Greening E-Commerce: Tools and Frameworks towards Shaping the Digital Economy (GIZ)

Arguments

Environmental factors feature in e-commerce considerations through logistic optimizations such as reducing carbon footprint and efficient management of vehicle efficiency

Supporting facts:

• There are partnerships with companies that utilise e-bikes and electric bicycles in Ghana, Kenya and Senegal

• Door-to-door deliveries have been stopped in rural and secondary cities to reduce costs and carbon emissions

• Optimal routes are utilised for deliveries

Topics: E-Commerce, Environmental Sustainability, Logistic Optimization, Carbon Footprint

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Waste reduction can be achieved in e-commerce by selling refurbished goods and managing reverse shipments

Supporting facts:

• There are attempts to sell refurbished mobile accessories on the marketplace

• Efforts are made to manage and reduce reverse shipments

Topics: E-commerce, Waste Management, Responsible Consumption

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Greening e-commerce is an opportunity for developing countries

Supporting facts:

• Jumia is one of the first companies in Africa to embrace sustainability.

• Jumia was the first company to deliver packages using e-trucks in remote areas of Senegal.

Topics: E-commerce, Greening, Sustainability, Developing countries

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Clear sustainability targets are important

Supporting facts:

• Having clear sustainability targets allows to understand what needs to be done, creates an action plan, and helps to see the impact of our actions

• Having a clear understand of the carbon footprint is important not just for the company but also for the stakeholders and logistic partners

Topics: Sustainability, E-commerce

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Need for a multi-stakeholders approach

Supporting facts:

• We need a mix of NGOs, private companies, and regulators to disseminate necessary information

• Everyone needs to be aware about how to be green as e-commerce is a part of the society

Topics: Sustainability, E-commerce, Stakeholder

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Promotion of local products

Supporting facts:

• This can avoid long distance goods coming from Europe or China

• Can have a social impact and create jobs locally

• Has more than 55% women entrepreneurs in Kenya who work on local products

Topics: Sustainability, E-commerce, Local Economy

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Black Friday and Christmas sales are excessive

Supporting facts:

• Refers to the abundance of offers during these periods

Topics: Consumerism, E-commerce, Black Friday, Christmas

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We must find solutions to make E-commerce greener and better

Supporting facts:

• Suggests that changes are taking place in the industry

Topics: E-commerce, Green Economy

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Report

The analysis highlights the various ways in which the e-commerce industry can contribute to environmental sustainability, with a focus on the initiatives implemented by Jumia, a prominent e-commerce company in Africa. Jumia has recognised the importance of reducing its carbon footprint and has taken steps to integrate environmental considerations into its operations.

One of the measures taken by Jumia is the adoption of e-bikes and electric bicycles for deliveries in Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal. By partnering with companies that utilise these eco-friendly transport options, Jumia can significantly reduce carbon emissions and contribute to climate action.

In addition, the company has made the decision to halt door-to-door deliveries in rural and secondary cities. This not only helps to cut costs but also reduces carbon emissions associated with unnecessary travel. Another key aspect of Jumia’s sustainability efforts is waste reduction.

The company seeks to minimise waste by promoting the sale of refurbished mobile accessories on its platform. By extending the lifespan of products through recycling and refurbishment, Jumia contributes to responsible consumption and production, which is a crucial element of sustainable development.

Despite the challenges of balancing environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness, Jumia remains steadfast in its commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. This is evident in the company’s efforts to work with different stakeholders and implement sustainable practices, even though it is not yet profitable.

By prioritising both environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness, Jumia sets an example for other companies in the e-commerce industry. The greening of e-commerce provides a significant opportunity for developing countries. Jumia, being one of the first companies in Africa to embrace sustainability, has already made substantial strides in this area.

For example, Jumia was the first company to deliver packages using e-trucks in remote areas of Senegal. This not only demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainable practices but also shows the potential for positive environmental impact in developing countries through greening initiatives in e-commerce.

The analysis also highlights the importance of having clear sustainability targets. By understanding what needs to be achieved and creating an action plan, companies like Jumia can effectively measure the impact of their sustainability efforts. This understanding extends beyond the company itself, as it is equally important for stakeholders and logistic partners to be aware of the carbon footprint and contribute to sustainability goals.

