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Global Challenges and SDGs
Green diplomacy and dialogue with European partners
IEEP facilitates and contributes to dialogues between the EU and global partners on environmental and climate challenges with a view to support the implementation of the 2030 SDGs, especially through more sustainable and streamlined EU policies. Our multidisciplinary expertise and independence make us a knowledgeable and trustworthy coordinator of such debates.
While EU policies can – and indeed should – promote environmentally and socially sustainable practice and avoid precipitating damage beyond its borders, the Union can also learn from other countries’ and regions’ experiences and approaches to addressing environmental challenges.
IEEP has a long track record of work with EU partner countries across the globe, supporting networks, relationship building and sharing of knowledge and best practice between institutions and stakeholders. We exchange best practice strategic initiatives, environmental data and address governance issues in regions including EU Neighbourhood Countries, the Outermost Regions, Africa, Central Asia and South East Asia, Latin America and the Island States. We regularly assist public and private institutions in assessing the benefits of enhanced environmental protection, capacity assessment, compliance and enforcement. We also work with other think tanks and NGOs to support their engagement in international, EU and national policy discussions. In addition, we host visits by international delegations, to encourage learning and mutual exchange of ideas, information and best practice between countries.
The circular economy involves a major paradigm shift, with economies transitioning away from a take-make-waste model to a sustainable model. The EU is a global leader and adopted its ambitious Circular Economy Action Plan under the Green Deal in 2020.
Building a more circular economy is key to sustainable growth and addressing challenges like climate change. Trade relations in particular are a crucial vessel to foster circular economy opportunities and support sustainable development in the global south.
Building a more circular economy is key to sustainable growth and addressing challenges like climate change. The uptake of the circular economy is increasing worldwide, and cooperation on an international level is key to unlocking the benefits of scale tied to a global circular economy.
As EU leaders meet in Versaille, energy is set to be a key topic. But leaders must ensure that the decisions they make to break away from Russian energy push the EU in the direction of sustainability, argue European sustainability think tanks.
This event aims to highlight the role that trade relations between the EU and Nigeria can have in fostering circular economy approaches and opportunities.
This event aims to highlight existing efforts by Canada and the EU to foster circular economy approaches and opportunities to further build global leadership and collaboration.
This new report explores challenges related to the future management of waste batteries from electric vehicles, focusing on the approaches taken by the European Union and the Republic of Korea.
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) proposal, as it currently stands, is legally sound but requires to be improved through a more rapid phase-out of free allowances and the mobilisation of revenues for climate justice.
IEEP has submitted feedback to the European Commission's public consultation on the review of the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapter action plan.
The EU’s proposal for a revised GSP regulation aims to better address global challenges, but does it deliver for sustainable development and the environment?
This blog by IDDRI, a member of IEEP's Think Sustainable Europe network, evaluates the EU’s current approach to greening its trade policy and considers the use of Trade-and-Environment Agreements (TEAs) as a way forward for more sustainable trade.
A recent webinar co-hosted by IEEP and the Mission of Canada to the EU discussed efforts being undertaken in Canada and the EU when it comes to adopting nature-based solutions in agriculture.
A recent webinar co-hosted by IEEP and the Mission of Canada to the EU discussed efforts being undertaken in Canada and the EU when it comes to integrated pest management in agriculture.
This report conducts a comparative analysis of eleven EU free trade agreements and assesses EU’s trade policy with regard to environmental integration in free trade agreements and their underpinning processes.
The EU’s new trade policy strategy is said to be designed to address the modern challenges of our times. But does it deliver for climate and the environment?
A window of opportunity. That is a good description of the coming months of global environmental policy, with the US re-joining the Paris Agreement and with the postponed climate and biodiversity Conferences of Parties (COPs) on the agenda.
The briefing addresses the need for a new approach to environmental standards in trade policy relating to agri-foods, primarily in relation to the UK which is now developing its own policy outside the EU.
A recent online event moderated by IEEP’s Marianne Kettunen and hosted by the EU office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Foundation discussed the role of trade policy in the EU Green Deal in the post-COVID-19 context. The event provided insights from experts from the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Climate Foundation.
This policy brief reflects on the challenges of a carbon border adjustment mechanism in the post-COVID-19 economy and explores the role environmental product standards can play to complement the mechanism.
