Skip to main content.

Trade Links – Issue 1

INFO 351 November 2008

Welcome

Welcome to the first edition of International Links from the Ministry for the Environment's International team. The purpose of International Links is get information about the Ministry's international trade and cooperation activities to those of you involved or interested in environmental cooperation.

New Zealand’s free trade agreements increasingly include parallel arrangements for countries to work together on broader environmental matters.

These arrangements (in the form of Environmental Cooperation Agreements) provide a platform for New Zealand to engage with our trade partners in ways that recognise the close connections between trade and the environment. Environmental and sustainability improvements can underpin the future prosperity of each country.

The Ministry for the Environment is working with New Zealand’s trade partners to increase knowledge and improve environmental outcomes. New Zealand has a number of Environment Cooperation Agreements with our newest trade partners.

This edition has information about current trade negotiations, cooperation activities and international progress in this area.


In this issue:

Trade and environment

Environmental Cooperation Agreements provide a new platform for international cooperation on the environment.

The 2001 Framework for Integrating Environment Issues into Free Trade Agreements provides guidance for the negotiation of environmental issues in the context of New Zealand’s overall free trade negotiations.

The Ministry for the Environment leads this work in collaboration with other government departments, local authorities, research organisations and businesses.

Much of the work under these agreements is focused on improving knowledge, strengthening environmental policies, and building capacity.

Active agreements

New Zealand currently has environment agreements or arrangements with:

Meetings and negotiations

  • This July officials from the Ministry for the Environment met with their Thai counterparts at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to decide on a cooperation programme for 2008–2009.
  • The Second Meeting of the Parties to the Environment Cooperation Agreement with Singapore, Brunei and Chile was held in October 2008. The Parties reported back on cooperation activities completed since 2006 and established a new programme of cooperation for 2008–2010.
  • The China Environment Cooperation Agreement entered into force on 26 September 2008. Officials are planning to meet soon with China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection to decide on projects for cooperation.
  • Negotiations with Indonesia and the Philippines are in the closing stages.

Cooperation activities

  1. Education for Sustainabilty – Teachers from Singapore, Chile and Brunei attended a workshop on education for sustainability from 2–9 November 2008. The workshop was hosted by the Enviroschools Foundation in New Zealand. The teachers shared and explored ideas on education for sustainability, and on future professional exchange. The workshop was supported by MfE as a cooperation activity under the P4 Environment Cooperation Agreement.
  2. Geothermal Energy – A group of Chilean government officials attended and presented at the New Zealand Geothermal Association Workshops in Taupo from 10–15 November 2008. For further information on the workshop please see http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/

  3. Thailand – A series of cooperation activities on water management, transport (bio fuels), climate change, and environmental legislation are planned for late 2008 and early 2009. Of particular interest to New Zealand is Thailand’s progress in developing transport biofuels.

Introducing the Ministry for the Environment international team

  • Brett Longley – Acting Manager
    +64 4 439 7603
  • Lesley Woudberg – China
    +64 4 439 7649
  • Rachel Cates – Environment Cooperation Negotiations
    +64 4 439 7572
  • Elise Broadbent – Chile, Singapore, Brunei
    +64 4 439 7653
  • Craig Salmon –Thailand
    +64 4 439 7642

We welcome your comments and queries and encourage you to pass this on to others with an interest in Environmental Cooperation activities.

To contact us please call or email: trade.environment@mfe.govt.nz

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter please email the address above.