CBP Announces Launch of Green Trade Strategy
On June 30, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of the Green Trade Strategy, a framework to incentivize green trade, strengthen CBP’s environmental enforcement posture, accelerate green innovation, and improve climate resilience and resource efficiency.
The Strategy establishes a proactive model to combat the negative impacts of climate change on the agency’s trade mission while strengthening existing enforcement activities against environmental trade crimes including illegal logging; wildlife trafficking; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and illegal mining. It also defines goals for environmentally sustainable trade policies, programs, and infrastructure within the agency.
The Strategy aligns with broader Department of Homeland Security efforts and supports a whole-of-government approach to mitigating risk and seizing opportunities associated with climate change and environmental stewardship within the trade space.
Recent studies indicate that global supply chains may account for as much as 80 percent of the world’s total carbon emissions. In addition, environmental crime represents between $85 billion and $265 billion in criminal revenue each year and is often linked to money laundering and the funding of transnational criminal organizations. CBP is well positioned to help develop and enforce a cleaner, more sustainable international trading environment through the agency’s influence on global supply chain practices and enforcement of laws against environmental crimes, which have devastating economic and environmental effects on local and international communities.
Strategic Goals
Four strategic goals will focus CBP’s efforts to address climate change in the context of the trade mission and achieve our Green Trade Vision. Executing against these goals will enable CBP to champion the green economy and accelerate the global transition to green trade both in the U.S. and abroad, while responsibly managing our own environmental footprint.
Incentivize Green Trade – provide facilitation benefits and other incentives to promote environmentally-friendly trade practices and supply chains
Strengthen Environmental Enforcement Posture – enforce against environmental bad actors to drive meaningful changes in trade practices
Accelerate Green Innovation – promote and invest in the deployment of innovative, sustainable trade practices by government and private industry
Improve Climate Resilience and Resource Efficiency – decrease the greenhouse gas emissions associated with CBP operations and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of trade infrastructure and assets.
CBP already enforces several environmental trade laws and practices to help combat environmental degradation, protect endangered species, and ensure American consumers and industry have access to sustainable products. With the Green Trade Strategy, CBP’s vision is to become a champion for the green economy and a leader in the fight against climate change by facilitating the global transition to green trade, and serving as a responsible steward of our own environmental footprint.