Ecosystem Services: Chapter 17. Global Trade Impacts on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Alain Peeters

10/2013 · Elsevier Inc. Chapters

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This chapter introduces environmental challenges associated with global trade. It analyzes some impacts of European standards of life on ecosystem services in developing countries. It presents eight case studies (agro-fuels, fishing, flower, palm oil, shrimp and fish farming, soybean, tourism, and tropical timber). For each of these cases, global importance and fluxes are described. The European Union’s imports or its contributions to global trade are evaluated. The impacts of the production of these food and other agricultural products on ecosystems and biodiversity are assessed in the production countries. The chapter identifies research priorities and suggests policy options for reducing the impacts of global trade on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The possibility of using technical trade barriers based on environmental criteria is explored. The role of a World Environment Organization in implementing an International Environmental Governance is discussed as well as more specific policy options.