on its way to achieving this menu；and this，without a massive overhaul.The WTO has consulted environmental experts in nearly all of the environmental disputes that were brought to it for settlement since its creation.Its doors have been opened to the public in a variety of different ways.First is in the context of dispute settlement.When it was established，the WTO court quickly opened its doors to what are called"Friends of the Court"briefs （or amicus curie briefs）from concerned citizens，or basically"anybody who could help the court"，and since then such briefs have not stopped flowing.Similarly，in a growing number of dispute settlement cases WTO members are agreeing to hold"public hearings"，and this is gradually enhancing transparency.
Second is in the context of the WTO"s day-to-day operation.The WTO Public Fora have become an annual event to which civil society looks forward.These are specific times of the year when the WTO invites civil society from across the globe to interact with its members.Just this month，our Public Forum drew a record，1750participants from virtually all walks of life！No less than four sessions were devoted to climate change，with many more touching on sustainable development.
In the context of dispute settlement，the WTO has also proved itself capable of respecting other international treaties，including environmental ones.In fact，in a landmark ruling，the WTO"sAppellate Body confirmed that the WTO"does not operate in clinical isolation".
But，of course，much work remains to be done.Some of this work though，I would argue，can only be accomplished when the WTO completes its first Green Round.But is there a Green Round，you may well ask.Yes，is the answer.The Doha Round of trade negotiations is the first ever roundof negotiations to include an "environmental or green chapter"；the first ever round of negotiations to encourage members to conduct environmental reviews at the national level.And，as part of that chapter，you will find the issue that was indeed on Daniel Esty"s mind，that of respecting international environmental treaties.In the Doha Round，WTO members are mandated to explore the relationship between WTO rules and such treaties，with a view to ensuring their mutual supportiveness.The negotiation can but reinforce the openness that the Appellate Body has already demonstrated to taking other treaties into account.
But the green chapter is not confined to this issue.Part of the aim of this negotiation is also to help open markets to clean technology -whether in terms of the"goods"or"services"that it entails.That is a very legitimate aim，particularly in light of the enormous environmental problems that we face.Several of the goods that are currently on the table，for instance，could help combat climate change；such as solar panels，air filters and catalytic converters.
These technologies must now be allowed to cross borders，they must be made more accessible to the poor.We should not be penalizing environmental goods through tariffs，quite to the contrary we should be promoting them.Andthe same goes for environmental services.
Also featuring in the Doha"s Round green chapter，is the reduction of fisheriessubsidies that have contr ibuted to the perilous state of much of the world"s fish stock.An annual 14-20billion of fisheries subsidies worldwide has been one of the causes of fish stock depletion，encouraging "too many fishermen to chase after too few fish"as the saying now goes.Worldwide，theglobal fishing fleet pulls 80million tons of fish or more from the oceans.This is four times the 1950total！The negotiations are aimed at helping reverse this dangerous trend.
In an astonishing book entitled"Hooked：Pirates，Poaching and the Perfect Fish，"Bruce Knecht recounts how a relatively ugly creature，known as the Patagonian toothfish，found its way from being"too bland for eating"to becoming the hottest restaurant craze：the Chilean Sea Bass.The Patogonian toothfish，as you know of course，is now endangered，and the story recounted by Knecht of its dangerous overfishing is reflective of the challenges that regional fisheries agreements face，and of the environmentally-harmful fisheries subsidies that must now go.The book is a thumping good read！
There is no doubt in my mind that for the WTO to accomplish bigger things on the environment，it must first complete the first ever environmental negotiating agenda that has been placed before it.More generally，it must also accomplish the entire Doha Round！I was astonished earlier this year when I flew to Nairobi to address the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program by a comment made to me by Achim Steiner，the Executive Director.
