WCO Official: Customs authorities should stimulate green trade dev’t

Customs authorities can contribute to the fight against climate change by stimulating the development of green trade, Gael Grooby, the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Acting Director for Tariff and Trade Affairs, told Report.

Grooby noted that customs play a crucial role in implementing government policies that promote green and sustainable trade worldwide. "For this, customs must fully participate in processes and be active. Green Customs is a very broad concept. This initiative started by focusing primarily on the role of customs authorities within the framework of multilateral environmental agreements. However, this initiative has expanded, as trade can play a significant role in solving problems of environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change," she explained.

The WCO official emphasized that the organization and its members cannot solve this problem alone. "Fighting climate change is everyone's responsibility, from individuals to institutions. The WCO and customs services are part of this solution. We must work together with ministries of environment, trade, economy, trade partners, the private sector, and other trade-interested bodies. Together, we can make great progress," Grooby stated.

She also mentioned that customs' contribution to this process is to promote green trade, restrict harmful trade, and facilitate new trade methods such as the circular economy. "We can support the trade of goods that help reduce carbon and adapt to climate change," the official added.