Launch Of Book On TRIPS And Climate Change

By Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch

A new book being launched in Geneva next week reflects the growing recognition that the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) could play a more important role in the mitigation of climate change, according to the programme of the book launch.

The programme is available here [updated].

Wei Zhuang, associate at WTI Advisors, will present on 19 July her book, “Intellectual Property Rights and Climate Change: Interpreting the TRIPS Agreement for Environmentally Sound Technologies.”

A flyer about the book is available here.

The book addresses whether and to what extent the minimum standards of TRIPS facilitate innovation and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. The book also looks at whether an interpretation of the TRIPS flexibilities can facilitate innovation and transfer of such technologies to address global climate change.

Confirmed speakers include: Christoph Spennemann, legal officer and officer in charge of the IP Unit of the Division on Investment and Enterprise at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Vicente Paolo Yu, deputy executive director, South Centre; and Anthony Taubman, director of Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division, World Trade Organization.

Pedro Roffe, senior fellow at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), will moderate the discussion.

The book launch will take place in room XXIII of Building E of the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 12h30-14h00.