Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disconnect between trade policy and climate change adaptation, arguing that 'international technology transfer' remains an abstract concept rather than a practical reality. It proposes aligning trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) to ensure developing countries can access context-specific hardware, software, and orgware necessary for climate resilience.

• Climate adaptation technology is defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as consisting of three integrated pillars: hardware (tangible equipment), software (knowledge, skills, and processes), and orgware (institutional frameworks and rules).
• Adaptation technologies are highly site-specific and can potentially increase long-term risks if not based on contextualized assessments. For instance, cassava cultivation resists typhoons in parts of the Philippines but causes soil erosion in Thailand, and water-efficient irrigation may inadvertently increase total freshwater extraction by encouraging the growth of water-intensive crops.
• A significant disconnect exists between trade and climate policy, manifesting as a shallow understanding of adaptation among trade policy-makers, trade barriers such as high import duties and intellectual property frameworks, and siloed discussions between the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• To improve the delivery of adaptation technology, policy-makers should align trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), integrate trade experts into these processes, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, and promote South–South cooperation.

APA

Schmidt, K. (2026). Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/trade-climate-change-adaptation-technology

Chicago

Schmidt, Katharina. Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/trade-climate-change-adaptation-technology.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schmidt |first1=Katharina |title=Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=24 February 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/trade-climate-change-adaptation-technology |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schmidt2026leveraging, author = {Schmidt, Katharina}, title = {{Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/trade-climate-change-adaptation-technology}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }