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Integrated
Assessment as a Tool for Achieving Sustainable Trade Policies
Hussein Abaza*
Robert Hamwey
Economics and Trade Unit, Division
of Technology, Industry and Economics United Nations Environment
Program 15, chemin
des Anémones
CH-1219 Chatelaine/Geneva
Tel:
(41-22) 917 82 98/ 917 81 79
Fax: (41-22)
917 80 76
E-mail:
etu@unep.ch
Integrated
– economic, environmental, and social – assessment tools can provide a
clear indication of both the positive and the negative impacts of
trade liberalisation from which effective policies to reduce the
negative impacts, and strengthen the positive ones can be developed.
Assessments feeding into the policy development process can promote
increased integration of environmental and social considerations into
macroeconomic policies and decision-making, leading to a more
sustainable use of resources and increased social welfare. Although
assessment tools are available, there is a need to encourage their
greater adoption and use, as well as to develop and apply improved
country- and sector-specific tools. This paper reviews the
opportunities and challenges of promoting wider application of
assessment tools and of international adoption of more proactive
policies to support sustainable development.
*
corresponding author.
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