Furthermore, the analysis emphasises the need for a multi-stakeholder approach for the successful implementation of environmentally sustainable practices in e-commerce. Collaboration between non-governmental organisations, private companies, and regulators is essential for disseminating the necessary information and ensuring that society as a whole adopts greener practices.

Promoting local products within the e-commerce industry can have a positive impact on the local economy. By avoiding long-distance transportation of goods from distant regions like Europe or China, e-commerce can support local businesses and foster economic growth. Jumia, for example, has a significant number of women entrepreneurs in Kenya who specialise in local products, further demonstrating the potential for social impact and job creation.

To gauge their environmental performance, companies can utilise application programming interfaces (APIs) to obtain information regarding their carbon emissions. This understanding enables companies to identify areas for improvement and work towards reducing their environmental impact. By leveraging their APIs, companies like Jumia can gain insights into their carbon footprint and take necessary actions to minimise their negative environmental effects.

Noteworthy observations from the analysis include the concerns raised about excessive consumerism during events like Black Friday and Christmas sales, which are known for their abundance of offers. While e-commerce has the potential to be greener and better, it is crucial to promote responsible consumption to avoid contributing to unsustainable consumer habits.

In conclusion, the analysis demonstrates that e-commerce can play a significant role in environmental sustainability, as exemplified by Jumia’s efforts in Africa. Through initiatives such as the use of e-bikes, optimal route planning, waste reduction, and collaboration with stakeholders, Jumia shows a commitment to balancing environmental considerations and cost-effectiveness.

The greening of e-commerce presents opportunities for developing countries, but careful consideration of contextual differences is necessary. Clear sustainability targets, a multi-stakeholder approach, and utilising APIs to understand carbon footprint are important for achieving sustainable goals. Promoting local products can have a positive impact on the local economy.

However, it is essential to address issues of excessive consumerism during events like Black Friday and Christmas sales. While conscious consumption is a separate and broader discussion, it is crucial to improve e-commerce practices to ensure a more sustainable future.

Arguments

The audience member seeks clarification on the term ‘digital public infrastructure’.

Supporting facts:

• The ambiguity came from various similar terms like digital public goods, public digital goods, public digital infrastructure that are often used interchangeably but mean different things

Topics: Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Economy Report

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E-Commerce is essentially greener than traditional retail especially in developed countries

Supporting facts:

• In developed countries, e-commerce has been found to be environmentally more friendly than store-based retail.

Topics: E-Commerce, Retail, Sustainability

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The term ‘sustainability’ should be protected to prevent greenwashing

Supporting facts:

• There is an unfair competition between sustainable and non-sustainable retailers due to misuse of the term ‘sustainability’

Topics: Greenwashing, Sustainability

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True pricing could possibly contribute to greening retail and e-commerce

Topics: Retail, E-commerce, True pricing

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Questioning the existence of green commerce due to extreme consumerism

Supporting facts:

• Annual festival of Christmas is becoming a consumable-oriented event

• Consumer society often discards many goods after Christmas

• Constant selling pressure from consumerist culture

Topics: Consumerism, Green Commerce, Christmas, Black Friday, Amazon

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Suggests return to older values appreciating experiences and people over consumption of goods

Supporting facts:

• Amazon and out-of-town shopping centres are bleeding the town centres dry

• The intern ordered toothpaste from China despite being in Switzerland

• Suggests older experiences and people should be valorised over tangible things

Topics: Consumerism, Green Commerce, Value system, Quality of life

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Negative environmental impacts of excessive consumer culture

Supporting facts:

• World Bio Day occurs earlier each year

• Rising CO2 concentrations and average annual temperature

• Increasing waste production

Topics: Environment, Consumerism, Climate Change

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Report

The audience member highlighted the issue of ambiguity surrounding the term ‘digital public infrastructure’, which is often used interchangeably with terms like digital public goods and public digital goods. They expressed the need for clarification to avoid confusion. Regarding environmental impact, e-commerce has been found to be more environmentally friendly than traditional retail, particularly in developed countries.

This finding is crucial in our efforts towards sustainable consumption and production. There is growing concern about the misuse of the term ‘sustainability’, leading to unfair competition between sustainable and non-sustainable retailers. This practice, known as greenwashing, undermines genuine sustainability efforts.

