Standards and Trade Development Facility

Climate change and SPS risks were on the agenda at a World Bank / STDF seminar attended by over 100 representatives from international organizations, regulatory and development agencies, research, academia and the private sector in Washington, D.C. on 22-23 September.

The workshop sought to increase awareness about the implications of climate change for SPS risks and what is needed to address the challenges faced. The specific objectives were to:

present new research on the relationship between climate change and global trade flows, as well as the implications for food safety, animal and plant health;
identify SPS-related challenges posed by climate change;
discuss the implications and priorities for SPS capacity-building.

Discussions on the first day focused on the connections between climate change, agricultural trade and food security. Predictions show that temperature changes and extreme weather events will negatively impact agricultural production in many regions, and that parts of Africa and South Asia are likely to suffer most. Participants agreed that production must increase to meet consumption needs, and that climate change will complicate that challenge. Speakers made a compelling case for the need to avoid protectionism and dramatically expand investments in agriculture, including research and development.

The second day of the seminar focused on SPS risks and responses to climate change. Speakers emphasized that climate change is already having impacts on food safety and animal and plant health and that these are likely to become more intense, with implications for the future development and implementation of SPS-related standards. While some countries have started to consider how climate change will affect agricultural production and SPS risks, many are still ignoring or denying the linkages. Yet notwithstanding data gaps, action cannot wait. There was agreement that strengthening food safety, animal and plant health systems is critical to tackle the challenges faced. This will require more support to develop capacities in prediction, surveillance, diagnosis, risk assessment, regulatory frameworks, etc. Ensuring an interdisciplinary approach and strengthening regional collaboration is also essential.

Click here (English, French, Spanish) to download the STDF Briefing Note No2, prepared jointly with the World Bank Development Research Group, summarizing the main discussions and conclusions emerging from the seminar.

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