Annex B 1.2: Environmental Services List

Area of Cooperation

Trade and Investment

Purpose and Outcomes

Recognising the importance of trade in environmental services as a means to support our transition to a green and sustainable economy, Singapore and Australia have mutually decided on a non-exhaustive list of Environmental Services (the List).

The List will be subject to periodic review, within two years of the conclusion of the GEA or as mutually decided by Singapore and Australia, to enable further industry consultations and to account for technical and technological advances and for new environmental services to be added. The List will support regional and global activities to transition to zero emissions economies.

We will cooperate in promoting, reviewing and updating the List, including in regional and multilateral organisations, where appropriate.

The List is attached to this Annex.

Description

Acknowledging the potential for trade in environmental services to contribute to addressing global environmental challenges and to promote green growth, Singapore and Australia have mutually decided that the List will include:

• services which are environmental in and of themselves; and
• services which may be environmental when done in support of an environmental outcome, which may include:
  • services used for the design, construction and operation of facilities intended to protect or improve environmental conditions;
  • services that support financing of projects with clear environmental benefits;
  • services that improve resource efficiency and sustainable waste management; or
  • services related to the manufacturing, sale, delivery and installation of the environmental goods identified in Annex B 1.1.

Specific Elements

Singapore and Australia acknowledge global efforts to promote the adoption of and trade in environmental services, including existing initiatives in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). We commit to continuing our close cooperation to promote the facilitation of trade in environmental services by:

• continuing to engage in the WTO, APEC and relevant regional trade agreements to which both countries are a party;
• exchanging information and data on policies and practices;
• fostering regulatory coordination to further promote trade in the green economy;
• encouraging relevant professional bodies to develop mutually acceptable standards and criteria for licensing and certification of professional services suppliers;
• facilitating development of mutual recognition agreements between relevant bodies; and
• exploring further liberalisation of market access commitments.

Review Process

Recognising the importance of identifying and addressing emerging environmental issues, as well as ongoing changes to environmental technologies and services, the List will be jointly reviewed on a mutually agreed basis. Such a review could include:

• addressing services which may be added to the List;
• clarifying the environmental aspects of services on the List; and
• identifying priorities for cooperation under the Specific Elements of this Annex with respect to particular services or groupings of services on the List.

In reviewing the List, and associated activities to promote and facilitate environmental services trade, Singapore and Australia will undertake targeted business and industry consultations including with respect to emerging issues on trade in environmental services. Outcomes from the review process will be reported through the governance and implementation structure identified in the GEA.

Project Leads

Singapore: Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Consultation with other relevant government agencies.

Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Consultation with other relevant government agencies.

List of Environmental Services

Group 1: Services that are environmentally related in and of themselves, being directly related to environmental outcomes.

Group 2:  Services which may be environmentally related when contributing to or enabling environmental objectives, including the:

• reduction, mitigation and remediation of the pollution of the air, waterways and the land;
• protection of natural resources and biodiversity;
• reduction in the impact of climate change such as through a transition to the use of renewable and sustainable energy sources and technologies;
• efficient and sustainable use and production, reuse or recycling of resources;
• reduction in the negative effects on human health and the environment;
• effective identification, measurement, accounting and monitoring of the environment in support of its protection and remediation; and
• sustainability and resilience of food systems, including agricultural practices.

Group 3: Services related to the manufacturing, sale, delivery and installation of the environmental goods identified in the GEA (at Annex B 1.1).