It is argued that measures should be in place to protect the term ‘sustainability’ and prevent greenwashing. The concept of true pricing is suggested as a solution to promote greening in retail and e-commerce. By accounting for the environmental and social costs of production and consumption, true pricing aims to provide a more accurate representation of the value of goods and services.

This could incentivize more sustainable choices. The excessive consumerism observed during events like Christmas and Black Friday raises questions about the existence of green commerce. The focus on consumption during these occasions often leads to the discard of goods and contributes to waste production.

This calls for a reevaluation of our values, emphasizing experiences and human connections over the consumption of goods. The negative environmental impacts of excessive consumer culture are evident in increasing waste production, rising CO2 concentrations, and average annual temperature. These impacts underscore the urgency of addressing responsible consumption and production.

There is a call for fundamental changes in consumer culture and values, particularly among younger generations and within the education system. Education is seen as a critical factor in shaping consumer behavior and promoting responsible consumption. By instilling values of mindful consumption and emphasizing quality education, we can work towards a more sustainable future.

In summary, the need for clarity in terminology, mindful consumption, and education is emphasized in promoting responsible consumption and production. These factors are crucial in addressing the challenges posed by excessive consumerism and working towards a more sustainable society.

Arguments

Greener e-commerce is a vital part of a sustainable future for developing countries.

Supporting facts:

• Greener e-commerce supports a more sustainable economy.

• Germany is providing financial and technical support to developing countries to adapt to climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Topics: Environment, Green Economy, Digitalisation

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Building capacities in developing countries is a key actionable step towards a digitally sustainable economy.

Supporting facts:

• The Pan-African e-commerce initiative (PIKI) is an example of a development cooperation program for digital sustainability.

• PIKI works to establish joint ventures and startups with sustainable business models.

Topics: E-commerce, Digitalisation, Capacity Building

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Smart national and international regulation and blueprints are needed to incorporate green into the digital economy

Supporting facts:

• Regulation and blueprints should be created with existing companies and future potential companies in mind

• Companies are seeking out these blueprints

Topics: Digital Economy, Greening E-commerce, Regulation, Blueprints

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Different rules for different companies can be applied – harder rules first for bigger companies who have capacity, and a transition period for smaller companies

Supporting facts:

• This concept is being partially implemented in Germany

• It’s important to consider the capacities of the companies while creating such rules

Topics: Regulation, Greening E-commerce, Company Size

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Christian Bilfinger believes no one approach or forum is suitable for all and various actors and forums should be used.

Supporting facts:

• Different forums have different strengths that can be tapped.

Topics: Green E-commerce, Digital Connectivity, Reduce Digital Divide

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Report

The analysis highlights the significance of promoting greener e-commerce as a crucial component of sustainable development in developing countries. This is supported by the fact that greener e-commerce contributes to a more sustainable economy overall. Germany, recognising this importance, is actively providing financial and technical support to developing countries, helping them adapt to climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

This support demonstrates Germany’s commitment to fostering sustainability and addressing the environmental impact of e-commerce in developing nations. Furthermore, the analysis emphasises the need to develop digitalisation and e-commerce with sustainability in mind, particularly in developing countries. It is argued that this can be achieved by creating digital policies based on universal standards and promoting an international trading system that is green, sustainable, fair, and development-friendly.

Such efforts would enable developing countries to participate in the digital economy while ensuring that sustainability remains at the forefront. Building capacities in developing countries is also recognised as a key actionable step towards achieving a digitally sustainable economy. Investments in training and capacity building are deemed imperative for overcoming potential barriers that may hinder the adoption of sustainable digital practices.

It is noted that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and women-led companies can greatly benefit from joining digital markets. Therefore, it is essential to invest in people on the ground to enhance their skills and knowledge, ultimately facilitating their participation in the digital economy.

Smart national and international regulation and blueprints are identified as crucial elements in incorporating green practices into the digital economy. It is suggested that regulations and blueprints should be created by considering existing companies and future potential companies. This approach aims to ensure the effective implementation of green practices while taking into account the different capacities and capabilities of companies.

