The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and IIED organised a webinar on 'International investment agreements (IIAs) and climate action' on 4 February 2022. The event brought together experts and stakeholders from government, international organisations, civil society and academia to discuss the reform of the IIA regime for climate change goals.
Experts shared views, experiences and practices on how to ensure that the IIA regime does not hinder governments from implementing measures to mitigate climate change and accelerate a transition towards green investments. It also explored solutions for making existing and future IIAs more conducive to investments that have a positive contribution on the Sustainable Development Goals.
As a follow up to the meeting, UNCTAD and IIED released a policy brief on international investment agreements and climate action based on the joint webinar. The note highlights key policy recommendations aimed at supporting the reform of IIAs in order to advance climate goals, and to ensure that IIAs do not hinder states from implementing climate measures and accelerating the transition to low-carbon economies.
UNCTAD and IIED will continue to cooperate on issues relating to IIAs and climate action to ensure that investment policy is consistent with, and proactively advances, national, regional and global climate commitments.
