economics from University of Copenhagen. He has a background in academics as well as in policy work and has worked as a senior economist in the International Trade Department at the World Bank. He has recently worked with trade economists and life cycle analysis experts on climate change and trade issues and published articles in the Development Policy Review and Environmental Science & Policy.
2) Carbon Labels and Contentious Knowledge
Abstract: A growing number of companies and countries have announced plans to use product carbon footprint (PCF) labels to encourage climate-friendly consumption. The proliferation of schemes for calculating PCFs has raised concerns about bias and consumer confusion, highlighting the need for international standards. But the seemingly technocratic process of creating a standard measure is often intensely political. In the case of the carbon footprint, the divides lie not just between countries with different trading interests, but also between expert communities with different ideas about what counts as valid knowledge. This presentation gives particular attention to agri-food PCFs, and to the contested role of life cycle assessment expertise in the creation of standards.
Susanne Freidberg is a Professor in the Department of Geography at Dartmouth College. She is the author of French Beans and Food Scares: Culture and Commerce in an Anxious Age (Oxford, 2004) and Fresh: A Perishable History (Belknap, 2009). She has conducted research on regional and international trade in fresh produce and especially between Africa and Europe, on the social and technological history of freshness, and on the politics of food standards.
3) Emerging Product Carbon Footprint Standards and their Possible Trade Impacts
Concern over climate change has stimulated interest in estimating the total amount of greenhouse gasses produced during the life-cycle of goods and services – i.e. during their production, transportation, sale, use and disposal. The outcome of these calculations is referred to as ‘product carbon footprints’ (PCFs). This presentation reviews the rationale, context, coverage and characteristics of emerging voluntary standards and schemes that estimate and designate PCFs, and discusses the possible impacts on trade – particularly exports from distant and developing countries.
Simon Bolwig is Senior Researcher at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Climate Centre, Risų. He carries out research on standards and certification programmes relating to climate change, including ‘carbon footprint’ standards for consumer products and biofuels, their interplay with regulatory policy, their environmental and cost-effectiveness, and their importance for trade.
Programme
10.00-10.10 Introduction
Stefano Ponte, Senior Researcher, DIIS
10.10-10.40 Leveling or Mining the Playing Field? Implementation
Problems of Carbon-Motivated Border Adjustment Taxes
Michael F. Jensen, Project Senior Researcher, DIIS
10.40-11.10 Carbon Labels and Contentious Knowledge
Susanne Freidberg, Associate Professor, Department of
Geography, Dartmouth College, US
11.10-11.30 Coffee Break
11.30-12.00 Emerging Product Carbon Footprint Standards and their
Possible Trade Impacts
Simon Bolwig, Senior Researcher, DTU Climate Centre, Risų
12.00-12.30 Discussion
Chair: Stefano Ponte, Senior Researcher, DIIS
Practical Information
The seminar will be held in English.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use below online registration form no later than Tuesday, 10 August 2010 at 12.00 noon. |
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