It is noted that this concept is already partially implemented in Germany. In addition, the analysis recognises the importance of reducing the digital divide and promoting inclusivity in the digital economy. Different forums have been identified as having specific strengths that can be tapped into to address this issue.

The argument put forth is that no single approach or forum is suitable for all, and it is recommended to utilise various actors and forums to effectively tackle the challenges of green e-commerce and reduce the digital divide. The analysis also highlights the significance of organisations like the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in advancing the goals of e-commerce and sustainability.

UNCTAD plays a crucial role in bringing together different institutions and sectors, while UNEP expands knowledge about e-commerce and its environmental impact. The continuation of these organisations is supported, recognising their important contributions in their respective fields. Finally, there is an emphasis on the need for developing countries to take on more active roles in shaping the rules for e-commerce.

Currently, only a small number of developing countries are engaged in major initiatives for e-commerce. It is argued that for e-commerce to be truly inclusive and beneficial for all, the voices and perspectives of developing countries must be actively included in the decision-making processes.

In conclusion, the analysis underscores the importance of promoting greener e-commerce and incorporating sustainability into digitalisation efforts in developing countries. It highlights the support provided by Germany in terms of financial and technical assistance. Building capacities, investing in training, and implementing smart regulations are vital steps towards achieving a digitally sustainable economy.

To address the challenges of green e-commerce and reduce the digital divide, various actors and forums should be utilised. The continuation of organisations like UNCTAD and UNEP is recommended, while simultaneously emphasising the need for developing countries to play a more active role in shaping e-commerce rules.

Overall, the analysis highlights the potential for e-commerce to be a catalyst for sustainable development and calls for concerted efforts to ensure its implementation with sustainability at its core.

Arguments

E-commerce has both positive and negative effects on the environment.

Supporting facts:

• About 30% of all GDP globally passes through e-commerce channels.

• Around 2 billion people are engaged in e-commerce.

• Currently, e-commerce platforms are not necessarily helping consumers be more sustainable and may be accelerating consumption.

Topics: E-commerce, Environment, GDP, Digital technology

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The need for international standards for digital product passports

Supporting facts:

• Amazon does not currently have product comparability due to lack of access to data around the footprint of a product

• The digital product passport is a data container where the entire lifecycle of a product is stored, therefore making product comparability possible

Topics: Digital product passport, Data sets on product lifecycle, E-commerce platforms

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National digital transformation strategies and plans for digital public infrastructure need to be greened

Supporting facts:

• There are around 60 countries developing national digital transformation strategies

• These strategies talk about digital public infrastructure but are mostly blind to the environmental dimensions

Topics: Digital public infrastructure, National digital transformation strategies, Greening of digital transformation

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There’s no single forum for discussing major digital sustainability challenges

Supporting facts:

• The Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability is a global level forum where public and private actors can discuss major digital sustainability challenges

• An impact initiative launched on digitalization for a circular economy

Topics: Digital sustainability, Major digital challenges, Forum

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Digital Product Passports (DPP) are a major risk and need to be issued with a huge amount of capacity building support and enabling support

Supporting facts:

• There’s going to have to be a huge amount of enabling measures that go with them, a huge amount of digital public infrastructure, training, capacity building

Topics: Digital Product Passports (DPP), Digital sustainability

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David Jensen praises the upcoming Digital Economy Report by UNCTAD that focuses on environment

Supporting facts:

• The report looks at the impacts of the digital economy on the environment and the enabling opportunities

• David Jensen has read the draft and considers it to be excellent

Topics: Digital Economy, Environmental Impact

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Digital public infrastructure is the digital infrastructure set up by governments to enable digitized government services, including digital identities, digital payments, and digital product passports.

Supporting facts:

• David Jensen clarified it as the infrastructure layer that enables government e-services, in which some governments don’t have the capacity to develop.

• It includes a set of standards, infrastructure, and all other enablers for e-services.

Topics: Digital public infrastructure, Digital identities, Digital payments, Digital product passports

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Consumerism is rampant and not changing, potentially getting worse, and accelerated by digital platforms.

Supporting facts:

• David Jensen is from Victoria and Vancouver, regions where he observes rampant consumerism.

Topics: consumer behaviour, digital consumption, circular economy

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Digital product passports could enable circularity, facilitating recovery of materials from discarded items.

