In a significant move towards addressing global climate change concerns while ensuring equitable international trade practices, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced the launch of a task force dedicated to creating a comprehensive methodology for establishing global carbon prices. This initiative aims to prevent the imposition of import taxes based on carbon emissions from unfairly burdening developing countries. The announcement was made by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during the FT Africa Summit in London.
One of the key drivers behind this initiative is the need to harmonize carbon pricing across nations, thus allowing developing countries to maintain their competitiveness in the face of Europe’s ambitious plans to levy import taxes based on the carbon footprint of certain goods. Some WTO members have expressed concerns that such measures could be perceived as protectionist, while others simply lack the necessary tools to accurately calculate the carbon price of their exports.
Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of establishing a universally accepted methodology for determining global carbon prices. “What we’re trying to do actually is to say, can we develop a methodology for global carbon price that everybody can sign on to?” she stated. During last week’s meetings in Marrakech, she proposed the creation of a multilateral task force focused on crafting this methodology, a proposal that was accepted by all finance ministers in attendance.
“This task force will provide a structured approach and methodology for countries to engage in constructive dialogues with developed nations,” Okonjo-Iweala added. It is particularly crucial to avoid penalizing countries on the African continent, as they historically contribute only around 3% of global emissions. This underscores the need for balanced and fair practices, ensuring that Africa can progress towards a lower-carbon future without facing undue disadvantages.
Addressing concerns about the compatibility of such measures with WTO rules, Okonjo-Iweala clarified that there are no WTO rules against striving for net-zero emissions, as long as these efforts do not hinder fair competition among nations.
The European Commission has previously asserted that its border levy aligns with WTO regulations, and this move by the WTO seeks to establish a framework that ensures fairness while achieving climate goals on a global scale. As the world continues to grapple with the pressing issue of climate change, the establishment of a global carbon price methodology represents a significant step towards harmonizing environmental and trade policies for the benefit of all nations involved.