Synopsis

An empirical and policy assessment that highlights recent changes in trade policy and focuses on the sectoral impacts from these changes, their likely environmental consequences, and opportunities to promote more sustainable trade strategies.

Executive Summary

This report and its companion data tables provide for the first time a set of indicators to evaluate the impacts of trade on environment in the Latin American and Caribbean region. These estimates cover 14 pollution categories, over 8 exporting sectors for 16 countries.

The study focuses on how trade and expansion can facilitate and complement environmental sustainability in the region. It is based on two key observations:

  • Trade, both within the region and with the rest of the world is expanding rapidly, generating increases in incomes per month.
  • Trade-led growth will create both challenges and opportunities for environmental quality and natural resource conservation.

贸易对环境的总体影响不容易辨别，因为这取决于各种因素，包括分配资源的效率，生产规模，产出，技术的组成，技术和最后但尤其是政策。最终，对环境问题施加监管和责任纪律的政治意愿将决定贸易自由化是否增强了福利。同时，应构建贸易政策以最大程度地减少环境问题。

同伴报告：“与拉丁美洲总出口产量有关的工业污染估计”

Within this companion report, by WRI authors Paul Faeth and Patricia McGinnis, estimates are provided for the release of fourteen categories of pollutants related to production and export for eight major industrial sectors in sixteen countries in the region. An interpretation of the information in this report is provided by the authors.

Included in this study are quantitative estimates for:

  • 主要的空气污染物：总悬浮颗粒，细颗粒，二氧化硫，氮氧化物，一氧化碳和挥发性有机化合物。
  • 主要的水污染物：生物氧的需求和总悬疑固体。
  • Toxic pollutants: toxic chemicals and bioaccumulative metals.
  • Country data for: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
  • Sectoral date for: Food Products, Textiles and Apparel, Wood Products, Paper and Print, Industrial Chemicals, Nonmetal Products, Basic Metals, and Metal Products.
  • Summary data show that pollutant loads are the highest for Basic Metals followed by Industrial Chemicals.

About the authors

C.福特朗格, Professor, Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Eugenio帽, Director de Planificación Estrategica, Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA), Argentina

Paul Faeth, Director, Program in Economics and Population, World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.

帕特里夏·麦金尼斯（Patricia McGinnis）, Former research assistant, Program in Economics and Population, World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.

Demetri Papageorgiou, Former staff member, World Bank, Washington, D.C.

詹姆斯·托比, Coordinator, Research and Policy Analysis, Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI

Robert Houseman, Former senior associate with the Center for International Environment and Law, Washington, D.C. His contribution was provided solely in his individual capacity