Supporting facts:

• Digital product passports can track and trace a product’s life cycle, enabling unused products to be recycled or reused.

Topics: circular economy, digital product passport

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Algorithmic disclosure should be demanded to understand platforms’ optimization goals, which currently focus on consumption.

Supporting facts:

• Algorithms on digital platforms currently aim to increase consumption and engagement.

• Consumers need more control over what these algorithms optimize as per their values.

Topics: algorithmic disclosure, digital consumption

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Linking the environmental footprint to the price of a product could be the way to influence consumer behavior.

Supporting facts:

• Digital product passports can provide comparability between products, persuading consumers to make sustainable choices.

Topics: environmental footprint, product pricing, consumer behaviour

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Education alone may not be sufficient to shift consumer behavior towards a greener economy. Dopamine-triggering incentives linked to consumption overpower the lessons of education.

Supporting facts:

• Spending and shopping trigger dopamine rushes which drive consumer behavior.

• Green initiatives currently lack an equivalent dopamine trigger.

Topics: Education, Consumer Behavior, E-commerce, Green Economy

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Report

The analysis examines the impact of e-commerce on the environment and emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices. It acknowledges that e-commerce has both positive and negative effects on the environment. On the positive side, approximately 30% of global GDP flows through e-commerce channels, and around 2 billion people are involved in e-commerce.

However, the analysis points out that current e-commerce platforms may not be promoting sustainability and could even be accelerating consumption. To establish a more sustainable e-commerce landscape, the analysis recommends enhancing product comparability and recommendation engines. It stresses the significance of product comparability in enabling consumers to understand the environmental impact of products and make more sustainable choices.

Additionally, recommendation engines should prioritize sustainable products and assist consumers in making informed decisions based on product sustainability. The discussion also highlights the need for international standards for digital product passports. The analysis mentions that Amazon currently lacks product comparability due to the insufficient access to data on the environmental footprint of products.

It emphasizes that digital product passports, which store the entire lifecycle of a product, can facilitate product comparability and informed decision-making. Concerning digital public infrastructure and national digital transformation strategies, it is mentioned that approximately 60 countries are developing national digital transformation strategies.

However, these strategies often disregard the environmental dimensions. Therefore, the analysis emphasizes the importance of “greening” national digital transformation strategies and plans for digital public infrastructure. The analysis further emphasizes the necessity for a global forum to address major digital sustainability challenges.

While the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability is mentioned as a global forum, the analysis points out the absence of a dedicated forum for discussing these challenges. Regarding governance and coordination, the analysis mentions that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been assigned the task of developing a global environmental data strategy.

This strategy aims to harmonize and govern global environmental data, including the data essential for digital product passports. Concerns are raised about the risks associated with digital product passports (DPP). The analysis emphasizes that DPPs require significant capacity building and enabling support to adequately address these risks.

However, the EU’s vision of DPP implementation is highlighted as a good model, encompassing both regulations and development cooperation support. Moreover, the analysis discusses the forthcoming Digital Economy Report by UNCTAD, which focuses on the impact of the digital economy on the environment.

David Jensen, who considers it excellent, praises the report. The analysis also highlights the concept of digital public infrastructure, which refers to the digital infrastructure established by governments to enable digitized government services. It includes digital identities, digital payments, and digital product passports.

However, the terminology surrounding digital public infrastructure is described as confusing and evolving, calling for improved definitions. The pervasive issue of consumerism, potentially exacerbated by digital platforms, is emphasized. The analysis suggests demanding algorithmic disclosure to understand the optimization goals of platforms, which often focus on consumption.

It further suggests that linking the environmental footprint to the price of a product could positively influence consumer behavior. David Jensen, expressing a positive sentiment, advocates for better, more responsible digital consumption practices. He hopes that digital platforms can assist individuals in becoming better consumers rather than encouraging excessive consumption.

He emphasizes the importance of enabling consumers to choose what the algorithm optimizes based on their values. The analysis acknowledges the role of education in shifting consumer behavior towards a greener economy but argues that education alone may not be sufficient.

It notes that the dopamine-triggering incentives linked to consumption often overshadow the lessons of education. Lastly, the analysis points out the need for a global digital compact involving governments and the private sector to address sustainable e-commerce. The Secretary-General is eager to explore this digital compact, and e-commerce sustainability is highlighted as one of the major issues raised by Member States.

