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This case study examines the economic transition of Germany's Ruhr region from a coal-mining and heavy industry center to a knowledge- and tourism-based economy. It details the shift from top-down structural policies to a decentralized, inclusive engagement strategy involving trade unions and government, culminating in the closure of the last hard coal mine in 2018.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.