Trade and Environment in North America: Public call for papers on investment, growth and the environment

Researchers from academia, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, the private sector and/or members of civil society are invited to submit proposals in English, French or Spanish. Submissions must be received no later than Friday, 8 October 2004, and should include a general description of the issues the paper will address, specific hypotheses to be tested, a thorough description of methodologies and data sources, and a short rationale.

As an organization charged with monitoring the effects of free trade on the environment, the CEC seeks to examine:

1. To what extent has investment spurred by trade liberalization in NAFTA countries changed environmental conditions or policy in investment receiving nations?
2. To what extent are NAFTA institutions improving or not the ability of NAFTA partner governments to eliminate negative effects and seek positive linkages between economic growth and the environment?

Given the lack of empirical data surrounding investment and economic growth linked to trade liberalization and their impacts on the environment and sustainable development generally, the CEC will only consider proposals that test hypotheses using robust empirical or legal analyses, or that employ new methodologies seeking to answer the questions posed in the two following thematic areas: investment, and economic growth and environmental change.

A detailed Public Call for Papers: Third North American Symposium on Assessing the Environmental Effects of Trade is posted online.

For more information or to submit a proposal, please e-mail clcarpentier@ccemtl.org and copy emcarrillo@ccemtl.org with the subject heading "Symposium 2005 Paper." You may also call (514) 350-4328.