In conclusion, the analysis provides insights into the impact of e-commerce on the environment and emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices. It highlights the need for improvements in product comparability and recommendation engines, as well as the establishment of international standards for digital product passports.

The analysis also calls for the greening of national digital transformation strategies and plans for digital public infrastructure. It highlights the need for a global forum to address digital sustainability challenges and emphasizes the importance of a global environmental data strategy.

Additionally, concerns and mitigating measures regarding digital product passports are presented. Overall, the analysis advocates for greater awareness and action towards making e-commerce more environmentally friendly, along with the need for a global digital compact to promote sustainable e-commerce practices.

Arguments

E-commerce is important for Costa Rica’s economy.

Supporting facts:

• Costa Rica’s exports of services via ICT networks is 6% of GDP.

• 73% of Costa Rica’s GDP is generated by the services sector.

• Services sectors generated 75% of jobs in Costa Rica.

Topics: E-commerce, Economic Development, Costa Rica

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E-commerce has resulted in diversification and sophistication of service exports.

Supporting facts:

• Modern services exports accounted for 61% of total services exports in 2022, up from 9% in 2000.

• Costa Rica is the third largest exporter of modern services in Latin America.

Topics: E-commerce, Service Exports, Economic Transformation

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Opportunities for developing countries in greening e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• Costa Rica produced 98% of its energy from clean sources in 2022

• Countries like Costa Rica can attract environmentally conscious consumers and potentially open new markets

Topics: Sustainable Development, E-commerce, Climate Change

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Governments have the responsibility to cooperate, particularly in an area of e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• E-commerce is a sector that still lacks a multilateral framework for its development.

Topics: e-commerce, Government Cooperation

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International cooperation is crucial in greening e-commerce

Topics: Green e-commerce, International Cooperation

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Much remains to be done under the WTO work program on e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• E-commerce still lacks a multilateral framework for its development.

Topics: WTO, e-commerce

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International cooperation is essential for more sustainable trade and consumption

Supporting facts:

• Cooperation between governments can lay the basis for rules that promote sustainability

Topics: International Cooperation, Sustainable Trade, Sustainable Consumption

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Report

E-commerce plays a critical role in Costa Rica’s economy, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP and employment. The services sector, including e-commerce, is a major driver of economic growth, with 73% of the country’s GDP generated from this sector and 75% of jobs created within it.

This positive analysis highlights the importance of e-commerce for Costa Rica’s economic development. Furthermore, e-commerce has led to the diversification and sophistication of service exports in Costa Rica. In 2022, modern services exports accounted for 61% of total services exports, a substantial increase from 9% in 2000.

Costa Rica is now the third-largest exporter of modern services in Latin America. This evidence demonstrates how e-commerce has created new opportunities for service exports and supported the country’s economic transformation. Governments play a crucial role in promoting sustainable e-commerce practices by setting environmental standards and incentives.

Regulations and standards around environmentally friendly packaging, renewable energy usage in logistics, and green certifications for businesses are key measures that can encourage sustainability in e-commerce. The positive sentiment expressed towards this stance highlights support for government intervention in promoting sustainable e-commerce.

In addition, policies in telecommunications, energy, and transport services have a significant impact on the success of e-commerce. These policies provide the necessary infrastructure and logistical support for e-commerce to thrive. For example, policies in telecommunications and energy services, as well as logistics and transport, contribute to the smooth functioning of e-commerce.

Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of these policies on e-commerce. E-commerce also presents opportunities for greening the economy. Costa Rica, for instance, has made significant progress in producing clean energy, with 98% of its energy coming from sustainable sources in 2022.

This enables countries like Costa Rica to attract environmentally conscious consumers and explore new markets. The positive sentiment towards this argument indicates the potential benefits of greening e-commerce for developing countries. Regulations and standards can encourage sustainability in e-commerce, and digitalization measures such as e-invoicing can help reduce carbon emissions.

The private sector also plays a crucial role in greening e-commerce through the implementation of sustainable practices. However, finding concrete solutions to consumerist societal values remains a challenge, as indicated by the neutral sentiment in this stance. International cooperation is key to the development and greening of e-commerce.

