MEDIA ADVISORY: Lunch Panel to Discuss Climate and Trade Links

WHAT: The World Resources Institute and the Peterson Institute for International Economics will hold a briefing to release Leveling the Carbon Playing Field, a timely book on the linkages between climate change and trade policy.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 21, 2008, Noon - 2 p.m.
(Lunch at noon, program at 12:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(Metro: Red Line to Dupont Circle)

WHO: Jonathan Lash, president, World Resources Institute

           C. Fred Bergsten, director, Peterson Institute for International             Economics

           Rob Bradley, director, International Climate Policy Initiative,                 World Resources Institute

           Trevor Houser, visiting fellow, Peterson Institute for                            International Economics

WHY: In recent presidential-campaign developments, John McCain has backed away from the threat of carbon tariffs, while Barack Obama hints that the issue will serve as a litmus test for whether McCain is serious about climate policy. Trade links to climate policy will only continue to heat up as the full Senate begins debate on June 2 of the Lieberman-Warner bill, which includes provisions for carbon-based border tariffs.

This new book argues that such a unilateral approach will be unsuccessful both in protecting U.S. industry and bringing other countries, such as China, to the negotiating table. Speakers will offer alternatives that would prevent U.S. industry from migrating to countries without climate policy, strengthen international negotiations under which those countries will reduce emissions, and avoid starting a trade war.

RSVP: Katharine Keenan, Peterson Institute,
+1 (202) 454-1334, kkeenan@petersoninstitute.org
Please indicate if any technical assistance is required.