U.S. Trade Policies Undermine Fight Against Climate Change

Current U.S. trade policies contribute to global warming and work against the best efforts of countries around the world to reduce global warming emissions, according to a new Sierra Club report that outlines steps the U.S. must take to revise its trade model to effectively combat global warming.

Though often overlooked, irresponsible trade practices contribute dramatically to global warming–increasing the volumes and distances of goods shipped, enabling rapid deforestation, and thwarting environmentally friendly production requirements. Deforestation alone, much of it driven by the trade of illegally logged timber, now accounts for one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Stern report on the economics of climate change, which documents the impacts and costs of global warming. 

"Unfortunately, our flawed trade model is making global warming worse at a time when we should be instead leading the world in solving this problem," said Margrete Strand Rangnes, director of the Sierra Club’s responsible trade program.

The report takes an in-depth look at the dampening effect the World Trade Organization (WTO) has had on previous environmental efforts and lays out the requirements for creating an effective climate policy. 

Key recommendations from the report include:

• All new trade agreements must include meaningful and binding labor and environmental provisions. 
• Climate policies must include measures aimed at preventing polluting companies from relocating to areas with weak or non-existent climate regulations.
• Preventing illegally harvested timber and timber products from entering U.S. markets to reduce deforestation.

"The US has a global responsibility to curb its global warming emissions," Strand Rangnes said. "But we will not have accomplished much if companies simply relocate to countries without global warming regulations. Unlike our badly designed trade policies, our climate policies must be thoughtfully designed to effectively fight global warming, while boosting the economy and creating jobs here at home."