Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries

The paper examines the disconnect between trade and climate policies, which hinders the distribution of adaptation technologies to the Global South. It defines adaptation technology through three pillars—hardware, software, and orgware—and emphasizes that these tools are highly site-specific. The author identifies three primary challenges: a shallow understanding of adaptation among trade policy-makers, trade barriers such as high tariffs, and siloed discussions between the WTO and UNFCCC. To resolve this, the document recommends involving trade experts in National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) processes, reducing trade barriers, leveraging regional agreements, and supporting South-South cooperation.

• 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).
• Climate adaptation technologies are highly site-specific, meaning a solution effective in one region may be unsuccessful or even harmful in another. For instance, cassava cultivation resists typhoons in parts of the Philippines but causes soil erosion in Thailand, and water-efficient irrigation can inadvertently increase freshwater extraction by encouraging the growth of water-intensive crops.
• A significant disconnect exists between trade and climate policy communities, manifesting as a poor understanding of adaptation needs among trade officials, the presence of trade barriers like high import duties in Small Island Developing States, and siloed discussions between the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• To improve the transfer of technology, policy-makers should align trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), integrate trade experts into these processes, reform tariffs, and prioritize South-South cooperation and regional trade agreements.

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} }