Deadline: 15-Jun-23

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has opened online registration for this year’s Public Forum — titled “It is Time for Action” — to be held at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva from 12 to 15 September. It has also launched a call for proposals for the event.

The 2023 Public Forum will explore how trade and the WTO can help create a greener and more sustainable future. In particular, it will delve into how the services sector, digitalisation and inclusive trade policies can support this objective.

Climate change is one of the most critical issues of their time. The global community must take action now to live up to the objectives of the Paris Agreement and keep alive the ambition of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.  According to the United Nations’ Secretary-General, they are headed for a 2.8-degree increase without urgent action. Trade can be one of the solutions in helping the planet get back on track for meeting the ambition of 1.5 degrees. Taking action together can create a more sustainable, green and resilient future!

By embracing inclusive growth and sustainable policies, the world can not only tackle climate change but also address other pressing challenges, such as biodiversity loss, the high cost of living and slow economic growth. International trade plays a vital role here. It can increase the availability and affordability of environmental goods and technologies, align climate policies and accelerate the transition to a global low-carbon economy.  This can help countries work towards their national plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts while contributing to the collective goal of tackling global warming head on. It is time for action!

The 2023 Public Forum will examine how trade can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future. The Forum will explore how trade can facilitate access to environmental goods, services and technologies, help achieving the Paris Agreement’s Nationally Determined Contributions, and maintain the ambition to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees pre-industrial levels.

Themes

• The Forum has three subthemes:
  • The role of the services sector in sustainable trade
  • Inclusive policies for the advancement of green trade
  • Digitalisation as a tool for the greening of supply chains

General Information

• Sessions must be composed of no more than 5 speakers (including the moderator)
• Sessions must be conducted in an official language (English, French or Spanish) of the WTO
• Interpretation in the official WTO languages (English, French and/or Spanish) will only be available if explicitly requested when you submit a proposal
• Only sessions featuring a gender-balanced panel will be considered

Selection Process

• The WTO is responsible for the selection process. To qualify for selection, your organisation needs to complete the online application form by 15 June 2023. Please note that the number of available slots is limited. Selection will be based on creativity, relevance of the topic, and diversity of the panellists.
• Access to the myWTO platform is limited to one person per proposal, therefore if a proposal is selected, any changes or additional requested information can only be entered by the individual who initially submitted the proposal.
• The selection process will be finalised by mid-July.

For more information, visit WTO.