As it stands, there is a lack of a multilateral framework for the development of e-commerce. Governments have a responsibility to cooperate in this area, and organizations such as UNCTAD and UNEP should be involved in discussions to provide expertise and guidance.

This acknowledgment of the need for international cooperation demonstrates the recognition of the shared responsibility in greening e-commerce and achieving sustainability goals. In conclusion, e-commerce is an essential component of Costa Rica’s economy, driving GDP growth and employment. It enables the diversification and sophistication of service exports, and governments can promote sustainable e-commerce through regulations and incentives.

Policies in telecommunications, energy, and transport services contribute to the success of e-commerce. Greening e-commerce presents opportunities for developing countries, although addressing consumerist societal values remains a challenge. International cooperation is crucial for e-commerce’s development and sustainability, involving organizations such as UNCTAD and UNEP.

The analysis highlights the significant potential of e-commerce to drive economic growth and sustainability.

Arguments

Digital trade and environmental concerns are increasingly becoming the core discussions in international trade agreements

Supporting facts:

• Preferential trade agreements are being used as laboratories to set up rules on digital trade.

• Negotiations are ongoing under the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce.

• Studies show an increasing number of provisions in preferential trade agreements related to environmental sustainability.

• In 1990, an international trade agreement had on average eight provisions related to environment, this increased to over 40 in agreements signed in 2010.

Topics: Digital trade, Environmental sustainability, E-commerce, International trade agreements

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Acknowledges the need to balance the incorporation of environmental concerns in e-commerce without discouraging developing countries and small and medium enterprises from engaging in international trade

Supporting facts:

• There is a need to understand the nexus between e-commerce and environment.

• It is important to think about environmental concerns when we design or move into electronic commerce.

Topics: Digital trade, Environmental sustainability, E-commerce, Developing countries, Small and medium enterprises

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Concern about potential barriers to international trade due to the greening of e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• Current tech struggle/war makes it difficult to regulate and establish common grounds

• Lack of multilateral rules pertaining to digital trade

Topics: e-commerce, international trade, developing countries, MSMEs

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Education might be a good start point to initiate the conversation on greening economy

Supporting facts:

• Greening economy should start about educating people about what it is

• Educating consumers about the benefits and opportunities that arrive from greening economy could be beneficial

Topics: Education, Green Economy

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Report

Digital trade and environmental concerns are increasingly becoming core topics in international trade agreements. Preferential trade agreements have emerged as platforms for setting rules on digital trade. Negotiations are currently ongoing under the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce to address these issues.

Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of provisions related to environmental sustainability in these agreements over time. Studies have shown that digital trade, e-commerce, and the environment are interconnected. Digitalization and digital trade have the potential to open up opportunities that can help achieve environmental objectives.

However, it is crucial to strike a balance between incorporating environmental concerns in e-commerce and ensuring that this does not deter developing countries and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) from participating in international trade. The need to understand the nexus between e-commerce and the environment is emphasised.

Careful consideration of environmental concerns is vital in the design and implementation of electronic commerce, without undermining the potential for development and economic growth in these countries and SMEs. Concerns arise regarding potential barriers to international trade resulting from efforts to promote environmentally friendly practices in e-commerce.

The lack of multilateral rules pertaining to digital trade further complicates the regulatory landscape. It is imperative to ensure that the greening of e-commerce does not inadvertently hinder opportunities for developing countries and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Education plays a key role in initiating conversations and raising awareness about greening the economy and its benefits.

Educating individuals about the concept of a greener economy and the opportunities it presents is crucial. It is acknowledged that transitioning towards more sustainable consumerism trends and greening the economy is not an overnight process but requires gradual and sustained efforts.

In conclusion, digital trade and environmental concerns are gaining prominence in international trade agreements. Preferential trade agreements are being used to lay down rules on digital trade, while environmental provisions are increasingly being incorporated into these agreements. The nexus between digital trade, e-commerce, and the environment is evident, and digitalization presents opportunities for achieving environmental objectives.

However, it is important to carefully balance environmental concerns in e-commerce without impeding the participation of developing countries and SMEs in international trade. The need for multilateral rules and education on greening the economy is also highlighted, recognising that transitioning to more sustainable practices is a gradual process.