Dealing with the Trade Barrier Issue

Abstract

Environmental improvement can be achieved through the use of a number of policy tools, alone or in concert with one another. These include environmental regulation, information and education programmes, and an array of economic instruments such as fiscal incentives and market-based approaches. While eco-labelling programmes are often thought of as economic instruments, they are not usually confined to any one of these policy tools. They could be implemented by regulation as part of a broader environmental regulatory programme, as any of the variety of economic or market instruments, or as a public information or education programme. Each approach or model usually has its specific implementation methodology. For example, information programmes often operate on an awards basis, while market-based programmes operate on some degree of cost recovery. However, it must be noted that regardless of the type of programme developed, different countries have different environmental priorities and policy requirements.