The Role of Trade Agreements in the Triple Planetary Crisis

The triple planetary crisis—comprising climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—poses an unprecedented threat to the global ecosystem. Addressing this crisis is integral to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). In the quest for sustainable development, trade agreements have emerged as powerful tools for economic integration and growth. However, their role in addressing the triple planetary crisis remains contentious. This article critically examines whether trade agreements can truly contribute to resolving these environmental challenges or if they exacerbate the crisis.

Trade agreements have the potential to drive climate action by promoting the exchange of green technologies and supporting low-carbon industries. For instance, the European Union (EU) includes binding environmental commitments in its trade agreements, emphasizing the reduction of carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy. Additionally, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) aims to put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU, encouraging cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries. This mechanism ensures that the carbon price of imports is equivalent to that of domestic production, supporting the EU's climate objectives.

However, most trade agreements, particularly those in Africa and other developing regions, lack comprehensive environmental provisions. This omission represents a missed opportunity to leverage trade as a tool for climate mitigation. The absence of specific targets and enforcement mechanisms in these agreements means that trade can continue to drive carbon-intensive production and consumption patterns, contributing to global warming.

Biodiversity loss, driven by habitat destruction, over-exploitation, and climate change, is another critical component of the triple planetary crisis. Trade agreements could play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity by enforcing regulations against illegal wildlife trade and promoting sustainable use of natural resources. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an example of an agreement that aims to ensure international trade does not threaten the survival of species.

Yet, many trade agreements fail to address biodiversity adequately. The focus on economic growth often leads to the over-exploitation of natural resources, threatening ecosystems and species. Integrating biodiversity considerations into trade agreements, with clear enforcement mechanisms, is essential to curb this loss.

Pollution, the third pillar of the triple planetary crisis, has devastating effects on human health and the environment. Trade agreements can help combat pollution by setting standards for waste management, chemical use, and emissions. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal aims to reduce the movement of hazardous waste between nations, particularly from developed to developing countries.

Despite such initiatives, many trade agreements do not adequately address pollution. Weak environmental standards and lax enforcement in developing regions allow for the continued proliferation of pollutants. Strengthening these agreements with stringent pollution control measures is imperative for global health and environmental protection.

In Africa, where the impacts of the triple planetary crisis are acutely felt, the integration of environmental provisions into trade agreements is minimal. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Protocol lack explicit environmental clauses, underscoring the need for improvement. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has made some strides with its Chapter Sixteen on Co-operation in the Development of Natural Resources, Environment, and Wildlife. However, it still lacks specific targets, timelines, and enforcement mechanisms.

African policymakers must prioritize the inclusion of environmental provisions in trade agreements. Aligning these agreements with regional policies such as the African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP), Agenda 2063, and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) is crucial for a coherent approach to sustainable development.

Trade agreements hold significant potential to address the triple planetary crisis, but their current role is limited by insufficient environmental provisions and enforcement mechanisms. For trade to become a catalyst for environmental sustainability, it must integrate climate, biodiversity, and pollution considerations into its core framework. Policymakers and stakeholders must work collaboratively to ensure that trade agreements support, rather than undermine, global efforts to combat the triple planetary crisis. Only through such integrated approaches can we hope to achieve a sustainable future for all.