What You Need To Know About the Biggest Free Trade Agreement Ever and How It Affects Climate Change

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is well on its way to becoming the largest Free Trade Agreement in the world, and it has major implications for efforts to curb climate change and protect the environment.

The  secrecy and eschewal of Congress about the TPP has given rise to protests from unlikely congressional bedfellows, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

Joshua Meltzer, a fellow at the Brookings Institute, says “At the end of the day, particularly on the climate change front, ultimately what we’re talking about is economic reform.  It’s really about reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are deeply embedded in the economy — energy generation, industrial processes, vehicular issues — trade agreements can get a lot of these issues and using economic tools can be a good way to address climate change.”

Far from everyone agrees with Meltzer’s assessment of free trade agreements in relation to environmental and climate change issues, however.  The Sierra Club warns that the TPP, “may allow for significantly increased exports of liquefied natural gas without the careful study or adequate protections necessary to safeguard the American public.  It would also likely cause an increase in natural gas and electricity prices, impacting consumers, manufacturers, workers, and increasing the use of dirty coal power.”

What You Need To Know About the Biggest Free Trade Agreement Ever and How It Affects Climate Change