When: Tuesday, July 13, 2021, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMWhere: Online, Zoom
The event, facilitated by Ruth Bergan, Senior Adviser of the Trade Justice Movement, will explore how trade, investment agreements and WTO commitments can either block or enable important climate interventions such as decarbonising the economy, creating green jobs and supporting sustainable agriculture and food systems.
The high-level international panel will bring a wealth of experience looking at where the opportunities for innovation and progress lie in the months and years ahead given encouraging recent signals from the US and the WTO.
Speakers:
Golriz Ghahraman MP, Green Party spokesperson on trade, New Zealand
Golriz Ghahraman is a former human rights lawyer who made history as the first refugee to be sworn in as an MP in New Zealand. She holds the trade brief for the Green Party who are governing in coalition and has been an outspoken opponent of ISDS in New Zealand’s FTAs and regional deals such as the CPTPP.
Fiona Harvey, environment correspondent for The Guardian
Fiona Harvey is an award-winning environment journalist for the Guardian. Prior to this, she worked for the Financial Times for more than a decade. She has reported on every major environmental issue, from as far afield as the Arctic and the Amazon, and her wide range of interviewees include Ban Ki-moon, Tony Blair, Al Gore and Jeff Immelt.
Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise
Ivan McKee is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. In January 2021 the Scottish Government launched Scotland's 'Vision for Trade' which sets out the 5 principles which will guide future decisions on international trade: Inclusive Growth, Wellbeing, Sustainability, Net Zero and Good Governance. The Vision sets out the role of international trade as a lever in increasing progress towards net zero targets and improving our global environmental impact.
Vera Songwe, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Dr. Vera Songwe is the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Prior to ECA, she held a number of senior leadership roles with the International Finance Corporation and World Bank. ECA has recently launched the Building Forward for an African Green Recovery report which outlines bolder intra-African trade and climate-smart measures for the continent's recovery.
The panel will be followed by a ‘teach-in’ session where you can ask any question on trade and climate to a panel of friendly experts. This includes: