Resilient by Design: Reimagining Trade for Climate Justice in Africa and Beyond

The statement contends that current global trade frameworks often undermine the climate ambitions of developing nations through protectionist policies and geopolitical self-interest. It highlights the negative potential of the EU's Carbon-Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the limitations of the International Maritime Organization's shipping emissions tax. The author advocates for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and regional coalitions as viable alternatives to a 'broken' World Trade Organization (WTO) to foster green industrialization, technology transfer, and climate adaptation, specifically citing Mozambique's vulnerability as a case for adaptation-focused trade policy.

• Current global trade policies and the 'securitization' of trade often hinder the ability of developing countries to transition to low-carbon economies by restricting access to green technologies and reinforcing power imbalances.
• The European Union's Carbon-Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is viewed by African nations as potentially protectionist and inconsistent with the Paris Agreement, with research indicating it could cause African countries to lose up to $25 billion annually.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is described as 'broken,' with the absence of its Appellate Body creating legal ambiguity regarding environmental trade exceptions under Article XX, which may discourage developing countries from implementing climate regulations due to fear of retaliation.
• Regional initiatives, specifically the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and its Investment Protocol, are presented as critical tools for boosting intra-African trade in climate-resilient goods and services and unlocking green industrialization.
• There is a critical need to shift trade policy focus from mitigation to adaptation, exemplified by Mozambique, which is a significant critical minerals player but highly vulnerable to climate impacts that limit its fiscal capacity for green transitions.

APA

Fakir, S. (2025). Resilient by Design: Reimagining Trade for Climate Justice in Africa and Beyond. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. https://tessforum.org/latest/resilient-by-design-reimagining-trade-for-climate-justice-in-africa-and-beyond

Chicago

Fakir, Saliem. Resilient by Design: Reimagining Trade for Climate Justice in Africa and Beyond. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs, 2025. https://tessforum.org/latest/resilient-by-design-reimagining-trade-for-climate-justice-in-africa-and-beyond.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Fakir |first1=Saliem |title=Resilient by Design: Reimagining Trade for Climate Justice in Africa and Beyond |publisher=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |date=19 August 2025 |url=https://tessforum.org/latest/resilient-by-design-reimagining-trade-for-climate-justice-in-africa-and-beyond |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{fakir2025resilient, author = {Fakir, Saliem}, title = {{Resilient by Design: Reimagining Trade for Climate Justice in Africa and Beyond}}, publisher = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, year = {2025}, month = aug, url = {https://tessforum.org/latest/resilient-by-design-reimagining-trade-for-climate-justice-in-africa-and-beyond}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }